[rhudeboye]

A family friend gave me a call last night and asked if I would test drive a 94 BMW for her. Its a 5 spd and it will be for her 16yr old son. The car is with the orig owner and recently failed MDs emissions (I'll ask for the service slip to see why it failed). I havent seen it yet but I'm told the body and intr still looks new. The clock has over 217,000 miles on it. WOW! Which is why the price is only 2K, which is why even though its a 5spd and none of them know how to drive a stick she, still wants it.

SO I'll be test driving it at 4:30 today. any known issues with this model that I should keep my eye on? I'll also jump on a BMW forum and click around but with so many 3s out there chances are I'll just get info overload.

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[PorscheDude]

David try bimmerforums for info.
Listen to the Vanos, it's at the top front of the engine cover.
If it's bad it rattles. It's $40 in parts and a couple hours to replace.

Like any car ask for records. Parts for these cars are plentiful and cheap.
The cars a fairly easy to work on.

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[rhudeboye]

Thanks Pat. I was also told its still on the orig clutch! Is that even possible?

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[rhudeboye]

Think I've got everything I need now.

If anyone else ever needs a super extensive list of known problems for the E36

http://www.unitedbimmer.com/kb-e36-commo...ts-faq.php

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[rxter]

Shock mounts
Ebrake
Motor mounts

Were very problematic in older bimmers. Bimmerforums was very helpful recovering after a momentary lapse in judgement [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]

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[rhudeboye]

Took the car for a nice long test drive. Hard to believe that it has 217K mile on it. The car was exceptionally clean. It is the wifes car, owned by a middle aged couple. She took it from MD to Va daily and thats about it. Other trips were always his car, so all of the seats except the drivers was flawless. Dash, carpets, trunk all looked like new. As for the outside the paint had lost its luster but I bet a good detail job could bring that back.

When I got to an open stretch I ran through the gears up to 4th pretty hard. The clutch held well and the car shifts very smooth. I gave it the thumbs up and advised a PPI The owner had no documentation from the mechanic of the work done but gave us a spreadsheet of all work completed with dates that she typed up [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif[/img] .

All and all, I think it would make a great 1st car for a 16 year old. For the price I wouldn't mind having it as a DD. But I think thats what Pat has been trying to tell me for a year now.

Shocks, shock mounts & Motor mounts were supposedly replaced. The E-brake worked fine.

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[porsche]

a girl friend had a 1995 BMW 318 sedan with nearly 230,000 miles!

it was a 5-speed and the original clutch was dust.... over a weekend a wrencher and i replaced the clutch, brake pads/rotors and spark plugs (with Genuine BMW OEM parts). We also drained, flushed and filled all the fluids.

later on did the suspension bushings, alignment and added 16" 325 wheels with new Michelin Pilots.

wow!!! that little engine with the new clutch rocked.... super fun to shift and send the engine singing into the upper revs..... with nearly 230,000 miles, lets just say the engine was very well "broken in!"

not much of a bimmer guy.... but any of the 3-series BMWs are hard to beat for a true 4-seat commuter =)

Porsche

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[PorscheDude]

David sounds like a winner!
A well maintained BMW is hard to beat.
3 series has been car of the year for something like 10 or 15 years straight.

Sans a 7 series although, not bad for a DIYer
who knows how to dig for parts.

I'm sure others have had bad experiance, but I've had 5 or 6 of them
and they have treated me well.

A good choice for a first car.

Also, send me the info if you deceide to pass on it.
I need a car for my brother.

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