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Help: Looking to purchase specific E36

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    #1

    Help: Looking to purchase specific E36

    Hi all, I'm sorry I don't browse too often so forgive me if this is out of place. I am looking at an E36 on Craigslist that has been a salvage title. Normally I just skip over them, but this beauty is white with dove interior and everything is in great condition, the thing hasn't even hit 125k miles and its a '95! Anyway, the current owner says he doesn't know the EXACT way the car was damaged but thinks it was just the pre-previous owner driving in rain and banging up the corners, but the ad says the passenger side was damaged. Now, I do do my homework, I made sure to ask about any frame damage and he told be he never checked, but the car drives straight as an arrow and the tires have no unusual wear! I have the ad (will post below) and I will also link the car history! I really would like to have some of y'all help me out to decide whether or not this car will be a good investment, or I'm getting screwed. Keep in mind I plan on keeping the car for years until I HAVE to get rid of it for whatever reason. Any input is much appreciated.



    http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/4408727289.html

    ^^^Ad

    http://reports.vincarhistory.com/201...H07639FWE.html

    ^^^History report that I personally purchased.
    Tags: None
    #2
    I'd skip the anything with a salvage title. The panel gaps at the trunk lid are terrible and the crappy aftermarket tail lights suggest that is where the damage occurred. This screams of corner cutting for fixing the car properly. This may also explain why the car has E46 wheels as a wheel(s) was probably damaged in the collision. There is no mention of any maintenance work in the ad either. You have to assume all preventive maintenance has been deferred. The only impressive thing I see with the car is the driver's seat looks great in the photo.


    If 6K is your budget, I would take any E36 M3 out of your consideration. You'll end up dumping a lot of money into a cheap example fixing problems. Factor in a salvage title and it's even a bigger waste of money. Spend the money upfront on a well maintained example and you'll have a much better ownership experience.

    Comment

      #3
      Hey thanks man all of those things had slipped past me! I was going to drive down to go look at it from Flagstaff to Phoenix this week, but I think I'll skip it now. My budget is actually a max of 9k, thats about how much I will get when I sell my 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I really appreciate that, you saved me a good amount of time.

      Comment

        #4
        If the car drives straight as an arrow with the strut mounts clocked in different positions, I think you have your answer.


        $9K can get you a clean E36. There's absolutely no reason to mess around with stuff like this. That car looks tweaked, and the seller sounds like an absolute tool. I wouldn't even be interested in it simply based on his FS ad.

        Comment

          #5
          Also, something else to consider...if the car was totaled out "many years ago", the book value of it was much higher. It would've had to have had considerable damage to total it. These days it doesn't take much to total an E36. "Many years ago", it would've been a lot of damage.


          The seller clearly thinks that saying "it happened many years ago" is a good thing. IMO, it's quite the opposite. Anyways, as said before, you've got the budget for a proper car. Forget about this joker.

          Comment

            #6
            Originally posted by fiveightandten
            Also, something else to consider...if the car was totaled out "many years ago", the book value of it was much higher. It would've had to have had considerable damage to total it. These days it doesn't take much to total an E36. "Many years ago", it would've been a lot of damage.



            The seller clearly thinks that saying "it happened many years ago" is a good thing. IMO, it's quite the opposite. Anyways, as said before, you've got the budget for a proper car. Forget about this joker.
            This is a great point. There is also a few things that don't belong on the car, I.e. rims, rear tails, front corners (left is hanging out), shift knob, floor mats. It may be an ///M, but cosmetically it doesn't look like one, wait and be patient, it may not feel like it, but a good one will come around.

            Comment

              #7
              Oh my, tweaked for sure. Even the hood is on the wrong plane.



              Skippy-poo.

              Comment

                #8
                It never ceases to amaze me how you guys, looking at a set of low resolution pictures can pick out so much pertinent info. I looked hard at the pictures saw a few things and then looked at your comments then re looked at the pics. Picked out only half of the things commented on.

                Comment

                  #9
                  The report shows it was salvaged 6/2011 and restored 11/2011.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    I appreciate the wise words!

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Originally posted by frbz
                      It never ceases to amaze me how you guys, looking at a set of low resolution pictures can pick out so much pertinent info. I looked hard at the pictures saw a few things and then looked at your comments then re looked at the pics. Picked out only half of the things commented on.
                      A lot of us have seen hundreds and hundreds of these cars. It doesn't take much to go through and pick stuff out that looks wonky. Just for kicks, here's what I see (in no particular order):


                      -Paint overspray on the door jamb VIN tag

                      -Nose panel and kidneys are off a post-facelift car, and not correct for this vehicle.

                      -Looks like paint chipping off and revealing primer on the radiator support and PS inner front fender.

                      -Strut mounts are clocked in different positions.

                      -Front bumper is a replacement. It's missing the front lip, and the bumper itself looks pretty wonky. Looks like an aftermarket bumper to me.

                      -Panel gaps and alignment are wonky pretty much all around the car. The lights aren't fitting properly, the hood alignment is all off, both bumpers are off, etc.

                      -Trunk emblem is in the wrong place, looks like it may be an E46 emblem too.

                      -DS side skirt looks like it has a screw holding it in around the wheel well.

                      -DS rear wheel well has wavy metal all on the inside of it, and the metal where the quarter panel meets the bumper looks wavy. The QP doesn't look like someone rolled it. It looks like the car was hit back there and not repaired well.

                      -Trim at the top of the DS side skirt looks to have a white section. That would be an odd place to have overspray, but something is wonky there.

                      -Driver's seat belt is missing the plastic enclosure.


                      Other:

                      -Seats look like they may have been reupholstered. They don't match the door cards. They do look great though.

                      -Headliner has been replaced or wrapped with suede.

                      -Fog lights are replacements, tail lights are cheap aftermarket replacements.

                      -Floor mat on the DS isn't even close to being for an E36.

                      -Rubber molding on the DS door sill is all chewed up.


                      Originally posted by Cristians94
                      The report shows it was salvaged 6/2011 and restored 11/2011.
                      So, 2 and half years ago, and it's done about 9K miles since then. That's far from "many many years ago".


                      I wouldn't even waste your time going to see this car. The guy sounds like a total clown and the car looks like a basket case.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Also missing the lip spoiler

                        Comment

                          #13
                          The lights on the fender are missing. It just doesn't look like a 95 M3. Maybe suggesting where it was hit and replaced.

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Dude, I appraise this. This is exactly the comment I was looking for in the beginning. I came to this forum about the car for a reason, I know you guys are Bimmer heads to the max. Thank you thank you thank you, and really, don't feel bad for pointing it all out, I suggest you never hold back when a noob like me has one of these posts.

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Originally posted by warez
                              The lights on the fender are missing. It just doesn't look like a 95 M3. Maybe suggesting where it was hit and replaced.
                              Good call. I completely missed that one.


                              Originally posted by Cristians94
                              Dude, I appraise this. This is exactly the comment I was looking for in the beginning. I came to this forum about the car for a reason, I know you guys are Bimmer heads to the max. Thank you thank you thank you, and really, don't feel bad for pointing it all out, I suggest you never hold back when a noob like me has one of these posts.
                              People are happy to help out. On to the next one, and good luck with the search.

                              Comment

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