• Welcome to ozBMW.com If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the Forums Rules by clicking the hyperlink.

    Note that you are required to register before you can post.

    If you experience a problem logging in, drop me an email to admin@ozSkoda.com and I'll sort it out for you.

    To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Newbie alert

Not Again

Not Again

New member
Hey Guys names Jay don't have a BMW at the moment had a 95 e36 318i before. Which i traded up to a VY SS Ute and a runaround Lancer now I'm going back to a E36. Haha this time I'd get a better base model instead of the pov pack thou lol.
 
welcome aboard.
be good to see forum getting more active again.

I have recently purchased an E36 myself as a project.
 
There are plenty out there, but finding one that isn't over-priced and hasn't been butchered is difficult.
 
jnrdavo said:
nice to hear. Must be a stack on the market to pick between.
Click to expand...
Yeah but i made a list you know sunroof,manual,obc,manual,6cylinder etc seems like i find everything but one every time lol. I found a 328i but it's auto i might make the jump but im going to look in to a conversion. I know it would be easier to buy a manual to start with.

Cam93 said:
There are plenty out there, but finding one that isn't over-priced and hasn't been butchered is difficult.
Click to expand...
True that some people want the price of a new Bentley for them or they just been riced or neglected.

s.charter said:
94, 318i auto.
Nothing fancy. just a tinker toy to have in the shed to play with.
I have to order new thermostat and housing after xmas, and see how she runs.
Click to expand...
Oh nice one year older than my old one yeah which i should have kept and did a LS1/T56 swap regrets:033102bad_1_prv: .Anyways yeah watch that cooling system i replaced most of my system.

This was my old 36 it was a pain in the ass but when it went it was a great car.
 
Last edited:
Woo! more e36's on here!
Have to agree on it being difficult to find one that hasn't had the most awful tail lights added along with half a boot worth of subs and some crappy wheels. Ended up paying around $6k for my 96 318i manual basically because it was fairly original and the paint was in good condition. Fairly sure OBC can be retrofitted if really needed but I would definitely say manual and the sunroof is nice to have even if its mostly used for vent rather than fully open. What cooling problems did you have and how many K's on it? (just wanna see what to look out for)
 
Blade695 said:
What cooling problems did you have and how many K's on it? (just wanna see what to look out for)
Click to expand...

I'm sure it was 160-170kms the M43B18 internal front cover leaked cause of a hairline crack which ran coolant in to the oil sump. Causing the symptoms of a blown head gasket but when we pressure tested the system. We saw a fine spray of coolant so after finding a cover which was a mission i don't know why.

The radiator decided to crack where the hoses connect so new hoses thermo and housing etc. It sounds really simple but a pro euro workshop over here had trouble finding the issue and have never seen that happen to that engine.

Some good out of it my water pump was in top condition factory BMW i replaced that as well haha.
 
have heard a lot of feed back about the 36 cooling problems.
I picked mine up for $200. just couldn't resist the price for a shed toy.
it hasn't been driven, started, or registered since april 2015.
oil filler cap had milk on it. but oil was clean from milk when I drained it. near to no sign of milk in filter housing, head ports, and tappet cover.
so im hopping the filler cap is from condensation for sitting still for so long. don't like my luck though.
as soon as I can order a thermostat unit, I will give it a start and flush, to see if its a major or minor issue.
if it a gasket, I will fix it. if its the head that's screwed, I will just source a new motor.

I plan to upgrade the whole cooling system eventually. plus add a transmission cooler and oil cooler.
 
s.charter said:
have heard a lot of feed back about the 36 cooling problems.
I picked mine up for $200. just couldn't resist the price for a shed toy.
it hasn't been driven, started, or registered since april 2015.
oil filler cap had milk on it. but oil was clean from milk when I drained it. near to no sign of milk in filter housing, head ports, and tappet cover.
so im hopping the filler cap is from condensation for sitting still for so long. don't like my luck though.
as soon as I can order a thermostat unit, I will give it a start and flush, to see if its a major or minor issue.
if it a gasket, I will fix it. if its the head that's screwed, I will just source a new motor.

I plan to upgrade the whole cooling system eventually. plus add a transmission cooler and oil cooler.
Click to expand...
Yeah swap it over to a M44 while your at it but if you do stay with the M43. You can get whole 318i's as you know for under $500 with a decent motor these days. Are you planing on long distance driving or racing with the trans and oil cooler or just peace of mind?.
 
Update looks like i am going to be a owner of a 94 E36 318i Manual it was at a price i couldn't pass. Will put pics once i make it look clean haha. Oh yeah anyone know if 255/35/20's i think offset is +38 will fit the rear any info would be awesome.
 
Not Again said:
Update looks like i am going to be a owner of a 94 E36 318i Manual it was at a price i couldn't pass. Will put pics once i make it look clean haha. Oh yeah anyone know if 255/35/20's i think offset is +38 will fit the rear any info would be awesome.
Click to expand...

congrats on your purchase.

Not Again said:
Yeah swap it over to a M44 while your at it but if you do stay with the M43. You can get whole 318i's as you know for under $500 with a decent motor these days. Are you planing on long distance driving or racing with the trans and oil cooler or just peace of mind?.
Click to expand...

no race plans or anything excessive. will just be a clean cruiser for local charity runs and meets.
as well as family duties.

the cooler upgrades are an ease of mind option. prevention is best cure.
 
Deal fell over cause seller was just wasting time so back on the look out. After reading to much on the net i think i will have to get a 6cylinder and manual.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
DreamIT
Back
Top