ohhhh e36... you hurt my heart!

[JackoliciousLegs]

linky
Full BMW history up to 84k according to carfax. Dealer is inquiring about cooling system, clutch, etc. Uh oh... Convince me not to. (RJ)

[Hunter]

That's not a bad deal. As you probably know already, that is the age where you want to make sure the water pump has been replaced along with the thermostat and it's housing, and the radiator neck (made of stupid plastic). I think the 4 doors are damn cool so I say go for it.

[HAULN-SS]

looks good, maybe you should do it

[WRXtranceformed]

Since it sounds like you have a hard on for bimmers, why not look at Aaron's 540i 6speed? I'm sure he would cut you a deal on it, and it's a very clean car... I remember seeing it in person.

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[JackoliciousLegs]

Yeah, the deal is not bad. It's a newer model. It's less than 14k. I've got my car paid off. I won't be in Chicago for another winter. It's got less than 100k. I could sell it in 3 years for more than 10k. Insurance is less.

Only downsides are reliability (vs 05 suby) and cost of gas. It's slightly more expensive.

Aaron's 540 is nice, but it's a boat... and in HBurg. And its definitely not going to be below 14k.

Hard ons.... um... I like M3s. My suby is ok, but it doesn't feel like a sports car. I don't get that shiver every time I get in like I did with my RX-7.

[HAULN-SS]

so...i just can't help but wonder...why the hell do BMW's depreciate so much? not trying to hi-jack this thread..but it seems like less than 14 grand for what used to be an expensive car is a hell of a fall off to not even be 10 years old. I notice the 2002 - 2004 m3's on ebay go for like 1/2 what they originally sold for - and are only 4 - 5 years old..seems like if you wait another 3 years, you can probably get those for under 15...what's up with that?

[Sijray21]

i'd follow Hunter's advice to make sure that those wear-items are changed.

4dr e36 m3's are the hotness!

[JackoliciousLegs]

hijacking my own thread...
What about an 04 z06 w avg mileage being 32k. That dropped 20k in 3 years. That's just how it works... The bigger the price, the harder the initial fall. Obviously, they level out higher if they started higher. You can assume that you won't pay less than 10k for a half decent e36 m3. Even a 95. Even Porsche 911s drop precipitously. Take a 99 for example. You can get them for late 30s when they started in the late 60s. They just level off around 20.

[HAULN-SS]

you get it yet?

[.RJ]

you get it yet?

Do you?

Jack was pointing out that ALL expensive cars depreciate alot - mostly within the first few years.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Yeah, the deal is not bad. It's a newer model. It's less than 14k. I've got my car paid off. I won't be in Chicago for another winter. It's got less than 100k. I could sell it in 3 years for more than 10k. Insurance is less.

Only downsides are reliability (vs 05 suby) and cost of gas. It's slightly more expensive.

Aaron's 540 is nice, but it's a boat... and in HBurg. And its definitely not going to be below 14k.

Hard ons.... um... I like M3s. My suby is ok, but it doesn't feel like a sports car. I don't get that shiver every time I get in like I did with my RX-7.

Aaron is offering a price of 14,000.....

[HAULN-SS]

you get it yet?

Do you?

Jack was pointing out that ALL expensive cars depreciate alot - mostly within the first few years.

X

[JackoliciousLegs]

Ok, so here's the deal. The radiator is original. Shocks are old i think. Hood has a dent. Front right 1/4 panel's been replaced (but has clean carfax). Driver's side auto window up doesn't work. Clutch is worn (I think... it engages high). I got him down to 13k. 1998. 95k.

Replace 1/4


Paint chip


Crease over headlight (the only real bad part cosmetically)


Gunk in oil cap. Condensation from short trips?



Crack in bumper (it's a city car)


Scar in wheel

[.RJ]

Looks like it could be a decent buy, but the shocks (and rear shock mounts) and probably the whole cooling system (rad, hoses, t-stat housing, etc) need to go in the trash can very soon.

For $12k and some wrench time I'd hit it - but if you have no place, tools or means to work on it yourself, a shop could really hose you on labor costs.

What you could do is find a BMW shop and have them do a PPI on the car - will cost you $75-100 and have them give you a written estimate for the work that needs to be done (shocks, cooling system) and anything else they find.

[BLINGMW]

You bought it! Yes? Hooray! I would change the oil ASAP and do compression and/or leakdown before I felt really good about that motor though....

[CaptainHenreh]

You bought it! Yes? Hooray!

+ELEVENTY!!!

[Mike]

doesn't look like a car jack should buy. i'm not going in to it, but if you know jack and his automobile history, you'd understand. he sold a freaking integra because it had electrical quirks and such...

[JackoliciousLegs]

I never said I bought it. Haysoos! There are too many questions. Right now, I just want to know if its even worth it to give it a shop for a PPI.

[.RJ]

I just want to know if its even worth it to give it a shop for a PPI.

Depends on whether you want to spend $1500 fixing stuff or not.

[JackoliciousLegs]

doesn't look like a car jack should buy. i'm not going in to it, but if you know jack and his automobile history, you'd understand. he sold a freaking integra because it had electrical quirks and such...

It had no electrical quirks. The clutch locked up on it. The shifter was fuxored in a most unusual way. The suspension was goofed on it.