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Daveco 
Really Senior Member I 
Joined: 23-June-2006 Location: Dublin Status: Offline Points: 253 |
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 Topic: €3,500 to spend, which Bimmer?Posted: 17-January-2008 at 11:19 |
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Folks,
As the title says I have this much to spend on a motor (in cash, if that makes a difference). I know it's not a lot but I think I can still find something relatively decent. At the moment I'm looking at e36 coupe's with high mileage; everything from the 318is to the 328 with preference on the 6 cylinder models, though am not sure how much the tax will be with the new set up. I'd appreciate any info or comments from people who know these cars and suggestions on which model is the best to go for. I'd like it to pretty nippy and reliable so if there's a problem model/engine let me know. All BM model suggestions welcome! |
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73touring
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 16-December-2005 Location: Dublin Status: Offline Points: 299 |
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Posted: 17-January-2008 at 11:38 |
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e34 525I Sport?
E30 325i (Now seem to have come down in price) |
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Now
1973 BMW 2002 Touring (Algea) 1994 BMW 525i Sport Previously 1975 BMW 2002tii 1990 BMW 318i 1990 BMW 320i |
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beemerchris
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 08-December-2006 Location: Dublin city Status: Offline Points: 388 |
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Posted: 17-January-2008 at 12:53 |
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Hi Dave finaly you get a proper motor again... e36 328 is certainly an option there are some b2.5's going around in the uk at the mo and a cheaky offer might get you one of those for your budget e34 or e39 might be an option too however if you are concerened with go fast than only 525's 535's or a 540 will fit the bill all can be had for your sort of cash 540 manuals however are as rare as rocking horse pooh as you probably know. HTH Chris |
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Chris
3rock-Car-Electronics-Services Cars.: e34 540t 6sp e24 635csi |
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Dergside
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Joined: 16-May-2004 Location: Mid West, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 4000 |
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Posted: 17-January-2008 at 13:32 |
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'93 or '94 320i or better again 325i. The 323i's and 328i's for your budget will all have nikasil engines and plenty of miles. Might be fine but unless you know the car there is a bit of risk. '93 and '94 320i and 325i have single vanos M50 engines there are plenty to be had in the UK (although nice ones are fairly scarce here). The 325i has the same power output as the 328i. Having had both vanos and no vanos 325i the vanos is noticably torquier and good to have. The M50 engine is fairly bulletproof (assuming its not had any cooling issues). |
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Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93.
Prev: e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci. e39 523i SE. e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE. e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i. |
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Mick525i
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Joined: 29-November-2005 Location: Dublin Ireland. Status: Offline Points: 1823 |
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Posted: 17-January-2008 at 21:49 |
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Dave,
Is the 530d still alive??? Mick |
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Cheers
Mick 
BMW E21 318 1980 BMW E39 525i 2002 MTech VW Golf Gti 2003 |
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JohnH
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Joined: 18-June-2004 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 1315 |
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Posted: 18-January-2008 at 12:48 |
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I think you can definitely get something nice at that price, it'll just take a bit of looking.
I think it probably rules out buying in the UK, really only because you could burn through 25% of the budget going over to look at cars which were advertised as mint but are far from in the flesh. I think an e36 or e34 is probably your best bet. I had a quick look on BuyandSell.ie and a few things caught my eye, there were a few 94/95 318iS and a 96 e34 525 all well within the budget. I would even think that you'll be able to haggle a few quid more off. Happy hunting! Edited by JohnH |
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b318isp
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Joined: 10-October-2002 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 2057 |
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Posted: 18-January-2008 at 13:21 |
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A clean early e36 325i would be a good buy, a bot of extra poke would be handy. E30 318is or 325i cars are great fun, but it may be a struggle to get a minter at the price. If you need the space, an E34 525i is always a cracker.
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Bigian
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Posted: 19-January-2008 at 17:49 |
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E34 540 or an E34 M5
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If you can't be good don't get caught
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ivanovoitch
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Where did all the white water come from? Joined: 18-January-2006 Location: dublin Status: Offline Points: 559 |
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Posted: 19-January-2008 at 20:02 |
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E34!
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larzyh
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Joined: 25-February-2007 Location: Limerick Status: Offline Points: 633 |
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Posted: 21-January-2008 at 08:07 |
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There's an E34, manual, 540i Touring from 1994 for sale in the latest issue of BMWcar magazine. Asking £1500 ono. Might be tempting?
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Larzyh.
Previously or currently, in the family: '77 E21 320, '78 E21 320, '79 E21 320, '87 E28 520i, '88 E30 325iC, '95 E34 525i, '98 E39 528i, '98 Z3 2.5, '98 E38 740iL, '95 E36 Compact, '99 E36 318iT, '02 E46 318iT, '96 E34 525tdsT, '98 E38 740iL... |
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Daveco
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 23-June-2006 Location: Dublin Status: Offline Points: 253 |
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Posted: 21-January-2008 at 13:50 |
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Thanks for input lads, will probably go for an E36 coupe as I have no need for four doors and insurance is damn high above 3.0 litres. I could probably spend more, with one car catching my eye for sale AC cars at the moment...
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car& carID=869479 I know they take care of their cars but it seems a bit expensive considering the mileage? Again opinions please. Isn't the 323 quite easy to get extra power from by messing around with the intake system? |
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Dergside
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Joined: 16-May-2004 Location: Mid West, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 4000 |
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Posted: 21-January-2008 at 14:10 |
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It might seem a bit expensive for the miles but the fact that its a nikasil car that has had a new block is the big selling point. A big bore throttle body combined with an inlet manifold replacement (from non-vanos M50 engines iirc) is the easiest way to get some useful additional horses from an M52 engine. I'm sure there are some folks on here that have done it (ahealey on a 523i iirc). |
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Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93.
Prev: e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci. e39 523i SE. e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE. e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i. |
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Daveco
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 23-June-2006 Location: Dublin Status: Offline Points: 253 |
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Posted: 21-January-2008 at 15:25 |
Would these mods be spotted by the thieves in the NCT dept? What kind of extra hp and torque would you get? |
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Ben O Brien
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Joined: 12-August-2004 Location: Limerick,Ireland Status: Offline Points: 1205 |
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Posted: 21-January-2008 at 15:42 |
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[/QUOTE] It Definitely wont be spotted by the NCT guys anyway thats for sure... The manifold is an Original BMW part and the throttle body is untouched on the exterior. As for power, by fitting the 325i/525i manifold expect to restore the M52's power to the 192bhp the M50 had and then with the throttle body you might be looking at close to 200... they respond well to a remap too, at least the M50 does so you could be looking at 210ish for a finish. Quite a lively engine.
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99' 740iL
99' 728i Sport 98' E39 M5 - Avus Blue, Dec Car! 96' M3 Saloon - Estoril Blue 94' M3 3.0 Convertible 91' E34 M5 - 3.6, Macau Blue *E36 M3's Breaking* |
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Daveco
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 23-June-2006 Location: Dublin Status: Offline Points: 253 |
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Posted: 21-January-2008 at 16:10 |
Would these mods be spotted by the thieves in the NCT dept? What kind of extra hp and torque would you get? [/QUOTE] It Definitely wont be spotted by the NCT guys anyway thats for sure... The manifold is an Original BMW part and the throttle body is untouched on the exterior. As for power, by fitting the 325i/525i manifold expect to restore the M52's power to the 192bhp the M50 had and then with the throttle body you might be looking at close to 200... they respond well to a remap too, at least the M50 does so you could be looking at 210ish for a finish. Quite a lively engine. [/QUOTE] Cheers Ben, would the fact that a new engine block was fitted not be more of a negative point in this car? |
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flyingalexf68
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Joined: 01-April-2006 Location: 53°19’59,6°14’56 Status: Offline Points: 2581 |
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Posted: 21-January-2008 at 16:47 |
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No. A lot of the 323's and 328's suffered from a problem in the material
used in the engine. Nikasil. BMW replaced a lot of engine blocks under warranty but a lot of owners of older cars had to pay out themselves. |
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1995 e36 3.0 M3 Coupe, Daytona Violet, AP Racing BBK, CCFL Angel Eyes, M3 Spoiler, M-Tec 3 Steering Wheel.
2000 530d Steptronic, Poverty Spec, 18" Alloys. |
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AHEALY
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Joined: 05-February-2004 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 946 |
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Posted: 21-January-2008 at 17:26 |
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Yes, I had the throttle body/manifold conversion done and a remap. I had the remap done first unfortunately which improved bhp from 170 to 185, and following the manifold/TB job bhp increased to 202. Those were the results on the rolling road. The improvement is noticeable, and even more so at the top of the rev range.
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Ado
'97 523i & 95 M3 97 Subaru Impreza WRX Sport Wagon (sold) |
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Dergside
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Joined: 16-May-2004 Location: Mid West, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 4000 |
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Posted: 21-January-2008 at 18:18 |
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Definitely not a negative. Not all engines were affected but those affected were terminal. BMW quietly spent a lot of money fixing these long after warranties ran out. It basically means that the most major engine components are relatively new and therefore have lots more life left (block, pistons, con-rods - not sure about crankshaft). M50's and non-nikasil M52 engines are probably as close to bomb proof that you can get in a BMW. btw. noted your comments re. 4 doors but if a mint low mile (low 50's), full history, post nikasil e36 323i SE for a little less than the coupe is of any interest, let me know. |
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Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93.
Prev: e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci. e39 523i SE. e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE. e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i. |
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ivanovoitch
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Where did all the white water come from? Joined: 18-January-2006 Location: dublin Status: Offline Points: 559 |
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Posted: 21-January-2008 at 20:06 |
Bit steep price wise. Non? |
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JohnH
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Posted: 21-January-2008 at 20:15 |
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It's a cracking car - I know from seeing it around the northside where it's former owner lives.
I don't think you'd be disappointed by it. |
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€3,500 to spend, which Bimmer?
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Dergside wrote: