"Speedmonkey" (Speedmonkey)
09/17/2013 at 06:42 • Filed to: BMW E36
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"Speedmonkey" (Speedmonkey)
09/17/2013 at 06:42 • Filed to: BMW E36 | 11
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Far from dithering
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for the Audi S4 Avant, which sold on Saturday, I was straight into the classifieds to find a replacement.
Once the cash was in my hands I worked out the budget (£2k max) and hit eBay and Autotrader. The car needed to have a boot large enough for my 3 dogs and needed to be fun to drive. Front wheel drive would only be acceptable for
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. Petrol was the only option. I don't do diesel. I eyed up Mk2 Golfs,
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Legacys and Imprezas and a host of BMW 3-series.
For £2,000 the market is varied. Cars that look identical can be priced £1500 apart and differ wildly in condition. Some cars are starting to become classics and the price is on the up.
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s were too expensive, most Mk2s were 'enthusiastically' modified, Mk3s were attractive only in VR6 guise but after reading about them I decided the VR6 would be too wallowy.
I've owned several Subarus and know the parts can be mega-expensive. Plus the non-turbo models are too slow and those with turbos are too risky. A blown turbo can go at any point and costs circa £700 for the parts alone.
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were too pricey and E46s are either the slow as a snail 1.9 litre or massively tatty if they have a bigger engine. That left E36s but most were rotten, sold as spares or repair or just looked wrong.
But all along I'd had my eye on one particular car. The advert was brief. 1998 BMW 323i SE Touring, full service history, leather interior, climate control, electric sunroof and 1 fastidious lady owner. 1 owner!
The S4 buyer turned up Saturday morning with the cash and by Saturday afternoon I'd arranged to go and see the 323i.
A friend came with me and I took the £1450 ($2300 USD) asking price with me - just in case.
It was in mint condition aside from three rust spots - one small one on the tailgate, and one on the trailing edge of each rear wheel arch - a direct result of not clearing out 15 year's worth of mud that builds up in that area. The rust is under the surface and reachable from behind so shouldn't be too hard to deal with.
Otherwise it is in fantastic condition. Black leather interior, metallic Fern Green paintwork, the carpets are like new, every nook and cranny is clean.
The owner had bought the car for his wife in 1998. He paid £25,000 from a main dealer and had it serviced there for the first three years and thereafter at a local specialist. There is a large file with every MOT, bill and tax disc. It comes with three keys, four new Firestone tyres, an almost new Firestone on the spare wheel and two more brand new tyres. It has 12 months MOT and 12 months tax.
It has a tow bar, which would normally be a cause for concern, but the trailer it towed was a tiny box for garden clippings. The owner didn't want them making the car dirty.
It had been stored since 1998 in a huge garage, with a dust sheet over the top. The owner had been as fastidious as he said in the advert.
On the test drive it drove perfectly. The clutch has tons of life. It steered straight and true and the brakes had plenty of bite, although they do judder at speed - a trait my old E36 (that I owned in 1995) had. A wheel balance should sort this - if not it's warped discs which won't be too expensive as I'd fit them myself.
The car was in such good condition I paid the asking price and that was it. We drove it home.
The only thing I plan to do in the short term is fit a new radio head unit with digital radio and a USB connection. The existing BMW unit has a radio and cassette only, although the owner gave me a huge box of cassettes, which will have to do for the time being.
So now I've got a
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, a 1998 BMW 323i SE Touring and a
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- and the wife's Land Rover Discovery 2 TD5.
Bytemite
> Speedmonkey
09/17/2013 at 06:51 |
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I don't think any hatchback would fit 3 average sized dogs.
A minivan would be a perfect candidate. If you want a fun to drive minivan, there is always the mid-engined Toyota.
BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
> Speedmonkey
09/17/2013 at 07:21 |
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As I said before, sweet car. I'd like to hear your impressions of the E36.
Which one did you have in '95?
tapzz
> Speedmonkey
09/17/2013 at 08:05 |
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Sounds as if you did really well.
For hard-to-resist temptation, I float between these, W201 Mercedes 190s or Alfa Romeo 156s. If I'd have known, I might well have succumbed; spec, body type, colour, condition- all just great.
I'd be interested to know how you get on with it. Is it going to be garaged?
duurtlang
> Bytemite
09/17/2013 at 08:19 |
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A larger liftback-like hatchback could accommodate 3 dogs behind the back seat just fine. Something like a Citroën Xantia, which can be had in enthusiast versions as well; zero body roll in the Activa versions with the active suspension.
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Speedmonkey
> tapzz
09/17/2013 at 08:20 |
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Hiya. I'd have gone for a 190E 2.6 if Merc had made an estate version. Alfa was an interesting proposition but front wheel drive. My garage is full of boiler, work bench, motorcycle, motorcycle and horse equipment. No room for a car! It'll live on the drive
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Speedmonkey
> BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
09/17/2013 at 08:22 |
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The interior design is almost as good as most new cars albeit without cupholders and the other touches that have crept in over the years. The exterior is classic, not quite as ageless as E30 but nevertheless still a handsome shape. In '94 I bought a 1991 320i saloon. It was my first car after graduating and cost me £10k!!!
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Speedmonkey
> Bytemite
09/17/2013 at 08:25 |
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I ran a Mk4 Golf for 2 years and transported them in the boot with no issues. Took this half an hour ago. It's raining constantly over here at the moment
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tapzz
> Speedmonkey
09/17/2013 at 08:35 |
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I guess you could have swung for a W124 Merc T model, but those are getting outside your budget if they're in decent condition, I think.
I'd be a bit hesitant about leaving something like an e36 outside in the UK, but I guess cleaning up quickly after mud and roadsalt might be more important in keeping the rust monster at bay.
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Speedmonkey
> tapzz
09/17/2013 at 08:37 |
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I've owned 2 W124s. A 230TE which was super slow but a great car and a 300TE which was faster but rusty, and still a great car. Just wanted something different
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Bytemite
> Speedmonkey
09/17/2013 at 08:52 |
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This is a wagon though..is it an E36? I never knew a 3-series wagon would have that much more room than the sedan.
And very cute dogs btw, the little one looks damp :)
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Speedmonkey
> Bytemite
09/17/2013 at 08:54 |
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It is an E36. Yup they got wet. The terrier gets super wet as she chases rabbits through the undergrowth. They're huddled together on a sofa next to me right now for warmth!
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Bytemite
> Speedmonkey
09/17/2013 at 08:59 |
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I'd say sir, you've found the perfect car for both you and your dogs.
Too bad there is no E30 wagon =/
$kaycog
> Speedmonkey
09/17/2013 at 09:07 |
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Awesome!
Takuro Spirit
> Speedmonkey
09/17/2013 at 09:19 |
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Read that in this voice. Not sure why.
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Speedmonkey
> Takuro Spirit
09/17/2013 at 09:20 |
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'old out yer 'and
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Takuro Spirit
> Speedmonkey
09/17/2013 at 09:22 |
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Crackin' deal!
magman007
> Speedmonkey
09/17/2013 at 10:29 |
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save the money on the head unit, and just get an old cassette adapter