[8262S]

At my local auto shop picking up my daughter's car.

Saw an interesting 3 series in the parking lot and went over to take a look.

1998 328is, black, manual, 102K miles. Maybe a touch of rust behind one front wheel, but otherwise I couldn't see any. A couple of interesting scrapes and dents that I find completely appealing. The interior is in good condition and all intact.

It has been serviced by this shop since 2002. It is currently there because the owner heard some clunking or rattling from the center of the car.

KBB value is $2-4K.

My son and I want it. Bad. Like, irrationally bad. This would be a perfect project car to tinker with that is likely in stock condition.

Tell me about the 328is. I learned it was the top non-M model of that gen.

3100 pounds, and 190 hp. Wonder how much the rear seats weigh....

I'll bet it is amazingly balanced with wonderful steering.

Talk me out of this, please....

[jmg]

Originally Posted by 8262S

At my local auto shop picking up my daughter's car.

Saw an interesting 3 series in the parking lot and went over to take a look.

1998 328is, black, manual, 102K miles. Maybe a touch of rust behind one front wheel, but otherwise I couldn't see any. A couple of interesting scrapes and dents that I find completely appealing. The interior is in good condition and all intact.

It has been serviced by this shop since 2002. It is currently there because the owner heard some clunking or rattling from the center of the car.

KBB value is $2-4K.

My son and I want it. Bad. Like, irrationally bad. This would be a perfect project car to tinker with that is likely in stock condition.

Tell me about the 328is. I learned it was the top non-M model of that gen.

3100 pounds, and 190 hp. Wonder how much the rear seats weigh....

I'll bet it is amazingly balanced with wonderful steering.

Talk me out of this, please....

My father-in-law had this car. I loved riding in it with my girlfriend at the time, now my wife. Sadly, I never got the chance to drive it because it was totalled before I felt close enough to her dad to ask to take it for a spin. It was in excellent condition though, and it was the only time in our relationship where my wife enjoyed driving fast like that. She's all about big SUV's now, and she didn't care for my F80's nor my G82. I bet the E36 was just a joy to drive, one of those moments where driving a slow car fast is much more fun than a fast car slow.

Typical brittle BMW plastic components needed to be replaced, including the radiator and water pump. This was almost 20 years ago though, so it wasn't that old at the time.

I bet the list would have grown between now and then. Here is a list of things to look out for in an E36:

https://www.bimmerownersclub.com/for...mmon-problems/

[beden1]

I can't speak about the 1998 328is, but my 2011 335is was a great car. I'm sorry I sold it with only 14,000 miles last year, but I am thoroughly enjoying my G82 M4.

[mattburks]

For 2-4K I can sure think of a whole lot worse ways to spend time with my kiddo for admittedly more $

I vote do it and have reasonable expectations for +-3k

Also, post pics along the way for us!!

[kgelfen360]

Originally Posted by beden1

I can't speak about the 1998 328is, but my 2011 335is was a great car. I'm sorry I sold it with only 14,000 miles last year, but I am thoroughly enjoying my G82 M4.

We still have 2011 328 XDrive with over 100k and honestly it’s been super reliable car with regular maintenance and few known issues that got fixed along the way.

[8262S]

Originally Posted by beden1

I can't speak about the 1998 328is, but my 2011 335is was a great car. I'm sorry I sold it with only 14,000 miles last year, but I am thoroughly enjoying my G82 M4.

We have a G80. Hence the post here (and I didn't look hard, but couldn't find an E36 forum here).

But as jmg said, I need a slow car that I can drive fast. A well balanced momentum car.

I love the G80, but it is just a bit (actually quite a bit) too much to really have any fun in on public streets. I actually felt like I had more fun in my '13 WRX. I need to get back to that feeling.

I have a feeling my son and I would race to the garage every morning to be the first to get to the E36.

[8262S]

I need a sanity check.

What is the market price for a 1998 328is with 100K miles and a manual?

I don't want to set us up for heartbreak looking at KBB if these are the new must have classic car and they sell for $15+K.

(And I have known for years that E36's are very well balanced drivers cars.)

[BryanCO]

You haven’t noted a selling price…

I had a 1996 328i sport (bought in 1997) for six years. Nice car but also there is a reason they are the least sought after generation of 3 series. And the 328 isn’t special. If it’s in good condition and it’s inexpensive, go for it, but just be cautious putting much money into it as you’ll likely not get it back out. And if you see some rust, there is always more and rust gets really expensive to address properly.

[8262S]

Originally Posted by BryanCO

You haven’t noted a selling price…

I had a 1996 328i sport (bought in 1997) for six years. Nice car but also there is a reason they are the least sought after generation of 3 series. And the 328 isn’t special. If it’s in good condition and it’s inexpensive, go for it, but just be cautious putting much money into it as you’ll likely not get it back out. And if you see some rust, there is always more and rust gets really expensive to address properly.

I did a quick KBB and it had private party at $2-4K with 100K miles and good to poor condition.

Then I did a Google search and see some listed for $10-15+K.

I didn't list a selling price because I don't know if it's for sale yet.

I just saw it sitting in the parking lot and lusted for it. I know there are some potential mechanical problems, and the shop will let the owner know that there is a potential buyer interested if they want to sell.

I don't need this kind of car to look perfect. Just hold the rust at bay so it's a fun play car. And if it gets too ratty, it will be a quick bondo job and flat spray paint.

If it is in good condition, we would try to respect the stock condition with perhaps some small changes.

We would be willing to stick some money into it, particularly if we could get it for under $5K.

I have a G80. This would be a play car.

[BryanCO]

Originally Posted by 8262S

I did a quick KBB and it had private party at $2-4K with 100K miles and good to poor condition.

Then I did a Google search and see some listed for $10-15+K.

I didn't list a selling price because I don't know if it's for sale yet.

I just saw it sitting in the parking lot and lusted for it. I know there are some potential mechanical problems, and the shop will let the owner know that there is a potential buyer interested if they want to sell.

I don't need this kind of car to look perfect. Just hold the rust at bay so it's a fun play car. And if it gets too ratty, it will be a quick bondo job and flat spray paint.

If it is in good condition, we would try to respect the stock condition with perhaps some small changes.

We would be willing to stick some money into it, particularly if we could get it for under $5K.

I have a G80. This would be a play car.

Lusted for it. I get it. Your original post said talk me out of it….

If you are looking for a car you can tinker with, don’t be impulsive. The research and subsequent search is part of the fun. My son and I bought a NA Miata.

Like I said, this gen is the least sought after. So price is important as less people will want it when you are done.

I know you have a G80 as it’s noted twice in each of your posts.

[8262S]

Originally Posted by BryanCO

Lusted for it. I get it. Your original post said talk me out of it….

If you are looking for a car you can tinker with, don’t be impulsive. The research and subsequent search is part of the fun. My son and I bought a NA Miata.

Like I said, this gen is the least sought after. So price is important as less people will want it when you are done.

I know you have a G80 as it’s noted twice in each of your posts.

I am banking on this being the least desirable generation!

A play car is the LAST thing we needed right now.

So it would have to be at the right price.

This car just has a high cool factor in our minds. And I think E36’s have decent parts availability and are easy to work on right?

[BryanCO]

Originally Posted by 8262S

I am banking on this being the least desirable generation!

A play car is the LAST thing we needed right now.

So it would have to be at the right price.

This car just has a high cool factor in our minds. And I think E36’s have decent parts availability and are easy to work on right?

Haven’t tried to buy parts for that gen in a long time so don’t know but would think they would be readily available.

All the mechanical bits are straightforward. E30 is easier for electronics. But very much dependent on what the car may need.

But if a play car is the last thing you need, then pass as the whole idea of a minor project or play car is to have fun, not to add something you don’t ‘need’.

[kgelfen360]

I am confused if you want or don’t want play car / project.
If you want it “irrationally bad” then just get one. It pretty easy to find one.
I mean you have G80 so i dunno what this whole discussion is for over few thousand bucks if you want soooo bad.
I am sure even if it’s a total waste it won’t be biggest financial mistake of your life. In fact argument can me made that G80 is much bigger financial mistake…. Lol.

[nunzo]

Despite the KBB pricing you’re probably looking at close to $8-10k for a low mile 328is with not perfect paint.

I have 2 e36 m3s right now, euro spec and us spec. Totally different experiences, but it’s a great chassis to play with. Some parts are readily available, some parts like the door cards are unobtainable.

[Stockholmarn]

Originally Posted by 8262S

I love the G80, but it is just a bit (actually quite a bit) too much to really have any fun in on public streets. I actually felt like I had more fun in my '13 WRX. I need to get back to that feeling..

I know exactly what you mean. Even worse after tracking the G80 and getting a taste of it's full potential.

Small and light cars are fun!

[Griz]

If it’s clunking from the middle of the car, I’d pull back the carpet in the trunk to expose the shock towers. Notoriously brittle in the E36.

At 100k miles, I’d ask if alternator, radiator, water pump, fuel pump, shocks, suspension bushings have been replaced.

Note, my experience is based on owning an E36 M3, but the items above were issues across the lineup.

[mthused]

I owned and put 160000+ miles on a 1999 328is manual. It was an excellent car and felt very 'right' to drive. Lots of common issues with these but nothing too terrible in most cases. Interior pieces tend to be fragile and deteriorate easily (door cards, headliner, etc) aside from the other issues mentioned.

Clunking in the center might be the rubber flex disk between the transmission/driveshaft, or possibly the driveshaft center bearing? The flex disk is pretty easy to replace. Could also be the rear shock mounts- those also go bad pretty regularly, but the clunk is from the rear with those.

EDIT: One other possibility for the clunk is transmission mounts- all the rubber parts I'm sure are dead if they haven't been replaced...

I think it would be a really fun project car to share with your son. The M52 engine is pretty bulletproof aside from the known cooling system issues.