1998 BMW 323is - seeking input from the hive - Update on purchase

My quest for a sporty daily driver continues, this time it's a BMW. I am going to look at this car on Monday, and I would like to hear your thoughts on what to look out for on these, and the asking price. It does have 220K miles on it, but the seller has listed a fair amount of recent service, so I think his price may be reasonable.

Craigslist ad says: 1998 BMW 323is E36 just had $4000 in maintenance - $5400

BMW 323is in very good condition. 5 speed manual. Lowered with Koni suspension. Just had $4000 in service done. Almost exclusively highway commuting miles on Interstates.

Was inspected 2 months ago by Auto Logic in Chapel Hill and Black Forest Automotive in Cary. Have paperwork, all service records since new. Reason for selling: New car fever.

I'm an engineer and a perfectionist when it comes to car maintenance. This car has been owned by 3 40+ middle age guys who drove it gently. Oil changed every 3000 miles.

Highlights

New clutch, flywheel, and driveshaft, New shifter bushings, New front control arms and sway bushings, New oil, transmission oil, filters, coolant flush.

Interior is in very good shape. Just replaced driver seat cushions. No rips or tears.

Windshield was replaced 30k ago and is quite clear. Tires are in good shape with 4/32 to 6/32, Michelins.
Steam cleaned interior, Sunroof works well, A/C blows cold .

Has AM/FM/iPOD/Bluetooth/SD/USB radio with cell phone connectivity and microphone- make calls through the car radio and speakers.

June/July Service Details:

replaced plugs

fixed oil gasket leak

oil and transmission service

replaced air filter, cabin filter

replaced fuel filter

coolant system flush

front control arm bushings lemforder

front sway bar links

emergency brake adjust

shifter bushings

O2 Sensor- downstream

flywheel

clutch

Shifter boot

Brake switch

Steam clean interior

Remaining to be done:

Fix one foglight- have replacement ready to install.

Airbag light is on, a common problem with these E36 BMWs, bogus codes from seat belt switch. Have pics of codes from reader.

Glove box cover is not flush.

Odometer display - numerals sometimes not fully visible.

Driver's door gasket has some rips .

One slight scrape/dent in roof on passenger side- see photo.

Steering wheel is slightly off center when driving straight, just cosmetic according to 2 mechanics.

Passenger side trim above windows needs black paint touching up.

If you read this far, you deserve some pics. Thanks in advance!

This is the scratch mentioned in the ad, I can barely see it.

Nothing to add, just miss my old one, be sure to check the guibo and all the rear bushings

iadr wrote: That may be impressively well kept but to me that's a $3100-3700 car. It's not AWD, it's a 323 (not a 330). No way in heck could he expect to get 5K+. With 70K less miles, AWD and being a 330, he's right on the price.

E36 never came as a 330 nor did it come in AWD. The Xi did not return until the E46 came out.. as did the 330.

The 323 is really the old 325. It has the same 2.5 litre engine as the 325 but with some tweaks to have less HP so as not to compete with the 328... but still be better than the 318

That seems overpriced to me. 220k on the second lowest model of a 17 year old car?

I don't care how great it has been maintained. I don't think it is worth that.

Most people won't spend $4000 to maintain a $2500 car, which is why most cars eventually reach the scrapyard.

It looks like a nice car that would be well-bought at half the asking price, but I agree that the market won't support the owner's estimate of value. Not even close.

I agree the asking price seems high by at least a couple of grand.

He is right about the SRS light. My ex's M3 suffered from the same issue. It was intermittent. She bought a Peake SRS code reader/reset tool and would just clear the code every couple of weeks. Was easier/cheaper than having the local dealer replace the seat belt mechanism at $300+ a shot, although that would keep the code away longer.

For that price you are in e36 m3 territory

$3.5k, tops. I sold my '97 328is (Sport Pkg, 5 spd) with 120k for $4,200 a few years ago. Based on CL prices now, I'd be lucky to get $3.5k for my old car.

If it is an IS, why doesn't it look to have the sport seats in it? I usually see a bit more of a gap in the thigh support area and more side bolstering. Maybe it is just the pictures, but check them.

I also agree, that's about $2500 too much.

I know a guy who sold an M3 for about that price ($5200), too.

Brett_Murphy wrote: If it is an IS, why doesn't it look to have the sport seats in it?

E30: 3XXis = sport package

E36: 3XXis = coupe

Priced too high. For that much coin I'd save a little longer and grab an M3. OR I'd be looking at E46s.

Any interest in a 318ti ? I found one local to me and after pondering a German car while wrenching on my American cars, I think I'll stick to 'Murican.

NMNA:

https://peoria.craigslist.org/cto/5195479683.html

I could possibly put eyes on it and, I'll bet we could make a GRM repair relay happen. That's something I believe we should start doing as frequently as possible. Distance away from dream cars would become irrelevant!

318ti's hold their value very well. They are a cult car much like the M3

I'll add weight to the overpriced end of the discussion. Nice or not - it's the 2nd least desirable model and it's got 220k on it. He'd be pushing it at $3500.

If you have that 5.5k to spend you are in nice e46 330 territory. Almost decent E36 M3 territory.

Looking around my local Craigslist there are a lot of newer BMWs with less miles for the same or less money, so I agree, this one is on the high side. I guess it stood out to me with the long maintenance list.

Here are several others thqt I am considering, I have not contacted any of these sellers yet.

BMW E39 540i/M**** - $5500

The car is a 1998 with a refresh M5 front end, 155k miles and driven daily. Sport package- 6 speed manual and a limited slip dif, great for any enthusiast. Very well kept, amazing shape inside and out. Not a single flaw with the leather, whole car is in exceptional condition. Only mod besides some cosmetic goodies is an axleback exhaust which sounds wonderful, brings out the pur of the v8. Halo headlights with projectors and HIDs, LED tails. Automatic rising rear sun shade roller, sunroof, etc. Driver window off track, only goes down to a certain point- regulator works perfecty just needs to be realigned, passenger rear doesnt go down. Bought the car with clean title and it came back as salvage... but could never tell it was ever in an accident. Has valid inspection, but ready to pass inspection with no problems if needed, extremely clean car. No rush to get rid of it, must see in person to appreciate it! Text or email for any questions or if interested. Thanks for viewing!

-- 2001 BMW 325i Sedan - $4150

Sport, premium and cold weather packages. Well cared for following the "old school" maintenance program from the BMW Car Club of America. Clean car-fax and mostly highway mileage. Maintenance records available showing BMW OE or OE equivalent parts used for all repairs. Airbag recall completed. Additional details are below.

5-speed manual, Premium package, Sport package, Cold weather package, Auto climate control, Sunroof, Leather, Heated front seats, BMW branded all-weather floor mats, BMW Business CD with upgraded Bavsound Stage 1 speakers, Bilstein shocks all around, ASA wheels with BMW center caps, All maintenance current and always done to the "old school" maintenance schedule, Used BMW OE parts or equivalent for all maintenance, (bought parts from BavAuto in NH, BMW dealer, ECS Tuning, FCP Groton), Oil changes always done with synthetic and most done with Liqui-Moly, a German synthetic oil .

Bought from Carmax in June 2008, was a 1-owner car from Maryland, clean CarFax. No accidents while I have had it. Front bumper, hood, and both front fenders repainted in 2010 due to road rash. Clear paint protected applied after repaint. 216,xxx miles current mileage.

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I like this next one, but I am worried about the rust. I also prefer a coupe .

1997 BMW M3 - $4000

5spd 217,000 Leather interior power Windows/mirrors/sunroof H&R race springs Bilstein shocks adjustable rear suspension arms UUC exhaust bimmerworld TB boot(asc delete) Depo smoked taillights 17'' Staggered M Contours electric fan conversion

Car runs great and pulls hard/smooth Needs O2 sensors due to cel Has some rust.

.

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And then there's this, which does not help AT ALL to keep me focused on not buying a project.

I'm curious what the asking price of the 1800 is...

The M3 interests me as a possible track-rat, but the interior looks pretty beat and would likely cost enough to make decent that you could get a car with less needs.

Of these, the 540i6 is the most tempting.

In reply to IanF: $5800.

I agree about the 540i. The caveat with that one is the title is listed as salvage. No details, but I think it may have something to do with the "M5 front end refresh".

In reply to EastCoastMojo:

Wow... prices of 1800's have been creeping up, but that seems on the high side unless the body is in much better condition than the interior.

Ah... I missed the salvage title bit... but that said, it seems the price reflects that.

2001 BMW 330 Ci - Sport Package - $5000

This is a Topaz Blue 5 speed coupe with a light grey leather Sport package interior. It's a pleasure to drive with a smooth new clutch, new radiator, and expansion tank. Good - not great - tires (225/40/18 front and 255/35/18 rear) on 18 inch silver alloy rims (pictures now attached of each tire), larger on rear giving it a nice stance. Sounds great too with a raspy note sport exhaust - not annoying or obnoxious. All the options from sunroof to Harmon-Kardon CD stereo, power memory seats, rear power vent windows, cruise control, and on...including HID lighting. It could use a new passenger side mirror and the driver side door lock is finicky....impressive but not perfect BMW since she is 15 years old with 205K miles. Your time and mine is valuable so please contact me only if you are serious. Obviously no joy riders or tire kickers & I don't need help selling it. The price is firm. She's just sitting in the garage and it' s a shame an enthusiast isn't enjoying this terrific sport coupe....thanks.

iadr wrote: Yes I know the differnces in at least a general sense, just somehow hit reply and my mind clicked on it being an E46. Not sure why *anyone* would look an an E36, when there are so many more clean e46's on the market for the same money, and it's just a better car. To me, the relationship between E36 & 46 is the same as E21 & E30.

In the logical sense, yes, the E46 is all around a better car. But to me, I prefer the E36.. just as I prefer the looks of the E21 over the 02 and the E30

In reply to EastCoastMojo:

Possibly the nicest one yet. I'd take that one for a test drive.

that is sweet

Yeah that Topaz Blue one!

The blue E46 is your huckleberry but with barely passable tires and 200k+ miles I'd be chiseling for closer to $4k. These cars are out there with half the mileage for that price if you are patient.

Going to look at my huckleberry Monday morning.