maint questions about an m3 i am considering buying

its a 1998 with 169,XXX. looks and drives good but dies when its cold in neutral if you dont press the gas for like the first 30 secs its started and is very hard to get in first when cold. owner claims hes 99 percent sure the clutch isnt properly aligned, and claims it drives fine and grabs hard when its in gear and warmed up. does this seem believable? also said it needs one motor mount replaced is that a hard job?

Try posting your question in the main e36 subsection, nobody really goes on the e36 ///M3 section. You'll get a lot more help over there.

EH?

Check the idle control valve, it's probably clogged and dirty.

Have you driven this car? If the shifter won't go into gear, /// Oh heck, these cars are a bit deliberate when cold, but it shouldn't be hard. It sounds like a worn clutch, (at 160K miles and without records of clutch replacement) I start there. Since the owner said "aligned clutch"... THe only time you have to align the clutch is when you replace it. If you don't get it aligned, (splines on the clutch disk aligned and mated to the splines on the transmission input shaft) you can't get the transmission back on the engine... In other words, he's blowing smoke.


My advice,,, go look at several other E36 M3 for sale, get a feel for yourself what feels normal...

In my car, it's deliberate, not hard.