Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: Advice on this potential purchase

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    fort lauderdale,FL
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    1997 e36 m3

    Advice on this potential purchase

    Hey guys, almost bought a M/3/4/5 this weekend but had to hold back to make sure I did my due diligence properly. Was hanging out at a BMW specialty shop this weekend and the owner said he had a friend trying to sell a Estoril Blue M/3/4/5 with 72k miles for 3.5k and a rebuilt title. I quickly set up a meeting with the guy and the car was clean just needed a bunch of TLC and probably a full paint restoration. That isn’t what made me hesitant to though. Upon further digging I think this car might be victim to an odometer rollback as the mileage amount from my vin check didn’t check out. Per Autocheck it has the car listed at 84k miles back in 2009! Let me know what you guys think, what is the deal with this potential lemon. Told the mechanic and he said the engine looked decent and he was just judging the engine on his opinion not even considering miles. I’m on the fence about inheriting a potential money pit.
    Last edited by jestein007; 05-26-2020 at 10:45 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    5,776
    My Cars
    99 M3
    Lots of ‘red flags’ here.

    Salvage Title, what caused that? Is it missing matching OE VIN stickers on hood, fenders, trunk lid, and doors?
    DOT R stickers? No VIN/DOT R stickers.
    Panel gaps, edges of doors/hood/trunk and upper edge of front/rear bumper gaps look OK?.

    Odometer roll-back? Documentation of cluster replacement? Red tamper light illuminated?
    Friend of mechanic selling? Known trusted mechanic?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    9,079
    My Cars
    1997 328i
    Probably has more like 200k miles.

    Tamper light can be reset.
    Attn. NEWBIES: Use the search feature, 98% has already been discussed.
    Click the search button, select "search single content type", select the "e36 sub forum" specifically, try the "search titles" then try the "search entire posts".

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    183
    My Cars
    e36 325i, e85 Z4
    Wow... for 3.5K I would buy that in a heart beat. I wouldn't care about the rollback, I would clean it up and have a fun toy without the worry of keeping it mint. I wish we had those kinds of deals in Canada!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    washington dc
    Posts
    8,679
    My Cars
    Avus Cosmos Calypso!
    Check for mold and flooding damage

Similar Threads

  1. Advice on a potential 01 525i purchase
    By KJ E39 in forum 1996 - 2003 (E39)
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 05-19-2011, 10:28 AM
  2. Advice - M3 Potential Purchase ( Head Gasket Issues )
    By e36bryan in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 09-10-2009, 04:47 PM
  3. Potential Purchase Advice
    By jryan719 in forum 2006 - 2012 (E90, E91, E92, E93)
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 08-20-2009, 07:55 AM
  4. Replies: 2
    Last Post: 08-23-2007, 02:34 PM
  5. Seeking info/advice frm 330Ci owners on potential purchase
    By HDClown in forum 1999 - 2006 (E46)
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 01-14-2004, 11:15 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •