1500 quid E36 328i convertible, er, what, but, no, I musn't...

[Guest Breadvan72]

Too modern, too German, too thirsty, too convertible, too cheap?

Still, I can sort of see the point.  Trying to persuade my bro to buy this, as he likes Beemers, but in case any of you lot likes them too and has a spare 1500 quid to spaff, I'll just leave this here.

 

WARNING:  link takes you to website full of registered dickheads.


http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bmw/e36-3-series-91-99/bmw-3-series-328i-conv-1999/4560042

[Guest Breadvan72]

Or be sensible on OMG MPG and go small engine, but WTF is this doing with an autobox, and WTFF with those badges?


http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bmw/e36-3-series-91-99/bmw-3-series-328i-conv-1999/4560042

[Taff]

I actually much prefer these as a tin top, I've had two and would have another in a heartbeat.

 

Lovely engine, too.

[Angry Sheep]

That looks bloody lovely. Last time I bought a BMW I decided they were overrated... drove crap and promptly went a bit K-Series.

 

Still, would. E36s look great if you can find one that hasn't been utterly chavved/neglected.

[320touring]

Tbh the 2.8 is too much engine for the skip version of the e36..

 

also 1500 for any e36 (bar m3!) is strong money as far as I'm concerned.

 

get a 328i sport coupe-much nicer and less of the "tenner bag a skag, mate" image

[Pete-M]

328i is the least unsuitable engine for an E36 cabrio. The auto box makes them into more of a cruiser than anything, so the 2.8 fits the bill quite well.

 

If BMW didn't make such an unholy mess of manual gearboxes I'd actually quite like an E36 328i cabriolet.

 

The auto box merely changes the car from "I hate this gearbox" to "I dislike this auto box for taking all the fun out of this car"

[Vince70]

I've just bought myself one last week and I say go for it... I went for a Ti Compact E36 as I needed a small car that would fit on the drive so the chopped off Hatch comes in handy...and it's a lovely little lively motor to drive and after driving A3s and A4s it feels so alive...

 

Or if you want a two seater version you could always go for the Z3 and can throughly recommend one..

Last year my drive looked like an Audi Dealer circa 2000 and this year I've seemed to have gone all BMW dealer circa 1999 and it can get confusing if I park my E36 on my fathers drive now as he has one identical to mine apart from the ginger indicators...

If you wish to buy a good low mileage example nows the time to get one as prices are starting to creep up...

 

Gone are the days that a good one like this could be bought for £50

Me and a couple of mates bought it for doing the home to Rome and my mate used it for a further 4 years before selling it on.

To give you a clue on prices both the red ones are mint cars with less than 60000 on the clock and the auto was £700 but I paid a bit more for the manual as it cost £795.

[Novanick1]

I wouldn't be too surprised if it was once wrapped round a tree or the likes, still though, 1500 quid, very tempting indeed

[Guest Breadvan72]

The 318 is top wonga, but is at least an iS, I suppose.   Possible giffer ownership, judging by badges and autobox..

[Guest Breadvan72]

Talking of giffersheds, local garage has had an 1800 pezzer Rover 75 for sale out front forever.  Asking way too much at 625 quid, but garage dude says he wants it gone and will take an offer.  Goldy paint, pale interior.  70K ish miles, allegedly.  

[Six-cylinder]

Just buy the 328i, they are good to drive even in convertible form.

[hairnet]

buy the rover

[Six-cylinder]

buy the rover

And do the head gasket every 4 years!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

328i is the least unsuitable engine for an E36 cabrio. The auto box makes them into more of a cruiser than anything, so the 2.8 fits the bill quite well.

 

If BMW didn't make such an unholy mess of manual gearboxes I'd actually quite like an E36 328i cabriolet.

 

The auto box merely changes the car from "I hate this gearbox" to "I dislike this auto box for taking all the fun out of this car"

 

Eh?

 

E36's have about the nicest manual box of any car. Nice shift, good ratios, syncro on reverse and smooth clutch control etc*. Oh well. 

 

The autos are excellent, nice five speed ZF with none of that fagtronic nonsense. The four speed GM autos on the four cyl cars are absolutely woeful however.

 

 

*Assuming the linkage is tight and the engine/box mounts aren't oil soaked and fucked.

 

That 328i looks bargainous, a nice car to look after and keep nice.  Good E36's are rare now which is why that one isn't the usual £695 shit.

[nacho man]

Agreed and the a 328 is a nice place to be. I would pay £1500 for that no dramas.

[New POD]

Supplied new by Vines Gatwick (with the original vehicle invoice for £37,300.95) and serviced by them from new until 2013. 

 

If the advert is true, and I'd want to see every bill, not just the stamped service book, then Price is not important.

[Pete-M]

Eh?

 

E36's have about the nicest manual box of any car. Nice shift, good ratios, syncro on reverse and smooth clutch control etc*.

 

*Assuming the linkage is tight and the engine/box mounts aren't oil soaked and fucked.

I've always found BMW boxes pretty awful, clutches too, and about 3/4 of the ones I've driven have been new or nearly new. The ones I've owned have been about an equal split, a few autos and a few manuals. The 635 CSi, E28 528i, E21 323i, E36 318iS, E36 318ti and E34 520i were all manuals. I didn't like the box much in any of them. Clutch action varied from one to the next, but the gear shifts in them always lacked precision in comparison to an MX5 or even an MT75. I just don't like the feel of them.

 

The least annoying BMW boxes I've found to be the five speed auto jobs. I've always found them smooth and responsive.

 

Funny how people find big differences between the same cars innit?

[Partridge]

Out of the two Rover Sterlings I have, both have 4 speed autos.

One is really good, the other is total wank.

[BavarianRetro]

In my limited E36 experience, there are very, very few decent ones left. That looks like one of them and if I was looking for an E36, it'd be a late 328i convertible with low owners and a good service history.

 

£1500 for that particular E36 doesn't seem dear to me, though it is dear for most tatty E36s

 

Come here and see what you can spend £1500 on in an E30.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

The turquoise convertible 328 looks to be a good one - if it is as nice as it appears in the photos it seems a good buy at £1500 - though I don't follow prices.

 

I like the E36. My brother had two 328is - one a black convertible with saffron leather, the other a blue sport coupe with black leather. Both manual. They were excellent cars -  enjoyable to drive, reasonably comfortable and had a good feel. They actually have some character, though like so many German cars they are ultimately a bit bland. They are also fairly practical, having four seats. That said, if I didn't need a four seater convertible, I would probably rather have a 2.8 litre Z3.

 

I would much rather have an E36 than an E46.

[Novanick1]

Personally id still rather drive a Rover than a beemer not gunna lie...

[carlo]

Looks nice but I don't think I'd ever spend £1500 on a car that had done 161,000 miles, no matter how well serviced.

 

Wasn't the motto though "Buy a manual BMW and an automatic Mercedes?"

[MrBiscuits]

I’ve driven a few E36’s over the years. The 4 pots didn’t really cut it – I’ve heard them described as the ‘School boys’ BMW, which seems about right. My preference would be Auto too – the 5 speed ZF box seemed just right in the 325 that I had.

 

 

Still regret selling that one now but the rear arches had started to go and there was a small hole in the strut mount. That said it was nearly 18 years old at this point and the early cars are screwed together a lot better – avoid the last South African built ones at all costs (if they haven’t all crumbled away by now).

 

I’d happily pay £1500 for a good one – a 328 Auto touring would be nice, but as others have said most have been run into the ground. The E46 is a poor relation – really an E36 that has been built to a lower price.