BMW 3 Series E36 318is coupé (1992 to 1999)

The E36 was the third-generation BMW 3 Series, launched as a saloon in late 1990 and joined by a two-door coupé in 1992, a convertible in 1993 and the Touring and Compact in 1994. It was a big step on from the E30, with a wider, lower, more aerodynamic body and BMW's multi-link "Z-axle" rear suspension, and it became BMW's best-selling car of its era, with about 2.7 million built across all body styles.

The coupé shares its engineering with the saloon but has its own two-door body and styling. The 318is was the four-cylinder sports model: instead of the plain 318i's eight-valve engine it used a 16-valve twin-cam unit, first the 1.8-litre M42 and from 1996 the 1.9-litre M44, both making about 140PS. It cannot match a six-cylinder E36 for refinement or pace, but it revs eagerly, and with a manual gearbox it is a well-balanced, entertaining car.

Some later cars were ordered with M Sport specification, which added styling, larger wheels and firmer suspension. Today the 318is coupé is valued as an affordable, usable modern classic with rear-wheel drive and a good chassis. The catch is that many E36s were run cheaply, crashed, modified or used for track days, and a car that has been looked after is much harder to find than one that has not.

• Years built (E36 coupé): 1992 to 1999. BMW's own classic site gives a production window ending in April 1999 but also describes the coupé as discontinued in 1998; it was replaced by the E46 coupé.
• Body style: two-door coupé (the 318is name was also briefly used on a saloon).
• Engine to 1995: M42, 1,796cc four-cylinder, 16 valves, twin overhead camshafts, chain driven, about 136bhp (140PS) at 6,000rpm.
• Engine from 1996: M44, 1,895cc four-cylinder, 140PS (138bhp) at 6,000rpm, 180Nm at 4,300rpm, with a DISA variable-length intake.
• Gearboxes: five-speed manual, or four-speed automatic.
• Suspension: MacPherson struts at the front, multi-link Z-axle at the rear.
• Production: about 2.7 million E36s of all types, per BMWBlog. A reliable 318is coupé figure could not be confirmed.

• 1990: E36 saloon launched. Practical Classics lists the coupé from 1990 as well, but Hagerty and BMW's classic site place its launch in 1992.
• 1992: coupé launched, including the 318is with the M42 engine.
• 1993: airbags fitted across the range.
• January 1996: M44 replaced the M42 in the 318is.
• March 1997 on: M44 cars switched to electric cooling fans in place of the belt-driven viscous fan.
• Late cars: M Sport specification was offered. On the cars examined by the press it included a front spoiler, side skirts and 17in alloys, plus firmer sports suspension. Check an individual car's build data rather than relying on badges.
• 1998: a 318is saloon was sold for a very short time.

Bodywork and structure

Start with a history check, because many E36s have been crashed. The main rust areas are the front and rear wheel arches, the inner front wings and the welds around the suspension turrets, the sills and jacking points, the windscreen surround, door bottoms and the boot lid. Lift the rubber boot seal and inspect the seam where the inner and outer panels meet; Hagerty warns that rot here is an expensive repair. Look in the boot for damp, and check the area under the battery. Check the floor drain plugs behind the front seats. Look at the condition of both subframes.

Engine

Both engines need a cooling system in good order. Check for oil in the coolant, which is a warning sign on these 16-valve engines, and ask when the water pump was last replaced, since plastic impellers fail. Coolant hoses and pipes crack with age. The M42 is known for a deteriorating timing case profile gasket, a timing chain tensioner or guide that rattles around 2,000 to 3,500rpm, and a cracked exhaust manifold that sounds like a ticking tappet. The M44 can suffer sudden head gasket failure and cam cover oil seepage. Lumpy idle on either is often a sticking idle control valve or a perished breather or vacuum pipe. A smell of fuel can be a perished pipe behind the inlet manifold.

Gearbox and drivetrain

The gearboxes are durable. Feel for clutch judder when moving off, and a squeaking clutch pedal is common. The automatic noticeably blunts performance. Owners report loosening differential mounting bolts, which shows up as a clonk.

Suspension, steering and brakes

Rear subframe mounts wear and need checking; Hagerty suggests renewing them about every 40,000 miles or four years. Worn rear top mounts are common. The aluminium rear arms can be bent, so look for damage from jacks or tie-downs. Worn front lower control arm bushes cause a wobble at motorway speeds and uneven tyre wear. Check track rod ends, anti-roll bar links and bushes, and the power steering reservoir for leaks. M Sport cars ride more firmly, so expect a firmer feel but not knocks.

Electrics and interior

Test every window, as regulators, switches and relays fail. An erratic heater fan usually means a failed blower resistor. Door cards tend to come loose and headlinings sag, so look at the pillars and roof lining. Check the sports seats for bolster wear, and that the air conditioning or climate control works.

Identity and paperwork

Make sure the VIN on the V5C matches the car. Because M Sport parts were easy to fit later, ask for the original build specification from a BMW dealer, the club or an online VIN decoder to show that a car sold as M Sport was built that way. Check the MOT history online for recurring advisories on corrosion and suspension. A car of this age is not old enough for MOT exemption or the historic tax class.

Parts supply is good, with BMW, aftermarket suppliers and breakers all supporting the E36. Independent BMW specialists are common, and many E36 owners do their own work. The main UK club is the BMW Car Club of Great Britain, founded in 1952, whose website is given as bmwcarclubgb.uk (opens in a new tab).

• Is the car a genuine factory M Sport, and is there a build sheet or decoded VIN to prove it?
• When were the water pump, coolant hoses and, on an M42, the timing chain guides last renewed?
• Has the car ever been crashed, modified or used on track?
• Have the rear subframe mounts and front lower arm bushes been replaced, and when?
• Is there any rust in the boot seam, arches or jacking points?