Old 3 series... thoughts?

[mrflibbles]

hey all

Im thinking of picking up an old 316 or 318, probably around a H reg. Anyone have any thoughts on things i should look for / avoid?

What are the running costs like?

Cheers guys

MrF

[ScoobyZoom]

On pulling away check for clonking noises in the boot area. Usually means rear suspension is bollocksed. Very expensive too.

Plenty of BMW specialists will service them for sensible money too.

[mrflibbles]

Just reckoning up insurance costs which are very similar btwn the 318 and 320.

So 316, 318, 320 which should i go for? Does the 316 offer reasonable performance or would it be a bugger to live with?

[cosmoschick]

Personally I'd go for the 320 because of the 6-cylinder engine. My dad has a 318i and prefers the refined sound and overall smoother performance of my 320i (P reg). I haven't got any figures for E30s but the data below should be same.

E36 320i: bhp - 150 / 0-62 mph - 9.9
E36 318is: bhp - 140 / 0-62 mph - 10.2
E36 318i: bhp - 115 / 0-62 mph - 11.3
E36 316i: bhp - 102 / 0-62 mph - 12.7

Not a noticeable difference in fuel consumption.

Also owned an H reg 520i for a couple of years and never had anything go wrong with it mechanically (sold it with 110,000 miles).




>> Edited by cosmoschick on Saturday 1st November 13:48

[sohlman]

If you are going to buy an e30 there are three models which stand out and are far better than the rest. Either a 318is, a 325i sport or the e30 M3. they give 138BHP, 175BHP and 200-235BHP respectivly. All of them have uprated M suspension, will handle better and will hold values better. Other than the M3 insurance is very similar on all models.

[lotusnobles]

If you buy a 4 cylinder one watch out for the cam belts... BMW kept reducing the interval till it was down to a pathetic 35k or 3yrs if I recall ('95 on 3/5 series with M40 engine had belts replaced with a timing chain)

[beano500]

318iS - nice motor, (supposedly 137bhp, but enough for sideways on wet roundabouts), rwd fun to boot, cheap to insure, cheap to run, 35-40 mpg on long runs. Had an H-reg for nearly five years, had 142,000 on the clock when we parted and still going strong. Nothing major went wrong over 80,000 miles.

Just my tuppence-halfpenny.

[dontlift]

I have recently got myself an F reg 318 and apart from a few minor bits that I have now fixed it's a cracking winter hack

[Cerby_Mike]

Check carefully for rust, because they do.

Mike

[beano500]

Well, what car doesn't rust?





OK, OK anything not made of iron and steel et cetera.....

...but you know what I mean!

[gazzab]

beano500 said:

318iS - nice motor, (supposedly 137bhp, but enough for sideways on wet roundabouts), rwd fun to boot, cheap to insure, cheap to run, 35-40 mpg on long runs. Had an H-reg for nearly five years, had 142,000 on the clock when we parted and still going strong. Nothing major went wrong over 80,000 miles. Just my tuppence-halfpenny.

I also had an E30 318is for a long time. One of my fave cars ever owned. Really great car. Not fast but nippy. Very solid, handles well etc... If you can find a good one then go for it. It is a much better car than a 320i. A 325i sport is a good car. Especially if you find one with a 525e conversion (ie 327i).