Thoughts? Manual trans 328i 4 door, cheap

[Talisman850]

Hi all,

Looking at a beat up 1997 328i for cheap as a play car. What are some things to look for?

Apparently its a theft victim, someone ripped out the ignition to try and steal it, but there was no battery in it. What can I do to get it started? Am I going to run into security issues on a '97?

Can maybe pick it up for under 400 bucks, so that's why I'm looking, may play with turning it into a little track car for the wife. (gutted, coilovers, etc.)

[pbonsalb]

You might have to send the ECU in to have ews deleted or buy another ecu with ews already deleted. Cant help with the ignition lock but if its not locked maybe a push button start/stop?

[Eric93se]

Even before putting a battery in it, check to see if the key will turn the ignition and not spin all the way around. You going to want to do a compression check because overheating warps and sometimes cracks the head, and if that's the case then the car is only worth the $400. Check for rust.

[Talisman850]

Thanks will look into those, going to look at it tonight just wanted some ideas to keep a lookout for. She said the ignition is "ripped out". So my hopes aren't high.

If a 97 is easy to splice wiring and push button start then I wasn't that worried, but that doesn't sound like the case.

[Talisman850]

Any tips on hot wiring it just to hear it run?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[Talisman850]

Well cars very clean for what it is, the ignition cylinder has been removed and lost.. so how hard is it to install a new cylinder and key without the original keys?

I just want to hear it run.

Can get it for 300.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[bluptgm3]

Well cars very clean for what it is, the ignition cylinder has been removed and lost.. so how hard is it to install a new cylinder and key without the original keys?

I just want to hear it run.

Can get it for 300.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

Impossible unless you disable EWSII. There is an ignition antenna ring that looks at the key and sends a signal to DME and EWSII box which sends a signal to DME.

Here is a high level overview
https://www.turnermotorsport.com/t-faq-ews


But how can you go wrong for $300?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Talisman850]

Impossible unless you disable EWSII. There is an ignition antenna ring that looks at the key and sends a signal to DME and EWSII box which sends a signal to DME.

Here is a high level overview
https://www.turnermotorsport.com/t-faq-ews


But how can you go wrong for $300?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Basically I'm thinking buy it for 300, then use proof of ownership to get new keys from my dealer. Either spend 300 on tuning to get it to run and see if I want it, or buy it for 300 and part it out if the motors bad.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[blckstrm]

If it's in decent shape and you're sure you're making a track car out of it, you could sell all kinds of parts to recoup both your original $300 and pay for new dealer-sourced keys and cylinder / EWS reflash (or however that works).

That way, worst case, you're never in the hole too much.

And if it doesn't run, easy-to-remove parts like the diff and tranny would make you a few dollars for your trouble.