Description
1998 S plate BMW 316i Compact auto, steel blue with silver grey interior. Factory air conditioning, sunroof, 1600 cc M43 with rear disc brakes. 105, 000 miles.
Four owner car, last elderly owner since 2002. Full book pack with stamped service book - annoyingly the wad of invoices were binned but you can see it was looked after and the stamps from the servicing garage are there. It still has the original BMW radio and unopened first aid kit and warning triangle in the boot.
So. I bought this from Mathewsons classic auction for a few shillings as either a source of increasingly rare E36 parts for mine or one to restore. I went the latter route as I thought it too good to pull apart. It started, ran and drove fine so I cracked on. Both front wings were knackered along with the grille panel so I fitted two new wings and nosecone and had them painted by Body Motor Works in Clay Cross. The sills are very good - the jacking points are intact. There was some minor scabbing on the rear arches (NOT rotten) and I have bare metalled these and repainted and lacquered them. I’ve Waxoyled the whole car. I’ve done minor things like replace the key buttons and stripped/ cleaned the headlights plus it’s got new gas tailgate struts.
Before I acquired it, the garage in Pocklington who have been servicing it had replaced the brake pipes with copper ones and fitted two new front calipers. It looked like it had discs and pads and a new exhaust not long before it was laid up as well. I removed the door cards to check and lubricate the notorious window regulators to find that new ones have been fitted. I have also fitted new rear springs, front brake backplates (both were rusty) and the thermostat as it took ages to warm up.
The rear tyres are Klebers with about 6 mm tread and the fronts are Goodyear or Firestone (can’t recall which) with the same.
It’s not a concours show pony but an extremely clean example that’s been well maintained in the past and I’ve rescued it.
I want £2200 for it. I’m sure you can buy one for less, and good luck to you!
