"DylanToback" (DylanToback)
05/24/2015 at 08:36 • Filed to: None
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"DylanToback" (DylanToback)
05/24/2015 at 08:36 • Filed to: None | 0
| 15 |
I am in the process of looking for a new (to me) vehicle. I had a very clean E36 328is which was totaled in November. I am finally in a position where I can look for something to replace it. I would like another E36, but it is challenging to find one in decent condition in New England. Alternatively, I am considering an R53 Cooper S. However, I just discovered !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .
It’s currently listed on Craigslist for $5,995. It looks like it has been extremely well maintained. And the Carfax indicates that it has only had three owners, the dealer being the third, and the first two each kept the car for quite some time. But the mileage is far from low... Any thoughts? Would this be a nightmare?
AM
> DylanToback
05/24/2015 at 08:47 |
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I’d say it has too much mileage on it to be a good idea. I had a ‘98 540i and after 150k km (93k miles) they start to get problems, the main one being the car constantly eating through oil. Mine had constant cooling system problems, which is also very common in these cars.
KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
> DylanToback
05/24/2015 at 08:49 |
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E39s are quite nice, however the standard line with BMWs is avoid anything with two banks of cylinders. The packaging makes the German goofiness in the engine compartment into a downright nightmare.
djmt1
> DylanToback
05/24/2015 at 08:52 |
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Sometimes I do wonder whether we worry about mileage too much. Sure the car has done almost 200,000 miles but then the car has done almost 200,000 miles and looks insanely clean so I’m guessing the previous owners did a really good job at looking after it.
Also a Cooper S vs a 540i, what a strange but interesting match up. Frantic Hot Hatch vs Executive Cruiser. Both very appealing types of cars to me personally.
I’d say go for the Cooper S personally since where I am they are dirt cheap (£1500) and I assume the same Stateside. Plus coincidentally E39 M5 also happen to be dirt cheap here too (£6000) which I would then save up for.
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DylanToback
> djmt1
05/24/2015 at 08:59 |
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I do generally think that mileage is not as big a problem as many people think. That said, close to 200k is a bit higher than I would like for 6 grand.
I do really like the Mini. And as a general rule, I tend to prefer small cars. So that may be the better choice in the end. However, this is the E36 I am planning to look at. Only 116k and it appears to have been very well kept.
jkm7680
> DylanToback
05/24/2015 at 09:09 |
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Yes. That’s a lot of miles and right in the region where those things start to have major problems.
itranthelasttimeiparkedit
> DylanToback
05/24/2015 at 09:21 |
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Not sure about prices up there but that seems really high. I would think you could find one around 120-140k for that price. What year is it?
If its been maintained really well, I’d say do it. My mechanic dd’d one to almost 300k and said that model v8 is rock solid as long as you do regular maintenance (which includes a 4k vanos chain guide job every 100k or so. I think thats the interval at least). Key thing is that you can do some of the work yourself, that is how you can afford these cars. Stuff like thermostat, suspension, brakes, etc. I am about to do the ccv on mine, supposed to be a 2-3 hour job, $60 in parts.
LeadfootYT
> DylanToback
05/24/2015 at 10:02 |
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Any other E39 (save the M5), and it would be a non-issue. However, it’s well-known that BMW was incapable of designing a V8 engine when the M62tu in that car rolled off the assembly line, complete with plastic (!) timing chain guides. So in addition to all the power steering, cooling system, and electrical issues that plague the 540i, you also get an engine that will eat itself at higher mileage, meaning it’s time for a new head—I have two friends who have bought 540s, and this happened to both of them. The first was $15,000 into a $5,000 car after one year, and his was at 165k or so. The other just scrapped the car (which was a red Individual 540—a beautiful car, if you didn’t look under the hood) when the guides and tensioners went.
The only way that car would be worthwhile is if it were priced at $2,500. And even then, expect it to be a $10,000 car, paid incrementally through maintenance.
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DylanToback
> LeadfootYT
05/24/2015 at 10:05 |
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Good to know. I will continue to look elsewhere then since, unfortunately, I do need some semblance of reliability.
Schaefft
> DylanToback
05/24/2015 at 10:11 |
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At first I thought the price would be way too high for a 540i with almost 200k miles, but after seeing its a manual and seems to be taken care of very well, it really doesn’t seem so bad, considering one of the bigger problem causing points (the automatic) is not there. Make sure to check for rust on the lower edges of the doors and rocker panels. If they are clean and one of the previous owners might even have replaced the timing chain guides or even the Vanos O-rings (both of which always fail), it might be a pretty good buy.
Deyereth
> DylanToback
05/24/2015 at 10:25 |
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Easy, just buy 2 of them.
whiskeybusiness NOW A DANGER TO CROWDS NEAR YOU
> DylanToback
05/24/2015 at 10:35 |
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BURN IT WITH FIRE! Honestly, I made the same mistake a year and a half ago. Bought a supposedly immaculate, but high mileage 540i, sunk almost 5 grand into it, and it rewarded me with a rod making a dramatic exit from the block. Don’t do it, the cooling systems sucked from the factory. And now they’re more than 10 years older.
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> DylanToback
05/24/2015 at 10:46 |
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I bought a 2000 528i with 240k back in November and have been very happy with it.
CallMeTURBO
> DylanToback
05/24/2015 at 12:26 |
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Where in New England are you looking? My friend has 2 m3s for sale and a Boston green daily driver 325i for sale for like 2500 I think in CT.
Also know a guy trying to sell his vert in NY.
And one in jersey too
If you're on Facebook I can add you to our east coast e36 group. Great group of enthusiasts and people selling cars all the time
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DylanToback
> CallMeTURBO
05/24/2015 at 12:33 |
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I am located in RI at the moment, but I am willing to travel if it’s a solid car. I am on facebook as well. I just submitted a request to join the group.
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CallMeTURBO
> DylanToback
05/24/2015 at 12:46 |
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Cool, the mods should approve you soon. Me and my friends are in Hartford Ct so may be a bit of a drive but not terrible (I make it pretty often myself, girlfriend goes to school in north Easton) but once you get approved we have all our for sale posts tagged and pinned to the top of the group.
Car I was talking about is a bogrun sedan 5 speed posted on Friday.
Him and his brother also have a garage full of parts if Any of that interests you (lsd, s52s, coils, etc)