1997 m3

[slag]

I'm looking at a 97 M3 couple 5 spd. What things plagued the E36 that I should be especially wary of? I can do my own work, but don't want to get into a car that characteristically has major issues with X.

The car has around 150k miles.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

The E36 is a fairly bulletproof car since it's about the least-stressed engine ever put in an M car. The only problem that comes to mind is that I believe the 1997 cars still had a water pump with a plastic impeller that can shatter and do some damage. Any car that has made it 150K miles has almost certainly had this replaced with a metal impeller pump.

On Youtube there's a guy who posted a very useful multi-part guide to inspecting an E36 M3 for known issues - I would take a look at that before you go check it out. This is the first part: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4Z7WrN-tSE

 

[slag]

The E36 is a fairly bulletproof car since it's about the least-stressed engine ever put in an M car. The only problem that comes to mind is that I believe the 1997 cars still had a water pump with a plastic impeller that can shatter and do some damage. Any car that has made it 150K miles has almost certainly had this replaced with a metal impeller pump.

On Youtube there's a guy who posted a very useful multi-part guide to inspecting an E36 M3 for known issues - I would take a look at that before you go check it out. This is the first part: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4Z7WrN-tSE

Thanks, I'm at work and Yt is blocked but I'll check it out when I get home.

 

[ballmode]

replace all the bushings on the car

 

[ballmode]

I always considered that people should get the E46 330i with Comp package over the m3 unless you gotta have the LSD diff

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I always considered that people should get the E46 330i with Comp package over the m3 unless you gotta have the LSD diff

The ZHPs are awesome cars but they are much more expensive than an E36 M3 with 150K miles. The ZHPs have held their value remarkably well since they are such handsome, practical cars while still being eminently trackable. I remember posting here all the way back when they announced the ZHP in 2003 that it was instantly the most desirable daily driver in the world, and I stand by that relative to any other cars that were on the market at that time.

 

[ballmode]

Don, i think you are correct.

m3 wasn't made in sedan
S4 was too pricey

EVO/STI blew it out of the water but you trade of luxury for the rally look

WRX didn't have enough interior quality to match and wasn't a smooth I6. I own a WRX, wanted the S2000 but if I could have gotten the BMW 330i I would have. The only competitor to it that I can think of on a performance level is the Legacy GT but it was out after the 330i ZHP run its course... plus a Legacy is to compete with a bigger car anyways.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Don, i think you are correct.

m3 wasn't made in sedan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M3#E36_M3
Yeah they were.

Only thing I remember that scared the crap out of me when I was thinking about buying one was the rear shocks like to punch through the chassis.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M3#E36_M3
Yeah they were.

Only thing I remember that scared the crap out of me when I was thinking about buying one was the rear shocks like to punch through the chassis.

I think he means the E46 M3 was not made in a sedan (which it was not). Actually there are a handful of tuner cars that transplanted an M3 drivetrain into E46 sedans and even wagons - there was a Rogue Engineering wagon that was especially beastly - but there was never a production sedan.

 

[TheHashmaster]

the cooling system is the main plague of the e36, make sure it is replaced or at least has a new water pump as stated above

all bushings should be inspected or replaced if worn or cracked (check out the guibo, which is on the driveshaft of the car, and u must check out the rear shock mounts)

the oil pump nut is notorious for backing off the oil pump (during spirited driving), thus starving ur engine's head of oil and destroying valves and cams. make sure that sucker is welded in place or tied down with metal wire

check the suspension towers for cracks or mushrooming, if the factory suspension is still in there (which only lasts 60k miles) i would be wary of buying the car.

cooling system again, lol

other than that, they are pretty solid cars. excellent handling. great looking, and that motor is a beast. with a thicker head gasket and a turbo kit, ppl are seeing 550whp on stock internals, pretty crazy right? also this car has a HUGE following behind it, so dont worry about support when u need it

check out bimmerforums.com (been a member for 4 years) for help when u need it. ppl will actually come to ur house and give u a hand with ur car for a beer. lol. and there are a million write-ups on how to do just about anything to ur e36 m3

here is a checklist that u should definitely check out. its e36 m3 specific:
http://www.e36-tech.com/forum/pre-purchase-checklist-for-e36-s-611.html

u can use the maintenance items not taken care of on the list as leverage for a lower price and just change things out urself.

 

[alkemyst]

rear shock mounts definitely, before I decided to go for a better job I was considering the E36 M3. It's a great car, but needs more power in today's world.

 

[halik]

I think he means the E46 M3 was not made in a sedan (which it was not). Actually there are a handful of tuner cars that transplanted an M3 drivetrain into E46 sedans and even wagons - there was a Rogue Engineering wagon that was especially beastly - but there was never a production sedan.

Wow I could've sworn they made e46 m3 sedan in europe

 

[TheHashmaster]

rear shock mounts definitely, before I decided to go for a better job I was considering the E36 M3. It's a great car, but needs more power in today's world.

+1

u can strip it down some, its a relatively light car. adding power is affordable now too. u wont get much power gains from, say an exhaust and intake, but replacing the exhaust will save a decent amount of weight. that oem exhaust is rather heavy. with simple bolt ons u can be within 240whp up from the 240bhp. as far as forced induction goes, there are hundreds of builds, tested and tried, so u wont make the wrong move and waste money (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=521046).

 

[jteef]

all the major stuff I've had to do on mine:

rear shock mounts
rear trailing arm bushings
water pump
HVAC blower
HVAC control unit
wheel speed sensors
radiator
belts / pulley tensioners
rear cargo mat
valve cover gasket
starter
power steering hoses
coil packs
passenger seat belt clasp
2 guibos
clutch
underpanel / brake ducts / wheel well covers

i have a 97 5 sp 2dr that just hit 102K ++1 to bf.c