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lidge View Drop Down
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Joined: 25-December-2005
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: e36 touring help with buying
    Posted: 25-December-2005 at 15:02
hi guys, new round here. after some help. some time in the next year i'll
be getting rid of my 1.6 escort and after something bigger with some
more boot space so im looking at e36 tourings, maybe a diesel but i want
an insurance friendly engine size. they can look fantastic lowered on 17s
so im after a bit of help. i registered on evotechnik but they didnt seem to
want to help me out any

basically id like to know what engine sizes were available and from what
years

what options were available

what to look out for eg where they rust etc

how much im gonna be lookin at paying

thanks guys, hopefully i can become a helpful addition to your club soon
enough

james
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Nigel View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-December-2005 at 16:19
I'll move this to the 3 series forum, hopefully you will get more help there.
Best Wishes

Nigel

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-December-2005 at 16:22
thanks fella, didnt post there cos i thought it wasnt that much of a technical
question. not really all that up to speed on how things work here but seems
a cool place
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-December-2005 at 19:07
We have an E36 Touring so i'll tell you a few things to look out for


Ours is the 323i 6 Cylindner, though you can get the 316i and 318i 4 cylinders. The car is an Se So you get Alloys, Metallic paint and a few other bits and bobs, some have a Sunroof instead of AirCon (though ours has both, and its the dual air conditoning) Leather is always a bonus to have. Look for rust spots in the C Pillar (Open the boot) you may find a spot or two there, while the bootlid is open look at the area between boot & the roof. Our car has developed a strange sort of green in that area, though its nothing to really worry about as it hasn't given us any problems. One last wee tip, when looking in the boot, if you want to look behind the side carpeted area, there is a button you press to release it, on one side there is a First Aid and Tool Kit, the other is empty.

Hope that makes sense and helps
www.ni-bmw.co.uk

E46 316i Saloon
E36 323i Touring
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27-December-2005 at 10:18
thanks fella, if anyone else has any info thatd be really appreciated!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-December-2005 at 11:03

You can get engine sizes from the 316 right up to the 328, petrol or derv.  Go for a six cylinder if you can afford it - so much more refined.

Problems are the same as the rest of the E36 range.  Front wings are prone to rust but easily replaced.  Suspension clunks are usually down to worn bushings, again nothing too serious.  Early examples ('94 iirc) can be had for less than £2k and you shouldn't be paying more than £6k for any of the E36s (and that would have to be very low mileage, one owner,full BM history etc.)

The touring is very practical and handles better than both the coupe and the saloon!  They didn't do an //M version but you can get an Alpina B6 which is the next best thing .

Insurance is more down to the individual and location but fuel economy is very good on the bigger engined cars.  I average around 32mpg with mine which is fantastic!  And you're right - they do look good lowered on 17" wheels...

 



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-December-2005 at 12:12

I think the touring 4 cylinder is always the M43 engine, a much better proposition that the carry over M40 in the early saloons and coupes.

The 320i is a bit breathless, the 323i has a detuned 2.5 engine, the 325i is a 2.5 and the 328i has a throttled 2.8 engine. Both the 323 and 328 can be enlivened by changing the inlet manifold.

Early (up to 96-97) 6 cylinder cars had Nikasil problems. Plenty of info in here and other places on this.

Best buy may be a Nikasil affected car that has had a new engine. The 323 has an image problem that isn't justified and may be a good bet.

I used to have an old 316i touring, and it was surprisingly nippy, though the gearing was so low, it was noisy at speed.

Cheers, Neil
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-December-2005 at 12:17
this is the one ive seen. looks fantastic! would really like to do somethin like
this. although the 328 is out of the question really due to insurance

gorgeous m3 bumpered touring
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-December-2005 at 16:06
@Chas: I'll admit we paid just over £6K for our 323i, but the car was in great condition with FBMWSH & only had 70something thousand miles on the clock
www.ni-bmw.co.uk

E46 316i Saloon
E36 323i Touring
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