Preping for a test drive

[not2fast]

I'm going to look at a 318ti on Friday. It is 1995 with 88k on it. It is a one owner car. What questions should I be asking and what should I be checking?

[nick_hegel]

Just by talking to the owner you should be able to see how well they took care of it. I'm assuming it's stock, right??

[not2fast]

It is stock. I asked him what model it was but he had no clue.

It has leather, moonroof, and cd player. What does that sound like?

[aceyx]

sounds like active.

another indication of how well the car was maintained is the look of the garage. if it looks like a shop and there's an investment in tools, the car is worth it.
if it's full of things that should have been thrown away three years ago, or if the car isn't even stored in the garage, caveat emptor.

[tonymasone]

A few things that you might here or see that will concern you, more than likely, unless changed, the rear shock-mounts (rubber pieces of crap to most of us) will likely be broke, no worries it poses no immediate threat other than it might make a clicking or rattling noise when hitting bumps and slight performance loss. Also more than likely the air bag light will be on, from what I hear most people attribute that to a sensor that goes bad under the right front passenger seat. Just listen to here for any clicking when the engine is running, look at the exhaust when he revs, make sure you don't see any white puffy smoke. also check the oil, a lot of times just by the texture of the oil you can tell how well the engines doing (if it's dark and clumpy that's bad) but it could just be becase they haven't changed it in a while, wich is also a concern. best thing also you can do is just drive it get a feel that way, take it on the freeway, and experience those high revs everyone here loves lol. i know my auto runs around 3800 rpms at 80 mph and it seems like you need to shift. 88k miles is a baby for TI's, i bought mine with 115k on it and i abuse it daily and it has 130k on it now running completely fine.

[maherbaz]

is it an auto or a manual?

[aceyx]

i gather that not2 would get a standard.

[not2fast]

Manual transmission required.

[not2fast]

Well the car sold last night. I guess I will have to keep looking. If anyone knows of a 318ti or 325i sedan in NC or MN let me know.