Anyone want a bimmer?

[makenzie71]

I'm considering selling my 1996 328i or trading it for a late 90's GS or EX plus some cash.  Looking for about $5500 total.

Car's blue on dove.  Has 196k on her.  M3 wheels, a Remus catback and cold air box (open filter) are her only real modifications.  She's a 5spd.  There's odd scratches on her and the paint on the back bumper is roughed up on top a little (clear coat damage) thanks to the crazy dusty environment she's been in for the last three years.  There's only one dent on her and it's only vaguely noticeable.  Birds have taken out both foglights and some jackass farmer dropped a tire in front of me going 60mph so the center molding up front and some of the plaastic skirting under the car is missing (probably be replaced soon...eyeballing the bits on ebay).  She has Harmon Kardon components all around and a agood Pioneer head unit...excellent sounding system.  AC is cold.  New sliders in passenger side window regulator.  All power and cruise. 18 button OBC.  Custom receiver installed so you can tow a very light trailer or caddy a bike (no more than 200lbs on the tongue).

Her only running problems are:

ICV is clogged.  I'd fix it but I just don't have the time.  You have too pull the intake manifold off to get to it on the 328.  All it needs is to be hit with some B12.

Start issue after sitting.  On occasion she's began "not starting" after like sitting over night.  Was an everyday thing for about a week, but hasn't done it to me since.  Been talking to every BMW tech i can get in touch with all over the US trying to get an idea but no one knows. After the no-start thing comes about the only solution has been disconnecting the battery and allowing the DME to reset.  She also throws the Cam Position Sensor code, despite the sensor being new, and I believe the no-start condition and the code to be related (there's no spark during the no-start intervals).  With enough time I'll figure it out but in the mean time it's something that lingers over her.

Car is in Lubbock, TX.  Post any variety of interest.

[Crucialval]

I'd love to have another Bimmer but I'm look at buy a second home at the moment. I'm also thinking about selling my bike though so maybe we could work out some trade if you still have it a month. Maybe I can talk with the lady and work something out, if not good luck selling.

Too any one who hasn't had a Bimmer they are so fun, you will not be sorry owning one

[makenzie71]

Best car I've ever had.  Put 96k on her in 3 years...not so much out of necessity but because she's so fun to drive.  Despite the quirks she's developed it makes me sick thinking of giving her up but sacrifices have to be made sometimes.  Moving to a different city and job and need to have get some money put back in case the new job doesn't pan out...rent is heinous in Lubbock...

[spc]

+1 bimmers are friggin awesome to drive   If I still had the GS in good shape I'd probably scrounge for some cash to get it......

[JS]

I had an older 325es that I bought on my way out of the Navy. Would have loved to have kept it longer, but the tranny went out and nobody would touch it for under $3k. I ended up selling it as a parts car, dirt cheap.

[Crucialval]

I had an older 325es that I bought on my way out of the Navy. Would have loved to have kept it longer, but the tranny went out and nobody would touch it for under $3k. I ended up selling it as a parts car, dirt cheap.

Thats the same one I had 86' I loved that car. My tranyy went out also I had to look for months to find one, then had to put it in my self. I sold mine for twice what I had in it though. If I'm lucky my next car will be an M.

[makenzie71]

M's = overrated.  They're nice, but overrated...and priced.

If I end up hanging onto my 328i she'll eventually get an S52 with an OBDI conversion.  Plus some E46 325 rotors and hangers (can keep the stock E36 calipers that way).  I think maybe some beefier roll bars but the suspension in general is nice enough for what I do.  Probably never come to be, though.

[makenzie71]

I'll add that brand new foggies and a new used front center molding are going to be on her in a few days.

[Bboy AJ]

M's = overrated.  They're nice, but overrated...and priced.

Wrong.

[makenzie71]

No, I'm right.  You can invest the same money on a 3-series and end up with something that will walk all over M3's all day long.

[sanjay]

What does "walk all over" mean?  Faster in a straight line?  Faster through a corner?  Better handling?  Better ride-handling balance?  I'm pretty sure there are plenty of faster cars for the money, but that's not why you buy a 328i or M3.

[/threadjack]

[Bboy AJ]

No, I'm right.  You can invest the same money on a 3-series and end up with something that will walk all over M3's all day long.

Hey, did you know you can buy a 5.0 for $1500, put in $5000 of mods, and walk almost every car out there?

Take the price difference between a 325 and an E46 M, use it for modding the 325, and you still won't be anywhere near the M.

[Crucialval]

let me start by saying the M is by far a better car then a standard 325.
But
If you take an E30 325es average price $1,500. and the E30 M3 10,000.+, I could make the 325es stomp the M3 all day with the extra 8,500.
The little four banger is bad but no but no match for $8k in upgrades to a 2.7 6.

lets have some fun.
2000. intercooled turbo
500. Greedy E-tec
500. Custom intake
150. custom exhuast
2000. lower comp. pistons, short rods, cam, rebuild.
500. ignition system
1000. E46 M3 brakes
2000. Koni Sus.

look at this
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5806309282793112467

[Bboy AJ]

I agree, but that argument is not valid.  The E30 M holds its value much better than a regular E30.  Take an E90 and an E90 M for argument's sake.

The point was first brought up with "M's = overrated.  They're nice, but overrated...and priced"

I suppose your argument works in that specific set of premises, but as do mine.  I definitely agree with the E30 argument, it just does not hold true under the E90 or even the E46 circumstances.

[sanjay]

I think people who mod an E30 325i or even chip a 335i are different people than the ones who buy M3's.  Some would rather do some work themselves to improve their vehicle, others would rather take their vehicle to a shop (anywhere from cheap and local to Dinan), and yet others would rather have a stock M3.  It depends on what you want. 

In any case, you can pour money into some pretty cheap cars and get amazing performance.  I got spanked at a local autocross by some ratty old cars (granted, I can't drive), while I spanked plenty of faster and more expensive cars.  Just like with the GS, it's usually not the vehicle holding you back. 

I, for one, would rather have a M3 than a souped up 328i.  I feel they're neither overrated nor overpriced... come one, you're buying a Bimmer.  They're all overpriced.  But you buy them anyway.

ANYWAY, bump for Mak's car!  Love the E36...

[makenzie71]

BMW's in  general aren't over-priced...the 3-series is pretty consistant with the cost of other manufacturer's similarly equipped cars...I think even the E90's can be had for under $30k.

As for the M vs Non-M thing, I stand my ground.  Why?  There's two big differences between the 3-series and the M3:

Suspension
Engine

Lets take an OBD2 E36.  A nice 328i is going to run about $7k.  A nice M3/4 (because sedans are pimp) is going to run about $16,500.  Both assuming in flawless visual condition and under 100k on them.

$5000 on an S52 and electronics and $2000 on M3 suspension components and you have a stock M3 for $14,000.
$2500 in turbocharger goodies, $1000 in tuning, $2500 in building up the 3-series suspension and you have a 500hp 3-series that will walk an M3 in a line, in a curve, upside down, etc for $13000.

Similar applies for every generation.  It's not expected to be everyone's taste...but i'd rather drive around a badass 328 than a stock M3.

[sanjay]

That's exactly what my friend with a turbo'd E36 tells me.  When he blows gaskets after not too many miles because he's pushing the boost too hard, well, that's when I'd rather have the stock M3.  Not to mention his car handles well but the ride on a less-than-perfect road is terrible.  But to each his own...

Also, E90 328i base is now 32,400.  Plus destination, minus some discount closer to invoice price, you're still above 30k.  And 335i base is 39k  but oh, what a car...  Anyway, price comparisons between, say, the Lexus IS, Audi A4, Infiniti G35, etc. all come out with the BMW several grand more and with fewer features.

[Crucialval]

BMW's are not suppose to ride go their sprots cars

[Bboy AJ]

The 335 is great.  Turbo'd I6.  I was hoping the 135i would come in significantly lighter than the 335, but doesn't seem so.

BMWs aren't overpriced to me.  Yes, they're more money and less features, but a Lexus or an Infiniti will not drive like a BMW.  They're the enthusiast cars out of that lot.  And the M is the epitome of such a distinction, though the M brand has become softer and softer every generation.  Perhaps that is what the CSL branding is supposed to fix.  Like S and RS is to Audi.

[ledfingers]

C(oupe)S(ports)L(ightweight)

i(njection) c(onvertable) L(uxury) t(ouring) T(urbo)

there's 4 kinds of bmw owners:

those who buy the name and are scared to use the performance but like to brag

those who buy because they trust the name and want to have a fun daily driver

those who buy to go fast

and those who are obsessed and would rather own an old one so you can tinker and tinker and tinker and have a car with more character and equally fast, for still less than your new M3 or even e36 M3.

i drive an e28. it's the M30 with the b34, bone stock (except the wheels), 5spd and i'll tell you what that car has freaking balls. it is FUN to drive. i can't drive my car without a smile. and i haven't even touched the brakes, suspension, computer, exhaust, intake, NOTHING. old m cars hold their value because not as many of them were made, not because they're that much faster. but i'm at a grand total of $400 invested in my stock 535i (sold my old car for 500, paid 500 for this one, wheels were 350 then 50ish for registration) and i have a ball. imagine what id have for the difference in price between an e28 m5 and mine. even price difference between mine and an e28 M535is. and all this for less than your new bmws, with just and many cool gadgets.