1996 BMW 328i w/ M3 Brakes plus thousands in recent maintenance

Model: 328i Sedan
Make: BMW
Year: 1996
Mileage: 206,061 (It is my current daily driver so this will increase slightly)
Transmission: 5 Speed Manual
Contact: (585)490-1307 - Text or leave a message

For sale is my Arctic Silver E36 328i sedan 5 speed. I was originally planning on keeping this car as a daily but, after days of contemplation, the money can go elsewhere since buying Scott’s E39 M5 and having an unfinished E36 LS1 swap sitting in my garage. I am going to include all modifications/maintenance, with dates and prices, to the best of my knowledge since owning the car so please bear with this essay of a for sale thread. If you’re seriously interested, please read the entire thread as it will hopefully answer most of your questions.

A little history on the car;

I bought this car bone stock from the second and third owner family in Maryland in April of 2013. The guy I bought it from had bought it off his Dad who was the second owner since 25k miles I believe (I have the BMW certified window sticker that he got with the car in the late 90’s). It has had no accidents or paint work to my knowledge and appears to still have all the original VIN tags. I drove it for a few months absolutely stock on suspension that reacted in a similar fashion to jello every bump that I hit. After pulling the motor on my '95 M3 I got restless and figured I’d at least lower it which immediately snowballed into me spending far too much on the car. Now my addiction has gotten the better of me and I currently have 3 cars, which unfortunately at this point in my life is impractical.

Maintenance and Upgrades; (If no price noted, was included in the M3 suspension/brake and exhaust purchase price)

 <b>04-15-2013 - 196,500 Miles</b>

Pre-cat O2 sensor x2 - $180
Spark Plugs Bosche x6 - $30
Air Filter - $10
Wiper Blades Neoform x2 - $20

 <b>07-13-2013 - 200,000 Miles</b>

Mishimoto Radiator - $240
Coolant Expansion Tank - $50
Expansion Tank Cap - $10
Upper Rad Hose - $15
Lower Rad Hose - $17
Aluminum T-stat Housing - $25
Duralst T-stat (182*) - $16
Stewart Performance Water Pump - $180
Serp Belt - $20
Stainless Steel Brake Lines (F/R) Bimmerworld - $120

97 M3 Suspension/Brake Components (front)

Ground Control Coilovers
Ground Control Camber/Caster Plates
M3 Sway Bar OEM
Sway Bar Links - $36
Front Spindles
Front Control Arms
Front Calipers
Caliper Rebuild x2 - $20
Brake Pads - $40
Brake Rotors - $90

Front Alignment - $125

 <b>08-01-2013 - 202,000 Miles</b>

75mm Wheel Studs Bimmerworld - $125
12mm Wheel Spacers (Front) Bimmerworld - $70

<b> 09-20-2013 - 204,300 Miles</b>

A/C Belt OEM - $13
Exhaust Manifold Gasket x2 Victor Reintz - $14
Delrin Shifter Housing Bushings AKG - $20

Active Autowerke Performance Header
Active Autowerke Track Pipe
Exhaust Manifold Gasket x2 - $15
Borla Muffler

97 M3 Suspension/Brake Components (rear)
Trailing Arms

RTAB x2 Lemfoerder - $80

RTAB Limiters AKG - $40

Trailing Arm Ball Joint x4 - $70

Inner Upper Control Arm Bushing x2 - $20

Inner Lower Control Arm Bushing x2 - $14

Eccentric Bolt x2 - $20

Eccentric Washer x2 - $6

Self Locking Nut x2 - $5

M3 Sway Bar OEM

Sway Bar Link x2 Lemfoerder - $22

Calipers
Caliper Rebuild Kit x2 - $30

Park Brake Shoes - $21

Park Brake Hardware - $28

Brake Pads - $40

Brake Rotors - $80

Axles

Axle In. Torx Bolts x5 - $30

Axle Bolt Reinforc Colar x2 - $14

Colar Nut x2 - $24

3.23 LSD - $250

Redline 75w-90 x2 - $30

Solid Aluminum Diff Mounts Bimmerworld - $140

Front Diff Bolt Grade 10.9 - $6

Subframe Bushings Powerflex Purple - $140

McMaster Washers - $15

E90 Front Bolts OEM - $27

OEM Rear Subframe Reinforcement - $90

4 Wheel Alignment - $150

M3 Suspension/Brakes - $1200
Active Autowerke Exhaust - $600

Total - $4693

Uninstalled

Fan Delete Bimmerworld - $160
Vanos Repair Beisan Systems - $60
Rear Trailing Arm Pocket Reinforcement AKG - $50
Front Subframe Engine Mount Reinforcement AKG - $40

Total w/ uninstalled items - $5003

So over about the past year that is what I have put into the car in parts alone as well as alignments. All work was performed by a certified GM technician (I.e. Myself8-)), not including the alignments or pressing the bushings into the rear suspension components. I have receipts for everything listed as well as the bushings being pressed in. Since I’ve had the car I’ve used Mann oil filters and Rotella T6 full synthetic for oil changes.

Interior:
-Dove Gray
-Power Everything to include seats
-Heated Seats
-Pioneer Blue Tooth CD player
-HK Premium sound w/ factory amp
-Factory 6 cd changer

Overall I’d give the interior a 7 or 8 out of 10. There are no major imperfections in the leather, and most everything works as intended. The only two discrepancies I can think of are the stock clock, which reads proper time but does not illuminate, as well as the heat which blows hot only on the hottest setting…but that ish is HOT.

Exterior:

-Arctic Silver
-Rolled rear fenders
-Small amount of rust
-A few small dents (will be pictured)
-DS1’s plastidipped (not pictured)

The exterior on this car reflects daily use for sure. The paint still shines but has many micro scratches, and a few random dents which I will picture. I’d give it a 5 or 6/10, with a wash/wax it is actually very presentable. Rust is not out of hand, there is some below the trunk unfortunately, probably about the size of a dollar bill. There is also cracked paint/surface rust where the fenders were rolled with improper heat application.

The Bad:

-Needs O2 Sim
-Needs AIR Sim
-Vanos could use a rebuild
-Slight pulsation from front rotors
-Exhaust leak
-Needs Tires
-Clutch will need to be done in the next 15-30k depending on driving habits, I have a stage 2 Kevlar with 11lb disc that can be included for the right price

-What everyone is always interested in, the bad about the car! Well due to the fact that the car has AA headers and an AA track pipe, the AIR pump as well as secondary O2 sensors have been removed. This of course has tripped the CEL. I was in the process of building my own simulators, got halfway through the AIR sim and basically lost the motivation because the car has a valid inspection until May 2014. These sims are relatively easy to build and anyone who has a decent amount of automotive skill can make them for less than $100 and a couple hours of their time.
-Now, I say the Vanos could be rebuilt because the last time it is noted in the service records that came with the car was about 60k miles ago I believe. I had bought the Beisan Systems rebuild kit with the intention of doing it as preventative maintenance but I just haven’t had the time. The rebuild kit will be included in sale if I do not install it before hand.
-The exhaust does have a leak from what seems to be on the collectors on the headers, I bought the exhaust/suspension components from a car that had jumped a curb and the exhaust took a couple solid hits. The car still sounds great but from the passenger side there is a decent exhaust leak, which is pretty noticeable with the windows down at anything past 1/3 throttle.
-The DS1’s the car will be sold with are in need of tires, they all hold air and could get you home, but definitely wouldn’t pass inspection. A set of studded snows on 16" Contour Reps could be included for the right price as well.
-Finally, the front rotors seem to be slightly out of round. During light to moderate braking from highway speeds there is a noticeable shake in the steering wheel. This hasn’t been concerning enough for me to do anything about it.
As far as the mileage, at ~207,000 I just like to consider this baby a cougar, she only gets better with experience.

Time for pictures: (Note: The LTW’s the car is pictured with DO NOT come with the car, it will have plasti dipped DS1’s)

You can see the few small dents on the passengers rear quarter/door in the picture below.

Worst Rust

Cracked Paint from rolled fenders


This is the only picture I have right now, I will get more exterior, engine bay and interior this weekend.

All in all this car is dead reliable and has never left me standing on the side of a desolate road with my thumb three knuckles deep in my butt hole waiting to get cannibalized by the radiation people from The Hills Have Eyes. Yes it has check engine lights due to the exhaust which adds AT LEAST 140 wheel horse power, Yes it has been driven in a “spirited” manner (including a burn out or two to make sure the diff operated properly 1242), no the paint is not perfect, yes there is random dents from drunken fists and possibly a couple from smashed beer bottles…but with a good wash and wax the car is very presentable. Seriously, I made it sound way worse than it really is. This car drives very well and is very tight, I would drive it to Europe if I could.

-The car will come with all stock suspension/brake parts as well as stock headers and cat back (cats have been hacked for scrap). Stock Suspension has all new brake pads/rotors 3k miles before being removed for M3 parts.

-I also have Pirelli studded snow tires with 1 season on them that are on 16" Contour reps that can be included for the right price. These were unstoppable last winter on my '95 M3.

For interested parties; I am active duty military stationed in Jacksonville NC but will be driving the car back to Rochester November 28th and will be able to show the car until Sunday the 1st. Otherwise the car will stay in Rochester until I am home again the last half of december.

I am asking $4000 obo which I feel is fair given the overall condition and recent maintenance/modifications. I understand that modifications do not generally add value to a vehicle and I am not unreasonable to think my car is worth even what I have put into it, if you feel my price is too high please don’t shit on my thread. If you are actually interested, feel free to throw me an offer, no trades though.

Text or call anytime (585)490-1307.

Ad updated, car will come with Ground Control coilovers w/ camber caster plates, not the H&R race springs originally listed.

Also added pictures of the few rust spots on the car, will take more of interior today.

Quick bump due to adding current pictures of exterior/interior of the car. Also, as shown in the pictures, the car is now sitting on 16" Contour reps w/ the studded Pirelli snow tires (which will be included for the right price).

Another note, the car will be shown for the last two weeks in December (20th-3rd), then it will most likely be brought back to North Carolina with me to make it easier for me to sell it.

If anyone is interested feel free to shoot reasonable offers, no trades please (too many cars currenty!). Text or call anytime (585)490-1307

If there’s one thing that grinds my gears it’s a lack of information in a classified ad.

Agreed. This thread sucks.

Bump! Alex spent his 15 day military leave wrenching on this thing and it really is a fantastic car. Drives great, very reliable! Never left him stranded once, it’s an excellent car for the money! Buy it and do das heaters!