What is the avg. lifespan of an Auto M42 E36 318i? - United Bimmer Community

**delmarco** · 05-28-2005, 10:23 AM

I've been logging crazy milage onto my car lately...and I'm thinking of when will be best to replace my 1995 318i before owning it get expensive....

I'm almost at 148,000 and so far for some reason I've been logging on average 700 miles per week. What's crazy is my job is only like 20 miles away from home and the city (Manhattan) I drive in most of the time is about 2 miles wide and 13 miles long!

I was planning on replacing my car when it reached around 160,000 to 170,000 miles( or in 3 to 4 years ) after I'm done with Law School but the way I'm going I may hit 160,000 by X-mas 2005.

Anyway I was curious how long an automatic E36 318i with the M42 engine can last?

...so far I've been good with my oil changes, and routine stuff, I also use higher octane fuel (93 or 94), and engage in 80% city/20% highway driving...

**brien4787** · 05-28-2005, 11:28 AM

holy crap, 700 a week? you should be fine if you take care of it and if it is in pretty good condition. I have heard that the m42 is a very solid engine.

**catalyst** · 05-28-2005, 11:43 AM

I wouldnt start worrying until your over 200k.

**delmarco** · 05-28-2005, 01:34 PM

thanks...I was also wondering about the re-sale value and getting rid of my 318i when it gets up there with the milage...

I figure our E36 between 120,000 and 200,000 should do well on the car markets for another 4 to 5 years.

**catalyst** · 05-28-2005, 06:32 PM

Anywhere between 2-4 grand depending on how its running. It would be pretty hard to sell it for above 3.5 imo.

I know that seems low, but when you compare it to the costs of 325's these days.. 318's are worth shit.

**zeaq328i** · 05-29-2005, 02:17 AM

My car milage is getting higher too;18 455 Miles.hehe

**delmarco** · 05-29-2005, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c4talyst

Anywhere between 2-4 grand depending on how its running. It would be pretty hard to sell it for above 3.5 imo.

I know that seems low, but when you compare it to the costs of 325's these days.. 318's are worth shit.

Actually, I was told by my buddy at the BMW dealership that the 4 cyl. 318i engines runs longer on average the 6 cyl on the 325i and the 325i outlasts the 328i for the E36 models...if all cars were to have identical service history, milage and usage.*

So anyway...I figure my car is getting a fresh layer of paint (again) to the exterior panels and once I'm done re-doing the leather interior my car this summer should be up there for sale in the upper $4,000's by 2007!

I'm sure they are many 318i enthusiasts out there still!

ADDENDUM/EDIT: Actually that is the E36 325i engine oulast the E34 525i and E36 328i outlast the E39 528i...due to overall work needed to push the weight and engine output over a long period of time....sort of like having two identical twin horses and having one being ridden over a period of 10 years by a 250 lb man and the other being ridden by a 90 lb girl....
what horse will collapse first? By this logic this theory may actually work against the 318i vs. 325i....but I dont think its quite that simple and the 318i still reigns on top for longevity....

Actually 318ti have the highest resale values of all the E36 vehicles (excluding M3's)!!!!

**zeaq328i** · 05-29-2005, 10:59 AM

^^So, still finding a 528i?

**komodo** · 05-29-2005, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeaq328i

^^So, still finding a 528i?

I thought the 540 was his dream car.

**catalyst** · 05-29-2005, 11:45 AM

The 1.8L is built much more solid than the i6's, with forged crank and heavy duty timing chains, imo this is basically done becuase the engine has to be run in the high RPM's all the time because its simply to small an engine for the car.

Either way this really has no effect on the cost of the car, i dont know to many poeple that go out looking for 4 cylinder e36's. There is a reason the e46 isnt offered in 4 cyl (in america) you know.

e30 318's are where its at, light ass car, and alot of horses can be tuned out of the 1.8L simply by advancing the timing, and chipping it.

I honestly hope you can sell your car for 4 grand, but in 2007, 4 grand seems like it will be a more likely price for 325's, if the values keep depriciating the way they are now.

**zeaq328i** · 05-29-2005, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by komodo

I thought the 540 was his dream car.

Oppss...

.

**delmarco** · 05-29-2005, 02:47 PM

yeah the E39 540i is my dream car not the paltry underpowered E39 528i!

But overall my experience with the E36 would move me to buy another one (or an E46) if it came down to it.

**Addicted?** · 05-29-2005, 03:45 PM

the m42 motor is a fricken tank dude, as longas you didnt get a "lemon" and you take care of it you will see a shit load miles on the car... my 318 had 118k and was running fine! except for some wheel bearings.. anyways my buddy has a 91 318is (m42 motor) and he just hit 200,000 (for you washington people he gave it the right passage and hit 200,000 on chuckanut) anyways they will run and run and run

David

**delmarco** · 05-31-2005, 01:34 PM

Cool!...
Thanks Dave....you made my day.....

**E36Bimmer** · 05-31-2005, 02:52 PM

my 95 318i was at 165K when i totaled her. No engine issues, but I had to do alternator at about 150K. I have heard that the headgasket was a problem area tho for the m42. Keep your eye on that. Resell value on a city driven car will be less regardless. Keep that in mind as well