Overall, the BMW E36 3 Series is a great starter BMW. It’s cheap, fun to drive and good looking, while also being a nice slice of old-school BMW, thanks to its delicious hydraulic steering. Sure, it’s not the most reliable of cars and it will frustrate you but it’s cheap enough to fix and can be wrenched on yourself.
Is a BMW E36 worth buying?
Yes, the BMW E36 is most definitely worth buying in 2022 at the right price.
What year E36 is best?
There are no particular best years to look for, though the last 1999 models are occasionally in better condition simply because of the age. Since even the youngest M3s will now be a decade and a half old, mileage is only one part of the story of any car.
Is E36 328i reliable?
The BMW 328i has an average reliability rating compared to other vehicles in its class. However, it does also have higher annual ownership costs than average, with annual repair costs reaching $773.
Is an E36 a reliable car? – Related Questions
What is the most reliable BMW?
The 10 Most Reliable BMW Models of All-Time
- BMW 318i. Prior to 2002, the BMW 318i was also known as the E46.
- BMW 325i. Instamotor.com rates the 2005 BMW 325i as one of the best BMW’s ever made.
- BMW E90 328.
- BMW F40.
- BMW 528i.
- BMW i3.
- BMW X3.
- BMW 750i.
What is the most reliable BMW 3 Series?
The best used 3 Series is the newest one you can afford
Otherwise, you’ll end up spending far more money than you want to. And, if possible, try to swing for a CPO 3’er. If you can’t, the most reliable BMW 3 Series models are the 2019 and 2021 model years.
Is E36 318i reliable?
About as reliable as any other 25 year old car. It is entirely dependent on how well it’s been taken care of and maintained. There are plenty of them still on the road if that tells you anything.
Is E36 easy to work?
The E36 is a well built and long lasting car that anyone can hop into and enjoy. They’re fairly easy to work on with some mechanical know-how and parts are extremely cheap and easy to come by.
Is BMW E34 reliable?
I’ve noticed that the E34 are reputed to be among the most (if not the) most reliable BMW’s ever made, and I’ve always liked the design. E34s are great cars but I think the title for most reliable still goes to the venerable E30s. Which are more reliable, the E34 straight-6 engines, or the E34 V8’s?
How reliable is E36 M3?
BMW E36 M3 Reliability
Like any BMW, these cars are great and relatively problem free IF they were taken care of by the previous owner. However, buying one nowadays means the car probably has well past 100k miles.
Are E36 expensive to maintain?
You would expect a well-engineered and high-performance European car to be moderately expensive to maintain, and it is. We’ve seen that as a brand, BMW ranks near the bottom for reliability, and near the top for most expensive average maintenance/repair costs.
How much is a BMW E36 worth?
In general, the most standard model of the BMW E36 M3 is the four-door sedan. These models cost anywhere from $20,000 today. The newer the car and the better its condition, the prices can increase to up to in excess of $50,000. These prices are similar to what they were back in the first years of production.
What does E36 stand for?
The third generation of the BMW 3 Series range of compact executive cars is designated under the model code E36, and was produced by the German automaker BMW from 1990 to 2000.
Why is E36 so good?
A great engine and a solid platform make the E36 arguably one of the most customizable cars in the US. Plenty of BMW E36s made their way to the US, so they are cheap and readily available, another sign of a good project car. They even made a Miata-like version of the E36, called the Z3.
What engine is in E36?
In the U.S., the E36 M3 was powered by the 3-liter S50 B30 US, upsized in 1996 to the 3.2-liter S52 B32 US. Both U.S. engines produced 240 hp and were based on the M50 and M52 sixes used in 3 and 5-series passenger cars.
How many BMW E36 were produced?
Total was made 3.042. 396 units (all markets).
Is BMW E36 automatic?
BMW introduced the Automatic Sedan version of the E36 M3 in 1994.
Is BMW E36 RWD?
BMW E36 3 Series Sedan 328i Specs
ft) at 3950 rpm. The power is transmitted to the road by the rear wheel drive (RWD) with a 5 speed Manual gearbox.
What engine is in a E36 328i?
The E36 BMW 328i was built between 1995 and 1998 and used the M52B28 engine under the hood. That’s a legendary mill, by the way, the one a straight-six that provided the basis for the S52 engine later on and the S54 with various modifications.
Is 328i twin turbo?
The 328i features the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine — TwinPower is BMW’s twin-scroll turbocharger system — that produces 240 horsepower from 5,000 to 6,000 rpm and 255 foot-pounds of torque from 1,250 to 4,800 rpm.