Just got my new 1996 black 318ti

[sacred_318ti]

I just got my 1996 318ti with 52k miles for 8.9k its black on grey with auto and cd changer. everything seems to be workin really really well but today when i got into the car and drove about to 35 mph there was a slick scratching/clicking sound coming from my odometer, and as i accelerate more it got alil louder, but onece i go under 30 there is no noise. please help its frustrating me also, did i get ripped for the price?

[tastade]

Price sounds fair, I just paid $8.5k for a 1995 ti Club Sport with 100k miles. As for the speedo noise, it could be a speedo cable (if the BMW uses one, which I don't think they do, it is probably just a sensor). It could also be something else, are you sure it is coming from the odometer or dashboard? Could it have something to do with the engine belts or transmission? The odometer is digital isn't it? I know mine is, so the odometer motor wouldn't be making any noise since it doesn't have one. How loud is it? I don't know much about these cars yet as I have had mine less than a week!

[tipsyaj]

Check to see if your water pump has been changed. I've got a 96ti with 53,000 miles on it, I bought it last year. What you're saying sounds similar to what happened to me. There was a screeching sound coming from what I thought was the a/c, but it was actually the water pump. I guess a lot of TI's have had to have the water pump replaced. Be sure to look into it asap because if it goes out on you while you're driving, it'll cost you more.

[2ndBimmer]

Faulty water pumps have been an issue on e36's. It hasnt happened to me, but ive read that its a 100 to $200 job.

[J!m]

The common E36 water pump failure is in the earlier six cylinder cars where the impeller is plastic, and can break and/or come off the shaft so that it doesn't spin any longer. Also on these cars, the water neck is plastic as well, and this part is prone to failure. BMP among others have an aluminum replacement for the neck. Later sixes did not have the problem, as the factory changed pumps.

Any component on any car can fail, but I have not heard enough about the four cylinder water pumps failing to call it 'cronic' on the fours.