newbie need's advice

[monsta72 0]

First off i would like to say what an excellent source of imformation this forum is.I am looking at purchasing this 1995 325.http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/BMW/auction-126363579.htm?key=663528.As you can see from the pics,it has an m-spec badge and seats.Did it come with these or were they an extra a later owner added.I wont be able to get a mechanical breakdown warranty if its an m-spec model.Any advice greatly appreciated.

[Yuen 16]

Welcome to the forums

The car doesn't appear to be an M-Spec model. Just a normal E36 with ACS wheels and the seats wouldn't be from the factory, they are vader seats from an M3. It also looks to be slightly lowered so maybe you should check with the owner as that may affect the warranty.

[monsta72 0]

Thanks for the fast reply.Spoke with the owner tonight.Hes had it for almost three years and hasnt done anything to it.He also doesnt appear to know anything about previous owners customizing.Im putting it through the A.A's vehicle inspection report in the next few days.He does have service records and receipts and it looks very tidy for its age.

[cainchapman 0]

Good luck with it.

It's not Calypso Red (as BMW painted them anyway). It looks OK.

We'll look forward to seeing pictures of whatever you buy.

[Cale 36]

Love those M3 Vadar seats. Good Luck

[Mark 178]

Just for the record, those are AC Schnitzer replica wheels not the genuine article. I have a set on my car the same, they're called "Advanti Essens". Also, it's not lowered as my car sits at that height on the stock springs.

It looks very tidy though... good luck with the purchase. And do us a favour if you do buy it: Take the M badge off! (Pet peeve)

[monsta72 0]

Thanks for the info.I will take off the badge if i do buy it.Just got car back from A.A.Report not as good as i was hoping for.

Temperature gauge and clock LCD deteriorating.

Power steering hose leaking.

Air conditioning belts cracked.

Oil seepage at rear of engine.

Timing chain rattle.

Foot brake pedal pulses.

Dust boot torn on front right shock.

Hoping owner will fix power steering hose,oil seepage and timing chain rattle.Will speak with him tonight.Any idea how much for LCD fix.Any info or advice appreciated.

P.S nice hood.

Edited November 22, 2007 by monsta72

[Cale 36]

In my experience, AA VIRs are very pedantic, not saying they're wrong but very pedantic.

Think that there is a post on here about AA inspections.

OBC DIY

[Yuen 16]

Thanks for the info.I will take off the badge if i do buy it.Just got car back from A.A.Report not as good as i was hoping for.

Temperature gauge and clock LCD deteriorating.

Power steering hose leaking.

Air conditioning belts cracked.

Oil seepage at rear of engine.

Timing chain rattle.

Foot brake pedal pulses.

Dust boot torn on front right shock.

Hoping owner will fix power steering hose,oil seepage and timing chain rattle.Will speak with him tonight.Any idea how much for LCD fix.Any info or advice appreciated.

P.S nice hood.

By temp gauge you mean the OBC right? (Same unit above the sunglass holder as the clock) If so the display going bad is common on the E36s.

Power steering hose, I have heard it is common to have a slight weep on the E36s, but I'm not sure how bad this one is.

Air-cond belt - not costly to fix?

Oil seepage - may be valve cover gasket needing changing?

Timing chain rattle - VANOS 'pebbles in a can' rattle? Common as well. As long as it still works, most people ignore it.

Brake pedal - no idea.

Dust boot on front shock - sounds like a small issue, but would check if it has affected the shock.

If you are really keen on this car, or if you are going to look at more E36s, I suggest you bring it to a BMW specialist. They will be able to tell you what is a common issue and how much it will cost to fix, etc. Glenn from Botany Motorworx is a sponsor of our forum and he will sort you out, he does pre-purchase inspections. His nickname on here is 'botanymotorworx' and other details are on http://www.botanymotorworx.co.nz/

Good luck.

[monsta72 0]

Thanks for info.I live in Christchurch.Any BMW specialist you could recommend?

[cainchapman 0]

DCH Motorsport. Washbournes Rd, Sockburn

or Christchurch BMW.

[oldskool 4]

Hey,

Have card at home for BM guru in Chch, but do yourself a favour and leave ChCh BMW to it, from second person experience, they were pants with doing not only the vehicle inspection, but also not fixing issues and charging pretty well for the insult.

Don't know what your experience has been when in ChCh Cain, but given that I drove the car in question both prior to inspection and post work, I would not have been recommending them on that particular day, nor to many after.

I'll post details tomoz for you re : specialist.

Cheers

Grant

[nz320i 0]

Yeah i'm not a fan of chch bmw. Yes my e30 wasnt excatly enthusiast when i took it there last, but all they did was replace parts trying to fix the problem rather than fault find, and then charge me a huge amount. in the end i told them to leave it and towed it home and fixed it myself!

I do buy parts from them however, just dont like getting my car fixed there.

[cainchapman 0]

Sorry Grant, which of those to are you unhappy with?

I'd be very keen to hear exactly, what and when if it relates to DCH Motorsport.

I personally have had no dealings with Christchurch BMW. Blackwells existed when ours was new. I am recommending them on the back of the dealer network (not from experience).

If your other BMW specialist is GAC (Graeme Clyde), he now works for DCH.

[oldskool 4]

Sorry Grant, which of those to are you unhappy with?

I'd be very keen to hear exactly, what and when if it relates to DCH Motorsport.

I personally have had no dealings with Christchurch BMW. Blackwells existed when ours was new. I am recommending them on the back of the dealer network (not from experience).

If your other BMW specialist is GAC (Graeme Clyde), he now works for DCH.

Hey Cain,

No problems with DCH, relates to BMW ChCh, their parts guys are super helpful, but workshop leaves an awful lot to be desired.

Yup GAC was my recommendation, been a while since I've been down in ChCh so didnt know he had moved.

Cheers

Grunta

[Mark 178]

Thanks for the info.I will take off the badge if i do buy it.Just got car back from A.A.Report not as good as i was hoping for.

Temperature gauge and clock LCD deteriorating.

Power steering hose leaking.

Air conditioning belts cracked.

Oil seepage at rear of engine.

Timing chain rattle.

Foot brake pedal pulses.

Dust boot torn on front right shock.

Hoping owner will fix power steering hose,oil seepage and timing chain rattle.Will speak with him tonight.Any idea how much for LCD fix.Any info or advice appreciated.

P.S nice hood.

That list doesn't look too bad... remember, you are looking at buying what is now a 13 year old car! It's not going to be perfect, but the only thing I'd worry about is the "timing chain rattle". As has already been said it could be the VANOS. While this may just be a noise, if it craps out totally it could be expensive to fix. I'd take the car to a BMW specialist and see what they say first before you rule the car out totally though.

And I also have OBC issues.... I don't think I've seen an E36 without them!!

P.S: If you're referring to the hood in my sig, it's just a photoshop.... wouldn't ever do that to the green beast even if I did have the money!!

[monsta72 0]

Thanks heaps for the advice.Spoke with owner the nite after AA test and he said he would replace both air con belt and power steer hose.Also would get oil seepage fixed.One little interesting note though was while AA were lifting car they damaged side skirt on right side,but kudos to them they are paying for it to be repaired at the moment.Pretty sure owner wont pay to get timing chain rattle checked so may do this myself after buying it as im reallly keen.AA finance person im dealing with got car valued.Came back at 13000.Do you think this is accurate?

[Yuen 16]

IMHO, at $13,000 it is overvalued. Are you still planning to get the car checked at a specialist or the dealer? Still worth it for the peace of mind, and just in case the rattle is something else that may cost more?

It's silly that AA doesn't know where the proper jacking point is. Good that they are getting it fixed though. Btw, the car does not actually have sideskirts, those are just the rocker panels under the sideskirts.

[monsta72 0]

Both myself and the owner have listened to engine and can not here any rattle.Read here timing chain rattle usually audible above 2500ish rpm's under load.Hav'nt tried that.Will ring specialist and take it in.Thanks for your advice.

[Mark 178]

Yuen is right... that valuation is quite high. My car is very similar (sedan vs coupe though) and I have it insured at an agreed value of $10k which is still on the high end for these cars. Also, I'm not sure how old you are, but the AA wouldn't insure me for a car with a 2.5 litre engine even though I've been driving accident free for 7 years and never claimed on my insurance. (I'm 24)... so something to bear in mind I guess.

Good luck.... we need more Bimmer owners from Christchurch on the forum!

[monsta72 0]

Spoke with owner this afternoon.He took car to mechanic and was told power steering hose not leaking and oil seepage at rear of engine was just a little spillage from oil change last week.

Spoke with graeme from GAC here in Christchurch in regards to timing chain rattle.Advised me to warm car up to normal operating temperature and then listen for rattle.Should be quite audible then.Both owner and mechanic assured me nothing they could hear was out of the ordinary and all seemed well.

In a previous post someone told me the AA were a little pedantic,they were'nt wrong.Taking car in to AA for recheck so i can still get 3 year mechanical warranty.Then hoping to be new owner.Thanks all for excellent advice and look forward to seeing some of you out there on those twisty roads.

Graeme from GAC was more than happy to give me advice and seemed very approachable.He will get my bussiness from now on.Point for chch forum members.

gannetboy im thirty five years old but have twenty five year old girlfriend if that tells you any thing so insurance not a problem.If you ever fancy a game of paint ball I manage the topgun field.

[Mark 178]

All good monsta.... glad we all could be of help.

Paintball you say? Perhaps you should suggest that in the thread about the upcoming Chch meet.... now that would be fun!!

[Yuen 16]

Glad to hear the good news Monsta. Looks like you're buying the car!

[Mark 178]

Hey Monsta.... did you end up buying this car? Think I saw it today driving along Barbadoes Street. If so, you should come along to the Chch meet this weekend.

[monsta72 0]

I did buy the car.Absolutely loving it.Wow.Couldnt make it to meet because of other plans.Hope you all had fun.Im sure i will read about it.Just got back from christmas in Nelson.I couldnt stop smiling the whole time i was driving,only problem was a sore face.If you see me and have spare few minutes pull me over,would love to check your ride.My plate is CKE70.Have a good new years.