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The BMW Range
3 Series
E36
Potential E36 owner in need of help =)
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<blockquote data-quote="shaunng" data-source="post: 408245" data-attributes="member: 19598"><p>Gee thanks guys!</p><p></p><p>geoffreylee: Looked at the ad, love the car but i think the owner might be asking for a rather high price.</p><p></p><p>I checked out a 325i auto today, loved it although the interior is a little dirty. But, after two rounds of test driving the gearbox stopped changing gears again lolz!</p><p></p><p>I think this gearbox failure is a pretty common problem and being an ex-TypeR owner i love revving the engine till it redlines. So, guess I would have to get a manual (FC benefits here too!). Now it all boils down to 325i and 328i.</p><p></p><p>A few more questions though,</p><p></p><p>1) What is the difference between M50 and M52 engines? I know about the VANOS inclusion post 1993 in the M50 engines. A close mechanic friend of my dad told me that M50s are cast iron and M52s are aluminum. I'm guessing he was telling me about the engine block. Nevertheless, what are the implications if the engine block/pistons are made from aluminum? From the tone the mechanic told me about the aluminum block, I'd take it that M52s are shite.</p><p>2) What kind of gearbox should I be looking at assuming I'm going for a 328i? Anything in particular that I should be aware about? LSD? Non LSD? Any particular brand? Gear ratio? Or the standard gearbox will do?</p><p></p><p>Thanks again!</p><p></p><p>EDIT: I actually read up on the M50 and M52 more and found out about the aluminum sleeves around the pistons of M52 engines that eroded due to high sulfur content in fuel. However, this mainly happened in the US and UK. Maybe this explains why almost all of the 328is I've tested has this greasy sludge attached to the top of the engine near the hole you put engine oil in. Is this sludge associated to the aluminum piston sleeve I mentioned above? Or is this due to poor maintenance in Malaysia?</p><p></p><p>EDIT yet again: Gah! Forgot something else.. Considering that it would be nigh improbable to crawl under cars to look at the engine type every time I test a car, is there any other way to see what engine the car is having besides looking at the vehicle registration card? Any visual details that I should be aware of? ie: M50s have a cute bunny tail attached to the pulley cover, M52s have horns sticking out from under the intake manifold etc.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="shaunng, post: 408245, member: 19598"] Gee thanks guys! geoffreylee: Looked at the ad, love the car but i think the owner might be asking for a rather high price. I checked out a 325i auto today, loved it although the interior is a little dirty. But, after two rounds of test driving the gearbox stopped changing gears again lolz! I think this gearbox failure is a pretty common problem and being an ex-TypeR owner i love revving the engine till it redlines. So, guess I would have to get a manual (FC benefits here too!). Now it all boils down to 325i and 328i. A few more questions though, 1) What is the difference between M50 and M52 engines? I know about the VANOS inclusion post 1993 in the M50 engines. A close mechanic friend of my dad told me that M50s are cast iron and M52s are aluminum. I'm guessing he was telling me about the engine block. Nevertheless, what are the implications if the engine block/pistons are made from aluminum? From the tone the mechanic told me about the aluminum block, I'd take it that M52s are shite. 2) What kind of gearbox should I be looking at assuming I'm going for a 328i? Anything in particular that I should be aware about? LSD? Non LSD? Any particular brand? Gear ratio? Or the standard gearbox will do? Thanks again! EDIT: I actually read up on the M50 and M52 more and found out about the aluminum sleeves around the pistons of M52 engines that eroded due to high sulfur content in fuel. However, this mainly happened in the US and UK. Maybe this explains why almost all of the 328is I've tested has this greasy sludge attached to the top of the engine near the hole you put engine oil in. Is this sludge associated to the aluminum piston sleeve I mentioned above? Or is this due to poor maintenance in Malaysia? EDIT yet again: Gah! Forgot something else.. Considering that it would be nigh improbable to crawl under cars to look at the engine type every time I test a car, is there any other way to see what engine the car is having besides looking at the vehicle registration card? Any visual details that I should be aware of? ie: M50s have a cute bunny tail attached to the pulley cover, M52s have horns sticking out from under the intake manifold etc. [/QUOTE]
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