M Buyers Guide
Inspection checklist
M3 E36, 1995 to 1999
Before you go
- Open recalls. Run the VIN through NHTSA or a BMW dealer and ask for proof every recall was done.
- History report. Check the title, accidents, owners and mileage record.
- Service records. Ask for them in advance, ideally from a BMW dealer or specialist.
- Independent inspection. Book a pre-purchase inspection with a shop that knows this engine.
Known problems on this car
- Cooling system failure about $900 to fix
Look for a cooling system refresh in the records, watch the temperature gauge on a long drive, and check for coolant smell or residue.
- Rear shock tower mount cracking about $800 to fix
Inspect the rear shock mounts from the trunk and underneath, and listen for clunks over bumps.
- Rear subframe mount cracking about $2,500 to fix
Have the subframe mounts inspected on a lift, especially on a 1995 car, and ask whether reinforcement plates have been fitted.
- Rust in the rockers and wheel arches about $2,000 to fix
Check the rockers, the wheel arch lips and the jacking points for bubbling paint or repairs, and look behind the side skirts.
- VANOS wear about $800 to fix
Listen for a rattle between 1,000 and 3,000 rpm, and look for VANOS work in the records.
At the viewing
- A cooling system refreshed within the last 60,000 miles.
- The rear shock mounts and the floor around the rear subframe checked for cracks.
- The rear arches and quarter panels checked for rust.
- No VANOS rattle.
- A clear accident and modification history.
Notes
From the M3 E36 guide at M Buyers Guide. Repair costs are the guide's estimates, not quotes; the guide says where each comes from. Problems and costs as of the date printed.