Greetings everyone!

[gregii]

Hello everybody! I'm pretty new to the European car world (been in the Japanese market for a few years) so play nice ^_^ . I hope to learn as much as I can from here, as well as TRYING to help out where I can (not a mechanic, but I can sort of think it out logically, if it helps :S ).

I own (well, recently bought) a 1998 BMW 318ti Sports from a dealership and i want to maximise it as much as i can. The car needs minor fixes:

- power window arm/s bent/bending, so I may need a new/used one (both, just in case )
- sunroof tilt not working (not 100% sure about it)
- first gear pops out infrequently... maybe new/used gearbox or new/reconditioned first gear or such
- when I win the lottery, interior can be made to look a little less gloomy :S
- retinting (bend power window arms = scratches on tints :'( )

But all in out, the ride is nice (well, for 200,000 kms O_O ... been serviced by their owers religiously)! Very cruisy car. I will read up on this and post up a tread if I still need help on it.

If you're out in the Sydney area, the number plates should be similar to my nickname (I can't think of any clever ones, nor will i try )

P.S: I not a forums person, so please send me a PM if I'm out of line in regards to etiquette or such other. I have read it (hence the sort of proper english grammer and spelling :P ), but just in case!

P.P.S: sorry for the essay!

[kyland]

Greetings, Gregii!

Hope you get those issues sorted...

Good luck!

[Black5]

Welcome Gregii,
Wouldn't statutory warranty cover some of those items?
Gearbox in particular.

[gregii]

Well, this was my first dealer car purchase. Since I bought it from a yard with Subaru's, he said it does not come with warranty. I thought that was standard with used cars. Little did I know >_< . I should really be patient and NOT buy out of impulse, no matter how good it is.

The gearbox issue is intermittent. It seems like if the car is warmed up (about half way of the gauge) it doesn't happen as often. I found out the first gear is worn away . Sort of good news is that I see a fair bit of compacts around, so that means there's bound to be more in the wreckers :P . Another idea could be I upgrade to a better engine, but I'm not sure what will fit in it. I mean, is it only 'compact' at the rear? If so, that means the front half is the same as any e36... which means I can upgrade the heart to a bigger one ^_^ . Well, that's what I am hoping... oh the possibilities

[zacman]

Welcome! Looks like a tidy compact.

Just FYI, my understanding is that used cars only come with a warranty if under 10 yrs old, and under 100,000kms or something. And the compact isn't the same size at the front end as every other e36.

[BavarianBaron]

welcome sir good to see another compact owner

[zacman]

Correction. So I have found out, from the A-pillar forward the compacts are the same as all other e36s.

[Black5]

Well, this was my first dealer car purchase. Since I bought it from a yard with Subaru's, he said it does not come with warranty. I thought that was standard with used cars. Little did I know >_< . I should really be patient and NOT buy out of impulse, no matter how good it is.

The gearbox issue is intermittent. It seems like if the car is warmed up (about half way of the gauge) it doesn't happen as often. I found out the first gear is worn away . Sort of good news is that I see a fair bit of compacts around, so that means there's bound to be more in the wreckers :P . Another idea could be I upgrade to a better engine, but I'm not sure what will fit in it. I mean, is it only 'compact' at the rear? If so, that means the front half is the same as any e36... which means I can upgrade the heart to a bigger one ^_^ . Well, that's what I am hoping... oh the possibilities

The S32 fits. Ask M3Ti.
Zacman is right. Statutory warranty is only on cars under 10 years old, my mistake. Sorry. Consumer protection laws still apply though, so don't give up on them.