Found a car...opinions?

[97'Scort]

1996 328is coupe, white, 5 spd manual, black leather interior, 170k, and the guy is asking $13,000.

I'd post a link to the ad but I don't want too much competition :)

Any opinions from 328 owners? This is in Canada btw, not the Japan market.

Thanks!

[Weapon_R]

Does it have to be a coupe? I saw a good deal on a 96 with only 114k on it for 13,000

http://www.usedcalgary.com/classified-ad/2113538&category=passenger-cars

[97'Scort]

That's a nice car. A 4 door would be fine, but it does need to be a manual transmission.

[funkedelic]

Originally posted by 97'Scort
1996 328is coupe, white, 5 spd manual, black leather interior, 170k, and the guy is asking $13,000.

I'd post a link to the ad but I don't want too much competition :)

Any opinions from 328 owners? This is in Canada btw, not the Japan market.

Thanks!

Sounds like a decent price for a 96, .. the coupes are always more expensive.

[aram1000]

sounds like a decent price, if it was me, I would take the sedan with the lower k

[teggypimp95]

If its the one in edmonton the guy is a dink and i dont trust him

[Weapon_R]

I would pass on it. Mileage may be alright but its a little higher and you can find some really nice low mileage E36's for under 15k.

[97'Scort]

Originally posted by teggypimp95
If its the one in edmonton the guy is a dink and i dont trust him

Any particular reason? I'm going to go see it on Thursday.


Originally posted by Weapon_R I would pass on it. Mileage may be alright but its a little higher and you can find some really nice low mileage E36's for under 15k.

The list price is $12,900, but I think it could be talked down to $11,900 or less. $15k is a little over my budget, hence the whole Japan thing from the start. I'd like to have some money left to buy some rims and tires, maybe some new speakers.

I think I can deal with 170k, especially since it's hard to find a ten year old car with less than 200k these days.

I appreciate the advice though! I'm going into the viewing with caution.

[teggypimp95]

I have tryed talked to him about it probably 5 times now, i have called him alot and he is very unhelpful and never wants to give me any information on the car, seems like maybe he might be hiding something im not sure, he has also hung up on me a time or 2 for no reason. :dunno: Let me know how it is.

[97'Scort]

Originally posted by teggypimp95
Let me know how it is.

Will do. I talked to him today, I think he's working on site. His cell phone reception sounds like mine does up north.

[97'Scort]

Lots of other countries have specific laws requiring decade old cars to be tested before they're sold. I can't seem to find anything on Transport Canada's website to indicate that is in effect here. It'll get inspected anyways, but I want to know if it's an absolute.

[LuxCars]

^^^

you have to get an insurance inspection for any car 12 years or older....if thats what your talking about..

and you can some better E36's for lower (like stated earlier)....when i was in the market for a new car i checked them out and when i waited i found a really nice one, didnt have enought time to jump on it though....

[97'Scort]

12 years, check. Thanks!

I'm sure I can find some with better milage but they seem to want a fortune for them. I'm just going to look at this one, not necessarily buy.

[JayM481]

You don't need an inspection to register it if the car has been registered in Alberta. Your insurance company may require an appraisal if you want to get more than basic insurance on it. As far as I know there is no hard and fast rule on how old the car has to be. I insured a Euro '88 735i without an inspection (no collision though).

[97'Scort]

Update: Finally getting to see the car tonight. This guy is out of town a lot.

Carfax came back clean, but it was driven pretty hard for the first few years, so a compression and maybe a leak-down test will be forthcoming.

One interesting thing: it's a US car from California, so it has all sorts of nice emissions screening stuff in the carfax report. Passed its last one in 2004 at 137300 km's, meaning this guy has put on 33000km's in 3 years. Good negotiating info.

One annoying bit is it has gauges in MPH. Does anyone know where you can buy a KPH gauge face kit?

[the_new_santa1]

^ my 3000 gt has american gauges dont even worry about it, you get used to it so fast...took me less that a week, although first couple of days thought i was going 100 actually was going 160....not worth the money to change IMO.:thumbsup:

[97'Scort]

I made an offer of $11,000. Blue and Black Book values for a private sale in excellent condition put this car around $10k, so I offered a bit more. He won't budge on the pricing though. The search continues...

[sgouki]

give it a little more time expecially with the E92s rollin out

Rich

[97'Scort]

Looking at another one. Green '97 328is with 105k on it, "M Sport" package. Guy is asking $14,800. Car is in good shape, drives well, and has some minor cosmetic scratches. Interior seems well maintained, but the leather is a little worn in some spots.

Is $14800 a good range for this car or is there a reasonable offer that would be good to go for? This isn't a private sale.


Thanks again!

[97'Scort]

Seriously; I'm booking an inspection now for this thing and I need to know whether I'm being hosed.

[waypastfast]

how about buying one from the states?? i found this one for ya!

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/car/256995496.html

[97'Scort]

That's where that white one was from ^^^. Imported incorrectly, btw, for anyone looking at it.

I'd probably give my left nut for an M, but I'm looking for some serious replies, alright? I appreciate it though.

[Weapon_R]

Sounds like an absolutely great deal. Seats wear out but you can find replacements for reasonably cheap. 105k is nothing for that car, and if you can get him down some more it would be a steal.

[97'Scort]

Thanks! He's saying $14500 if the inspection comes out clean, but I may be able to talk him down a bit more.

[GT4rally]

Make sure you do a "carproof" search on it (not a "carfax" - these searches have no Canadian data).

It has super low km's on it, but you want to make sure the milage is correct, and the car has not been in an accident, and is not from Ontario (rusty).

I was looking at a '99 328i (E46) last week (at a dealer) and I instantly knew it was from Ontario since it had rust bubbles on the rear wheel arches -- the sales guy confirmed my suspicions.

[97'Scort]

Update:

Inspection booked for this Thursday.

Carproof done, but it doesn't indicate insurance records before 2000. A little red flag is going up on that one for me, as it is a '97 model. Any clues?

Here's the carproof link (http://reports.carproof.net/view_report.aspx?id=CA1293A82AA0).

[97'Scort]

Update #2:

Inspection came out okay, a few maintenance issues:

- Power steering hose clamps need replacement
- Front stabilizer bearings need replacement
- Rear control arm bushings need replacement
- Alternator belt needs replacement
- Rear brake pads/rotors shot
- Rear tires shot
- One brake light out

Total repair cost, excluding new tires but with labour = $1800

Good negotiating points, I think.

[97'Scort]

I actually need a response or two to this one (sorry if I'm starting to get annoying!).

I offered him $15000 (including all fees and GST) but he has to fix the rear brakes, rear control arms bushings, and the front stability linkage (plus alignments) and the 6-month powertrain warranty is included. He agreed after some back and forth.

What do you think? I think I'm ready to buy.

[GT4rally]

Sounds good, but ditch the 6 month power train warranty and get him to knock a couple hunderd off for that. Those third party power train warranties are usless... if something happens, they will find a way to blame you, and then you pretty much gotta take them to court to get them to pay. Plus, those BMW motors and trannys are bulit-proof.

Other than that, sounds sweet!

[Killa_Kam]

sounds like a good buy:thumbsup:

[Weapon_R]

These cars hold their value extremely well. I sold my 98 323is with just a touch under 100k for 16k so 15 for a 328 is a decent price with that mileage if it's clean.

Ditch the powertrain warranty if you can. The 2.8L is possible BMWs most reliable engines, and those 3rd party warranties aren't worth the paper they're printed on. Have you ever looked closely at them? If you don't have a service and maintenance history for the car according to THEIR schedules, the warranty is void. They can void your warranty if you do not have oil change receipts for every 3,000kms [your car can go a lot longer w/synthetic changes].

[97'Scort]

Yeah I get that about this warranty. It looks alright and hopefully I won't have to use it. He's fixing everything, so it should be fine!

Bought it Friday, delivery after repairs next thursday!

Here she is. (http://www.canadatrader.com/result/detailinfo.aspx?ID=24517234&pgno=1&srt=1)

Can I join the club now? :D :D

[pyar_deewane]

haha awesome ride dude...u gonna keep her stock?....congrats:clap:

[timsthetim]

good deal, congrats

[97'Scort]

Thanks:thumbsup:

She'll stay stock until I have cash to do some mods. I'll move my head unit and sub over right away, but the rest of the stereo is the first thing on the replacement list. After that, probably some wheels and front strut bar. Who knows really? I'll get used to it and just enjoy the drive for the time being!

[scat19]

Originally posted by 97'Scort
Yeah I get that about this warranty. It looks alright and hopefully I won't have to use it. He's fixing everything, so it should be fine!

Bought it Friday, delivery after repairs next thursday!

Here she is. (http://www.canadatrader.com/result/detailinfo.aspx?ID=24517234&pgno=1&srt=1)

Can I join the club now? :D :D


You can join the rare green club as well. Im a fern green, even rarer, because in 01 they bring out "oxford green" then later "oxford green 2", which have a bit more yellow than me!

which is yours?