A few questions about 2 E36s I've looked at...

[Paisley357]

Sunday I found a nice looking(exterior) 1992 325i by chance.. My great aunt and uncle's neighbor has it for sale. So I went over and talked to him about it. So obviously it's a 325i, but he explained that he took out the original 325 motor and automatic transimission and replaced it with a 1996 M3 motor and 5spd transmission. There are some other specs that he added to the motor from Dinan. The M3 motor has right at 100k miles on it. The car has M3 sideskirts, M3 rear bumper, and a spoiler. The exterior is in great condition, the paint has no chips, scratches, etc, and new tires. The interior... well it shows what I think to be normal wear and tear for a 15 year old car. The sunroof cover needs to be reattached/re-glued. The car apparently needs a new "computer," which he's waiting for it to come in, then he will put it in, and one of the passenger side windows needs a new motor. I didn't get to hear it run, of course, or get to drive it, but hopefully he'll have it fixed soon. He only wants around $2-3k for the car, which I can handle no problem.

Next.. My cousin's 1997 328xi. My cousin just moved out on his own and the payments on his car are just a tiny bit of a stretch, and though he's absolutely in love with his car, he wants something a bit cheaper on payments, insurance, and gas so he can live a that much more comfortably. He told me that if he finds that "cheaper" car, that he would sell his 328 to me. His car is in excellent condition, period. The exterior is flawless, the interior is in good condition except the armrest leather covering has some cracking where the sunroof was left open and it got wet. It has a nice audio system, which I'd hope would stay in the car. When he bought the car, he got a great deal on the price. I'd hope with us being close friends and cousins that he'd let me buy it at a good price too, but there has been no serious speak of selling or a price for that matter, yet. If I had to guess a price, I'd say he'd sell for around $8k.

So my question is what do you more experienced bimmer folk say about the two cars? Which would you be more inclined to get serious about?

[Numark318i]

how many miles on the xi?


personally i would go for the 1992 325. Only because of the engine, and the very reasonable price. Also the issues you brought up about dont seem to be to bad to fix. hows the suspension? If its stock/original itll be time to start changing bushings.


Not to sure how well the xi's hold up? It is newer. Ask if any suspension has been done. control arm bushings been replaced?

Both cars ask about the thermostat, water pump, and belts as these tend to go out.

On the other hand, 328 is newer, prolly less mileage, and its more clean. Not to much slower then the m3 engine(i think?) and its 4 wheel drive.

[Paisley357]

The 328 has right at 100k miles on it. It also has a 5spd transmission. Beyond the price, I have to think into the insurance prices on each car, and the fuel economy and fuel prices, too.

I will ask about suspension, thermostat, belts, and the water pump on both cars and post something here when I find out.

[denyo77]

take the 325i
my opinion

[catalyst]

no such thing as a 1997 328xi

[Paisley357]

Well then it's a 1997 328 coupe with some i...x... extension. I know that. I thought it was an ix, but apparently that's wrong too. I'll be going to look at the 325i today with the cousin that drives the 328 coupe. I'll find out for sure what it is!

[Numark318i]

heh yea i was thinking hte new 328ix..hah. sorry bro.

yea its prolly a 328is

[Paisley357]

Yea.. it's a 328is Sorry!! I feel like a loser now

[Numark318i]

Originally Posted by Paisley357

Yea.. it's a 328is Sorry!! I feel like a loser now

dont do that.

[Paisley357]

Originally Posted by Numark318i

dont do that.

I'll try not to

[xsperf]

2-3K for a 3 series that has an m3 motor and transmission in it, and the guy did the auto-manual swap? no way. something is wrong with it, thats basically getting an m3 for 2-3K, and if you didnt get that, i would sell my car right now and get it(and i love my car!) but seriously though, no one who did that much hard work would let a car go for that cheap, even if the interior looked like crap. wait until you can actually test drive it and see whats up with it

[mullethunter3]

^^^ You're fine. I've done so pretty stupid stuff here too.

Anyway, let us know what happens to the 325i and it's computer. I'm kind of pulling for that one.

[Paisley357]

Wellllls... looks as if all bets on the 325 are... off.

My cousin and I(the cousin that has the 328) went yesterday and looked at the 325. It is super nice for the price.. there's little this and that problems wrong with it... It needs the computer of course, a regulator for the windows, the buttons/switches for the windows don't work, the sunroof cover/liner needs to be reattached, I think there may be something wrong with the trunk also.

The guy who has the car recently separated from his wife. I was talking with my neighbor last night and she was talking about her aunt being separated and her husband had bimmers. So we figured out that it was the same guy(this is getting into some drama)... Supposedly this guy who has the 325 has a "crackheaded" girlfriend and one of the gf's crackhead friends is the one that stole the cd player. The car is known by the "wrong" crowd, and it was suggested to me that this could mean problems if I were to acquire it. The guy is $1000 behind in childsupport, thus another reason for a quick sale price.

However, suspension has been changed/updated(it's lowered), it has new rotors and brakes(forgot the brands), has a MOMO cat back exhaust system, bigger throttle body, and some other nice mods that I fail to remember..

My cousin told me that the car (and figuring from the way the owner spoke of the car, that it is more of a project car for the track.

Soooo.. yea.. buncha reasons, but if any of you out-of-staters are interested, I can get some contact info for you :-p

Pics follow!