Please advise on possible E36 purchase

[PScalfano]

Hey folks, before you move this thread to the 3 series forum, I would like some advice. Here's my story:

I had a 1995 525i from 2002 until August of 2004. I started reading this forum about that time. Unfortunately the car was totaled when a lady ran a stop sign and I T-boned her (see pic).

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b379/PScalfano/P8200300.jpg

While I had my 525, I fell in love with it. I put in a Conforti chip and a sub + amp among other small modifications, just enough to where I could call the car mine. I had plans of getting some better wheels, etc. All that was cut short in less than 1 second.

Since then, I bought a 2000 Honda Accord 4 cyl with the insurance money from the 525 (to get me from here to there), but I've been on the lookout for another bimmer. I have been lurking on this board since the wreck. The Honda, as great as the gas mileage may be, does not give me the feeling of satisfaction I had from the E34.

I saw an ad in the paper today for a 1995 325i convertible with only 68,000 miles. It's black with silver interior, and an automatic. I called about the car and got this information:

The seller wants $9,600 for the car.

He bought it from a Range Rover dealership. He tells me the previous owner was a lady who kept it garaged. He bought it for his kid to drive, but now they have a different car so he's selling this one.

There is some damage on the front passenger side by the foglight. He said he is going to get it fixed by a body specialist and that the damage is minor.

He is supposed to call me with the VIN, in which case I would like someone to run a carfax if possible.

I am going to look at the car on Friday when I don't have work. I will take my camera with me and take some pictures.

If I get this car, I am going to keep the Honda temporarily because I drive about 60 miles to work in a carpool. The office is moving to my city in about 7 months, so I will sell the Honda then. The last thing I want to do is invest in such a nice, low mileage car, just to rack up the miles with my daily commute.

I would like some advice on what to look for when I see the car and what pictures I should take to give you all the largest amount of information. Any advice you guys can give me would be great.


Thanks!

-Phillip

[bbig119]

Seems a bit high to me, especially with some damage to the car. I would think you could do better. I'm no expert on e36s, but I do remember some that prices on them were below 9k on all but the most prisine cars when I was car shopping last spring.

[bjl4776]

That is a bit high. I bought my 95 Dakar M3 in mint shape with 125k for 9500. The feeling of an E36 is different from an E34. It is not as comfortable of a car and there are more creeks and rattles, but It is alot more fun to drive. The car definately has lower mileage, but with damage you can defintely find them for a better price.

[///M-Power 3\\\]

The E36 has some issues with the chassis. I ripped mine apart pretty bad in a few places. Other than that the drivetrain is basically identical to your 525i. Look at it like this, they are both equally reliable/problematic, the E36 has more structural issues, and the E34 has more electronic and accessory failures. Just remember you cant kill a 5-speed 535i

[markus]

i miss my M3 thats for sure. but in comparison to the E34 and E30 I had the E36 is a POS build quality wise. My passenger side seat would rattle and squeak like crazy and the PO was brigh enough to put a strut tower brace on the car and cracked the strut towers. I got rid of it.

[markus]

also I heard the later E36s are supposed to be more improved. I would like to get another one.

[BillionPa]

...cracked the strut towers!?

[ILoveMPower]

Definitely WAY high for that car. That should be in the 4-5k range.

E36s are a bit sportier, and a lot less comfy.

[PScalfano]

I appreciate the advice everyone has given so far. I can see why $9,600 would seem like a high price for this car, especially if the damage is of any significance, but NADA values the car at $10,450 and Kelly Blue Book values the car at $9,725. I will have to check on the damage I mentioned earlier before I can validate these numbers because I marked the car as "good" condition for reference. I am located in Little Rock, Arkansas, if that makes any sort of difference in price. There was no mention of how firm the seller is on the price, so he may be willing to haggle. I am going to contact him today and see about getting some pictures posted on this thread before tomorrow, whether he can provide them or if I can go out and look at the car myself. Thanks again for your advice; I will take this board's opinion very seriously when I am considering this purchase.

NADA link for reference (I tested this on "preview post" so I hope it works):

http://www.nadaguides.com/default.aspx?LI=1-21-1-5013-0-0-0&l=1&w=21&p=1&f=5014&c=21&m=1026&d=208&y=1995&vi=1663&mi=68000&z=72223&da=-1&nx=1

[bbig119]

I suggest you go looking on craigslist, cars.com and autotrader.com. Search for E36's and use what you find as a gauge for the price of this car as well as any others you consider. If you're having trouble finding anything in your area, switch to another one. Prices do vary by location, but not that much.

Good luck