When the BMW E36 Coupe entered the market, it created a furor and helped to popularize significantly the BMW brand. The car dramatically changed the very idea of the whole 3-Series. It boasted enlarged dimensions, both length and width. With increased width and weight, 3 Series BMW Coupe obtained a perfect weight distribution.Today, finding a BMW 3-Series E36 coupe in normal condition is not a piece of cake, so when choosing one you should pay attention to typical “diseases” of the car.
Used BMW 3 Series Coupe: Specific Features
It's common knowledge that the body is the most expensive and difficult-to-repair part of a car, and requires a lot of money for maintenance and repair. Over a number of years, there have been determined the main pain points in the body. Thus, when choosing a BMW 3-Series E36 Coupe you should first check the typical corrodible spots: the sills and wheel arches. However, if the previous owner took care about wheel arch covers and treated them with rust-proofing agent, the condition of the car would be normal. You should also pay attention to such corrodible points as the boot lid underside and the edge of the hood. Also, very corrodible are the lower edges of doors.BMW Coupe 3 Series has one real design drawback: weak rear strut mounts. Nor do the front ones boast reliability, especially if the car is equipped with a heavy 6-cylinder engine. Sometimes the struts are simply torn out, even if rust-proofing means were regularly applied. The company has long admitted the drawback and begun manufacturing special bracings for reinforcing the structure. That's why, it's rational to install the bracings right after you pick up a BMW 3 Series Coupe. Many car owners mounted them to safeguard the coupe and occupants from significant risks.
BMW 3-Series E36 Coupe: Operation Costs
When choosing an used BMW 3 Series 2 door Coupe (or any other BMW 3-Series E36) you should set eyes on models equipped with 6-cylinder motors. As a rule, such a bimmer won't be totally used-up. The 6-pot engine possesses a longer operation life and copes with extreme load easier. As for gearboxes, both manual and automatic versions are famous with their reliability. Automatic transmissions from many manufacturers were used, but we recommend German ZF. Requirements to used gearboxes are standard: take care that your bmw series 3 coupe doesn't have some leaking seals, and change the oil in accordance with the gearbox manufacturer's recommendations.Major operation costs account for the suspension maintenance. The situation is not as black as common stories about unreliability of the suspension paint it. The basic rule is: do not neglect any disrepair and change the foreworn parts. This will allow for escaping chain reaction and reducing operation costs. The rear multilink suspension can survive up to 300,000 km. Changing it is a rather costly affair. On the other hand, the front suspension of the BMW E36 Coupe can be purchased whenever and wherever at a reasonable price. An UCA from a reputable manufacturer costs around $120. Ball joints can be changed separately, which is a merit. Bushings, stabilizer links can withstand up to 70,000 km if your driving style is moderate. Steering links can outride about 50,000 km.
Summary
Buying a legendary car, which is nowadays offered at reasonable price, is not a sin (e36 bmw 3 series coupe price is the same as other e36). This coupe is still able to bring driving pleasure to its owner, along with delighting the eye with beautiful design. Just make sure you carefully inspect the body for rust. The aftermarket offers a range of quality parts, which allows for repairing and maintaining your BMW at a reasonable cost.BMW 3 Series Coupe: Photos
Finally, here go a bunch of photos of this remarkable car (all of them are clickable).
