Been looking at cars for a while now.
Have some experience with wrenching, haven't liked what I could find on CL so I was looking at financing options.
Found M3, pretty good, everything checks out VIN-wise, with the small bump of being Auto and having the aforementioned 215,000 miles on it.
Asking price is 4,300.
What I'm not concerned about
>the transmission
>what is faster than it
What I am concerned about
>215k miles
>scat-free carfax, well maintained, 2 owners
>cost of rebuilding engine
>how to make it hit 300k miles
so basically i may have taken a bet that if I buy the thing and can maintain the engine to the 300,000 mile mark I'll have my first semester of UTI payed for.
What am I in for?
>>13964143
BMWs are known for having 0 issues at high mileage. You should be 100% ok.
>>13964164
>insert reply here
>>13964143
not at all. they are really cheap to fix especially if you bring it to a dealership. really reliable too.
>>13964182
>insert reply here
>>13964143
>>13964174
>>13964188
Why the fuck did you ask then? You know the answer you dumb nigger
>>13964194
>didn't read the OP
>>13964201
>How likely is an M3 with 215k on it going to murder me?
>What am I in for?
>>13964218
>what I am concerned about
let me clarify that i am not buying this and not expecting honda civic, since all the replies give that impression.
>>13964226
>not buying this and not expecting
ffs
i am not buying this expecting to get a honda civic.*
>>13964201
>>13964188
>>13964174
>being this triggered
The guy is right, OP. You've got to be fucking retarded to not know the answer to your own question. You're just looking for somebody to tell you otherwise in order to justify your impulses. Classic human behavior.
>>13964262
>every thread about bmws has to be a fanboy in denial
all i really wanted was some tips on what to look out for when I buy the thing
I don't think it's a civic, or an easy job. it's going to pay for the school I want to go to so I can get a chance to actually work on performance cars for a living.
But thanks for the replies /o/, I'll be back when I have questions about twingos or miatas.
>>13964294
>all i really wanted was some tips on what to look out for
Okay.
Everything. Look out for everything. It's really, really old with tons of miles and it's not reliable either. Cooling, electrical, transmission, fluids of all kinds, leaks of all kinds, engine, you name it.
Oh, and PS. Be less of a drama queen. Auto industry hates pussies.
>>13964294
>it's going to pay for the school I want to go to so I can get a chance to actually work on performance cars for a living.
If you have the money to commit to a rebuild that's worth more than the car itself.
If you want a car that can make it past 300k miles, just buy a Volvo and call it a day.
>>13964294
>all i really wanted was some tips on what to look out for when I buy the thing
First thing I would look out for is mileage, if it has more than 80k it's trashed, will need a new water pump, radiator, and assorted cooling parts every year or two
Second thing I would check is whether it has an auto trans or not, if it has an auto it's garbage
Aside from that I would just look for oil leaks (there will be many), any electrical issues, it's post 96 so you can take your code reader and pull the codes off (the owner probably removed the CEL bulb but they will be there), and of course check the subframe since sometimes they fall off.
>>13964294
the person you're replying to is a moron. the US spec e36 m3 is very reliable.
just do yourself a favor and go to an e36 m3 forum.
cost of rebuilding a US spec S50/2 is no different than any other 6 cylinder unless you're buying the specific m3 cams. it's still a 215k mile engine though. but there's nothing that makes a K20 more of a 300k car than a m54. nothing.
>>13964346
wrong.
and the subframe issue is e46.
GO TO AN M3 FORUM.
>>13964143
>m3
>215k
>1990s car
>"well maintained"
you gon get raped
>>13964143
Get the entire cooling system checked. That's the first thing that gets killed on E36's. Keep an eye on the ANLASSER aka starter, their chassis can get bent and then they move incorrectly, requiring a few times before they start. It can be fixed easily, if you can get to it (E36 starters are a bitch to replace).
Finally, replace the RIEMENSCHEIBE KURBELWELLE VIBRATIONSDAEMPHER aka camshaft pulley. Mine died at 200k miles because the elastic vibration-reducing band decayed.
That's it when it comes to E36.
Cooling system (seriously, get that checked).
Starter (the thing that holds it gets bent)
Camshaft pulley (more or less random)
Also, the locking system. If a car door won't unlock, a strong hit from the inside behind the door handle fixes 90% problems.
if its a 4 zylinder engine it won`t make another 100k. if you have the 6 zylinder engine then ur good. (i had an 318i and a 320i and m3. both 4 zylinder engines were crap
>>13964310
>>13964337
>>13964346
Are the american versions of the car really that shit? Because the euros are indestructable.
Check vanos for rattle, cooling system, rear subframe for cracks by mounting points, rear shock mounts, Check if all locks work, check rear trunk wiring harness, under panels for rust, bushings, leaks by oil filter housing, check for ac, and check for interior like headliners/door panels. Also stock Us headlights fuckin suck so get some ZKW or Bosch or depo/dj auto projectors.
>>13966393
there is no e36 m3 with a 4cyl engine
also the m43 and m44 4cyls are decent in reliability
215k miles isnt something outrageous, i have owned myself 240k and 270k mile BMW's and there is a 490k mile 7 series e65, if they have been well maintained the high mileage is nothing special, especially for the i6 petrol bmws, those engines are literally bulletproof
>>13967323
yes unfortunately,
there is quite a difference
>>13967757
Thats what you get for using imperial system of measurements.
>>13964143
>I'll have my first semester of UTI payed for.
>What am I in for?
You make good life decisions.
>>13964143
>UTI payed for.
This has got to be a troll post.
>>13965176
>99 328i
>minor frame damage
>198k still runs like a top
