[213e90n51]

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/ws...225006213.html

Does anyone have any experience with the e36 318i ? 1997s. Are these known to be reliable and cheap to maintain?

[jarsdad1]

The engines are bulletproof when maintained. Easy to easy to work on. I had a 318ti thst I used on my weekly commute from PA to VA.I Iwould be concerned about the aftermatket electricsl mods - sub, amp and headlights.

[feuer]

That 318i is $500 car not $2500. I would not consider it.

[Bimmer_Engineer]

Look at all the oil stains under that car. I know it’s a public street and all...but yikes...

[jarsdad1]

Originally Posted by Bimmer_Engineer

Look at all the oil stains under that car. I know it’s a public street and all...but yikes...

Looks like water. See the curb. Still pass.

[Buug959]

Originally Posted by jarsdad1

Looks like water. See the curb. Still pass.

The water looks like it's coming from farther up the street. You can see it in the gutter by the Fiat. It wouldn't be water out that far from the gutter under the driver's side rockers... that's oil or brake fluid or possibly undercoating (unlikely given the location of the poster- Playa Del Rey). Regardless, it would be a hard pass for me at that price. Like Feuer said, maybe $500 and then part it out. Make a few bucks to put towards a better car.

[53N30W]

I had a 97 318is manual. One of the best cars I ever had. lots of fun. I still think it had some of the best steering out there. It teaches you how to maintain momentum and row the shifter as there is no turbo or 230 HP to save you . On the edge in the rain on a fast left right sweeping exit with a corvette on my tail playing, I was able to pull him. Get some understeer and lift just a tiny bit and it tucks right in. At the light the guys pulls up and says I could not hang with you. Easy to work on. At 80 mph you get the wonderful BMW hum at about 4000 RPM

[213e90n51]

Originally Posted by Bimmer_Engineer

Look at all the oil stains under that car. I know it’s a public street and all...but yikes...

U see stuff I CANNOT SEE. I need you to see stuff in my toast. I always think eggshells

[CTinline-six]

I'd hold out for a 6 cylinder car.

[Efthreeoh]

My wife's car is a 1997 Z3, so basically the underpinnings of the E36. We've had the Z3 since new. Of course I've done all the service on it. It sits now at 192,000. The engine in the car you are considering is the M44, which is a slight change from the M42. The M42 replaced the M10 as BMW's 4-cylinder. It's a decent engine in 1997 guise, but the profile gaskets for the timing chain case leak like an old boat found on a deserted island. I'd bet most of the oil on the street is from the timing case gaskets.

The M44 also leaks at the OFHG. It's flat green coated paper gasket. And the flow back valve in the OFH has its own o-ring. I couldn't get it to stop leaking on my wife's Z3 until I just replaced the entire OFH. It's not an expensive part. The M44 doesn't make a lot of horsepower, and it's kind of grainy at higher RPM. It's not a Honda 4-banger by any stretch. In a heavier coupe or sedan, it will be a bit slow for modern standards. In the light-weight E37 Z3 it's a nice, classic 4-cylinder roadster vibe. The M44 tends to lose the cam sensor every 100,000 miles or so.

The M44 is simple to work on, and the engine bay is roomy. By now that car should have a new metal-impeller WP upgrade. To redo the timing case gaskets you'll need the special tool required to hold the crank steady to remove the harmonic balancer. And get a new front crank seal; it's part of the timing case and easy to replace with the cover off the engine.

Lastly, hopefully it's a German-built E36 chassis. The build quality of the early US built E36 sucked. I think by '97 all the 318 builds were moved to Germany. The '92 E36 were the first BMWs built in Spartanburg SC.

[213e90n51]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

My wife's car is a 1997 Z3, so basically the underpinnings of the E36. We've had the Z3 since new. Of course I've done all the service on it. It sits now at 192,000. The engine in the car you are considering is the M44, which is a slight change from the M42. The M42 replaced the M10 as BMW's 4-cylinder. It's a decent engine in 1997 guise, but the profile gaskets for the timing chain case leak like an old boat found on a deserted island. I'd bet most of the oil on the street is from the timing case gaskets.

The M44 also leaks at the OFHG. It's flat green coated paper gasket. And the flow back valve in the OFH has its own o-ring. I couldn't get it to stop leaking on my wife's Z3 until I just replaced the entire OFH. It's not an expensive part. The M44 doesn't make a lot of horsepower, and it's kind of grainy at higher RPM. It's not a Honda 4-banger by any stretch. In a heavier coupe or sedan, it will be a bit slow for modern standards. In the light-weight E37 Z3 it's a nice, classic 4-cylinder roadster vibe. The M44 tends to lose the cam sensor every 100,000 miles or so.

The M44 is simple to work on, and the engine bay is roomy. By now that car should have a new metal-impeller WP upgrade. To redo the timing case gaskets you'll need the special tool required to hold the crank steady to remove the harmonic balancer. And get a new front crank seal; it's part of the timing case and easy to replace with the cover off the engine.

Lastly, hopefully it's a German-built E36 chassis. The build quality of the early US built E36 sucked. I think by '97 all the 318 builds were moved to Germany. The '92 E36 were the first BMWs built in Spartanburg SC.

WOW Thanks