So I'm a fairly new driver who has some spare cash and doesn't feel like driving a beater. Searching around on Craigslist I found a listing for the aforementioned car, I'd link it but apparently I'm not allowed to.

From posting:

$6000 price tag (negotiable)
Black 1995 325iC
114k miles

Upkeep:

Goodyear touring/sport tires with about 70% tread life
Fresh alignment
Fresh tire rotation and balancing
Just completed a major service interval - always serviced by Redman's Gilroy Car Care
Brand new Bilstein heavy duty shocks and struts
New ceramic high performance brake pads
Convertible top recently treated and is watertight Additions:

Original wheels replaced with newer Z3 factory wheels
VDO voltmeter mounted to left of steering wheel
Clear lens turn signal and side marker lights
iPod hookup through powered FM modulator (charges and plays)
2 additional 12v accessory outlets
Replaced 2 rear speakers with higher quality units
1 year old high durability crystal clear rear plastic window. This is a problem on a lot of convertibles but this window is far better than factory and carries a slight tint
Light tint on side windows
Wheel locks
Additional drainage lines to insure removal of errant water from the convertible top well. This adds to the already existing factory drainage and results in a very dry well!
Blind spot mirrors are really helpful! Take It or Leave It...

Sorta subwoofer box in trunk powered by a 1500 watt Rockford Fosgate amp. While not a true subwoofer, it improves the sound dramatically
Palm Treo (or similar-sized device) mount just to right of radio
XM Roady II mount on interior transmission housing Sniggling Issues:

Leather seats worn and cracking (I will include 2 fabric seat covers for the front buckets). Photos do not show them since I want you to be able to see true condition of leather
OBC (On Board Computer) will sometimes falsely report Taillight Failure. This is a well known issue for which there appears to be no real permanent fix. MANY hours have been spent on this challenging little aggravation
Clear coat on right front of hood bubbled. Repaint is a temporary but very durable fix that can be noticed
Other minor paint fixes (see photos)
Inside the passenger door area below the latch on the body is an area of rust. Did not even see this until recently when the bubbling paint peeled away. We have gone over the rest of the car very carefully and there are no other areas of rust
When retracting the top, the lining must be pushed back slightly so that cover will close
Convertible roof liner has an insulation layer between the top and the liner that is slowly disintegrating. It shows up as brown flakes. This is another well known issue and is just something to deal with. Some folks have taken to simply vacuuming all the lining out but I have not gone that far!Me again:

(The regular specifications you can just Google)

I'm a beamer fan, and after reading through all the website the guy made about the car I feel like it's an excellent deal. Good MPG, (the car will be for local use, mostly just the 10 mile commute to college and getting around town) a style I like, and all the bells and whistles I could think of (iPod hookup? New sound system? Score!). While the mileage is a tad worrying, I know that BMW's are extremely reliable and the seller seems to have taken quite good care of it. I'll confess I'm not much of a gearhead though, so I'd like some opinions on if this is really the deal it looks like, and if it is then some pointers on what to look for when I go to check the car out would be appreciated.

EDIT: The CarFax number is WBABJ6325SJD44362 if you would like to check it out yourself.

Thanks in advance and pardon the long thread.

It's missing the most important piece of information about a bimmer: Manual or Automatic?

Sounds like a fair deal, though rust and paint bubbling are concerning. It could be an indicator of accident/repaint.

I don't think z3 wheels fit an e36 vert properly (offest issue). Somebody should confirm. If so then you could be prone to suspension issues.

There is a list of common items to check before purchase. I'm sure somebody will post it. It was posted in a very recent thread, so you might find it on the first page of this vert forum.

Type the address manually without the "http://" part so we can look at the pics.

Overall sounds like a good negotiable deal. I wouldn't worry about the mileage if the car's been taken care of (I've got a '94 w/160,000 and it runs beautifully). Best part, you can EASILY fix a lot of the minor problems yourself with help from the forums here.
:drink1

Really, whoever posted this put a lot of really useless $5 upgrade and not very much important stuff. I want to know when water pump was last replaced, if the radiator was ever replaced, manual/auto, daily driver or highway, garaged or no. Very importantly: has he put the car up in the air to check for rust? All he said was he looked at the outside. Rust from the door drainage holes is not unheard of and can be repaired.

BTW 114k miles is not "worrying". That's about average for what people look for when buying these. Maybe a little below average. It only worries people that are use to american/japanese cars.

Pay to have it independently inspected by a *euro* car shop ("pre-purchase inspection") before you consider purchasing it. You can use information that they provide you for haggling purposes.

I just picked up a 1994 325iC for $7500...I love it, by far the most fun convertible out there for the money, IMHO. I drove just about every convertible in that price range and the BMW was easily the winner (a '96 Z3 was close, but I'm 6'4" and it was just a tad too small for my tastes)
Mine has 105,000 miles and I consider that 'young'.
I've had it a week and can't keep the smile off my face.

As a price/condtion comparasion:
My issues seem to be normal, the lining of the top is flaking, the seat recliner on the passenger side needs a new gear..that's about it. Paint is excellent, interior and leather are near mint, 18 button OBC is working. No other issues/no accidents. MPG for the first week is 25.9....

Sorry, I forgot to mention it's an automatic which is just fine for me. Here is the site:

dempler.com/BMWWeb/index.htm

Thanks for the quick reply, I'll definitely shoot him an email asking the questions you guys have posted.

My issues seem to be normal..the seat recliner on the passenger side needs a new gear..

Easy fix. Be sure to disconnect the battery before removing the seats or you'll get an airbag light.

I don't think z3 wheels fit an e36 vert properly (offest issue). Somebody should confirm. If so then you could be prone to suspension issues.

Z3 wheels work great on an e36. I only wish I'd gone to 17" instead of settling for 16", so that I could have done the 330 brakes swapout.

if the brakelight failure code is the 'brake light circuit' error, it is an easy $15 fix of the brake light switch under the brake pedal...

Heed Treibefroh's advice and take it to an independent dealer or to BMW. Though the inspection charge may seem like alot of money, it can save you TONS of hassles later on. if you run after issues, it can break the bank!

do not hesitate to walk away from the deal either if you feel uneasy about it. there are lots of great BMW's in the sea...

that poor leather!
i don't know if dying and conditioning will save it...?

Well here's perhaps a better deal, if the guy is really telling the truth about rebuilding the engine. The slight power tradeoff from 325 to 318 is totally worth half the mileage and 1,200 less for me to scrounge up. Hell, it's 20 minutes closer than the other seller too.

sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/car/391627419.html

Just finished an email asking the same questions I asked of the previous guy, and if the seller has any larger pictures of the car.

So you think 318 vs. 325 is a slight tradeoff? Drive them! ;)

Then again, we can't really enjoy these cars (in sport mode, I get to speed limit in first gear, or so it seems) so you may well be right. :(

I can probably help you fix your new vert, if necessary, since we are in the same area. For PPI, I got a reasonable quote from Bavarian Professionals in Berkeley. $160 or so to go over your new car to ensure you aren't buying major problems.

The 325iC ad is very honest, but that paint bubbling stuff bothers me.

Based on the amount of detail in the 325iC ad, it is reasonable to conclude that all the major stuff has been taken care of. I'd call the shop who did the work and confirm, if necessary. That's probably why he isn't bothering to mention radiator, ltabs, rsms etc. Although, if the radiator is not new, you will have to get a new one or else eventually call a tow truck...

Don't forget to join BMW CCA before you buy the car. It pays for itself in one visit to a shop.

Do budget about $350 for a wind deflector. It'll make top down driving more enjoyable for your passengers. As for me, I love driving topless with or without one. It also helps to cut down on phone calls. "What's that noise?" "Oh, I have my top down. Let me call you back when I get off the freeway".