HELP!!! Is BMW 325i '97 a good car?

[Gabrel]

I'm planning to buy a car and I saw this car in a nearby auto center. It is a 1997 BMW 325i. The color is green. I checked everything it was in good shape (I got some checklist from the internet). but i'm just a teen. 17 years old actually, but i'm really into cars like seriously into cars. I was thinking if this is okay as my first car. and also may I know statistics of fuel consumption? THANK YOU!

PS:

I also prefer to buy used car, because i'm planning to overhaul it. From head to toe. That's why. It's like modifying this whole thing. and any other car suggestions ranging from 200-350k? Thanks.

AND ALSO I MINIMIZED THE PRICE RANGE BECAUSE OF THE MONEY THAT I WILL NEED FOR MODIFICATION.

[vinj]

It is a good car, as long as the previous owner took care of it. Kung binahala, then expect a lot of headaches and wallet draining work. Don't take what you see at the car center as a good sign of the condition of the car as they may have concealed it's real condition by cleaning and shining up the car.

My dad had a 1998 E36 320i long ago and it was a joy to drive on highways and mountain roads. Regular maintenance was relatively affordable (we would spend around 10K to 12K every 10,000kms or so with BMW Prestige Cars service back in the early 2000s) but do expect parts to be pricier now, especially for the non-consumables. The good thing is there are a good number of 3rd party service centers and parts stores, and the ease of internet purchases, to help you with that. Best to try inquire with BMW groups/club now to research more since i'm not too familiar with what's the real deal nowadays.

If it is a project car then that would be better (meaning you have another vehicle to drive on a daily basis while you are working on the E36).

Research more before putting down the money for it and try to find a good mechanic who is familiar with the car to take a look and put it up on lifters before deciding just as well.

[foresterx]

get an SiR, according to another thread here SiR is the fastest car ever made.:bwahaha:

[Ry_Tower]

get an SiR, according to another thread here SiR is the fastest car ever made.:bwahaha:

Uy 'wag ganyan, hindi ka-level ng Sir ang BMW!!! :rofl:

[foresterx]

to be serious don't get one unless you know the previous owner and you're absolutely sure that it was well maintained or else sobra sakit sa ulo yan. my suggestion for buying a 2nd hand car that old, get something cheap to maintain and known to be reliable. don't worry about the speed of your car because no matter what you do to it, if it's that old, most modern cars these days can beat it in any kind of race and in stock form..

[niky]

For a first time owner and budding modifier, a more common car would be easier to work on. Preferably one with a manual transmission.

An SiR isn't actually a bad choice, but sort of out of budget, and chances of finding an unmolested one are slim.

Other candidates within the price range with moddability, likely first-generation Jazzes, though the most desirable one, the 1.5 MT, is very rare secondhand... don't get the CVTs. For a first car, a first-gen Jazz can teach you a lot about driving. It's light, nimble, stable and a joy to drive. Only weak spots are the sucky electric power steering (sucky in terms of feel) and the suspension bushings.

Secondhand Miata might just fall into your price range at this point... but the local supply is very old and will require lots of work. Fantastic cars to drive, but local ones have the detuned 90 hp engine, so they're going to be slower than a Corolla before modification. Definitely more fun, though.

I'd suggest a Lynx RS, but that's just me. Fantastic steering... Bimmer-like, actually... and it's nearly just as quick as an SiR, and better loaded. But the engine is a limitation in terms of modification (unless you turbo... but that's not for newbs). For a first-time driver, though, that's not a bad thing... you can focus on the parts of the car that actually matter... suspension, brakes, etcetera.

-

In the 200-350 price range, there are tons of cars you can work on.

"Classic" Minis... 250k-350k.... (lovely little cars)... since there are 93' and up models available, these will not be in bad shape and can be driven right after being bought...
VW Beetles... 50k-150k... ...huge enthusiast support group.
89-92 Corollas... 100k-150k... (fantastic variety of modifications... 4AGE, 4AGZE, 4AGE 20V... etcetera... available)
Sentras... best bet is the 98 B14... 150k... add 60k for an SR20DE swap, or buy a swapped car for 150-200k.
Toyota Echos... 250k+

or even 70's Japanese and European sedans like the Corolla Sprinter or Ford Escort... starting at 10-50k... but these will require a LOT of work... and will spend a lot of time in the garage before they're in running condition. I'd suggest a Nissan 510, but these are super rare and you might spend up to 100k just to buy one in crappy condition.

[renzo_d10]

Since youre into modifications id suggest to stay away from euro cars unless you have a VERY deep pocket

Jap cars seem to be more suitable. Not necessarily the SIR lol. Jap cars has cheaper parts, & more abundant. Plus you can have a long list of modifications available

[Gabrel]

get an SiR, according to another thread here SiR is the fastest car ever made.:bwahaha:

Yes, I'm familiar about how fast it is. But, honestly, i'm a bit different above those normal teenagers who likes drags and stuffs. I'm into VIP Styles. I want my car to look executive and elegant.

[Gabrel]

to be serious don't get one unless you know the previous owner and you're absolutely sure that it was well maintained or else sobra sakit sa ulo yan. my suggestion for buying a 2nd hand car that old, get something cheap to maintain and known to be reliable. don't worry about the speed of your car because no matter what you do to it, if it's that old, most modern cars these days can beat it in any kind of race and in stock form..

But like what I said, i'm not into the speed, i'm into the elegance. Any other suggestions?

[Gabrel]

The car I was looking at is a '97 320i e36.