e36 owners past and present..step in.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:05 pm

OK,
So Stacy and a few others have suggested an E36 as my next car. I entertained the idea for a while, but then decided I wanted something newer. But many of you said they will last for ever.

If I decide to pursuit the idea, what do I really have to look out for. These cars are getting close to 10 years old or older. So even if the engine is reliable I am sure things like bushing and all would be a problem.

So all of you M3 owners give me the truth.

oh, and the following is from my 1 y/o:
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Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:32 pm

Marty - read the tech section. Right now four of the first six threads on page one alone are about E36s.

BretLuter · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:49 pm

The newest E36's are 10 years old (99 M3's were pretty much the last E36). The oldest E36's are 1992 models, the oldest E36M3's are 1995 models- so you'll find some with pretty high miles, and once they get down to the 3rd or 4th owner- they don't seem to be maintained much, if at all.

They're great cars, alot of bang for the buck- but even the nicest example will have some miles on it and probably need some maintenance. Then add track service to the mix and you will likely come up with a bunch of "maintenance" that needs to be done to get it track worthy.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

BMWs cost too much to maintain. Stick with a Honda Accord for a track car, you'll be better off.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:27 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

BMWs cost too much to maintain. Stick with a Honda Accord for a track car, you'll be better off.

you hate me, don't you.

and I was going to give you my L67 S/C engine too.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Marty Howard wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

BMWs cost too much to maintain. Stick with a Honda Accord for a track car, you'll be better off.

you hate me, don't you.

and I was going to give you my L67 S/C engine too.

Nah, it's not personal

I'm just learning that recommending BMWs to my friends has some unexpected consequences, like them getting pissed off at me when they have to replace control arms. And they come over and make me work on their cars

Hmmm, I think I'd trade some lift-time on your future M3 for your engine

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:58 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

BMWs cost too much to maintain. Stick with a Honda Accord for a track car, you'll be better off.

you hate me, don't you.

and I was going to give you my L67 S/C engine too.

Nah, it's not personal

I'm just learning that recommending BMWs to my friends has some unexpected consequences, like them getting pissed off at me when they have to replace control arms. And they come over and make me work on their cars

Hmmm, I think I'd trade some lift-time on your future M3 for your engine

Hey now, I managed control arms and bushings, new tie rods, and top hat swaps in 2 nights, none of those on your lift

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:03 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

BMWs cost too much to maintain. Stick with a Honda Accord for a track car, you'll be better off.

you hate me, don't you.

and I was going to give you my L67 S/C engine too.

Nah, it's not personal

I'm just learning that recommending BMWs to my friends has some unexpected consequences, like them getting pissed off at me when they have to replace control arms. And they come over and make me work on their cars

Hmmm, I think I'd trade some lift-time on your future M3 for your engine

Hey now, I managed control arms and bushings, new tie rods, and top hat swaps in 2 nights, none of those on your lift

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:59 am

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

BMWs cost too much to maintain. Stick with a Honda Accord for a track car, you'll be better off.

you hate me, don't you.

and I was going to give you my L67 S/C engine too.

Nah, it's not personal

I'm just learning that recommending BMWs to my friends has some unexpected consequences, like them getting pissed off at me when they have to replace control arms. And they come over and make me work on their cars

Hmmm, I think I'd trade some lift-time on your future M3 for your engine

Hey now, I managed control arms and bushings, new tie rods, and top hat swaps in 2 nights, none of those on your lift

That must mean you could come over here and do the front control arms and tie rods on my ZHP 330 with little effort then? I don't have a lift either.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:41 am

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

BMWs cost too much to maintain. Stick with a Honda Accord for a track car, you'll be better off.

you hate me, don't you.

and I was going to give you my L67 S/C engine too.

Nah, it's not personal

I'm just learning that recommending BMWs to my friends has some unexpected consequences, like them getting pissed off at me when they have to replace control arms. And they come over and make me work on their cars

Hmmm, I think I'd trade some lift-time on your future M3 for your engine

Hey now, I managed control arms and bushings, new tie rods, and top hat swaps in 2 nights, none of those on your lift

you did them twice?

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:42 am

Marty Howard wrote:

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

BMWs cost too much to maintain. Stick with a Honda Accord for a track car, you'll be better off.

you hate me, don't you.

and I was going to give you my L67 S/C engine too.

Nah, it's not personal

I'm just learning that recommending BMWs to my friends has some unexpected consequences, like them getting pissed off at me when they have to replace control arms. And they come over and make me work on their cars

Hmmm, I think I'd trade some lift-time on your future M3 for your engine

Hey now, I managed control arms and bushings, new tie rods, and top hat swaps in 2 nights, none of those on your lift

you did them twice?

I think he just repeated it for emphasis.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Just typical German over-engineering and redundancy. Dustin is being assimilated.

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:52 pm

Todd Breakey wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

BMWs cost too much to maintain. Stick with a Honda Accord for a track car, you'll be better off.

you hate me, don't you.

and I was going to give you my L67 S/C engine too.

Nah, it's not personal

I'm just learning that recommending BMWs to my friends has some unexpected consequences, like them getting pissed off at me when they have to replace control arms. And they come over and make me work on their cars

Hmmm, I think I'd trade some lift-time on your future M3 for your engine

Hey now, I managed control arms and bushings, new tie rods, and top hat swaps in 2 nights, none of those on your lift

you did them twice?

I think he just repeated it for emphasis.

I should have known better than to attempt to post to this thread :-)

By 2AM, and sufficient lubrication, my judgement must have been skewed.

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:54 pm

Wes Eargle wrote:

Just typical German over-engineering and redundancy. Dustin is being assimilated.

Yep, but what BMW factory parts can't fix, pop rivets and zip ties can. I gots me some Redneck Bimmer now.

DanDurusky · **Joined:** Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:31 pm **Posts:** 686

The drive trains are very durable.*

*as long as you don't money shift.

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