My First Car

[trask158]

Hello Everyone,
I'm very close to being 16, and just as close to getting my license, and with your help, equally close to my first car. I have been looking for what car i want, i am in the 10-12k price range and I love BMWs. I have found a 1996 328i with 90,000 miles. It is black and I believe this is the car I want. Its asking price is $11,845. Is this a good idea? What should I know before buying? Thanks for the help.

 

[Kirby]

Welcome!

One thing you need to know is that this model/year is referred to as an E36 model.

The following is a list of maintenance/issues that I have kept track of. BMWs are great, fun cars, but keep in mind that maintenance is a little higher cost than average. If you can do, or learn how to do some maintenance on your own, it will keep the costs down. Is it an automatic or manual transmission?

I would suggest taking the car to a BMW dealer for a presale inspection (if it is not already at a BMW dealer). They will charge about $100 and give the car a thorough inspection, and can tell you if there are any major issues.


Driveline:
- - Water pump will need replacement because of the plastic impeller (M50)
- - Radiator - look for cracks in the plastic neck
- - Defective ignition coils in some of the '91 and '92. - Call the dealer to
find out which cars are affected
- - Drive belt tensioner
- - Profile gasket on the earlier 318's (M42)
- - cracks in plastic thermostat cover (M50)
- - sticking thermostats (M50)

Suspension:
- - Outer ball joints go bad
- - Rear shock mounts go bad

Interior:
- - Window switches
- - Door panels seperate because of insufficient glueing
- - Dashboard vinyl can seperate over the center vent
- - Seat heater elements break
- - Glove boxes misaligned - especially earlier models
- - chipping trim around the tweeters in the front door panels

Exterior:
- - Plastic headlight covers get foggy over time

Misc:
- - brake light switch

 

[Tom]

Kirby explained it perfectly so I'll just welcome you aboard.

 

[sm32589g]

you should change the water pump every 60k miles wheter it needs it or not.

i am in the 10-12k price range

man these rich little kids today huh?
i only wish i had some money my first car is a handme down 89 bmw 325ix ha ohwell

 

[trask158]

lol Rich little kids nowadays.
Well not exactly, i've got 3k for a down payment i've saved, and i'm gonna make payments, i wait tables, pretty good money, so i want something good.

 

[Kirby]

You might want to set aside a few hundred dollars cash in your budget/savings as a maintenance slush fund. That way, you'll have some cash available if/when you need some work.

 

[trask158]

That's a good idea, thanks. It is a manual transmission by the way. I hope to be able to learn something about car maintenance, any suggestions on how to do that would be great.

 

[sm32589g]

take auto class

 

[B M W]

Hello Everyone,
What should I know before buying?

You should know you could find a 98 328 in better condition at that price. Are you getting a auto or a standard?

Good Luck

 

[Cracky]

take auto class

I did that, as long as you get a good understanding on how a engine works, and where everything goes, you can pretty much do anything with a little work. Also get a manual because in my first auto class they talked mostly of carburated (sp) engines and some of injected. I got lucky, we had a new teacher and he made the class to be more hands on we did a step by step process building an entire engine. I liked it a lot but decided I didnt want to do that for a living, and now I'm going off subject...sorry.

 

[sm32589g]

ya a manual really helps it tells you how to do whatever it is you need to do, not always in great detail but it gives you a good idea.

 

[kornkid8600]

here's a good checklist that Top Gear magazine put out very comprehensive, this way you wont forget anything.

http://www.topgear.com/content/buyersguides/02/8.html

 

[B M W]

I got lucky, we had a new teacher and he made the class to be more hands on we did a step by step process building an entire engine.

Now that is exactly what I want.

 

[sm32589g]

B M W that is a sweet car love the paint

 

[Big Daddy]

Welcome to the board Trask!

 

[B M W]

B M W that is a sweet car love the paint

Oh sorry about that. This signature isnt of my car. The signature is of an uthentic BMW e36 M3 LTW, a car that costs about $37 grand, if you can find one that has a clean title and hasnt been used as a track car. The "paint" is actually a decal original to the e36 LTW. If you really like it you can look it up and find it www.bavauto.com

An e36 will be in my hands, eventually if things work out.

Im really in a race to get one before kornkid8600 does.

Sorry to hijak your topic trask

 

[sm32589g]

i dont care if its a sticker i like it my fav though is the e30 m3 white with the m colored paint WOW!!! those are nice

 

[B M W]

M colored paint?

not sticker, "decal," id like to believe there is a difference (*tear*).