Re:E36 comments

[Brendon Macaraeg <brendonm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rob:

I get the digest, so I'm jumping in here having bought a 96 328ia under the 
CPO.

In general:
Look the car over GOOD.  If you see any cosmetic blemishes, get it in writing
that the dealer will fix it before your friend signs the papework.
If it's something like the facia being cracked underneath, bargain for a 
lower price.

I drove my car off the lot having overlooked a few things.
The dealer replaced all these items without the $50 deductible because I 
told them they should
have been fixed before the car was even put on the lot (but this was during 
the go-go Internet
Goldrush Days in the San Francisco Bay Area when the lots were full of 
people on a Sunday).

In all truth, I should have pointed these things out before I signed the 
paperwork; in my "new car"
purchase excitement, I overlooked them:

OBC readout flaky
Cabin headliner sagging in back
Worn wiper blades

Items fixed under CPO and requiring the $50 deductible:

Front wheel bearings  -- I brought the car to a good independent mechanic 
and he told me
the wheel bearings in the front needed to be replaced.  I don't know how 
you can check
this on the lot -- ask for a test drive and have an appt. set up with 
nearby mechanic?
Some dealers might let you do this if it will make or break the deal.
In fact, I would recommend getting the car checked by a good mechanic if 
possible.
The CPO doesn't guarantee how well the car was treated in the past.....

Heating-AC readout lights flashing.  Replaced unit.
Radio/Cassette/CD controlling headunit -- LED "eye" blinking.  This is not 
covered under
the CPO warranty -- classified as "wear and tear".  Dealers want anywhere 
from $400-800 plus
labor for these things!  They're not worth it -- get one on Ebay for 
$100-200 and replace it yourself (very simple).

That's it.  Great car otherwise.  Bought it with 29K in April 98.  Now have 
79K on it and no other problems
(thanks for the info on the shocks to whoever posted it though).

Good luck,
- -Brendon



At 11:52 AM 10/24/01 -0400, you wrote:
>
>
>Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 22:04:20 -0400
>From: "Robert Tobin" <RTobin@domain.elided>
>Subject: E36 comments
>
>I went with a friend to look at a '98 E36 at a dealer.  It's a 4dr Black 328
>5sp without the sports package or CD player.  The car has 32,000 miles and
>seems very tight.  Tan leather.
>
>Does anyone have any specific comments about this car; what's good, what's
>not?  It's coming with the CPO warrantee.
>
>I know little about E36's.  I'd appreciate any thoughts so I could pass them
>on.
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>Rob Tobin
>1988 325iS
>BMWCCA #idontremember

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