Just bought my 1st M3

Hi guys as said I have just bought my 1st M3 this past Saturday. It’s a 1998 E36 M3 silver in colour.

I was very excited but over the past few days I have been noticing a few problems and now I’m getting really scared.

Problem 1: The car sounds like it has a super charger bolted on to it. It makes that sort of noise when idling or driving. What I have noticed is when I press the clutch in, the sound disappears.

Problem 2: The car sometimes makes a ticking sort of sound sometimes at low revs or idling.

Problem 3: When driving sometimes I get a high pitched squealing type of sound coming from the big air vent in the centre of the dash. It doesn’t matter what speed or rpm I’m at. It can happen whether the aircon is on or off. But I noticed when it does happen and if I put the auto de-mister on, the pitch gets higher and then disappears.

Problem 4: Sometimes if the car has been unlocked for a while and I start it. It starts and then dies immediately. What I have noticed is if I get out the car lock it and unlock again it starts and is normal again.

Other than these issues the car drives well.

Now I know the agents are going to be very expensive. Is there any reputable BMW mechanics in the Centurion area preferably or JHB? I don’t want to have to rob a bank to get the car sorted :cry:
 

Jon328i

New member
change your viscus thats your 1st problem .the noise coming from the dash is just the fan can be replace at low cost . the rest needs a mac !!! call bootie
 
Jon328i said:
change your viscus thats your 1st problem .the noise coming from the dash is just the fan can be replace at low cost . the rest needs a mac !!! call bootie

This is my 1st BMW. What is a viscus? :fencelook:

And how much is it to replace the fan?
 

Fordkoppie

///Member
I think this is most likely the same car i looked at a few months ago.
Does it have Xenons, grey interior and rear PDC?
 

Carbon

///Member
Coupe Turbo GP said:
Jon328i said:
change your viscus thats your 1st problem .the noise coming from the dash is just the fan can be replace at low cost . the rest needs a mac !!! call bootie

This is my 1st BMW. What is a viscus? :fencelook:

And how much is it to replace the fan?

He is talking about the viscous clutch that drives you radiator fan and looks like this (its right behind your radiator fan) this is an easy fix.
product64b.jpg


Replacing the blower fan for your AC is quite a job. But it can be done cheaply if you want to DIY. Here are the fans for sale on ebay (from $30 - $320 for real bmw part)
E36 M3 Blower Motors ebay

Here is a DIY guide to replacing the motor. You could do it from this for R500 easily if you want. E36 Blower relplacement DIY

Regards
Jacques
 
Fordkoppie said:
I think this is most likely the same car i looked at a few months ago.
Does it have Xenons, grey interior and rear PDC?

Correct :fencelook:

Cyclone101 said:
Coupe Turbo GP said:
Jon328i said:
change your viscus thats your 1st problem .the noise coming from the dash is just the fan can be replace at low cost . the rest needs a mac !!! call bootie

This is my 1st BMW. What is a viscus? :fencelook:

And how much is it to replace the fan?

He is talking about the viscous clutch that drives you radiator fan and looks like this (its right behind your radiator fan) this is an easy fix.
product64b.jpg


Replacing the blower fan for your AC is quite a job. But it can be done cheaply if you want to DIY. Here are the fans for sale on ebay (from $30 - $320 for real bmw part)
E36 M3 Blower Motors ebay

Here is a DIY guide to replacing the motor. You could do it from this for R500 easily if you want. E36 Blower relplacement DIY

Regards
Jacques

So this will sort out problem 1 for sure?
 

Carbon

///Member
Coupe Turbo GP said:
So this will sort out problem 1 for sure?

No, I can't say for sure because I need to hear it to know where the sound is coming from. It's a bit hard to diagnose a problem from a post. But it is a known problem on older e36s so it is most likely your problem.

Hope this helps.

Regards
Jacques

 

Fordkoppie

///Member
Coupe Turbo GP said:
Fordkoppie said:
I think this is most likely the same car i looked at a few months ago.
Does it have Xenons, grey interior and rear PDC?


Hi Fordkoppie. Did you pick up the same problems?

Yes. And problem 1 was the gearbox on that particular car I looked at (and the dealbreaker for me)
 
Fordkoppie said:
Coupe Turbo GP said:
Fordkoppie said:
I think this is most likely the same car i looked at a few months ago.
Does it have Xenons, grey interior and rear PDC?


Hi Fordkoppie. Did you pick up the same problems?

Yes. And problem 1 was the gearbox on that particular car I looked at (and the dealbreaker for me)

So you say its a gearbox problem? :argh:
 

ZED1

Member
I wont comment on any of the issues as i prob know as much you do! So rather i will concentrate on the positive and say CONGRATULATIONS on your 1st M!!! Once the issues are sorted your going to have some good times! Hope you get sorted soon:thumbs:
 
ZED1 said:
I wont comment on any of the issues as i prob know as much you do! So rather i will concentrate on the positive and say CONGRATULATIONS on your 1st M!!! Once the issues are sorted your going to have some good times! Hope you get sorted soon:thumbs:

Thanks buddy. Just hope its not going to cost an arm and a leg to repair.
 
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