MUST WATCH Before You Buy A BMW E36 M3 | Pros and Cons Of The E36

[@solomonoh]

I agree--a rust-free, crack-free chassis is what you want. Everything else can be fixed or replaced for a reasonable price, but not the body. Having done cooling system & vanos rebuilds, I can say its pretty straight forward. Some must-do mods for long term ownership are all body related: rear subframe mounting reinforcement plates (M3 have them stock), front subframe reinforcement plates, front & rear strut reinforcement plates, front & rear sway-bar mount reinforcement plates, e-fan conversion or clutch fan replacement. there are a lot of other less severe problem areas that won't keep you from driving but should also be done.

[@Ian-yt]

Thank you for the input! I got even more to learn haha

[@isaiahjackson4438]

From what I've read on forums, the M3s actually never came with the reinforcements even though the plates are an OEM part, however my M3 has reinforcements so I have no idea how true that is

[@solomonoh]

@@isaiahjackson4438 don't believe everything you read online. my 95 m3 has factory rear subframe reinforcement plates welded in.

[@PolandGamerPL]

@@isaiahjackson4438They came without them at first, then somewhere around October 95 they switched over to having those reinforcements

[@PolandGamerPL]

Find me a chassis that didn’t have it’s rockers fixed and floor re welded in Europe 😭

[@cameron4017]

My dad had a silver e36 m3 that he put a turbo on when I was a kid but had to sell it because we needed money. Fast forward he gets a 99 red 323i and I get a silver 04 325i. Fast forward more we’ve fixed and modded them a bit cuz it’s cool😎 but he sees a post on fb marketplace for a e36 m3. They talk and somehow the guys ok with a swap and now my dad has his m3 back. It blew a head gasket shortly after he got it and snapped his intake cam when installing💀. Now he’s got some moderate schrick cams and it’s sick

[@Gon.Freecsss]

i got a low mileage, rust free, 1 owner 328 sedan from a dealership with perfect paint and a complete interior that looks brand new still 😆

[@TechTokOffical]

I did that too, only not from a dealer just went down south. The absolute best thing to do in 2024(I.M.O) is to buy an automatic(rust free goes wo sayin) and swapping it. It's the best way to ensure the car was NEVER owned by someone under the age of 30 and with that comes knowing u have an engine that spent the majority of it's life under 5000rpm. Can't stress how clean these cars are if they are never owned by a 18yr old kid

[@fiddleronthecube7835]

I bought my 1999 E36 M3 in 2001. It had 45,000 miles on it. It has 67,000 miles now. No major problems. It's absolutely stock. Parts and labor are expensive of course. It's fast enough for me. In 2007 I was thinking of doing a Dinan enhancement, from 240 to 333 HP. I didn't because I couldn't have explained that decision to my wife.

[@creakid]

10:12 In 2006, I bought a 1999 manual E36 M-Tech 328is near mint, under 50k mi, for $17400. Back then, everyone told me that I got ripped off. I then applied Z3's quick steering rack & converted the 2.93 diff to Torsen, plus raised the ride height to base model's standard comfy spec. Today, people all over are begging to buy it from me, including a driver of a Scion FR-S, which is a crappy car by comparison from steering feel to ride comfort to quietness to torque curve to passing-ease rear-visibility width to interior plushness (including a tiltable sunroof) to rear-seat room to...

[@matlabninja]

Nice video. I'm a 10yr e36 owner and had lots of fun with that cooling system. I've also bought the car 3 times instead of 2, but I got it for a song and I've done some upgrades...

[@farkinarkin5099]

😁Found a low mileage, rust free, no issues E36 ///M3... in my garage. Incredibly reliable (more so than the E46 stable mate), although a bit underpowered (but quick enough). Your pros-and-cons are right on. Changed out the OEM water pump and reinforced the strut mounts many decades ago.

[@Firespitsamful]

lol @ your brake light being out. most have tail light issues. clean the contacts on the bulb sockets. also most have window actuator issues. buttt these are amazing cars! ive had one for nearly 10 years and have manual swapped it myself. I will keep it forever.

[@willsparklin]

As an E36 ///M (now S54) owner, the killer for me is the e36 trim and interior bits. In an effort to make the thing more recyclable, some parts are so brittle at this point... they literally disintegrate in your hands. Still wouldn't trade it for the world though. The chassis just does so much right. Even in stock form it punches way above its weight.

[@Ian-yt]

So true with these older ones especially

[@dikkodikko6262]

and then there’s me, looking at one that is good everywhere else but rusty

[@Ian-yt]

goodluck !@@dikkodikko6262

[@fatoputso7375]

Very good looking car for sure. E36 m just does everything good checking the boxes on what a proper sports car should be starting w being easily to maintain to it's looks.

[@trollinallday13]

i just bought one less goo, got the sedan tho. still looks good but the coupe be hittin different.

[@isaiahjackson4438]

Recently bought a 95 M3/2/5 for $7500, definitely not garage kept but no rust, and clean body. One thing I really wish I had done before finalizing the deal was to pull back the trunk carpet and looked at the shock towers. One had been smothered in some of the worst welds i've seen. I'm getting all sorts of not good sounding rear end thumps so dropping the rearend, replacing all bushings, and reinforcements are next up on the to do list. I just repaired cracks in the front strut towers and added the OEM reinforcements.

[@Ian-yt]

Yeah sadly I’m having to deal with similar issues myself. All in the luck of the draw these days

[@kevinmedina8277]

😢 it was a facebook market car huh

[@nicolaslentz4716]

Love the vid, your brake light is out btw 🤟🏼

[@Danscapee]

Found one, seller wants $7,000 alpine white convertible. Clean, no paint issues, new cooling and suspension system already installed. 65k miles Only thing is…it’s a flood branded title from 2005, but to be fair he’s owned it since then and no issues. Any feedback?

[@fafamiggy]

I was supposed to get an E36 tomorrow with an M52 engine. But after watching this video, I've been worried about dealing with mechanical problems because I don't have any experience. I'm a programmer, not a mechanic. I've already made a deal with the guy I found on the marketplace; the picture he sent looks clean. I'll find out tomorrow, but since I was a kid, I've been dreaming about this car, hahaha.

[@anissturboturbo]

Get it. I never touched a wrench in my life and I’m learning everything on my e36.

[@creakid]

Cooling system & suspension-support pieces can be reinforced, as long as previous damage hasn't been done.

[@bekabeka71]

There’s one for sale 318is coupe for 3k. For some reason I showed the modem which is very much like an m3 and they said they don’t find e36 beautiful 😂 however I love the look of it more than any other model

[@evo3734]

That's a legit car g.

[@senseless1685]

One of the coolest and most iconic cars of all time ! I also have a 320i Convertible and i love it !

[@BuckWheatBuilds]

Where in MA are you located? Im downtown Boston. I picked my e36m3 up in January. We should cruise sometime!

[@Ian-yt]

Yo!!! I just moved out to coolidge corner in brookline for some room for the cars haha

[@dongambino5308]

can I join for the cruise lol, I live in Jamaica plain, got a 2020 X3 but im really looking around for E46s and E36s, typical Bostonian 23 year old lol

[@oskarmarkuskevade1613]

So underrated channel keep it up

[@Ian-yt]

Means so much thank you! Got videos coming soon -just been traveling for family

[@azmainabrar697]

trying to learn as much as i can... saving & willing to pay 10k for a decent example late model e36 m3. scouring bat & cars nbids everyday lol. thanks for the info & subscribed!

[@Ian-yt]

Just make sure to be careful on cars n bids, I had a rough experience with undisclosed problems with the owner. Ask every question possible before hand

[@edwindavidnathan]

Nice raw video. Good details on E36 M3.

[@328i]

well shot, good video 👍

[@Ian-yt]

Thanks!

[@codytaylor1804]

i needed this video!

[@JLFish21]

This was a great fricking video

[@SARMS_KAT]

great video!!

[@rationalstarsign]

What camera do you use?

[@Ian-yt]

Sony a6400 with a tamron 17-70mm lens. I can put a link in description in upcoming videos

[@rationalstarsign]

@@Ian-yt that'd be awesome. thanks man.

[@cod44449]

BUY THEM NOW. This is the cheapest they will ever be. By any mileage and any of them. Its easy to fix guys

[@austinrrhodes]

Great video. One day ill have one

[@Ian-yt]

You got it my guy

[@nickmoraw]

Great few vids so far! If ur ever in Western MA let's collab on something! Been loving the content, fellow BMW owner here G20 and E46 ZHP!

[@transworld6880]

@nickmoraw Im from western mass too! What town are you from

[@RexFixx]

Wdym pros and cons im crying abt that i cannot afford even 320i (its atleast 6 cylinder but still fuellllll hole) I can afford cheapest thats 800 but it has rolled over and cant get inspection and its for parts

[@Masterminion1]

How much is annual maintance for an s50b30 model when you bring it to a local garage?

[@Ian-yt]

not sure, I would suggest looking at the bimmer forums and the e36 forums as well. Tons of maintenance, parts, other costs and first hand experiences on there.

[@TheRoadWorriers]

Great vid, great car👍👍👍

[@brandonherrera2891]

The loose oil pump nut, does this apply to the z3 m s52 as well?

[@Ian-yt]

I think most s52 owners keep this in check and tighten/replace like any other preventative maintenance. Mine was all good no signs of issues. May have to read some forums on this one as I am not that knowledgeable on those issues with this engine tbh. GL thanks for the comment my dude!

[@brandonherrera2891]

@@Ian-yt Thanks for the response! Yeah, I'm very much considering an s52 z3 m. Great video, BTW.

[@gamingwaffles4163]

love the content

[@krabuh]

I can't find an e36 m3 for under 25k where I live! Are they cheaper in the states??

[@Ian-yt]

mid teens for regular use examples, 20k minimum for clean lower mileage examples -from my experience

[@krabuh]

@@Ian-yt that's insane! I've never seen an m3 under 25k, there's only 4 for sale in my province! Should I consider importing from the states

[@PolandGamerPL]

@@krabuhRemember the us version didn’t come with the same engine. 240hp, no itbs, different cams compared to 286hp and later 321 with the 3.2 everywhere else

[@krabuh]

@@PolandGamerPL Yes, but I've heard that the US version is much more reliable

[@omarmoran3097]

​@@krabuh you looked into import fees?

[@MrBellyman128]

Hey dude i live in the Boston area. I own a 1997 e36 m3 and a 2011 audi r8 v10 along with a few other toys. Hmu if you wamt to collab

[@Ian-yt]

That’s awesome I would love to!

[@gamestv1062]

Make more videos 💥💥

[@Ian-yt]

Trust me I am planning on it! Been away from the car for 6 weeks will be back this week

[@gamestv1062]

@@Ian-yt Yes.. we waiting for the back 💥

[@SupraSav]

I can't imagine who is spending the money that people are asking for one of these. If you're not a collector, chances are you want one for the driving characteristics and not to park it in a garage to resell later.

[@Ian-yt]

Bingo, as far as I’ve seen they are bought to be driven at least here on the east coast

[@krontexpit]

Yea I’m trying to get one in decent shape so that I can actually drive it

[@omarmoran3097]

I'm thinking of buying one to

[@gamestv1062]

Pro Make videos 🥲

[@gamestv1062]

Pro Make videos 🥲

[@gamestv1062]

Pro Make videos 🥲

[@Ian-yt]

Filmed two videos today, one coming out later tomorrow, other will be scheduled soon. Appreciate the support!

[@chechen_power1jz]

Is e36 more fun to drive over e30? Both with m50b25 ​@@Ian-yt

[@gamestv1062]

Pro Make videos 🥲