Bimmer time?

[OriginalWheelman]

So a friend told me about her friend selling a 95 318ti 2 door hatch. It needs a bit of work, mainly a tie rod and some other stuff to get it to pass state inspection. I'm going to go take a look at it in the next few days so for the BMWish people amongst us, i have a few questions.

1. What common problems should I look out for?
2. What major problems should make me walk away from the car if it has them? i.e. things that will cost a lot to fix.
3. I'm told it has a "racing clutch and suspension" so I'm going to assume someone worked this car hard at one point. Other than the normal stuff from a sports car, what should I look out for on a BMW that has been "raced"?

I've never owned a German car before so it would be new ground for me, but there was a point at which I never owned an S13 before so it's not hard to imagine me liking the vehicle. He's asking way more than blue book, $2000, so I need to talk him down as edmund's says it is worth $843 private party or $1337 (not kidding) dealer retail. I'm told it's pretty dirty inside and it "needs a drivers seat". I'm not sure what's up with that yet. Also, I'm getting out of the Q45 because the mileage is bad. I imagine it will be better on gas the the Q, but can anyone tell me what I can expect in real world driving? I tend to be heavy footed, but I don't speed. I'm looking for the car for a DD, not a race car. So to you german gurus, what am I getting into?

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Sounds like a beater to me..

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Yeah, and they're slow as s***.

[Jesda]

Cooling system needs a full overhaul at 100k. Check for weird errors and lights like ABS. Its slow. If you get him down to $750, expect to spend $500 on repairs and keep it as a good-handling slow beater.

[OriginalWheelman]

Fast is less important to me than fuel econ, as I've come down with a raging case of poor. I know he paid less than a grand for it and he cant get it to pass inspection in it's current state so I should be able to get it for a lot less than he's asking. If I can't get a good price, I'll walk away. I've driven 6 hours and came back empty handed so I have no problem walking away from a bad deal that's only 15 minutes away.

[Captain Slow]

I had a 96 318ti. I guess I will just come out and say, don't buy it. Parts really are outrageously priced. You can quickly spend a lot on the simplest of things. They are also not really that slow, it just looks bad on paper (138hp/ 2,800lb dry weight) it still has enough ooomph to spin the rears.

Common problems, and problems that I had with my car within 6 months: Radiators go bad freuquently, persistent vacuum leaks, leaking rear shocks, hatch strut supports more than likely are bad, the M42/44 engines are known for bad oil leaks (mainly the rear seal.), alternators,and the power steering likes to go. Electrical problems abound. There is also a little plastic piece that likes to break. It holds the window actuator arms in the tracks on the window. If it breaks, you will be replacing the plastic piece, the actuator, and the motor in the window ($250 new total).

If the car has ANY motor problems (tapping valves, smoking, other noises), or transmission noises, walk away. You could easily spend 2 grand rebuilding it. The syncros for 2nd to 4th on my car had gone, and I was quoted $1500 for a rebuild! If the alternator goes that's $350 (for a brand new one). I wouldn't worry about interior problems, a trip to a junkyard/pull a part can fix any of that.

On the bright side of things, real world MPG for me was 27 highway/25 city with a heavy foot and 32 highway/27 city with a light foot. On a trip to Myrtle Beach one time, I even hit 35 MPG cruising there and back.

[OriginalWheelman]

Well I'm going to give it a thorough inspection before I buy it then. If it isn't in exceptional condition I'm probably going to pass.

The guy who owns it now has only owned it for about a month. I assume he bough it expecting it was fast. I used to work at a Mobil station and whenever I saw a younger person with one, that is always the first thing they say. "I thought BMWs were fast." I can only hope the last owner really cared for the car.

[Captain Slow]

Worst case scenario, you could buy it (if it is decent enough), and flip it. Like you said, young guys like to buy BMW's because "they're fast"

[poems2beats]

Well if you already have a s13 with an rb20 and your looking for a DD. Why not get some type of Honda. Reliable, easy to work on and good gas mileage...

[OriginalWheelman]

I hate FWD. That's about the only thing keeping me out of one. Nxer has a Civic and it's great but it's in her Dad's name for reasons I don't want to get into, and I'm not allowed to drive it because "I'll hotrod around in it." Yes. Everyone knows DX 4 doors with SOHC Non-VTAK 1.7 engines are hotrods.

I'd get another S chassis for a DD, but they are so hard to find up north without cancer. I was trying to buy my last S14 back, but I'm told it was sold to the same "friend" that bought my red S13 and trashed it to hell, so I think that's gotten it's death sentence too. I'd take a Subaru, but they are all old and rotted, or out of my price range.

[Jesda]

I imagine cheap RWD cars are a bit harder to come by in snowy Buffalo. True/false?

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Yeah, you can't really beat a Honda for a DD. Blows that bimmer out of the water in pretty much every aspect criteria wise.

If you want a bimmer with good mileage, get something with an M50. They're bulletproof motors and parts are plentiful.

An old E30 would get decent mpg as well and be a heck of a lot more of a car, build-quality wise. E36s were pretty much thrown together.

[poems2beats]

Miata?

During regular stop and go traffic the difference between fwd and rwd isn't that big imo..

[OriginalWheelman]

I imagine cheap RWD cars are a bit harder to come by in snowy Buffalo. True/false?

VERY VERY TRUE. There were not a lot sold new cause "FWD is better int he snow"

Miata?

During regular stop and go traffic the difference between fwd and rwd isn't that big imo..

I don't fit in a Miata. I'm not very tall but I'm big, and my head still pokes out over the windshield cause I have very upright posture, largely due to the titanium rods in my back. I miss slouching. Aside form that I feel like I'm wearing a Miata, not driving in it.

In stop and go traffic, yes, but I feel it every time I turn the wheel. I like accelerating while I turn, and FWDs don't suit my driving style. That makes me get irritated, and I then I beat it. There are a few FWDs on my acceptable list, but they are all hard to find in decent shape. Ford Probe, NX2000, Eclipse Turbo. I don't fit in the Eclipse either so it's not an option. I fit in the NX but I have to flip the T-top up to get in and out.

[poems2beats]

Well beggars can't be choosers lol

[Jesda]

CAPRICE!

[OriginalWheelman]

Had an '85 Caprice classic as my first car. Loved it.

[anti_flag_army]

I don't fit in the Eclipse either so it's not an option.

I had a talon TSI and i have to say it was the roomiest sport compact i have owned really with a ton of head room. Im about 6' 1" and 190 lbs but i also fit in my miata quite comfortably.

[IBCoupe]

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/2060106134.html

Hey, you've made 6-hour trips before. 'Cept that it's automatic...

[OriginalWheelman]

I might check that out. I actually have a 5spd swap for that sitting around from the last NX. Thanks!

[breadbox]

I want a NX2000. They are fun.

[IBCoupe]

I might check that out. I actually have a 5spd swap for that sitting around from the last NX. Thanks!

No probs, dude! Just like West Virginia, we here at NICO are happy to keep it in the family.

[sx moneypit]

I might check that out. I actually have a 5spd swap for that sitting around from the last NX. Thanks!

No probs, dude! Just like West Virginia, we here at NICO are happy to keep it in the family.