What Do You Think?

"Branden J -Reading the Manual" (intakelake)
03/31/2015 at 18:41 • Filed to: None

In a search for a replacement to my beloved !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I have came across this, a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

There isn't exactly a whole lot of information about the car in the ad, but the price piqued my interest as it is well withing my budget. So what do you think? Worth taking a look into? Does anyone have experience with E36's? Thanks.

DISCUSSION (28)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Branden J -Reading the Manual
03/31/2015 at 18:44

Real I6, reliable, but auto? Eww....

jkm7680 > Branden J -Reading the Manual
03/31/2015 at 18:44

Don't go for an automatic, being brutally honest here. But the majority of 90's German cars didn't exactly have the best automatic transmissions. Actually, most 90's cars in general didn't exactly have the best automatic transmisions.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > jkm7680
03/31/2015 at 18:45

In 90s auto defense, they're mostly a victim of lack of maintenance. Do a few ATF changes (NOT FLUSHES!!!!) and it should be good pretty much forever if you don't abuse it.

jjhats > Branden J -Reading the Manual
03/31/2015 at 18:45

it must have taken some big balls to post a purchase advice question with a slushbox

Branden J -Reading the Manual > jjhats
03/31/2015 at 18:47

I know, but beggars can't be choosers.

Brian, The Life of > Branden J -Reading the Manual
03/31/2015 at 18:47

Apprears to be a great deal ... as long as the motor is solid. Have it checked out before you buy and if the seller balks at that ... RUN!

jkm7680 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
03/31/2015 at 18:47

Well I've heard lots of horror stories of 90's cars that went through transmissions like nobodies business even with regular maintenance. There are some oddballs out there for sure, but I'm speaking from the majority of my experience with them.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > jkm7680
03/31/2015 at 18:49

Yeah, because people drive them forever without changing their fluid. Most of them recommended a change every 30 or 60 thousand miles. There are examples of transmissions that weren't able to take the torque being given them like pretty much any V6 Honda, but most are fine and just a victim of neglect.

jjhats > Branden J -Reading the Manual
03/31/2015 at 18:50

its not like your relative is offering you this car for free and you are broke. you have a choice so be wise and shop around for what you want dont just take the first thing you find

Branden J -Reading the Manual > jkm7680
03/31/2015 at 18:54

Thank you!

Branden J -Reading the Manual > jkm7680
03/31/2015 at 18:56

http://classifieds.pennswoods.net/classifieds/vi…

How about this?

Branden J -Reading the Manual > jjhats
03/31/2015 at 18:58

True, I guess that's why i put it on here, I get too many illusions of grandeur sometimes. Thank you

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > Branden J -Reading the Manual
03/31/2015 at 19:04

My family had one. Bought it off a friend that was moving out of the country and he didn't tell us he got into an accident and repaired it so badly that Carmax wouldn't take it. This was in 2003. Ours was a 1998 if I remember correctly. I only remember it having a coolant problem that wasn't fixed even with $3k at the dealer over several visits, I mean I was 8, it might've had a ton of problems. I don't remember the Auto making it not an amazing car and I definitely missed it when we traded it onto the lease of our Lexus GX.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Branden J -Reading the Manual
03/31/2015 at 19:19

The transmission is a GM 4L30E and not a bad box at all. Just make sure the fluid was changed at some point.

The E36 is one of the more reliable generations of 3-series drivetrain wise, but there's just certain things you have to watch out for. First and foremost, make sure the WHOLE cooling system is in good condition. That's the biggest weak spot on this generation. Water pump, radiator, hoses, they all need to look good and be leak free.

Also, expect the blower motor to be not functioning or making strange noises. These things die like no ones business. There's two versions of the HVAC system. One where you can change the blower motor from under the hood, and another where you have to take apart the whole dash. I'd make sure its the prior.

The airbag light might come on eventually or be on already. This is usually due to the sensor pad in the passenger seat dying. You can buy override relays that will fix this and still allow the passenger airbag to go off. You will need a special tool to reset the light though.

Other than that, theres annoyances like the clocksrping in the steering wheel rattling, rust, the glovebox door skin peeling off and the door itself not closing, random squeaks and rattles, and LCDs on the displays throughout the car being blown out.

But, if everything is sorted out right, these are some of THE BEST driving cars you can buy cheap. My '98 M3 is hands down the best car I could have bought for the price.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Branden J -Reading the Manual
03/31/2015 at 19:31

Are these really that cheap?? I kinda want one now. Good luck !

Branden J -Reading the Manual > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
03/31/2015 at 19:31

Thank you!

5-Speed Gangsta > Branden J -Reading the Manual
03/31/2015 at 20:23

s german ca have said, the auto transmission can be bad. i have a 94 325 manual and I have a friend with a 96 328 auto and between us the only problems have been small. The cooling system is the most likely to fail part of this car so check to see how recently it was replaced. minor problems occur every once in a while, most are easy fixes but things can get expensive on a 90s German car. Definitely go for a PPI and a 30 minute test drive to make sure everything works consistently. They are fun cars and are reliable if they are taken care of, definitely worth checking out.

jkm7680 > Branden J -Reading the Manual
03/31/2015 at 20:56

Beware of modified cars, usually those are abused a little bit more than those who haven't been modified as much! Look for granny owned one owner cars and well maintained ones with good service records to show.

jkm7680 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
03/31/2015 at 21:00

That's true. Like the infamous transmission used in the Odyssey that went out every 100k or so. Correct me if I'm wrong, but those were unavoidable for the most part?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > jkm7680
03/31/2015 at 21:14

I've owned two granny-owned cars, and yeah, you don't want those. Generally they've only been used for short trips and have never been brought fully up to temperature, let alone abused as the engineers designed them for. Both gramdma owned cars I've owned were early 90s Hondas and were the least reliable cars I've ever owned.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > jkm7680
03/31/2015 at 21:15

Those weren't avoidable. The transmission just wasn't able to take the torque of the V6. IIRC, they went out sooner than that.

jkm7680 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
03/31/2015 at 21:21

Yup, it is good to open cars up from time to time to keep them going as they should be. Panther body cars usually stay pretty reliable regardless of the mileage, but just how well they were maintained. Short runs to bingo, church and the grocery store usually aren't good for the engine, as you said though. It probably just depends on the Granny and how adventurous/far away from those said locations she is.

jkm7680 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
03/31/2015 at 21:21

Yup, I think both the Accord and the Odyssey were affected by that issue.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > jkm7680
03/31/2015 at 21:28

Panthers are so low-stress it almost doesn't matter. My grandma has owned two of them, and neither has been a problem at all in any way. Her current one was bought new in 2002 or so, and she will insist every once in a while that there's something wrong with it until I drive it and tell her it's fine.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > jkm7680
03/31/2015 at 21:28

Yep, and the associated Acuras like the Cl.

GUYMANDUDE > Branden J -Reading the Manual
04/01/2015 at 00:06

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthre…

GUYMANDUDE > Branden J -Reading the Manual
04/01/2015 at 00:07

http://www.unitedbimmer.com/kb-e36-common-…

jkm7680 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/01/2015 at 08:28

The great thing about Panthers is how little you really need to worry about things, especially with cars owned by the elderly that drive 1,000 miles a year. It's always reassuring to know that some of them run 300,000+ miles. I've seen some with over a million miles and running strong. New engine though.