savvi 0 Report post Posted February 28, 2012 Hi, everyone, im looking at buying this car and would like to no any bad points or things to check, is auto in this car reliable should gearbox oil be replaced its done 143,000ks, as ive heard of autos in e36s can be problamatic cheers shane http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=451194236 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wom 0 Report post Posted February 28, 2012 when you test drive it you'll know straight away whether the gearbox has issues it will jerk between 1st and 2nd (and if it's real bad then 2nd to 3rd as well) it might also flair the revs between 1st and 2nd - almost as if it goes to neutral between changes and hangs there for a couple seconds I've heard some people recommend every 25,000kms for those Jatco boxes and I would agree with that, they need all the help they can get to live longer check under the engine for any oil leaks check in the engine bay for any signs of coolant leakage / spray - cooling system is another fail point just something to keep in mind, I had my auto box fixed under warranty and it cost the insurer a bit over $3000 it then started failing again less than a year later, so I did what I should've done in the first place and got a manual put in, for far less than it would've cost to get the auto repaired again (it was outside warranty by this stage) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BM WORLD 1283 Report post Posted February 28, 2012 just picked up a 96 328ia for my brother the other day done 157k cloth 4 door , drives ok , buy now of $2500 also a mate of mine just got a 96 nz new one with the much better ZF gearbox and taller diff ratio he likes it. maybe look at a 328i not much different in price . try get a manual or nz new or singapore import as they have the zf auto box. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
savvi 0 Report post Posted February 28, 2012 when you test drive it you'll know straight away whether the gearbox has issues it will jerk between 1st and 2nd (and if it's real bad then 2nd to 3rd as well) it might also flair the revs between 1st and 2nd - almost as if it goes to neutral between changes and hangs there for a couple seconds I've heard some people recommend every 25,000kms for those Jatco boxes and I would agree with that, they need all the help they can get to live longer check under the engine for any oil leaks check in the engine bay for any signs of coolant leakage / spray - cooling system is another fail point just something to keep in mind, I had my auto box fixed under warranty and it cost the insurer a bit over $3000 it then started failing again less than a year later, so I did what I should've done in the first place and got a manual put in, for far less than it would've cost to get the auto repaired again (it was outside warranty by this stage) at closer inspection it was imported from japan so more than likely have the inferior jatco box, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sp8s 1 Report post Posted February 28, 2012 My compact came from japan and it had ZF box. Check with the chassis number/build sheet what box it has Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wom 0 Report post Posted February 29, 2012 I think it was only the 6 cylinder Jap one's that had the Jatco box either way, manual is way better in these cars Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antil33t 90 Report post Posted February 29, 2012 My NZ New E34 has a Jatco Box........ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BM WORLD 1283 Report post Posted February 29, 2012 (edited) My NZ New E34 has a Jatco Box........ na !!!! how did you come to that conclusion??? unless someone retro fitted it when they could'nt find a ZF if it crapped out etc. but would require a bit of wiring etc to do Edited February 29, 2012 by Brent HARTGE535i Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites