Some of our long-time readers have likely picked up on the fact my all-time favorite car that I’ve owned is my departed 1995 BMW M3. Sure, the E36 platform is known for horribly cheap interiors and weak cooling systems, but there are two simple remedies for those: live with it and fix it. Thankfully, parts are plentiful and cheap, and the upkeep on this low-mileage 1997 BMW 328is will be a pittance compared to the driving joy it will provide. These cars have been at the bottom of their value curve for a while, so it’s rare to find one this nice. The 328is is listed here on eBay with an opening bid of $6K and no action yet.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Dinhoeua for the find. The E36 cars were at a disadvantage immediately upon introduction, as enthusiasts were extremely loyal to the prior generation E30 and the long-promised M3 was to be a watered-down version of its European-market sibling. Also, BMW was gunning for marketshare with the E36 cars, and the cost-cutting efforts to ramp up production volume was evident in the flimsy interiors. But strip all that away and they still delivered the quintessential BMW driving experience, with silky inline-six power and a preference for outfitting everything from the 318ti hatch to the upscale 328s with three pedals.
Unlike most E36s, this 328is has survived in fine condition. It is a sport package car, so it has a firmer suspension and the sport bucket seats seen here. Unfortunately, BMW was reserving the three-spoke sport steering wheel solely for the M cars, so I’d quickly source a Euro-spec sport wheel if this 328is were mine. This example also has power seats, so be sure to check the seat gears as they have a tendency to break, leaving you in whatever position you last decided was comfortable. The seller doesn’t provide any details on maintenance history, but upgrading the cooling system is a must-do for any E36 car if it’s not been done; I was just about to do the second cooling system update on my M3 when the thermostat let go and my headgasket blew.
The BMW Car Club of America sticker in the back glass is a good indication as to who previously loved this car (I only say that because, as a Club member, most of the other owners I’ve met seem to be more conservative types who prioritize mechanical health over looks and horsepower). While my next BMW purchase will be to find another M3 to replace the one I lost, you really can’t go wrong with a clean, well-maintained E36 in any form, especially a sport package car with the larger six-cylinder motor. This one isn’t unfairly priced with a $6K opening bid and no reserve, so perhaps an astute bidder can bring home a wonderful daily driver for under $10K.
I dare anyone to call the dealer and say I need a water pump installed!
Then upon hearing 4000 dollars try not to faint or say tune up please and say what 1500 🏦🏦🏦🏦
I luv beammmmers but my wallet is to tight for this action when so many others are affordable to maintain 👀👍
Pump is less than $150 from the dealer and the job pays 1.8 hours.
remember the excitement and joy when I bought my 2006 330i. After 7 years and 90K miles it is still a joy to drive…except when it is time for maintenance, or God forbid, repairs! I knew M&R was expensive for Euro cars, I was coming from driving a Volvo, but BMWs are on another level of M&R cost. For the first 4 years it wonderful, everything is “free,” but after that be prepared to pay 4, 8, 10 times– or more– than what you might pay for a “normal” car. Used to paying $30-40 to change a blown headlight? Be prepared to pay ~$700 now. ~$200 for a new windshield…BMW will cost you $750. $30 for a oil change, BMW will be $120. $80 for a brake job? BMW will cost you 5 times as much. I don’t mean to be a killjoy, I just wish I had made my purchasing decision with such information so perhaps others buying their first bimmer will appreciate this information. Just thought I’d post this as I go off to pick up my bimmer from the dealership for an overheating problem, new battery, and oil change. Total cost, about $3,200– but hey, they gave me a 10% discount!
Mucho High, yours is an e46, completely different animal from e36. For whatever reason, more prone to expensive almost Audi-like repairs, whereas if you can fix a Chevy you can fix an e36. Much better interior on yours though.
Wow, that’s why I do all of my own work! To DIY, a BMW costs the same to maintain as a Honda. Some parts are more expensive, but for the most part there is no difference.
If you don’t DIY, find a good local BMW shop. Don’t pay outrageous dealer prices. And DEFINITELY avoid places like Firestone who don’t specialize in anything but screwing things up.
Beemers are motorcycles, Bimmers are cars. Just to T off the hardcore BMW people, the vanity plate on my Z3 reads Bummer. Maybe thats why they do not wave!
I just installed a whole new radiator on my E36 M3 and could have easily done the water pump too in about 10 more minutes I think. but I had the pump replaced years ago with a metal impeller pump so I didn’t need to do that. And I am not Mr. Mechanic by any stretch of the imagination.
I’m stunned this thing has not attracted a single bid! 6k isn’t bad for a BMW with this low mileage. I guess it just shows how undesirable the E36 became. In 2001, I paid extra for mine, actually a lot extra, over a brand new 2001 Integra Type R.
If you don’t replace and upgrade the entire cooling system, you’re wasting your time. It cost me $1500 in parts. Removing the intake manifold to get to the last of the hoses surely wouldn’t drive down the cost of labor.
I don’t know how BMW got these cooling systems so wrong. They could have copied any cheap crappy Dodge and got a 10x better system.
why is this here?
These are awesome handling cars and an interesting (cheap) market. I say it belongs. The price is absurd though. Mine was as nice as this and it sold for $1900.
The 328is is one of the easiest cars on the road to self maintain and repair in your garage or driveway and quality parts are amazingly cheap. My 99 328is has been a pleasant surprise and one of the best small driving cars I’ve driven.
Hi Jeff. I just got a 2000 Z3 Roadster with 60,000 miles. As an American muscle car guy I am having a hard time with all the number stuff going on with there identifications. I like tags like Stingray, Cuda and so on. The Z is a blast to drive! One wierd thing is, when I drive my other cars I wave at everyone that has a cool car. Most people wave back. Not so with the Bimmer. Why? I will keep waving, I just like the Brotherhood. Take care, Mike. P.S. Dont forget to wave!
I was looking for a car like this 328is about 15 years ago, which came with a firmer suspension than the regular 3-series cars, but had the standard 3-series 2.8 engine. Then I drove an M3, with an even firmer suspension and 240 lb-ft of torque to haul only 3200 pounds for around the same price. I have been very glad I bought the M3, and I’ve said it here before but it’s still true: it has been the most reliable car I have ever owned, and I have owned a lot of cars since the 1960s.
I get that some people don’t like German or other Euro, etc. cars, but the engineering and performance can be excellent, even if some of their older water pumps have plastic impellers.
Water pumps:
Up to about 1997 some BMWs, including 3-series cars, came with water pumps with plastic impellers that could break up and fail. After about 1997 I believe all cars came with water pumps with aluminum impellers. You can get new pumps pretty cheap from aftermarket sources or the dealer and they don’t cost more than a lot of other pumps today. A decent home mechanic can change one in about 1 – 2 hours. End of problem.
Interiors:
I don’t get why BMW interiors get complaints. Nothing in my car interior has broken or fallen off. There’s just some wear to the outer seat bolster, but that was there when I bought the car in 2003 because the previous owner couldn’t manage to get into and out of the seat properly. Doesn’t seem to me like any manufacturer should get the blame for that. I have more trouble with interior parts on some of my other cars than I have ever had with the M3.
As for this 328is, it has only 78K miles….on a 21 year old car that looks like it was well kept. Hard to beat that, but you might be able to since there’s no bids and only a bit more than a day to go. If it’s as good as it looks it’s worth $6K, but you might be able to get it for less. And it’s an analog car with a manual that’s only ¼ inch thick, not 1.5 inches thick like new cars today, because it doesn’t have digital everything, thankfully.
Not having owned one of these cars, what is the fix for the cooling system and how much does it cost? I might look into one of these.
Best used car I’ve ever had, and I’ve had dozens. Did the radiator and water pump at ~80k and struts at 120k, and that’s it except for wear parts such as brakes, belts, tires, batteries. 1996 328i Convertible. Everything works, although the orangey digital letters on the clock are very dim now. I may make a run at this one.
Parts for my 97 e36 M3 are probably the cheapest and easiest of any car I’ve ever owned (granted I’ve had some obscure and older cars among some newer), and it way fun to drive.
6 grand was the final price. One bid. Wow. If that was an E30 I bet you would have gone for well over 10 grand.
Someone got a real great deal, simply because BMW snobs gave this series a bad rap due to the cooling system and interior rumors, neither of which is probably even an issue on this car.
Agreed. Deal of the week, I wasn’t quick enough. I’d love to have one for summer and one for winter! The search resumes…
Someone got ripped off to the tune of $4k. That car is worth $2k right now.
Relisted now with a current bid of $2,550. It started at $1k. Much more activity now that the price is lower! $6k was a little steep for an opening bid on an auction. That’s more like the price you ask on Craigslist and take $5k.
E36s have a big market, but they just don’t sell for that much. That’s part of why I love them, crazy collectors haven’t gotten to them.
A manual coupe is a desirable car. Shame it’s not an M Tech.
Thats not the same car Alex.
Yes it is. It’s still in Newark and the photos are the same. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1997-BMW-3-Series-/153126508609?oid=153117501192
You are correct. Sorry but I had this in my saved searches.
Buyer must have backed out. Thanks for the update, Mike. Condition:Used
“Excellent condition”
Ended: Aug 04, 2018 , 9:43AM
Winning bid:US $6,000.00
[ 1 bid ]
I saw that it had a bid, but I guess the buyer flaked.
At $6k, I might flake too.