E36 running costs are moderate and the car is a joy to own on a budget — parts are still cheap and plentiful, and it's about as DIY-friendly as a modern-ish BMW gets. But it's a 25-plus-year-old car, so you do need a maintenance budget for the cooling refresh, bushings and seals that age brings.
Rough project figures, DIY and parts-only (they vary widely — get quotes for your own market)
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