To Keep or to sell? 316i compact with pics

[kinkersaab]

 I have stumbled and bought a N plate 316i compact in boston green. Its a one lady owned, supplied by john clark BMW in Aberdeen, It has a full BMW service history and had been mot;d and serviced by then since new. The car has now done 63000.  Its total povo spec, with the addition of leather and a sunroof.

 

Internally its as new, bodily, its very honest, with rear arches offering due to trapped crap.  I have flap wheeled blisters off, cure rust, then touched up to save worsening.

 

Whilst I know it will never be desirable, it is becoming rare, should I squeeze it in a shed and forget for a few years and then bring it out and enjoy its rareness,  or punt it on and let someone else use it as a car?  ..I don't suppose it will attract anyone other than someone who will use and abuse it... that seems a shame. 

 

I am mid spruce, so will add some pics for your pleasure soon...and to please Hendry, it has matching dealer plates and sticker..

[Jazoli]

I can't see it appreciating any discernible amount at all, either use it or sell it, putting it away will probably just hasten its demise.

[Supernaut]

E36 316is are ace cars!

 

(see signature)

 

 

If I had the space etc. etc...

 

 

 

However, photos needed of this particular example's ostentatious leather seats and sunroof!

[PiperCub]

I can't see it appreciating any discernible amount at all, either use it or sell it, putting it away will probably just hasten its demise.

 

That's my thoughts too. While it has it fans as everything has and is now a  rare sight in any form on the road, the E36 is a bit unloved (esp the compact) unless it's one of the sporty ones or wears the sacred 'M' badge and is never going to be worth a great deal in the near future.

 

That said, the one you have sounds like a nice, well preserved example (can I say 'Survivor car'?) that will quite easily find a face when you sell it on as such examples of many older cars are always difficult to find once they get past the 8-10 year old bracket so someone will fall in love with it I'm sure. 

[kinkersaab]

Its not a money thing, i like having cars no one else does.  It has reached the age/ price where it will become a disposable car..which is sad....as i clean it, i am more inclined to keep..or sell to the right person rather than pass it on cheap to an ebay/gumtree type .i will add pics soon.

[kinkersaab]

 

[kinkersaab]

 

 

 

 

 

[Supernaut]

If I hadn't just bought the Mondeo I'd be on this like a tramp on chips.

That's flippin' gorgeous!

[purplebargeken]

Swap for something vehicular that I have?

[Hertz]

That's a peach! Get it in the barn Kinker!

[kinkersaab]

oooh, you have that 340 auto didnt you pbk? 

[blakey79]

Nice car, and have experience of a compact for 4 years,but this one I wouldn't bother sticking in the barn.

[dougiefourspeed]

That looks in great nick. They might be the 'skinflints BMW' but they were much better screwed together than the competition of the era. 

[purplebargeken]

I do, I do.

[kinkersaab]

if you wish to send me a pm with your offer....and some details of the volvo and how the hell we maange the distance we can see what we can do.

[Dirk Diggler]

I was only admiring something similar this morning in a car park; I really thought they looked ungainly when they were new (because comparing them to a coupe) but they've aged very well

[Vince70]

Don't sell it you will only regret it as my father found out when he sold his lovely rust free low mileage example and leather in a compact is a very rare option.

I had to sell him one of my E36s in the end as decent low mileage examples are getting quite rare.

 

 

 

I've got one myself as my everyday car in Ti flavour and the problem I have was it was bought as a runaround and I can't think of anything else to replace it with and this week it's getting more waxoyl applied for the winter months plus some new boots on the back as the 17 year old rear tyres make it go all ford capri in the damp.

[Dave_Q]

On general sale on eBay/bumtree that will be bought by a drifter or racer (think compact cup) and immediately ruined.

[Aston Martin]

The ultimate mongrel machine.

[dougiefourspeed]

Are these not in effect just an E30 4-pot in a more practical hatchback body? With no timing belt to go snap either (unlike the E30). If you look at it that way it seems as though they're pretty good value.

[kinkersaab]

I thnk they are e36 with e 30 rear suspension...same as z3.....

[kinkersaab]

for some reason the dash is not e36 nor e30... which seems odd...

[stripped fred]

That looks ace!

[Tamworthbay]

If Ken doesn't want it let me know how much you are looking for on it, I may know someone who would be interested.

[dougiefourspeed]

for some reason the dash is not e36 nor e30... which seems odd...

 

I think the main upper 'body' of the dash is lifted straight from the E30. But the instrument cluster and steering wheel and centre console are E36 items. 

 

 

[DVee8]

That is very nice I'd keep it if it was mine.

[stormee]

The Compact dash is a construction of its own, lighter and cheaper than the e36 standard but nothing out of the e30.

[dougiefourspeed]

The Compact dash is a construction of its own, lighter and cheaper than the e36 standard but nothing out of the e30.

 

Well in that case I will consider myself SCHOOLED.

[Dirk Diggler]

E30 push / pull style lightswitch and e30 style rear suspension; both of which are better

[stormee]

This is a very nice Compact, easy and short way to be MINT, would deffo keep it. Very nice combo, won't find such a car in Germanland.