E36 Reliability/Running Costs

[TW]Fox;11716397 said:
Irrespective of the luck that some members of this forum have been having with them it remains my opinion that an E36 6 pot is not an epicly reliable, cheap to run car. It's an enjoyable to own car provided you can justify the cost of running them, but it's not cheap or easy to run unless you have detailed mechanical knowledge yourself.

If you need to pay other people to do things for you, as many of us do, it remains a 6 pot BMW and thus remains associated with reasonably high running costs.

Plus they look like bangers these days unless you get an absolutely pristine minter in an unusual colour.
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Some good points here.
While I have had 3 years of trouble-free motoring, like any car out there, some owners will tell you stories of failed VANOS units and many other faults.
I forgot to mention that I did have another issue with the car; the aircon control unit begain working erraticaly, after investigation I relaced a 23p capacitor on the pcb and job done- fixed! lol.
It's more down to the cars history than luck.

Paying people to work on your car? Never!!!
Yes, BMW prices are expensive for labour, some offer discounts for older cars to keep them coming in we do (Porsche/Ferrari). Parts aren't bad though and the cars are pretty easy to work on, there are many independant specialists around as well.

Many can look poor, perhaps not "bangers" but some are not cared for very well and even I think they look dated now. But I've driven a few E46's and although I will get one next, they aren't any quicker, but they do drive lot nicer. But then again you can get an E39 M5 much cheaper than an E46 M3.

I enjoy mine, but it lives a lot of it's time under a tailored car cover, only coming out now for "proper" drives after I bought a runner for work use.
After 4 years of Cosworth ownershp it is epically reliable!

One thing I hate though is the 318is brigade that make the replica's, make me shudder that I own a car in the same range as these!!!
 
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