e36....

I'm going to look at a 98 328i tomorrow with 155k on it, it'll be my DD so I need something that wont leave me stranded, its super clean and the place selling it is a certified BMW shop, they also offer a 3,000 mile warranty on it, with purchase. Is this going to be reliable, would you guys do it? He said the water pump has been changed, and its a timing chain so it wont need that. I have looked at some buyers guides so I know what to look for but I was wondering what you guys thought.

Just bought an E36 myself so I went through alot of this research.

Just the waterpump isnt enough, it should have had the thermostat (and housing) as well as the radiator replaced too. Cooling system problems are about the only thing that will really leave you stranded. Luckily its not a hard job and the parts are relatively cheap (you can get everything for a cooling system refresh including waterpump for about $400)

Beyond that suspension bushings are the big wear item. Front control arm bushings, rear lower control arm bushings. Again, not terribly expensive or difficult but do require some improvising or specialty tools.

If you are taking it to a shop for these things it will get expensive quickly.

Also check the rear upper shock mounts, the metal is known to fatigue there and can tear out the upper mounts, if they are good then reinforcing them is easy but if they are damaged the job is a bit intense. Same with the rear lower control arm mounts.

Overall it should keep running and not leave you stranded but you need to keep after it for maintenance to keep it performing well.

Also just picked up an E36. What Jthw8 says is all valid. Have them lift the rear wheels and show you everything is tight. (3-9 o' clock rock).

Visually check everything mentioned.

Great chassis!

also engine mounts. That is about when they start to fail.. and once they fail, the engine jerks around and you will either grenade the fan into the radiator... or do a serious mis-shift (Called a money shift) and grenade the engine... or both at the same time.

Thanks guys! I know almost everybody around here likes them, so I'm excited to be going for a look, hopefully leaving with a new(to me) BMW!

I haven't found much reliable E36 advice. I wouldn't be quick to replace anything. The motor mounts are hydraulic. My originals were better than the new ones I bought. I did have an original transmission mount split, which had looked to be in good shape.

It is a nice chassis.Unfortunately the 328 got saddled with some extra weight.

HStockSolo wrote: I haven't found much reliable E36 advice. I wouldn't be quick to replace anything.

This is a perfect example of unreliable advice about e36's.

Cant find any info on the weight differences between the 325 and 328, care to elaborate?

For christ's sake don't listen to that guy and just replace the motor mounts. Or you can be like me, and discover your broken mount at an autocross, when the engine movement yanks the upper radiator hose clean off the radiator and spills coolant all over the damn place. Upon which you'll notice that half your engine fan blades were cracked, making it a bomb waiting to obliterate your radiator and put dents in your hood.

Honestly I think the only reason my bad motor mount hadn't killed my entire cooling system (and thus the engine) is the fact that I had installed UUC red tranny mounts several months prior.

Uncoiled wrote: Cant find any info on the weight differences between the 325 and 328, care to elaborate?

Everything I've seen lists the 328 as around 100lb heavier than the 325, although a lot of that might just be standard equipment differences. I don't think I've ever seen a 328 without power seats, cd changer or sunroof. Also the 328 got the ZF 5 speed also used in the M3, which probably accounts for some weight gain. Despite the published weight differences, the 328 does accelerate to 60 half a second quicker than the 325 with only one more horsepower, so that can't be holding it back too much.

Uncoiled wrote: Cant find any info on the weight differences between the 325 and 328, care to elaborate?

Heavier transmission, lots more emissions stuff (spare tire area + under hood), side air bags + more sensors, side markers in fenders, plastic side mouldings

I am sure there are some more I am not aware of. On the plus side the 328 was available without the sunroof. The 328 rear speakers might be slightly lighter.

On both 325/328 the sport package front seats and split fold down rear seats are heavier than the standard pieces, and the vinyl upholstery is slightly lighter than the leather.

You can test the motor mounts by lifting the engine. It is obvious when they fail.

A 328 makes more torque and earlier than a 325. This is because of the "more restricted intake". It does not breathe as well at 7000RPMs but it relocates usable power to midrange and feels stronger around town. M50 intakes can be had for around $100 and will give it about +15HP between 6200 and 7200rpms.

It has the ZF 5sp out of the M3, which is heavier but also stronger if adding boost is in your future.

It rarely if ever will have a factory LSD - it was an option, but not part of the 'is' package. All of them I've seen with one were added later including mine. Expect to pay about $400 for the 3.23 out of an M3, more if you want a 3.38 (from the auto).

It wasn't badge engineering like the 323 (really still a 2.5L), it was actually a larger displacement so if you remove weight and restriction you get a faster car.

? 325> 328 performance? Maybe in autox, but that's a pretty limited measure of performance. I've found the 328i makes for a much better performing street car, in my experience - the added torque makes a big difference.

One of the 1st things I was planning on doing, after anything maintence items, is to do and electric fan, that way to the fan wont tear up the radiator if the mounts ever do go bad, theres a kit on Bimmerworld for one.

Thanks for all the info guys, you are a wealth of knowledge, as usual!

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: It rarely if ever will have a factory LSD - it was an option, but not part of the 'is' package. All of them I've seen with one were added later including mine. Expect to pay about $400 for the 3.23 out of an M3, more if you want a 3.38 (from the auto).

"is" just stood for coupe on the E36. The coupes all got the split folding rear seats. The sport package was springs, bars, wheels, tires and front seats and was an option available on both "i" and "is" cars. The sport package cars actually sit slightly lower than M3s.

I pulled my LSD-equipped rear end from a winter package equipped 325is (heated seats are the clue) for $90. I spent almost as much on new seals and fluid for it though.

some early 96 cars got the LSD as part of the winter package (like my feb build 318ti) but after that.. it was all traction control

HStockSolo wrote:

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: It rarely if ever will have a factory LSD - it was an option, but not part of the 'is' package. All of them I've seen with one were added later including mine. Expect to pay about $400 for the 3.23 out of an M3, more if you want a 3.38 (from the auto).

LSD was never available on the 328. It wasn't even available on the 325 in 1995. It was a line option and part of the winter package on earlier 325s. "is" just stood for coupe on the E36. The coupes all got the split folding rear seats. The sport package was springs, bars, wheels, tires and front seats and was an option available on both "i" and "is" cars. The sport package cars actually sit slightly lower than M3s. I pulled my LSD-equipped rear end from a winter package equipped 325is (heated seats are the clue) for $90. I spent almost as much on new seals and fluid for it though.

Please stop spewing false information HStock, it's really not helping here. The 328is had the factory LSD, with better shocks it can be lapping with M3's at the track, I've seen it done. The 1995 325is was the only year that didn't get a LSD with the sport package, not sure why they chose to do that. It was weird.

Any 96 and up 328is equipped with ASC will not have the LSD from the factory. Someone might have added one later, but BMW in all of their wisdom saw ASC as a replacement for the LSD. The //M cars are the only ones from the factory with an LSD from '96 and up. I've never seen any definitive proof of a 328is from the factory with a LSD.

Josh wrote: For christ's sake don't listen to that guy and just replace the motor mounts. Or you can be like me, and discover your broken mount at an autocross, when the engine movement yanks the upper radiator hose clean off the radiator and spills coolant all over the damn place. Upon which you'll notice that half your engine fan blades were cracked, making it a bomb waiting to obliterate your radiator and put dents in your hood. Honestly I think the only reason my bad motor mount hadn't killed my entire cooling system (and thus the engine) is the fact that I had installed UUC red tranny mounts several months prior.

+1 on this. Same issue without the cooling system damage. Thankfully I don't have an engine mounted fan.

Joshua wrote: <Please stop spewing false information HStock, it's really not helping here. The 328is had the factory LSD, with better shocks it can be lapping with M3's at the track, I've seen it done. The 1995 325is was the only year that didn't get a LSD with the sport package, not sure why they chose to do that. It was weird.

see above... after Mid 96. only the M cars got the LSD.. most of the 328s were build after this point.

The 328 you saw may have had a Factory LSD.. but it might not have been factory issued to that particular car

Well I called before heading out on the 2 hr drive to look at the car but it had already sold, it was a nice one too...

oh well the hunt continues...

I also read that none of the cars that came with traction control (around that year) came with LSD.

One thing to watch with these cars is the transmission (if auto). BMW touts the "lifetime" transmission fluid. In reality, owners typically start seeing issues anywhere from 100k - 150k miles. My '98 328i made it to 134,000 miles and I am in the process of replacing it now.

Other than that, I love my car. :)

328i/is cars also had a different rear end ratio 2.93 vs 3.15 (manual transmission). This is important if you want to autocross the car under SCCA rules, as a ratio change takes you straight to Street Prepared.

As far as I know, there are only two junkyard solutions to a 2.93 LSD slip that will fit the 328i/is and allow you to run in STX. One is complicated and the other is a unicorn.

If you don't care about all of that, the 3.15 slip, as well as the various M3 ratios are easy to source, cheap and gives the car a little extra pop.

bludroptop wrote: 328i/is cars also had a different rear end ratio 2.93 vs 3.15

I forgot about that - my '97 did indeed come with a 2.93 open diff. I put a 3.23 LSD out of a 97 M3 in there. (all 96+ M3s had 3.23 instead of 3.15).

I don't auto-x but it certainly improved the exit out of slow corners on a race track.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

bludroptop wrote: 328i/is cars also had a different rear end ratio 2.93 vs 3.15

I forgot about that - my '97 did indeed come with a 2.93 open diff. I put a 3.23 LSD out of a 97 M3 in there. (all 96+ M3s had 3.23 instead of 3.15).

Clarification - the 3.15 slip was the optional diff on the 325i/is from 92 until early 96. The 3.23 was the M3 ratio. Automatic cars had different ratios, but I never paid much attention.