anxious
Club Guest
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2004
- Messages
- 1,363
- Points
- 48
After searching for about 2 months I found the E36 I was looking for. I had set out looking for a low mileage, single owner E36 328 after hearing that a friend’s friend had just sold his 1997 328 with 140k km for only RM40k. In my mind I wanted a low mileage car, say 100km+ and couldnt imagine any 325’s out there with such low mileage as the newest 325 is already 12yrs old. So I sought out looking for a 1998/99 328. That proved to be a bit difficult as there weren’t many on the market. I had seen a few cars and was quite disappointed with them. Then, I almost got a single owner 1996 328 with 130k+ km and with full service history at AB since 1996. The only thing holding me back was the price…..RM56k(down from RM58k). I was prepared to pay RM50k which to me was a RM10k premium for the service history and care that the owner had taken but the owner wouldnt budge. Around the same time, a friend of mine told me his neighbour had a 325 virtually “lying around” in his porch….hardly used. I pestered him for a week to ask the owner whether he wanted to sell his car and when he finally did ask, the owner said he had been wanting to do so for some time but never got to it. My friend called me and of course the rest is history. The car was:- Low mileage:- less than 80000km (unbelievable) Single Owner:- Retired Uncle took over the car from his company in 1997( which he also owned), so technically not single owner but the same owner as far as I'm concerned. Great Value RM40k+ (ok I know it higher than the some transacted price for 1995 325i which has been below RM40k but I wasn’t willing to risk the deal) The only down side is that the previous owner was not fastidious in servicing the car.( As compared to me, taking into account I've spent about RM20k on my E30 over the past 4 yrs). The service book shows that the car was serviced last in AB in 2003 (69848km in August 2003).The next service based on the sticker on the windscreen was in October 2004.(73569km ) which was done in AAM. When I got the car it was abt 79900km and it was not serviced in 2.5 years. (although it had only done 6500km in that period)The owner told me that the service lights had still not come on. Of course I was concerned. There was some leak from the engine and my mech changed the gaskets. He opened up the engine and the engine seemed ok. I have run the car for about 400km since getting the car back from my mech. My only concern is whether the poor usage over the last 2.5 yrs would have had any detrimental effect on the car.(What do u guys think...any pointers?) Anyway,I intend to change the oil again in anor 3000km, just to make sure the system is properly flushed. The neglect on the car was clearly shown on the paint work (original paint) when was faded at the rear side of the car as if part of the car had been left in the sun for long periods. The absorbers were also totally gone. Thus as a paint job is necessary and I am goin to change the color to black as my wife cannot stand the present color…gold. My wife thinks its quite an “uncle” color. Being only 36 I think I’ve got some youth left in me……so I’m goin “black”. After getting the car , I sent it to my mech who did the following:- Inspection 2 Changed all the oil and fluid, gasket, spark plug,some belts etcVanos repair kitBilstein(Black)Absorbers & MountingsRadiator Side plastic coverThemostat(incd housing, o-ring & gasket)Belt tensionerDoor handlle rubberWiper PanelRear Windscreen LiningFan Clutch The bill runs 4 pages long and includes other items which I’ve not listed here. The service including labour cost me RM5k+. I still havent replaced the ABS which recon unit is RM600 and I may also need to replace the O2 sensor as the FC seems to be a bit high….abt 350-400km per full tank. Then of course there is the paint job. Phew, that’s a lot of work and much moolah but its all worth it judging from the last 2 days of driving fun and enjoyment. The pleasure of the 6 cylinder engine is incomparable. Although its not a 328 which I had set out to get when I decided on a E36, I am still extremely pleased with my car. More updates on my E36 experience as I go along.
