Under 10k Sports Car Suggestions/Comments

[speedminded]

I love BMWs, especially well done. However, my two best friends owning M3s has led me to not buy one. Great awesome car, just incredible what an 98 M3 would do with a cold air intake and good tires. It blew me away. However, it is a very high matiance vehicle. No matter what defense people bring, an M3 is a high performance sports car, not a reliable corolla. I would love an M3 or a BMW, but the only kind I would buy is an E30 unless I had the cash for an E92.
And, as far as a 300zx TT its a land barge with too many vacuum lines.

Not bashing cars here, just been around enough of both M3s and 300s to not want to own one, unless it was a Euro Spec M .

What problems did they have with their e36 m3's? Typically any issue that may arise on a pre '99 BMW (other than 8-series, lol!) can be easily diagnosed and fixed from simple tech how-to's and searches on BMW forums...or eliminated by preventive maintenance.

BMW uses natural rubber on their suspension and guibo so obviously there's a potential to have noises and other issues since the material breaks down and deteriorates infinitely faster than urethane or polyurethane. Along with a few other misc. items, the older plastic thermostat housing was an issue on e36's but easily upgraded to a later model aluminum version. Rear shock mounts squeak, it can be fixed. The oil filter housing gasket is often mis-diagnosed as a leaky oil pan. If the clutch pedal squeaks lube it up. Old radiator expansion tanks crack after 5 to 7+ years, you know it so replace it before hand. Brake circuit failure and OBC and climate control lights is normally easily fixed. Keep the seat rails greased up. O2 sensors need replacing just about as much as any other car, there's twice as many on OBD2 cars. etc. etc.

Great post on common or chronic failures regarding e36's:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=191293

Most is preventive maintenance which any owner should be aware of saving tons of $$$ down the road, the same goes for any other car on the road.

[Blitanicle99]

What problems did they have with their e36 m3's? Typically any issue that may arise on a pre '99 BMW (other than 8-series, lol!) can be easily diagnosed and fixed from simple tech how-to's and searches on BMW forums...or eliminated by preventive maintenance.

Actually it wasn't the little things. It was loosing a head in one, and the motor in the other. Ontop of that, multiple electrical problems as well as the usual "love/hate" relationship. I can't have that in a car, I'll sell it in a week. I have to find something I absolutely adore rather than just like.