MilesP

Car is in today.

850 for pump/thermo/cam belt with the three tensioners needed as well as switching my mags and balancing tires which is already a lot.

They also said that the front rear control arm bushes are worn and need replacing which would explain the tramlining (according to them).

Tramlining is not normally an issue for medium profile tyres so it suggests:

- something is seriously out of alignment or,

- you have something incorrectly fitted i.e. wheels with wrong offset or,

- there is a mechanical fault in the suspension.

I am assuming it is not lowered?

Rear toe out makes these cars wander which can feel like front end bump steer , you can pick this up at about 30k by feeling if it is a front or rear shift - not all ways easy unless you know what it feels like.

My issue is this. I don't know if its just the E36 or its the specific car.

My Honda drove the same road perfectly straight with no problems at all. But the BMW is honestly a struggle each morning.

So what should I look at first? Seeing as the steering wheel isn't straight could this be an alignment issue?

If you are getting tyres swapped then no reason why you shouldn't get an alignment at the same time, i have no idea who is good in Chch but i usually specify my alignment settings anyway.

The 318ti has no rear adjustment from factory iirc so you can only really adjust front toe. I specify 1-1.5mm Toe in(+) on each side usually as ive seen alot of places adjusting toe in to excessive amounts.

I am taking the car to Eurocare.

Every time that I have been there they have known everything I researched on the net and they all own themselves and only service/deal in BMW. So I will ask if they can align.

Tires on the car are the correct ones and are all in great shape as far as I know. How ever car does feel easier to turn left then right and the steering wheel is not straight when driving straight. I have no record of an alignment on the car.

On friday it is getting a set of new mags but the old tires will be put on them as they are the same size and the tires are in good shape. When I do this what you would guys recommend?

If I get the wheels aligned what company would be best? I went to Tony's once and they were not good.

Tires on the car are 205/60 R15

Just noticed the tendency of my E36 to follow lumps in the road quite a lot. I drive a reasonably lumpy road each day and the car follows the road quite viciously.

My old Honda was easy because you just point it down the road and hold the wheel straight but the E36 needs a lot of corrections and persuasion to get it to go straight.

Is this common in these cars or is some thing more sinister going on?

15 years ago

Am I in danger of the belt snapping in the next 100km? The car is at 98000kms and need to drive it to work until friday when it is booked in to have belt change.

Hey guys I found this picture in the engine bay >>>

Is this cam belt evidence?

Pioneer TS-A1605C

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SONY CDX-GT615UV

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USB

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ZAPPINâ„¢ : Yes

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Probably just BMW being conservative\covering their ass, Germans are more pedantic than Japs after all.

Most sources ive seen for the M20 state 60,000 miles or 4\5 years, i personally think 80,000 is a good medium baring age or if its being used in extreme conditions.

The M40 is a lump of sh*t to start with so probably better to drive it till it fails, celebrate, and then put in a M44 like you said.

Yeah everyone seems to say that. After a couple of days driving it though I have to say it sounds great, drives smooth and really is a pleasure to drive.

Is it unreliable or just under powered? What makes it a bad engine?

Edit: What sort of labor cost would I be looking at to drop in an M44?

BMW belts need replacing at 60k for the M20 and 40k for the M40 or 5 years, whichever occurs first

Well it has done 98000 and I am scared to drive it because I don't want the belt to snap

The guy at Eurocare here in Christchurch who only does BMW said every 80,000kms for the timing belt. I didn't ask about accessory belts though.

I guess its a case of do it one and do it right. But if it costs 500 - 600 every 40000kms I may as well change the engine to an m44.

No doubt its due but 26,000 is pretty ridiculous - 80,000-100,000km is the average and most belts ive seen can easily go past those figures. Do you know it hasn't been done?

No idea on the labor costs sorry

As far as the service manuals that I have are concerned I cant see that it has been done. There are several stickers under the bonnet though so will look into it. Fairly certain that they don't say it has been done.

Looks like I am in for $500 - $600

No doubt its due but 26,000 is pretty ridiculous - 80,000-100,000km is the average and most belts ive seen can easily go past those figures. Do you know it hasn't been done?

No idea on the labor costs sorry

As far as the service manuals that I have are concerned I cant see that it has been done. There are several stickers under the bonnet though so will look into it. Fairly certain that they don't say it has been done.

Looks like I am in for $500 - $600

Hi all,

I bought an E36 yesterday. I feel in love with the car when I drove it and it was a bit of an impulse buy.

So its a 1993 318i with the M40 engine and not the M43. Now this didn't bother me to be honest because a quick glance at the internet showed me they were very very similar. Except for one MAJOR difference. The M40 has a timing belt and I have just found this out.

The car is at 98000kms and according to service manuals and the internet this needs to be changed every 26000 miles. So that means that the car has done twice the distance and I am a little apprehensive to drive it now in case it snaps.

I am wanting to get a rough labor time in order to budget this repair? Any ideas?

Got one sorted. Thanks!

Great low kms, and if the condition reflects them then go for it. So it may want service items, carry them out and have a 105km car in perfect nick!

Yup. I bought it. By Christchurch prices I think it was a good deal. 3k

Does need thermo doing but otherwise I can't fault it.

Rare to find a 93 model that drives well! But with those kms, a lot of things should need attention soon possibly

Water pump and belts etc huh?

This car is near perfect both body and interior.

I just took a 1993 318i for a drive and it was in almost perfect condition. It was incredibly tidy and well presented. Done 98000kms and drove like it was new.

Would be a great e36 base to convert to manual in future and install an m44 into.

Well the car was a piece of sh*t.

The seller was rude and un motivated. I said has it been service recently and his response was "Nah".

Appeared ok but drove it and said nah and he got very aggressive

Ah well onwards and upwards!

I am after a TIDY 318 in any variant. It much be straight and honest with reasonable kms.

Budget is around 2 - 3k or max of $3500.

Located in Christchurch. What have you guys got hidden away?

I bought a 1995 or 1996 318ti a while back. Straight body and mint interior kms were around 130 something ish

Paid less than 1500.

Agree with others. There are better examples on the market for similar money.

I would keep looking. This one has cracked front bumper dented rear guard, wheels don't look great IMO and red is prone to fading more so than other colours I reckon.

Fair enough. I will take it for a test drive anyway so that I have something to compare it to.

If it is a MINT runner and in perfect condition apart from the bumper and rear guard would it be worth it? Or just not worry about it.

Those photos are nearly a year old. It was rough then, what does it look like now ??

My thoughts exactly. I will need to check it out. I guess I shouldn't get my hopes up.

But at the end of the day if it is mechanically sound then 2200 doesn't seem to bad. I can work on those things myself and I love DIY projects. Especially on BMW because they are a joy to work on.

Is $2200 to much for its condition?

Its the M44 engine with nice wheels and the nice interior and traction control.

Is this the E36 ACS kitted one on trademe?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=615307727

This one here. I am very keen on it. I need a good tidy run about that is fun to drive. I would be saving for a manual converison. I have $1000 saved for a manual so would need another 8 - 900

I need a tidy car that will be a good runner, fun to drive and economical.

I have a 318ti lined up for $2200. 147000kms in red with 17inch mags. Sunroof etc. Seems like a nice price. Will take it for a drive tomorrow and find out!

Any thoughts on these for that price point?

I would like to get one, save and convert to manual.

Yeah it's probably an neglected system, bad pump, air in the lines, bad coolant with impurities or blockages, even the sensor could be stuffed.

To be fair, the figures are ok for such a car, but damn they are unsightly, would you want to be seen in one of those?!

Stick to the E36!

Just took a few E36s for a drive at Turners though and in my price range god they were rough. Although this is turners.

It would take the right E36 for me to buy.

A while ago I owned a Mazda MX6. This was an incredibly fun car which was very reliable and would eat most cars on the road. It had a KLZE 2.5l V6 which pumps out 200BHP.

I am thinking about all possibilities of cars that I can jump into next and I am leaning towards either an E36 and do a manual conversion or go with some thing else a little cheaper and save for a nicer E36.

One issue with the car that the owner has stated is that it heats up (past normal operating temps) after long periods of driving. The owner says that he thinks the water pump needs to be replaced. Could it be this or some thing else?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/...n-612998177.htm