Im Buying A 328I Coupe What Should I Look For?

[Beeemeeer328i]

Hello everyone! im looking to buy a 328i coupe on a 'P' reg and i was wondering what i should look for in terms of mechanical problems and stuff like that .is there common problems with them that i should look for??

any advice would be fantastic :) im new to bmw so im not to familer with them.

Thanks!! :D

[Snypa-D]

Worn bushes and ball joints on the front lower arms,as e36's are prone to it. Any form of over heating WHAT SO EVER can be as little as a thermostat right up to a head gasket failure which is def not a cheap fix ! They are also prone to breaking rear springs so check all round.Double check all electrics too as the electric windows like to stop working too. Also service history is never a bad thing. Im sure somebody else will be along soon to either correct me or to add more :)

p.s. Ive prob just made them sound awful but dont let it get to you,If you find a good one like I did,and look after it it'll stick by you :)

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

Thats easy Alex, just have a good test-drive with the engine being COLD... This way you can check for blue smoke and cam rattle at start-up (not good)... Test EVERYTHING electrical so that it all works and listen to the car whilst driving it (without the radio on at this point)... Listen for "knocks" or "creaks" whilst on the move, if you hear anything substantial then you can knock him down a lot (or Knock him out) !!

Check the oil before the Test-drive, also the coolant... The oil should be light brown (newish), to dark (not black)... The coolant should be free of bubbles/pressure and seemingly clean (dependant on the coolant colour (green, mauvish is good))..

Let go of the steering @ 40 for a very, very short time and notice any wandering, it might pull to the left slightly, which is normal because of UK roads...

Have a good long look at the service manual and ASK questions... Look interested but still rub your chin !!!

[Beeemeeer328i]

thank you for all your help :) i looked at one the other day its a 328i coupe and it had a new mot but the intior and body was abit tatty ,i was a really smooth gearbox and engine but i drove it after it had been run coz the guy who was selling it had just been to the shops ,the suspension and mechainal parts looked fantastic but it had like a brown deposit on the oil cap(ir looked baked on) is that normal?? also the windows worked fine and the open slightly when you open the door and close when to door is shut ,it had a remote for the centrol locking which worked good , the guy selling said he isnt sure if the sport button works or the climate control or the heated seats :( but its nothing i cant fix if i get it cheap enough ;) again thanks for all you help people looks like im buying one :D

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

If you get it for a good price then I suppose it would be worth spending some time on the niggly bits ;)

[Beeemeeer328i]

well he want £450 cash im not sure because i know parts are quite expensive? but i would love to own one after i experenced the power its beats my escort diesel anyday :D

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

A wheelbarrow would beat an Escort diesel :lol:

Whats the mileage?

The baked oil on the cap suggests it has overheated at some point in it's earlier life, but I shouldn't worry about that, seems to be cured if it runs ok !

Offer 375 taxed :rolleyes:

[Snypa-D]

450 for a 328 ?? !Removed! BARGAIN IMO !!

[Beeemeeer328i]

hahaha the escort was only a run around(only cost £140 with tax and mot) anyway its done 146000 miles and okay i wont worry too much about that ill just make sure its okay ,he really want £450 and an extra £118 for 6 months tax ,its a part ex i think so hes not stupid but as its tatty inside and out ill try and bid him less :)

[Beeemeeer328i]

tbh the car needs more time than money and since i have a lot of spare time it seems like a good project for me and my dad to work on ,if i do get it i want some nice alloys i would prefer some bmw ones any suggestion on where a cheap set might come up?

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

Don't do 450 without tax mate... As for the wheels, Keep your eye on our classifieds AND Ebay !!

Try looking for a E30 instead... Better car in my opinion B)

[Beeemeeer328i]

really i though it was a good price without tax? it has got bmw alloys but they really could do with a refurb and my motor skills stop at engine and body work :/ funny enough this one is on ebay and there aint much around in the classifieds that are cheap and take my fancy

[Beeemeeer328i]

e30s aint really what im after tbh there to old ,i dont buy cars no matter what they are unless there 1995 upwards i just prefer them to older cars

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

Walk away, Alex... Leave him your fone number though ;)

[Beeemeeer328i]

i do like this one alot but ill sleep on it ,i have till tomorrow to decide ,lol hes got my number and i have his one ,i do like a good project but ive never undertaken a bmw before so its unfamiler terrtory ,well ill keep you posted it i do buy it and ill post a picture of it to see what ya'll think :) thanks for the advice dabs ,btw i like the ed china picture :D

[Beeemeeer328i]

i decided to buy the 328i because mum wants a nicer car go around in ,all i hope is nothing to expensive goes wrong coz im the mug who ends up paying/fixing it! ill post pics tomorrow when i pick it up...

[Snypa-D]

Look forward to em :)

[Guest DazH]

e30s aint really what im after tbh there to old ,i dont buy cars no matter what they are unless there 1995 upwards i just prefer them to older cars

Your opinion BUT YOUR WRONG!

Hehe I jokes. Everyone to their own. Me n Dabz think in reverse to what you think hence the suggestion :) Putting my views aside, I wouldn't mind an E36 convertible :) but it would HAVE to be convertible.

Now you have bought it, Get some pics up buddy! :) Would love to see this 'tattered interior' you speak of. I would say we all have experience resuscitating butters interior so we might be of assistance

Daz

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

Not an issue Alex... Well done on taking the leap into BMW you will not regret it, and as Daz says, you're definately in the right place to get it sorted B)

[Beeemeeer328i]

ive got the car back on my driveway safe and sound ,ive taken a few pics of the 'butters' interior but im not sure on how to upload them :/ so if anyone could help me with that i would be most grateful :D ,oh and it seems all the eletrics work just the ac could do with re gassing but that nothing major ;)