Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Jul 2005
- Posts
- 17,616
- Location
- Bristol
As most of you know, back in March 2009 I bought a scabby 1995 BMW e36 328i and I killed it dead (engine) about 4 months later. Since then I've not had a car and not really needed one.
Recently I've got a job and so a car would be rather helpful, it's not highly important as I work nights and have use of my mother's Land Rover but obviously this isn't ideal as I can only use it for work.
I've been hunting for the past couple of months for a cheap car with MOT and tax (at least 6 months of each). I've been looking at all sorts, went to see a 1995 Toyota Celica, tidy and ideal car really, but cost too much for me unfortunately. I was browsing for 306 XSI, DTurbo, Xsara VTS and many more basic cars around 10-15 years old.
The main issue I had was budget, none of these could be bought in working order for what I had to spend, or if they could be, they were 300+ miles away and the cost and time taken to view and possibly not buy was too much hassle really.
I'd resigned to waiting until I had a bit more money at my disposal and then I was informed of a car that I knew I'd really like and enjoy. I was told it had loads of issues, no MOT and almost out of tax but this didn't sway me against it, it just made me want it more as it gives me something to do when not working. As you'll know, I'm fairly adept with a spanner, having done engine changes on a 306, various mechanical things on the 328i (for it to still die) and then most recently, stripping down the 328i. The owner on the other hand owns a pair of pliers and that's about it for his tool collection.
The car was bang on the budget I wanted to spend (well, it was actually less than my initial budget), but for the condition it was described as being in, it was bang on budget.
The last few days have been quite hectic, working nights and sleeping during the day meant that getting hold of the owner and sorting things out was a bit of an issue. Sorted it though and yesterday I travelled ~260miles to collect the car. Had a good chat with the owner, found out more information about the problems, looked over the car and saw that the problems were much less severe than had been described. Signed the documents and handed over the cash. I left happy in the knowledge that I'd bought something that should prove to be good fun once the issues it has are sorted and left the previous owner happy with a pile of cash.
4 and a half (well, more like 5 and a half after a few stops at the services) hours later I got home with my new toy.
Today I've had a look over the car properly and it is in surprisingly good condition considering the mileage but I won't be able to have a full look at the underside etc. for a few days until one of our garages is emptied (full of furniture).
So...what did I buy? I'll let the pictures do the talking...
It is silver not blue, I just seem to have fudged the colour settings.
Some of you may recognise it.
1998 BMW e36 318iS as previously owned by Muffin`
Specs are:
Possibly other things too, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.
It's got 166k miles on the clock
This is what Muffin` originally said was wrong with it. It does need a full service, all fluids (including brake), filters etc. etc.
However, from what I can tell, the clutch is fine, when sat at 30-40mph in 4th and flooring the throttle both revs and speed climb steadily, the revs don't ramp up with no speed gain. I will however probably pull it out and have a look anyway and possibly replace if it looks like it's getting on a bit.
Shocks & springs I can't really look at properly until I've got it in the garage and the wheels off.
Inspection 2...see above about service etc.
Exhaust is just a rattly back box, annoying, but not a huge issue. I will change it for one that's not falling apart though.
Bushes...as with suspension, can't check till it's in the air but it drives just fine.
I have noticed an issue which was not listed and will throw up large bills if I don't sort it. This is the cooling fan is fubared. It makes a horrific rattle occasionally and the temp needle will twitch and start to rise when sat idling for ~10 mins or driven around a town as informed by Muffin`. Personally I've not had it rise more than a tiny twitch where I then promptly shut off the engine to avoid any damage. I don't know if it has previously been allowed to over heat though. The way the car runs it seems to be ok (no bad noises from the engine itself) and no loss of coolant or anything.
This is a major issue as I do not want to brick another block and so the car is most certainly going to be sat outside my house doing nothing until that is fixed. A new fan is in the region of £80 and I'll be fitting it myself so it isn't a big deal really.
Along with the car, I gained:
I guess I should tell you all how much it set me back really...but I'm not going to for a bit, suffice to say despite all the issues it was a bargain and I'd have been stupid not to go for it.
This does mean for the next month or so I'll have to use my mother's Land Rover for work still as I plan on sorting all the issues on the 318iS over August whilst I have it SORNed then have it back on the road at the start of Sept.
Recently I've got a job and so a car would be rather helpful, it's not highly important as I work nights and have use of my mother's Land Rover but obviously this isn't ideal as I can only use it for work.
I've been hunting for the past couple of months for a cheap car with MOT and tax (at least 6 months of each). I've been looking at all sorts, went to see a 1995 Toyota Celica, tidy and ideal car really, but cost too much for me unfortunately. I was browsing for 306 XSI, DTurbo, Xsara VTS and many more basic cars around 10-15 years old.
The main issue I had was budget, none of these could be bought in working order for what I had to spend, or if they could be, they were 300+ miles away and the cost and time taken to view and possibly not buy was too much hassle really.
I'd resigned to waiting until I had a bit more money at my disposal and then I was informed of a car that I knew I'd really like and enjoy. I was told it had loads of issues, no MOT and almost out of tax but this didn't sway me against it, it just made me want it more as it gives me something to do when not working. As you'll know, I'm fairly adept with a spanner, having done engine changes on a 306, various mechanical things on the 328i (for it to still die) and then most recently, stripping down the 328i. The owner on the other hand owns a pair of pliers and that's about it for his tool collection.
The car was bang on the budget I wanted to spend (well, it was actually less than my initial budget), but for the condition it was described as being in, it was bang on budget.
The last few days have been quite hectic, working nights and sleeping during the day meant that getting hold of the owner and sorting things out was a bit of an issue. Sorted it though and yesterday I travelled ~260miles to collect the car. Had a good chat with the owner, found out more information about the problems, looked over the car and saw that the problems were much less severe than had been described. Signed the documents and handed over the cash. I left happy in the knowledge that I'd bought something that should prove to be good fun once the issues it has are sorted and left the previous owner happy with a pile of cash.
4 and a half (well, more like 5 and a half after a few stops at the services) hours later I got home with my new toy.
Today I've had a look over the car properly and it is in surprisingly good condition considering the mileage but I won't be able to have a full look at the underside etc. for a few days until one of our garages is emptied (full of furniture).
So...what did I buy? I'll let the pictures do the talking...
It is silver not blue, I just seem to have fudged the colour settings.
Some of you may recognise it.
1998 BMW e36 318iS as previously owned by Muffin`
Specs are:
- 1895cc 4cylinder 140bhp RWD
- 16" Style 30 Alloys with Eagle F1 GSD3s in 225/55 R16 Balloon edition
- Sunroof
- 18 Button OBC Without Check Control (no warning if lights are out etc.)
- Dual Zone Climate Control
- 6 Disc Boot Changer
- BMW Business Stereo
- Half leather Sports seats
- Detango as standard
- Heated door mirrors
- Auto dimming rear view mirror
- M-Sport kit including steering wheel
Possibly other things too, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.
It's got 166k miles on the clock
This is what Muffin` originally said was wrong with it. It does need a full service, all fluids (including brake), filters etc. etc.
However, from what I can tell, the clutch is fine, when sat at 30-40mph in 4th and flooring the throttle both revs and speed climb steadily, the revs don't ramp up with no speed gain. I will however probably pull it out and have a look anyway and possibly replace if it looks like it's getting on a bit.
Shocks & springs I can't really look at properly until I've got it in the garage and the wheels off.
Inspection 2...see above about service etc.
Exhaust is just a rattly back box, annoying, but not a huge issue. I will change it for one that's not falling apart though.
Bushes...as with suspension, can't check till it's in the air but it drives just fine.
I have noticed an issue which was not listed and will throw up large bills if I don't sort it. This is the cooling fan is fubared. It makes a horrific rattle occasionally and the temp needle will twitch and start to rise when sat idling for ~10 mins or driven around a town as informed by Muffin`. Personally I've not had it rise more than a tiny twitch where I then promptly shut off the engine to avoid any damage. I don't know if it has previously been allowed to over heat though. The way the car runs it seems to be ok (no bad noises from the engine itself) and no loss of coolant or anything.
This is a major issue as I do not want to brick another block and so the car is most certainly going to be sat outside my house doing nothing until that is fixed. A new fan is in the region of £80 and I'll be fitting it myself so it isn't a big deal really.
Along with the car, I gained:
- Tin of Heinz Leek and Potato Soup in the boot
- Stereophonics CD
- ~20 discs with random music on them
- 20p in 5p coins
- 2x Peugeot keys (found these in the boot)
- Multipack of Wrigley's Extra Ice
- New throttle pedal unfitted
- Various other bits.
I guess I should tell you all how much it set me back really...but I'm not going to for a bit, suffice to say despite all the issues it was a bargain and I'd have been stupid not to go for it.
This does mean for the next month or so I'll have to use my mother's Land Rover for work still as I plan on sorting all the issues on the 318iS over August whilst I have it SORNed then have it back on the road at the start of Sept.
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![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
