looking to get an e36

[dubbkidd]

im looking to buy a comuter car for when i go to dorm in the city..i live about an hour away but wont be coming up every day just weekends mosstly..so i nwas looking to buy a 318 for about $2200..but has 170xxx miles on it...could u guys help fill me in with any issues with this car im sort of new coming from the vw background..

[IWannaBMW]

If you buy it, replace as much cooling system components and you can. Check your guibo joint, it's between transmission and the drive shaft. Way to check it is, if you drive the car and it shakes and/or makes thumping noise around the shifter area usually in 1st or 2nd gear, than that's it or center support bearing or both. Check your spark plugs, fluids, tires u know how it goes. That's about all i can think of right now

[Investor]

check the belts, and too true about cooling system. E36 Phantom posted in another thread, but shuold be useful for you as well>

Water pump. Plastic impellers disintegrate and make the cooling system useless.
-Rear suspension has a host of problems: Rear Shock Mounts, Rear Trailing Arm Bushings, Rear Subframe, etc. Lots of bushings go out.
-Plastic fan. The motor mounts on these cars are weak, and allow the engine to shift enough to push the plastic fan into the radiator and shroud, causing the fan to self destruct, and usually take the radiator, fan clutch, and hoses in the vicinity out too.
-Pretty much all the bushings in the suspension crack. They're just designed poorly.
-Self-Indexing Windows. The windows drop a 1/2" when the door is opened, and roll up again when shut. This is to create a tighter seal. Make sure the door does not "hang" when you try to open it, some of them will catch the window a bit if its not adjusted right.
-Valve Cover Gaskets. These leak. On all BMW's. Its just a fact of life. Unless they're gushing out, don't even give that a second thought. Ask the mechanic exactly how severe the leak is.

[jehuflores]

these cars could turn out to be a money pit, one thing i can suggest is have a reliable mechanic take a look at it. what the guys above are saying is very true, but unless you're a mechanic, you probably won't be touching any of that stuff yourself. has the seller told you of any issues the car has?

[IWannaBMW]

+1000 on having a reliable mechanic look at it, but do as much as you can yourself, mechanics these just wanna get it done, well not all of them but there are some. I've saved my self at least 800$ just by replacing that stuff myself and help of a buddy when needed for 2 people jobs, and of course my dad. Learn to work on it ur self and you can somewhat live with them.