list of all common E36 problems

[chancebanning]

If there's already something like this, please direct me to it (wouldn't be surprised if there was),

I'd like to see a comprehensive list of all the common (and not-so-common) problems people deal with in their E36's; everything from all the faulty points of the cooling system to small electrical problems, and even places these cars could just stand to improve. I'm talking everything.

I'd like to see such a list because it would be nice to some day start with a real clean E36 and a new/rebuilt engine, and basically build the car up addressing every one of these problems as I (or whoever else) went. The idea is to take an already great car and turn it into the ultimate car that shines all across the board - not so much a full out performance car, but more of a perfect daily driver that not only will never let you down in any aspect, but is also real fun and sexy ride.

Hopefully people will input, but I'll start with a few of the things I've had to deal with:

1. Models w/ 80A alternator are too weak to keep many aftermarker electrical additions going.
2. Bad puller fan design, had to switch to electric.
3. Problematic climate control unit.. not sure how to improve here.
4. Want ways to keep better tabs on cooling system diagnostics.
5. Upgrade to nicer glass headlight lenses from stock plastics,
6. Would like to improve on interior lighting, not sure on specifics yet tho,

Those are just top of my head. Another thing that would maybe be worth pointing out are real strong points of other cars, as maybe they could be incorporated into the E36 somehow. Anyway, just hoping to get something out of this, all input appreciated!

[RFtesla]

Brake light circuit error
Plastic water pump impeller
Rear subframe
Possibility of electrical fire in trunk

[Constructo003]

did you fix that electrical failure in your truck

[chancebanning]

Just so I'm sure..
What's the problem with the brake light circuit?
The subframe is notorious for pulling out, right?
Trunk electrical is the spot where the wiring is prone to cracking and exposing bare copper?

Thanks for the reply-


Brake light circuit error
Plastic water pump impeller
Rear subframe
Possibility of electrical fire in trunk

[1996Ken328IS]

Just so I'm sure..
What's the problem with the brake light circuit?
The subframe is notorious for pulling out, right?
Trunk electrical is the spot where the wiring is prone to cracking and exposing bare copper?

Thanks for the reply-

Brake circuit is a bad brake switch that throws errors to the OBC.

Subframe pulls out yes, but typically after suspension mods, and driving it like you are a college student.

You are right on the money with the trunk.

[karlow]

Sucky AM antenna.
Loose shifter.
Hot spot under the climate control.
Crappy engine temp gage.
Crappy clear coat paint.
Crappy speaker system (WTF is the bass!)
Decomposing interior.

Is someone taking notes?

[karlow]

Exploding fans, radiator, and overflows!

[karlow]

How about the neat trick where the oil pump nut fall off!

[drtweak1992325i]

Shitty coolant hoses that bludge and break, the use of every nut size from 8 mm to 19mm and having to guess what size it is, the pain in the ass screws you much remove to remove the breaks in the back and how the struts are in the way, the way everything is so compact and hard to get to, on and the position of the fuel filter on the 92 models...in the most impossable place to get them.

[utopia13]

Over time the clamps on the fuel lines go bad. Under rear seat...check both sides.

Only cost me about 1/2 tank of premium! :(

[FierySphere]

Jeez, have folks ever owned an Italian car ? Or an English one? Or a French one? or an American one from the early 70's to ...well you get the picture.:rolleyes

[LinearX]

Jeez, have folks ever owned an Italian car ? Or an English one? Or a French one? or an American one from the early 70's to ...well you get the picture.:rolleyes

This thread is useful... it's not like anybody is complaining, facts are facts. Fortunately, I've addressed most of these on my car.

[dk4bimmer]

the position of the fuel filter on the 92 models...in the most impossable place to get them.

i cant believe they put that F#$% thing there after i got it out i moved it to a better place to get at it

[jskin1510]

i heard the door handles breaking is a very common problem i dont' know exactly which part usually breaks in that assembly but with mine it was broken in 3 or 4 spots and that's getting fixed soon. i've personally experienced problems with the brake light circuit always throwing error messages on the obc and my shifter has a lot of play while it's in gear as well even after i bought a short shifter. the most common things i've heard is the fan messing up, plastic impeller on water pump, and the weak alternators not being able to perform well enough. my ignition tumbler actually locked up last week and that is going to be an expensive repair it would lock in the on position or accessory and wouldn't be able to turn. i don't know if others have had this problem but with the tumbler, and steering lock part and labor its gonna cost me around $450-500 which sucks

[crisko]

automatic windows that go up 6" then back down 2" and stop. Annoying!

[IWannaBMW]

My problems so far: Replaced: alternator, thermostat, radiator hoses, window regulator, guibo, tranny mounts, belts, few bulbs to make the whole interior light up, power steering hose with cooling coil, trunks shocks

Problems: auxilary fan crapping out, seat squeeking, check coolant level on all the time, feels like suspension is gonna fall apart ( lowered on bavauto springs), needs new speakers, needs new steering wheel, new muffler to replace ebay one, new brakes, brake sensors, new fan clutch, driver seat stiching is torn up, needs a new door panel, sloppy shifter..and the list goes on.

I'm sick of putting cars together, i've been doin it since i started driving 5 yrs ago ahah :(. Time to go back and get a low mileage Honda/Acura?

Crisko, you need new regulators.

[BMWALDO]

Similar thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56053

[boeing328i]

Lets not forget the useless cup holder, sagging glove box, falling headliner, shitty radio, very troublesome sunroof, no tilt, plastic door handle trims, NO LIGHT UNDER HOOD, see that I never understood from a car that lights up inside like a Christmas tree, and yet no light under the hood, go figure...

[Investor]

fu(k, every time I read these threads i get depressed. :)

[Provolone]

fu(k, every time I read these threads i get depressed. :)

word...

[RomasBurg328iCA]

anything on the CDV? why did BMW put this in their cars? (96+ right?) I'm taking mine out soon. I tried it already and stripped the 11mm nut, but i'll get it out... but yea i hate that jerky feeling when shiftly quickly btwn 1 and 2nd...

Also, make sure that if you ever need it towed DONT have them hook the rear lower control arm... when I bought my car it had a bent one and it's a b*tch to replace... gotta lower the differential just to remove one bolt!

hood struts had to be replaced right away as well...

+1 on stereo system... might have been nice back in the day, but it's terrible to today's standards... I just got a deck with more power (45x4 vs. 35x4) and that helped a lot...

FOG LIGHT lenses break all the time... i highly recommend lamin-x or something of the sort... and plastic headlights "fog" up all the time... just get a headlight cleaner designed to fix it (i got a small pack on ebay for $3)... buff it out and it'll look a hellava lot better, maybe not "back to oem specs" like some may state but at least you'll have a clearer view without spending a lot...

and the pedals sqeak a lot (manual)... wd30 or something should work for that... just be careful...

that's all i can think of... plus other things but those were specific to my car... gluck yall... *subscribed*

[red97tj]

my list of parts to replace so far since i owned back last x-mas (just broke 100k mark on the odo):

1. rad plastic reservoir cracked.
2. oil filter housing gasket leak.
3. alternator & idler pulleys sounds like marbles rolling around in the can.
4. the plastic bushing on auto belt tensioner is worn so bad that the hydraulic cylinder was making contact w/ the mounting bracket.
5. windshield washer pump took a dump.
6. suspension is shot. i just swapped out the rear shocks since i haven't had the time to install the set tokico illuminas & h&r springs & replacement bushings. the rear shocks were leaking & the foam bump stops were all busted up from bottoming out once too many times.
7. the rear driver side brake is rattling. i saw that the inner pad is moving around when i swapped out the shocks. i read that the clip is probably missing so that's why it rattles.
8. the door panels are all delaminating along w/ the interior door handle ring.
9. the glove box was also delaminating/warping.
10. one of the glass fog lense popped off after i hit a small bump in the road.
11. the car idle surges when the electric cooling fan kicks on. the situation got a bit better when i changed out the icv.
12. clear coat is peeling on hood, decklid & tonneau cover.
13. rear speakers blown out.
14. stock floor mat slides around when getting in/out of vehicle. the mat would push on the accelerator if it slides too far forward, making your car idle high & it doesn't want to stop when braking.
15. stitching on the soft top is disappearing slowly. the headliner was taken down by last owner when it started to droop down. so when it was raining for 2 days straight beginning of this week, the rain came in through the stitch holes in the roof & collect on the bow underneath it, which is exactly over my head. it's great to have water dripping on your head when driving around.
16. touchy window dropped down feature for coupe/verts.
17. damn srs light is on after working on my dash & now i have to buy a reset module since i can't reset it any other way.

other than that, i love my e36...everyone thinks i'm a high roller since i roll in a bimmer. little do they know it's worth a lot less than what they're driving around in right now. who am i to argue though...

[jehuflores]

fu(k, every time I read these threads i get depressed. :)

:shifty at least now I know I'm not the only one :shifty

[Ohtwo]

You can fix all those problems but you will still be left with a car that cracks rattles and creaks because of the types of materials used on the interior. The chassis could stand to be stiffer as well, which is probably half the problem.

Don't get me wrong, they're great cars. Definatly ahead of their time. Stiff, agile, smooth, comftorable and well engineered, but we are dealing with a car that was put on the drawing board in the early eighties. Plasitcs, computers and manufacturing techniques have improved since then.