>>13724191Assuming you are USDM, they have a bored and stroked M50/52 with cams. The motor will be just as reliable as a commoner 325/328.
BMW cooling systems don't like to be ignored, go with a metal end tank radiator, replace all the hoses and get the plastic impeller water pump out of there.
Bushings almost always need attention. RTABs (rear trailing arm bushings) are the biggest deal, if the PO was driving around with these gone they will damage the body. Its a good idea to weld in reinforcement plates just to be safe.
There is tons of info on bimmerforms.
All in all they are great cars. I did 7 750 mile drives in mine this summer it was great. There really is something special to having a comfy but very capable small car under you. I am on my second one and I intend to keep this particular one for as far out as I can see.
I bought it for 6k with a theft salvage title with 140k on it. 8k for 160k seems like a possibly crappy deal, but it depends what maintenance has been done. If it literally needs nothing and is in great shape, I would think about it. Maybe get the guy down to 7k.
