New to BimmerForums and new to Bimmers

[sjonesd3]

*Sorry if this post is in the wrong location*

What's up everybody. As the title says, I'm new to the forum. Always lurked on here to read about the different series. E36 has been one of my favorite cars for a long minute.

Recently totaled my car, in a rear-end collision (wasn't my fault at all). So thinking I might actually pull the trigger on getting one. I had a 2000 Civic EX coupe, 5 speed. While I'm no mechanic, I kept up the maintenance on it. Changed the clutch w/ a friend (including master & slave cylinders), did my own oil changes, and tune ups. I've changed air shocks on my older car, as well as brakes. And work at a tool store, so I have access to buying most tools, transmission jacks, engine cranes/stands including compressors. So I don't think that maintenance will be too hard, since I read that the car is good for DIYers.

TL;DR
Currently researching 5-speed E36s and pricing replacement parts avoiding the 318i (unless I have to go that route), coupe or sedan doesn't matter to me.

Stephan

[pizzaman09]

Welcome to the forum! Those older manual Hondas can be a hoot to drive, nothing much like a small light car with a manual transmission.

The e36s with an inline 6 are all quite good. The 4 cylinders are good too but the power of the 6 cylinder cars is pretty addicting. The 328s are awesome cars, they don't have the M3's torque but they are so rewarding to drive.
When it comes to e36 prices, the lowest prices are on convertibles, followed by sedans and most expensive are usually the coupes. Manuals command a fair bit more than the automatics as well, though they are not rare and are very much worth it.

Good luck!

[MisterM52]

Welcome to the forum, I say if you can, then save up and try to invest into a 325i which is the older M50B25 (2.5L) motor. or better yet a 328i (2.8L Vanos and more mod friendly). They are good motors long as well taken care of, has some class to it, but make sure the usual are taken care of as in the cooling system 100K overhaul (water pump, tstat, rad). The interior of these do tend to age badly, the E36 that is, so you may find a good car with a saggy headliner or falling off door cards or you may just find a overall good runners up. do your research and hopefully you will find what you are after. Speaking of which there is a member here right now Eric/Moron95 I think, hes selling a REALLY nice convertible with the 6 cylinder after doing a 5 speed swap, might get a bargain, go have a look.. The 4 pot is also okay but as you know...a lot of us come from or tried the 4, and refer the 6 which is what the bmw is about, I6 M Power.

all the best! :thumbup:

[sjonesd3]

Welcome to the forum, I say if you can, then save up and try to invest into a 325i which is the older M50B25 (2.5L) motor. or better yet a 328i (2.8L Vanos and more mod friendly). They are good motors long as well taken care of, has some class to it, but make sure the usual are taken care of as in the cooling system 100K overhaul (water pump, tstat, rad). The interior of these do tend to age badly, the E36 that is, so you may find a good car with a saggy headliner or falling off door cards or you may just find a overall good runners up. do your research and hopefully you will find what you are after. Speaking of which there is a member here right now Eric/Moron95 I think, hes selling a REALLY nice convertible with the 6 cylinder after doing a 5 speed swap, might get a bargain, go have a look.. The 4 pot is also okay but as you know...a lot of us come from or tried the 4, and refer the 6 which is what the bmw is about, I6 M Power.

all the best! :thumbup:


Thanks for the welcome. Yep I'm leaning towards the 325i & 328i. I've been reading about the cooling issues as well. Had those issues on my Civic. Changed the t-stat, then had to go back to change the t-stat switch. Lol definitely heard about the headliner & door card problems too. Thanks for the recommendation on the vert. Not too much of fan of those, but I'll def look at them.

That's what I have to learn about the engine names (I6, etc)

[MisterM52]

Yea on the E36 you really have 2 Motors with different displacement (and some with slight upgrades, like dual vanos) M50 is the older one OBD I and M52 is the newer. M50 only went upto 2.5L M52 is 2.8L how you tell is 328i. well there it is 28L but more so M52B28 (B28). M52 is Single Vanos. M50 is non vanos, there are TU (Technical Upgrade versions) from later years so M50TUB25 will be a Vanos M50 Block, while M52 with TUB means dual vanos iirc..and all that jazz. just stick to a 325i or a 328i and you will be fine. watch the interior and just know if the cooling system was done if not, if the cars good, budget it, offer price accordingly and do it yourself. they are all inline six i6/straight six motors ;)

[sjonesd3]

Welcome to the forum! Those older manual Hondas can be a hoot to drive, nothing much like a small light car with a manual transmission.

The e36s with an inline 6 are all quite good. The 4 cylinders are good too but the power of the 6 cylinder cars is pretty addicting. The 328s are awesome cars, they don't have the M3's torque but they are so rewarding to drive.
When it comes to e36 prices, the lowest prices are on convertibles, followed by sedans and most expensive are usually the coupes. Manuals command a fair bit more than the automatics as well, though they are not rare and are very much worth it.

Good luck!

*I thought I responded*

Thanks for the welcome. And mannnnnn you are right, my little Civic is how I learned how to drive a manual a few years ago. Learning how to drive it was super fun. Then eventually replacing the clutch was another accomplishment. 328s are my 1st choice but of course I'll def take 325i as well. I also noticed that you're correct about the pricing order of, Convertibles (my least favourite)<Sedan<Coupes. I do love their autos as I have some experience, since my mom has an X1 & stepdad a 2013 328i (IIRC). And I'm always driving her X1