Lol at all the haters who can't work out that the video nametag was made in jest. Sarcasm anyone? I had an E36 Euro spec Evolution model before my current E46 M3 cabrio and miss every second without that car now. As much as I love my E46, the E36 Evo is now a timeless classic icon, not to mention it has more than doubled in value since it went 2 years ago!
Unfortunately I had no choice in what happened to my E36. Driving to work in fog/frost at 4am and I hit an oil patch at the exit of a roundabout, spun but at first I caught it. Next thing I see a pair of headlights coming towards me as I was on the opposite side of the road so I threw it into the side and ran it off the crash barrier. Rather see a crashed car than potentially taking out innocent people but yeah I do miss it, especially when I see similar spec models as they are so rare now. Another 5 accidents happened at the same spot that day before I found out it was due to a transporter leaking oil. At least I can happily say I had the pleasure of owning one!
I've been daily driving my e36 for 21 years now and it's the best car I've owned so far... right now it has a little bit over 500,000k miles and still runs strong
@@TreatsOnTheStreets gotcha! How much did all of the parts cost? I am looking into 1997 as we speak, 130K miles, same color like yours. What can I expect from that mileage, what type of preventive maintenance do you recommend?
My 99 E36 M3 (US) has been frackin bulletproof. I whale on that thing every time I drive it. This guy's guide is spot on, other than reinforcing the sub frame if you wanna get really nasty. Also check the shock mount points on the body if you're looking to buy one (BMW sells reinforcement hats for cheap, they came on my 99, I hear they might have came on 98's). The other thing I would toss in if you got the time is a full suspension bushing refresh/upgrade (lower control arms at least). Especially recommend the Mishimoto all aluminum radiator. When I bought mine it came in at 10$ less than an OEM plastic tank piece of garbage, and even came with the hoses. The thing is pretty easy to work on to boot. Also, put an OBD1 manifold on that pig. Also also, make sure to get a water pump with a metal impeller.
Any used cars are going to have problems. So I think its better if you're prepared for them knowing what they are. I'm even more inclined to buying one after this video
I hope your title is sarcastic. Any used M3 if they haven't had cooling system redone, power steering system and vanos. You just have to take that into account as immediate maintenance after buying the car.
my e36 has 243,000 miles and the only thing it ever needs is tons of oil and tires, other than that i've never had any issues aside from a fuel pump I replaced myself
I've had numerous e36 m3's and never had a problem apart from the usual wear and tear, in my opinion bmw went down hill from around 2005! And I'm saying this being a big BMW fan!
My E36 i drove for 360k Miles on the original engine, and it only gave out because of an engine oil leak i didnt notice, Most reliable car Ive ever had, switched to an Audi a4 Quattro since then, Would go back to the E36 any day
We've had one in the family for like 25 years now it's got 460.000 on the clock and it just won't die two of my uncle's used it and now it's in my hands I've replaced all the cooling system it does wonders on the road.
Great channel bud ! Always good to see real world BMW owners who drove them like they’re meant to be driven and maintain them. E36 is the cheapest way to get into an M car and from experience, it’s cheaper to own than a 540i E39. And I consider both my E39 540i and M5 really reliable, despite internet claims. Keep her safe !
So I finally got an E36 and here is what I have had to do so far in the 5 months of owning it: -master cyl, slave cyl, tranny mounts -clutch -2 lock actuators -drivers side door lock & handle replacement -changed all the fluids (diff, trans, etc) -steering rack, tie rods -oil pan gasket -engine mounts Still need a new drivers side door (door was replaced at some point and the one they put on is slightly warped so it doesn't seal properly), sunroof repair that i will probably do myself (also doesn't close/seal properly but no leaks from that either thankfully), headliner's fucked, wiper linkage probably needs to be replaced, blower motor and wiper cowl too... oh and also probably higher up on that list is body work that the car needs since it's been in canada for 20 years, plus paint correction/detailing or better yet a paint job altogether. And throw in some miscellaneous trims/emblems in there too. Now don't get me wrong, I may have not been the luckiest but then again pretty much all that stuff needs to be replaced on any 20+ year old car, give or take a few items. The one thing you may want to add to this list of things you will potentially have to do is the entire cooling system; the previous owner did it on mine not long ago so at least that is one thing I can leave alone (for now). Also the driveshaft, which the previous owner did too fortunately. And all of my window regulators actually work! (knock on wood) I just wanted to put this out there for anyone considering buying into this, you better get ready to throw some money at it, especially if you're not gonna be doing all of this yourself. E36s are great but take this video with a grain of salt as it's not all sunshine, rainbows, and a couple hundred bucks here and there, especially in the first or second year of ownership. But with all that being said this car is fun to drive, can't deny that. Now, is it a worthwhile investment? Well, depends. Mine isn't because it's a 328i with a shit ton of miles and it's my daily. But if you buy a low mileage M3, do preventative maintenance/repairs, and take good care of it, it might pay off because these cars are starting to appreciate in value. P.S. I forgot VANOS!! 🙃🙃🙃 Mine will probably need a VANOS rebuild at some point because the idle feels a little rough and I did all the other diagnosis/repairs for a rough idle. It really is a love/hate relationship with this memebox
I've had my e46 318i for a year now and spent €1500 on repairs. Cooling system, head gasket, rear dust plates, handbrake, plus a few minor things like front disks and pads, oil change, window regulator, filters, battery
I have a late 2006 E36 328i. Love that car. 240000km (149000 miles) and still has the factory clutch and exhaust, never had a Vanos problem, did replace the front control arms at 150000km. The only problem at the moment is a jammed rear door lock (the actuator is stuck in the locked position). I have a spare that I will install as soon as the actuator decides to unstick.
Why am I just finding this channel, and I was expecting a few hundred-thousand subs not 4.5 thousand. Keep up the amazing work. You earned a like and a sub.
My 98 328i convertible has 298,000. Bought it from a friend a month ago. Came with a HUGE folder with receipts from work that had been done. I love the car. Doing a m50 manifold swap in a few weeks :-)
you are a very lucky man to not have many problems with that m3, my 328i had all those problems and many more within the first year, its holding up quite good now but oh boy the things i had to do to get it where its at is crazy so just remember you are one lucky man
Mine had 300k my motor mounts were original and were torn to shit when I took them out. The car needed so much love and still needs a lot. Especially rust. I plan on rebuilding the whole car from body onward. Hopefully I can revive this thing and have it live for another 300k
doing the same atm, mine is at 300k kms, lots of rust, im fixing it atm, should be repainted in a few weeks. everything had rust, wheel arches jacking points wheel well, ...
Do e46 front lower control swap, you'll get some nice camber, i think e46 is like an inch longer. It will help the turn-in at the start if the corner. Also it's great mod for daily drifter, or if you want to track a drift car, coz most of race tracks do not allow bent tube design suspension parts like SLR...
I’ve got a 94 325i convertible with 69,000 miles on it, I paid $3 grand for it in excellent condition. I replaced the radiator, water pump, thermostat, struts and shocks, all for less than 2 Grand so for a total of 5 Grand I’ve got a new car. It’s 25 years old and I’ll be showing it in car shows this year. It’s hellrot red with all new black interior and looks showroom clean.
My e36 has not given me a single problem for 2 years since I redid the head gasket and got fresh valves and springs. Only thing that happened was a thermostat leak and I changed it for 40 bucks. I drive it hard as a daily and so far so good.
Love the E36. I had a 328is with the M50 intake manifold conversion, simota carbon fibre induction kit, and M3 front & rear bumpers/splitters. It was such a sweet looking, fast enough, and very reliable car. It's a shame that over there in the US, you didn't get the proper E36 M3, and instead only got what was basically a 328i with better cams. I did read that yours was Euro spec though, which was the full-fat one same as we got here in the UK.
1995 e34 with the m50b25tu , put on 15k miles past 12 months and never left me stranded, never had any problems just basic maintenance like .. 3 oil changes, oil filter housing gasket, spark plugs, differential oil, these cars are fucking great
1995 325IS 190K miles and still going strong. Original water pump, radiator, Vanos repaired at 175K. My daily driver and there is a reason I choose to drive it over any of my newer cars day after day after day. RELIABLE AS FUCK! The motor is bullet proof, the transmission still rows great, clutch is OK but not done, all around these cars age very well in the right hands. E36 for life.
I have bought my e36 about 1.5 years and the only things I’ll have done is oil change and changed the filters! Pretty reliable. The only thing I can say about if you look to daily a e36 especially the 6 cylinders they need a lot of gas ⛽️ so be prepared
very good video, thanks man.. i have a 98 323is coupe wit 120k miles im in the process of bringing bac to life. Previous owner put a push to start and it ended up giving me some trouble
My mother drove an e36 sedan for 20 years, drove it across the country (Canada) from BC to ontario when she moved, and sold it a couple years ago. She says the worst she ever had was an oil pan gasket gave up other than that she absolutely loved driving it
I’ve owned an E46 and an E39. As much as I loved them, I don’t think they were reliable. Having to replace the radiator AND thermostat AND water pump AND the power steering lines on a car with less than 200,000 miles is definitely higher maintenance than most Japanese or American cars. For someone without technical skills, this could result in several thousand $ in shop labor costs.
I mean it’s much more than my 2004 Miata. Only have 77k miles and it’s been great for 4 years but in the last 8 months i replaced twice Alternator and radiator and i’m gonna need a new ECU soon. But everything has only been $450 for parts and labor
I have had a M3 since 1997 and it has always started first turn of the key. Last week it did the same after 3 years in the garage. Only time it hasn`t started was when the battery was flat.
You didn't mention any sensor issues, suspension or control arms rebuilds, fuel pump and lines/relays, engine gasket covers... this video is pure fantasy 🌟
I bought a beautiful red E36 328i when i was 20 years old for around 2500 dollars. Didn't last long as it was my first car and didn't have much experience driving (And zero experience with RWD) . Too much throttle mid corner and off the road it went into a tree... Luckily didn't get hurt, but damn do i miss that car.
I grew up in the 60's and 70's - then, a car with 70,000 miles was considered "spent" and ready for the junk yard. Used cars had under 40,000. Today, people don't even question 100,000 mile cars.
my e36 328i manual been my most reliable car to date, only done oil and filters and 5 years hard driving no trouble giving it a birthday now by choice but no troubles at all, fingers crossed it stays that way
leaky water pump you need to fix immediately and that's an easy fix... you can do it yourself in a couple hours... the water pump leak can expose your casing to rust and you don't want those threads getting rusted
I’m a college student on a budget who recently purchased a 2000 BMW 540i. Body and interior are in great condition . Unfortunately there is oil smell in cabin accompanied with oil leak , coolant leak , check engine light , needs a new coolant reservoir. Codes that arose are P0440 and P0011. Mechanic says one of the parts I need to replace is about $350 plus $55 to degrease oil . Forgot to mention pixels are half out in speedometer dash (found diy videos showing how to replace LCD screen and ribbon) . She’s my baby 🍼 but it has been recommended I immediately sell her 😢 😭
E36 is a GREAT daily driver I drive about 40 miles every single day with regular maintenance. Fun daily and I just replace most things before they even go out 👌🏾 planning on getting an e92 M3 at the end of the year and I’ll continue to use my e36 328i as a daily driver until the wheels literally fall off 😹
@@TreatsOnTheStreets Well, if I am to be completely honest those we're all performance upgrades that I chose to buy for the car. The only thing that actually failed was the water pump.
Love the M3 sedans. You've gotta try one, they're a good time! Me and my fiance have a 328i sedan daily and my father has an M3/4/5. E36's are sweet cars to own and drive.
bought my e36 touring 325 two years ago, and guess what, leaky powersteering, fan clutch went bad, vanos got stuck. fixed and upgraded seals in the vanos unit, went for mishimoto electric fan, got a new OEM power steering line. in these two years 273K - 309K KM's I drove it very hard (once warmed up). its still running like brand new. i am myself a mechanic and i must admit: parts are expensive, yes. but rarely does it ask for them (other then regular services). im quite happy with my 1.500 euro rocket. mines a high option model, and compared to todays standard its actually still quite luxurious.
If a shortshiftkit isnt done yet, do it! new bushings for the linkage and a new lever with shorter throws. Buy original bushings for bmw, shifter, ebay works
The only other little issue is the trunk latch seem to get bent and crack due to its geometry. I have had two E36s and both cars had a broken trunk. Not a deal breaker but annoying.
Would it be crazy if I bought one of these bad boys as my first car or should I get something else? Maybe a normal 3 series? Biggest reason is because I want that feeling of an old bmw or car in general, I feel like older cars resonate more with me.
+Hunter Macleod you need a rattle kit. It essentially just replaces some internal parts and seals that are worn out and no longer have tight tolerances as they should.
I've had my 328i for about a year now. There's only been one big issue, which was my Radiator cracking. Ended up replacing it with a Mishimoto Radiator and hasn't been an issue since. I've done my preventative maintenance but still need to take care of some things. Most things were already done by the previous owner so there isn't much I need to do.
I love how e36 coupes look in that silver color. If i had one I'd have the same color, only gold or bronze rims. There is one around me but I'm so afraid to buy it. For 1. I'm afraid of the repairs it might need and 2. e46 coupes have been my dream car for a very long time
My m3 is exactly like that one, had it for over 10 years. Bought it with 82,000 miles on it and now over 190,000.. Paid a little over $320 for a oem radiator and water pump and hoses, regular oil changes and maintenance and that's it and i have beat the crap out of it. Reliable is an understatment
+j butter that's awesome! Just a testament to how solid they can be if you take care of them. Hopefully I'll have the same kind of experience. Thanks for sharing!
its mostly only the 3 series, like the vanos pump, and also like you said, the power steering. With the E46, it was mostly only the vanos that would go bad.
If you let the car idle to warm up it causes unnecessary wear on the engine. People still don't get you have to put load on the engine in order to let it warm up quickly.
True about the load heating up an engine a bit more quickly but both the S50B32 and S54 engines in the E36/E46 benefit from at least a minute of idle on a cold start to let the 10w60 oil circulate the major parts. They also should be kept at relatively low revs until up to normal operating temp otherwise the potential risk to the rod/main bearings are high. Once either of those go, at best the crank gets scored but in nearly all cases it means a total rebuild or replacement block is needed.
One thing, that really annoys me is how people see e36s and 90s bmw in general. I'm saving up money for e36 right now and every time I talk about it with someone, I always get reactions talking about how unreliable and bad e36s are, especially from car guys. The thing is, that people spend money on modifying them instead of basic maintenance. I often see people saying that "it's a winter beater, no point to maintain it like a daily" and after the engine blows up, they call it a piece of junk beacuse they rather spend money on turboing it instead of fixing the already big issues.
I have the same exact car (color and M3) only the convertible version and I had exactly all the same problems you describe and the only one that I haven’t done is the engine mounts. The prices you quote are amazingly low - I was not as fortunate with these deals but this car is worth it and lots of fun! Mine is 1999 with 195,000 miles!
I’m looking into an e36 for my first car , because of my love for the old bmw body styles and their performance.. but is it worth it when your on a budget?
Hey dude, awesome video as always :). Quick question, what power steering refresh kit did you get? I know I'm gonna have to do it for my 328i. Thank you.
I am sorry you got a bad one. I have had two E36 coupes which I bought when they were 4-5 years old and both were in the top 3 most reliable cars I have owned. One was the later generation 1994 double Vanos 325i the other was a 1998 318is. I have had two E46 328 coupes since them and they have both been a nightmare. I still have my 318 coupe I might put back on the road but it's been off the road for years.
I could say this for any car, if you buy it's and it's 20 years old or more, just replace the whole cooling system. I had to do it in increments over several years on my daily (not a BMW) and I wish I had just done it all at once. The radiators crack because they corrode, all the lines are brittle, the water pump seizes, the thermostats are almost always bad. That's is for literally any old car you buy.
Had my 99 m3 5-6 years. As soon as I got it I change every single fluid in the car. Full tune up change the entire heating system just as a Precaution only thing that broke and wasn't even broke just had a tiny play. Was tie rods and end links
looking at this video is like looking at my car, but mine is a 320. E36 are vehicles for who really likes to drive. Low and light, also with a "soft" suspension it sticks to the road and inside a lot of room for the driver also if 190cm tall. I just love it, but I have to change it. Hope to find another one.
i had a beautiful E36 coup. the stock water pump was plastic and should be replaced right out the door. had a problem with the heater core which would cause the windshield to fog up. the car had 30K miles on it, but BMW would not repair it.
Lol at all the haters who can't work out that the video nametag was made in jest. Sarcasm anyone?
I had an E36 Euro spec Evolution model before my current E46 M3 cabrio and miss every second without that car now. As much as I love my E46, the E36 Evo is now a timeless classic icon, not to mention it has more than doubled in value since it went 2 years ago!
+sarcastixx74 haha I'm glad you understood the sarcasm, and appreciate the e36 as much as I do 👍
sarcastixx74 click bate or sarcasm??? Click bate
I made the exact same mistake (trading my E36 for a 46). Regret it every single day.
Unfortunately I had no choice in what happened to my E36. Driving to work in fog/frost at 4am and I hit an oil patch at the exit of a roundabout, spun but at first I caught it. Next thing I see a pair of headlights coming towards me as I was on the opposite side of the road so I threw it into the side and ran it off the crash barrier. Rather see a crashed car than potentially taking out innocent people but yeah I do miss it, especially when I see similar spec models as they are so rare now. Another 5 accidents happened at the same spot that day before I found out it was due to a transporter leaking oil. At least I can happily say I had the pleasure of owning one!
Why m3 cabrio and not coupe? Im only asking cuz the e36 was very specific not like u had automatic us spec e36 lol then i wouldnt ask.
I've been daily driving my e36 for 21 years now and it's the best car I've owned so far... right now it has a little bit over 500,000k miles and still runs strong
Hell yeah man!
That is good to hear
207k miles on mine!
260k on mine but I bought it that way because the motor was rebuilt at 200k.
my 330ci has 330k
This is a 20+ y.o. Car and only 300 bucks! Bloody reliable if you ask me
+JavierCR25 I agree!
Nothing reliable about BMWs
Just $300? How much did that Mishimoto radiator and second water pump cost? That wasn't included in the repairs.
That's because they weren't repairs. Nothing broke, I just upgraded because I wanted to.
@@TreatsOnTheStreets gotcha! How much did all of the parts cost? I am looking into 1997 as we speak, 130K miles, same color like yours. What can I expect from that mileage, what type of preventive maintenance do you recommend?
My 99 E36 M3 (US) has been frackin bulletproof. I whale on that thing every time I drive it. This guy's guide is spot on, other than reinforcing the sub frame if you wanna get really nasty. Also check the shock mount points on the body if you're looking to buy one (BMW sells reinforcement hats for cheap, they came on my 99, I hear they might have came on 98's). The other thing I would toss in if you got the time is a full suspension bushing refresh/upgrade (lower control arms at least). Especially recommend the Mishimoto all aluminum radiator. When I bought mine it came in at 10$ less than an OEM plastic tank piece of garbage, and even came with the hoses. The thing is pretty easy to work on to boot.
Also, put an OBD1 manifold on that pig.
Also also, make sure to get a water pump with a metal impeller.
Thanks for the extra mentions!
Any used cars are going to have problems. So I think its better if you're prepared for them knowing what they are. I'm even more inclined to buying one after this video
I hope your title is sarcastic. Any used M3 if they haven't had cooling system redone, power steering system and vanos. You just have to take that into account as immediate maintenance after buying the car.
+sump22 if you watch the whole video you'll definitely be able to tell the title is sarcastic. I love my M3! It's been great!
Agreed. The straight sixes tend to be solid state when you keep them properly maintained.
my e36 has 243,000 miles and the only thing it ever needs is tons of oil and tires, other than that i've never had any issues aside from a fuel pump I replaced myself
e36 is my all time favorite bmw
Same
@@jamesrodriguez4189 same
Agree
I daily a sedan m3 it has 193k miles still strong everything works.
+Gab Marty that's awesome! I love hearing about stuff like that.
@@TreatsOnTheStreets I meet a guy who have 94 325i 5speed whit over 600k on stock M50 engine
He still drives it daily :D
I've had numerous e36 m3's and never had a problem apart from the usual wear and tear, in my opinion bmw went down hill from around 2005! And I'm saying this being a big BMW fan!
My E36 i drove for 360k Miles on the original engine, and it only gave out because of an engine oil leak i didnt notice, Most reliable car Ive ever had, switched to an Audi a4 Quattro since then, Would go back to the E36 any day
We've had one in the family for like 25 years now it's got 460.000 on the clock and it just won't die two of my uncle's used it and now it's in my hands I've replaced all the cooling system it does wonders on the road.
Great channel bud ! Always good to see real world BMW owners who drove them like they’re meant to be driven and maintain them. E36 is the cheapest way to get into an M car and from experience, it’s cheaper to own than a 540i E39. And I consider both my E39 540i and M5 really reliable, despite internet claims. Keep her safe !
+BimmerMann thanks! I love the e39. I'd like to pick up an m5 someday when it's time for another BMW. Definitely had a great time with the e36 so far.
So I finally got an E36 and here is what I have had to do so far in the 5 months of owning it:
-master cyl, slave cyl, tranny mounts
-clutch
-2 lock actuators
-drivers side door lock & handle replacement
-changed all the fluids (diff, trans, etc)
-steering rack, tie rods
-oil pan gasket
-engine mounts
Still need a new drivers side door (door was replaced at some point and the one they put on is slightly warped so it doesn't seal properly), sunroof repair that i will probably do myself (also doesn't close/seal properly but no leaks from that either thankfully), headliner's fucked, wiper linkage probably needs to be replaced, blower motor and wiper cowl too... oh and also probably higher up on that list is body work that the car needs since it's been in canada for 20 years, plus paint correction/detailing or better yet a paint job altogether. And throw in some miscellaneous trims/emblems in there too.
Now don't get me wrong, I may have not been the luckiest but then again pretty much all that stuff needs to be replaced on any 20+ year old car, give or take a few items. The one thing you may want to add to this list of things you will potentially have to do is the entire cooling system; the previous owner did it on mine not long ago so at least that is one thing I can leave alone (for now). Also the driveshaft, which the previous owner did too fortunately. And all of my window regulators actually work! (knock on wood)
I just wanted to put this out there for anyone considering buying into this, you better get ready to throw some money at it, especially if you're not gonna be doing all of this yourself. E36s are great but take this video with a grain of salt as it's not all sunshine, rainbows, and a couple hundred bucks here and there, especially in the first or second year of ownership.
But with all that being said this car is fun to drive, can't deny that. Now, is it a worthwhile investment? Well, depends. Mine isn't because it's a 328i with a shit ton of miles and it's my daily. But if you buy a low mileage M3, do preventative maintenance/repairs, and take good care of it, it might pay off because these cars are starting to appreciate in value.
P.S. I forgot VANOS!! 🙃🙃🙃 Mine will probably need a VANOS rebuild at some point because the idle feels a little rough and I did all the other diagnosis/repairs for a rough idle. It really is a love/hate relationship with this memebox
Thanks for the insight man. Looking at an E36 328i w/176k for a dd. But sounds like I should def keep my Jeep Wrangler for a back up.
I've had my e46 318i for a year now and spent €1500 on repairs. Cooling system, head gasket, rear dust plates, handbrake, plus a few minor things like front disks and pads, oil change, window regulator, filters, battery
I have a late 2006 E36 328i. Love that car. 240000km (149000 miles) and still has the factory clutch and exhaust, never had a Vanos problem, did replace the front control arms at 150000km. The only problem at the moment is a jammed rear door lock (the actuator is stuck in the locked position). I have a spare that I will install as soon as the actuator decides to unstick.
Julian Radowsky 06 is the e90 chassy
Why am I just finding this channel, and I was expecting a few hundred-thousand subs not 4.5 thousand. Keep up the amazing work. You earned a like and a sub.
+Clay Dellinger haha thanks man! Someday! Welcome to the channel👍
I sent a message on instagram if you could reply when you have the time that would be great.
+Clay Dellinger just did 👍
My 98 328i convertible has 298,000. Bought it from a friend a month ago. Came with a HUGE folder with receipts from work that had been done. I love the car. Doing a m50 manifold swap in a few weeks :-)
Heck yeah man keep taking care of it and it will last forever!
I'm not really a German car guy but I would have an E36.
+Maranello Santiago they're great cars 👍
you are a very lucky man to not have many problems with that m3, my 328i had all those problems and many more within the first year, its holding up quite good now but oh boy the things i had to do to get it where its at is crazy so just remember you are one lucky man
I have a e36 with over 300k miles, still works great, A\C and everything else...✌👍
Mine had 300k my motor mounts were original and were torn to shit when I took them out. The car needed so much love and still needs a lot. Especially rust. I plan on rebuilding the whole car from body onward. Hopefully I can revive this thing and have it live for another 300k
doing the same atm, mine is at 300k kms, lots of rust, im fixing it atm, should be repainted in a few weeks. everything had rust, wheel arches jacking points wheel well, ...
Do e46 front lower control swap, you'll get some nice camber, i think e46 is like an inch longer. It will help the turn-in at the start if the corner. Also it's great mod for daily drifter, or if you want to track a drift car, coz most of race tracks do not allow bent tube design suspension parts like SLR...
the perfect BMW E36 front end E46 back end fight me
I rebuild the whole colant system of my e46 in like 1 year. Hopefully now everything will be ok for some years.
Shouldn't have any problem with cooling after that!
I’ve got a 94 325i convertible with 69,000 miles on it, I paid $3 grand for it in excellent condition. I replaced the radiator, water pump, thermostat, struts and shocks, all for less than 2 Grand so for a total of 5 Grand I’ve got a new car. It’s 25 years old and I’ll be showing it in car shows this year. It’s hellrot red with all new black interior and looks showroom clean.
Great video and thank you for sharing.
I've heard of several m3 cars going into the 100's of thousands of miles as well.
Hope yours lasts that long.
about to buy a european e36 323i with supposedly 50.000 miles on it. I'm so excited!
My e36 has not given me a single problem for 2 years since I redid the head gasket and got fresh valves and springs. Only thing that happened was a thermostat leak and I changed it for 40 bucks. I drive it hard as a daily and so far so good.
Love the E36.
I had a 328is with the M50 intake manifold conversion, simota carbon fibre induction kit, and M3 front & rear bumpers/splitters. It was such a sweet looking, fast enough, and very reliable car.
It's a shame that over there in the US, you didn't get the proper E36 M3, and instead only got what was basically a 328i with better cams. I did read that yours was Euro spec though, which was the full-fat one same as we got here in the UK.
Small youtuber, but good content, your channel will grow!!!
My e46 is the most reliable car I've ever owned😁😁😁
1995 e34 with the m50b25tu , put on 15k miles past 12 months and never left me stranded, never had any problems just basic maintenance like .. 3 oil changes, oil filter housing gasket, spark plugs, differential oil, these cars are fucking great
Yes they are 👍
I have my 325is and 318ti for more than 10 years and still kicking
1995 325IS 190K miles and still going strong. Original water pump, radiator, Vanos repaired at 175K. My daily driver and there is a reason I choose to drive it over any of my newer cars day after day after day. RELIABLE AS FUCK! The motor is bullet proof, the transmission still rows great, clutch is OK but not done, all around these cars age very well in the right hands. E36 for life.
Nice man!
I have bought my e36 about 1.5 years and the only things I’ll have done is oil change and changed the filters! Pretty reliable. The only thing I can say about if you look to daily a e36 especially the 6 cylinders they need a lot of gas ⛽️ so be prepared
very good video, thanks man.. i have a 98 323is coupe wit 120k miles im in the process of bringing bac to life. Previous owner put a push to start and it ended up giving me some trouble
This is the only decent video for those looking for actual tips, thanks!
iv got a e46 msport coupe 320i original ,but always loved the e36s this silver one is a beauty tho love it well clean
My mother drove an e36 sedan for 20 years, drove it across the country (Canada) from BC to ontario when she moved, and sold it a couple years ago. She says the worst she ever had was an oil pan gasket gave up other than that she absolutely loved driving it
Daily a E46 Coupé for the last 6 months. Spotless & immaculate. Thank the lord.
+DynamicGaming haha sweet man
I’ve owned an E46 and an E39. As much as I loved them, I don’t think they were reliable. Having to replace the radiator AND thermostat AND water pump AND the power steering lines on a car with less than 200,000 miles is definitely higher maintenance than most Japanese or American cars. For someone without technical skills, this could result in several thousand $ in shop labor costs.
I mean it’s much more than my 2004 Miata. Only have 77k miles and it’s been great for 4 years but in the last 8 months i replaced twice Alternator and radiator and i’m gonna need a new ECU soon. But everything has only been $450 for parts and labor
Thanks man. Really helpful info. Thinking of getting one. I'm all the way in South Africa👌🏾🇿🇦. Keep it up
I have had a M3 since 1997 and it has always started first turn of the key. Last week it did the same after 3 years in the garage. Only time it hasn`t started was when the battery was flat.
You didn't mention any sensor issues, suspension or control arms rebuilds, fuel pump and lines/relays, engine gasket covers... this video is pure fantasy 🌟
Its a 20+ year old car that was stickered at 60k... sorry u cant afford it?
What maintenance have you performed yourself on the vehicle? Meaning, not taking to the shop for someone else to replace/repair.
I bought a beautiful red E36 328i when i was 20 years old for around 2500 dollars. Didn't last long as it was my first car and didn't have much experience driving (And zero experience with RWD) . Too much throttle mid corner and off the road it went into a tree... Luckily didn't get hurt, but damn do i miss that car.
I grew up in the 60's and 70's - then, a car with 70,000 miles was considered "spent" and ready for the junk yard. Used cars had under 40,000. Today, people don't even question 100,000 mile cars.
my e36 328i manual been my most reliable car to date, only done oil and filters and 5 years hard driving no trouble giving it a birthday now by choice but no troubles at all, fingers crossed it stays that way
leaky water pump you need to fix immediately and that's an easy fix... you can do it yourself in a couple hours... the water pump leak can expose your casing to rust and you don't want those threads getting rusted
I’m a college student on a budget who recently purchased a 2000 BMW 540i. Body and interior are in great condition . Unfortunately there is oil smell in cabin accompanied with oil leak , coolant leak , check engine light , needs a new coolant reservoir. Codes that arose are P0440 and P0011. Mechanic says one of the parts I need to replace is about $350 plus $55 to degrease oil . Forgot to mention pixels are half out in speedometer dash (found diy videos showing how to replace LCD screen and ribbon) . She’s my baby 🍼 but it has been recommended I immediately sell her 😢 😭
E36 is a GREAT daily driver I drive about 40 miles every single day with regular maintenance. Fun daily and I just replace most things before they even go out 👌🏾 planning on getting an e92 M3 at the end of the year and I’ll continue to use my e36 328i as a daily driver until the wheels literally fall off 😹
My $1,200 1995 e36 325is has cost me $6,000 in my one year of ownership....
I think I've made a mistake.
Your mistake was buying a $1,200 BMW. Not going to get a very well taken care of Bimmer for that cheap...
@@TreatsOnTheStreets Well, if I am to be completely honest those we're all performance upgrades that I chose to buy for the car. The only thing that actually failed was the water pump.
Haha cars are not a cheap hobby are they? 😂. Have fun with it man!
The only quirk I hated most was replacing those plastic gears in the seats, besides that it's a amazing car
Love the M3 sedans. You've gotta try one, they're a good time! Me and my fiance have a 328i sedan daily and my father has an M3/4/5. E36's are sweet cars to own and drive.
+Brandon Leitz haha quite the BMW family 👌
7:53
The moment we’ve all been waiting for. YEAH BABY! I mean after seeing how much mpg the e36 gets. Man can’t wait!
bought my e36 touring 325 two years ago, and guess what, leaky powersteering, fan clutch went bad, vanos got stuck.
fixed and upgraded seals in the vanos unit, went for mishimoto electric fan, got a new OEM power steering line.
in these two years 273K - 309K KM's I drove it very hard (once warmed up). its still running like brand new.
i am myself a mechanic and i must admit: parts are expensive, yes. but rarely does it ask for them (other then regular services).
im quite happy with my 1.500 euro rocket. mines a high option model, and compared to todays standard its actually still quite luxurious.
Awesome man! I think they're really solid and nice cars. Not much to worry about once you replace the usual things that tend to go wrong.
If a shortshiftkit isnt done yet, do it! new bushings for the linkage and a new lever with shorter throws. Buy original bushings for bmw, shifter, ebay works
The only other little issue is the trunk latch seem to get bent and crack due to its geometry. I have had two E36s and both cars had a broken trunk. Not a deal breaker but annoying.
Would it be crazy if I bought one of these bad boys as my first car or should I get something else? Maybe a normal 3 series? Biggest reason is because I want that feeling of an old bmw or car in general, I feel like older cars resonate more with me.
Great car, only issue I have is the fact I have to put coolant in every 3 weeks. And there’s no leak and it’s been bled
My vanos unit is rattling a little bit at certain rpms what did you do to get that fixed?
+Hunter Macleod you need a rattle kit. It essentially just replaces some internal parts and seals that are worn out and no longer have tight tolerances as they should.
+Largemargesentme nice tip. I wonder if that would quiet lifter noise for those people experiencing that as well.
I've had my 328i for about a year now.
There's only been one big issue, which was my Radiator cracking. Ended up replacing it with a Mishimoto Radiator and hasn't been an issue since.
I've done my preventative maintenance but still need to take care of some things. Most things were already done by the previous owner so there isn't much I need to do.
I love how e36 coupes look in that silver color. If i had one I'd have the same color, only gold or bronze rims. There is one around me but I'm so afraid to buy it. For 1. I'm afraid of the repairs it might need and 2. e46 coupes have been my dream car for a very long time
What kind of camera are you recording with? Super smooth, my guess would be a gopro on an electric gimbal stabilizer
I need a clean set of M3 wheels from this era for my E30 build. Other than that, get a BMW and get rid of the engine and transmission.
My m3 is exactly like that one, had it for over 10 years. Bought it with 82,000 miles on it and now over 190,000.. Paid a little over $320 for a oem radiator and water pump and hoses, regular oil changes and maintenance and that's it and i have beat the crap out of it. Reliable is an understatment
+j butter that's awesome! Just a testament to how solid they can be if you take care of them. Hopefully I'll have the same kind of experience. Thanks for sharing!
I haven't had very many issues at all other then some minor oil leaks
its mostly only the 3 series, like the vanos pump, and also like you said, the power steering. With the E46, it was mostly only the vanos that would go bad.
No matter the brand of car with some exceptions, if they are well taken care of and given the proper maintenance, they will last a long time
Very informative and great to mention prices of the repairs.
If you let the car idle to warm up it causes unnecessary wear on the engine. People still don't get you have to put load on the engine in order to let it warm up quickly.
True about the load heating up an engine a bit more quickly but both the S50B32 and S54 engines in the E36/E46 benefit from at least a minute of idle on a cold start to let the 10w60 oil circulate the major parts. They also should be kept at relatively low revs until up to normal operating temp otherwise the potential risk to the rod/main bearings are high. Once either of those go, at best the crank gets scored but in nearly all cases it means a total rebuild or replacement block is needed.
Hell yeah I have those same BBS wheels on my 36! Picked up a 4 set for $80 believe it or not 😂
Likewise... love to take a look
One thing, that really annoys me is how people see e36s and 90s bmw in general. I'm saving up money for e36 right now and every time I talk about it with someone, I always get reactions talking about how unreliable and bad e36s are, especially from car guys. The thing is, that people spend money on modifying them instead of basic maintenance. I often see people saying that "it's a winter beater, no point to maintain it like a daily" and after the engine blows up, they call it a piece of junk beacuse they rather spend money on turboing it instead of fixing the already big issues.
Convert it to electric and eliminate all of the above forever. But not everyone will want to do that. Thank you for sharing.
1998 e36 328is approaching 190k miles...I'm just halfway there!
Never had an issue with my e36 cooling. All orginal with 150k on the dial and just came on the hottest summer on record
Such a clean M3 - respect!
Thanks brother!
Great video, very informative,
Will you recommend it or some of the newer gen m3s?
+Elvis Car Reviews both the e36 and e46 are great generations.
Treats On The Streets cool.
I am thinking of making buying bmw e36 320i 2001 should i buy it as project car where I can use for drifting?
I have the same exact car (color and M3) only the convertible version and I had exactly all the same problems you describe and the only one that I haven’t done is the engine mounts. The prices you quote are amazingly low - I was not as fortunate with these deals but this car is worth it and lots of fun! Mine is 1999 with 195,000 miles!
Prices are low because they are not accurate. The aluminum radiator alone is like $500
The radiator is 308 online today.
I’m looking into an e36 for my first car , because of my love for the old bmw body styles and their performance.. but is it worth it when your on a budget?
Hey dude, awesome video as always :). Quick question, what power steering refresh kit did you get? I know I'm gonna have to do it for my 328i. Thank you.
+Car Skillz I went on ecs tuning's website and bought the kit. It came with a reservoir, cooler, and lines. Been great!
So would I be able use this car like a everyday car ? Like driving from school and back
Love your channel! Amazing content!
Thanks man!
My z3 has been super reliable for a daily driver- just got an e36
found a 1998 e36 for 8k with 65k miles should I buy it. 325i is my dream car but i think it's to good of a deal to pass up. what do yall think?
318i 1995 and 1996 Sedan common problems and what to look out for??
I am sorry you got a bad one. I have had two E36 coupes which I bought when they were 4-5 years old and both were in the top 3 most reliable cars I have owned. One was the later generation 1994 double Vanos 325i the other was a 1998 318is. I have had two E46 328 coupes since them and they have both been a nightmare. I still have my 318 coupe I might put back on the road but it's been off the road for years.
My E36 is approaching 250,000 miles. I've found that I've had to replace mainly electrical components & the clutch.
+Dorian Brooks dang dude that's awesome! I love hearing about the higher mileage cars.
I could say this for any car, if you buy it's and it's 20 years old or more, just replace the whole cooling system. I had to do it in increments over several years on my daily (not a BMW) and I wish I had just done it all at once. The radiators crack because they corrode, all the lines are brittle, the water pump seizes, the thermostats are almost always bad. That's is for literally any old car you buy.
Had my 99 m3 5-6 years. As soon as I got it I change every single fluid in the car. Full tune up change the entire heating system just as a Precaution only thing that broke and wasn't even broke just had a tiny play. Was tie rods and end links
+STEVEN MALVASIO nice man! Not a big deal at all. Take care of them and they'll last forever!
Which M50 manifold kit did you use? Is that the stock fuel-rail cover?
Not too long got mine and just started working on it
I get a lot of vacuum leaks, apparently that's a common problem on E36
The Ultimate Lease Machine
looking at this video is like looking at my car, but mine is a 320. E36 are vehicles for who really likes to drive. Low and light, also with a "soft" suspension it sticks to the road and inside a lot of room for the driver also if 190cm tall. I just love it, but I have to change it. Hope to find another one.
When you realize you have the same name as one of the youtubers you watch:
Same
i had a beautiful E36 coup. the stock water pump was plastic and should be replaced right out the door. had a problem with the heater core which would cause the windshield to fog up. the car had 30K miles on it, but BMW would not repair it.