BUYING 316i Couple 159k miles (yes or no?)

[Bimzmad]

hello, i am new to this site and a first time BMW buyer. i want to start on a 316i because of my age for insurance i only have a budget of around up to £700 dependent on the millage . which is not much but i believe you can find the right car. i have found a beautiful black 316i couple but has no service history and millage is 156,000. the car looks like it has been looked after but i dont know about the engine because i am goig to look at it tomorrow but i was wondering if it was worth going to look at it anyway. the owner said he was selling it because he wants to go back to his country . it does not have any road tax but is going in for its 1 year MOT tomorrow . i dont have much money and cant really afford for anything to go wrong so im quite worried in the purchase. i need it to atleast last a few months so i can rebuild the engine but will it last me? any tips , advise more then welcome please help me out as i dont know what to do

[VMZ]

How did you go with the inspection?

My car first E36's history was spotty and the only trouble I have had is one sensor go bad in 5 years of owning it.

It would be best to get a mechanic to look it over for you. Hard to tell what it's like over the internet. That being said if the engine seems healthy there's no reason you shouldn't get the few months out of it that you need.

[Bimzmad]

hey thank you for showing interest and helping me with the issue. yeah the car seemed fine but there was a groaning noise to it so it kind of put me off? word around for me was that that noise could be the crank? might be wrong.. also i found another one but he said it starts but takes long to start any issues with these cars taking long or hard to start? thnx for the reply. mert

[VMZ]

You're right to be put off. Any out of the ordinary noises are more often than not, a bad thing.

Groaning could be many different things. I'd be avoiding the car, more so if it is the crank like you suggested.

Hard to start is usually a fuel pressure issue. Fuel pump on it's last legs or regulator issue.

If you can't find a healthy one, I would be leaning towards the hard to start one.
Simpler to troubleshoot and fix if it becomes a problem.