BMW Issues?

2011abc

Hi, a little advice from some of the BMW experts please?I was looking at a 2.5 Litre BMW tonight ...1997 323i (170bhp/'single VANOS' owner said ) Car was a bit scruffy in places ...front left calliper seized (big job?) and most worryingly the following behaviour.
It would pull like a train in first and second gear (made a SLIGHTLY worrying metallic sound at about 4k rpm - but it did have an aftermarket air filter which looked filthy!)then in third gear on at least two occasions with the foot to the floor it would display the traction control light and loose power.
The owner then turned OFF the traction control and the issue disappeared.
Could this be VANOS related?Is it a run away scenario ?Its sooooo cheap Id stomach the tax considering the almost complete lack of depreciation.(cost 1500 euro ish)

EDIT Catalytic Converter looked a bit 'wet'?

Sobanek

2011abc wrote: »

Hi, a little advice from some of the BMW experts please?I was looking at a 2.5 Litre BMW tonight ...1997 323i (170bhp/'single VANOS' owner said ) Car was a bit scruffy in places ...front left calliper seized (big job?) and most worryingly the following behaviour.
It would pull like a train in first and second gear (made a SLIGHTLY worrying metallic sound at about 4k rpm - but it did have an aftermarket air filter which looked filthy!)then in third gear on at least two occasions with the foot to the floor it would display the traction control light and loose power.
The owner then turned OFF the traction control and the issue disappeared.
Could this be VANOS related?Is it a run away scenario ?Its sooooo cheap Id stomach the tax considering the almost complete lack of depreciation.(cost 1500 euro ish)

EDIT Catalytic Converter looked a bit 'wet'?

How do you think traction control works? It takes power away...
From the look of it it seems fine. Broken VANOS would mean knocking in the engine. If there was none then it'd be ok.

2011abc

Yeah but surely traction control would be more likely to engage in first or second gear not third ...dry roads during test drive ...

Sobanek

(deleted)

realdanbreen

Is €1500 not a tad dear for a '97 323i? What mileage is on it?

Sobanek

6 cylinders are going for large money nowadays.

Lex Luthor

Nikasil issue?

2011abc

Yeah I see on closer inspection theres a lot of them 6 cylinder 2L+ BMWs going for (well under) 2k ...maybe not as much of a bargain as I first thought.

TouchingVirus

Since you're a tad worried about it, pay a mechanic a few quid and take him with you to give the car a once-over/test drive. Peace of mind and then you can walk away if it's a dud

Anan1

2011abc wrote: »

Yeah I see on closer inspection theres a lot of them 6 cylinder 2L+ BMWs going for (well under) 2k ...maybe not as much of a bargain as I first thought.

It all depends on the actual car - you could easily spend €2000 on repairs to a rough one and it still wouldn't be mint.

Big Nasty

realdanbreen wrote: »

Is €1500 not a tad dear for a '97 323i? What mileage is on it?

Not if it's a coupe!

Coupe or 4dr OP?

2011abc

2 door...

Big Nasty

2011abc wrote: »

2 door...

A nice coupe is worth that money all day long IMO if it's straight, this one sounds a little dodge though. The engines on them do have a naturally raspy sound and if the cat has been changed to spurious it would add to same. Lovely car to drive if tight but get an experienced mechanic to check it out.

M-Tech spec?

2011abc

Yeah think so ...being a bit cagey dont want it bought from under me nose LOL

realdanbreen

As an aside, where would I get a manual for a '98 316i,without forking out in someplace like Halfords.

Notch000

the book depository.com , i got a Nissan one for 13E delivered thsi week, 28or38 in halfrauds, or your can get the E36 workshop ebook off ebay for a few pence

muckeyw

I'm a BMW mechanic any hassle give me a pm