RE: SOTW: BMW 318is

[bonecrusher]

Had my 98 328i sport for three years, pulls like a freight train and handles impeccably..
So much car for the money but worth spending time to track down a good one..

[tps23]

my '97 323i, bought sept 2010 with 113k for £1350, since then i've done 10k from london to bradford and back regularly and aside from the water pump letting go (£204 all in) which is a known weakness it has been fault less, and in some respects is more fun to drive than my Focus ST

[johnpeat]

Am I right in thinking that E36 Compacts actually don't have the Z Axle rear suspension - so are, in effect, the earlier 3-series model (E28?) in terms of suspension and thus handling?

[Urban Sports]

OMG this takes me back to the mid 90's at 6th form regularly reading autotrader looking at and dreaming about these.

Funny they still excite me more than the prospect of driving my e90!

Great shed for once

[Harleyboy]

Just bought a '99 323i for a charity run through Europe in September. It's a one owner car with 180k and FBMWSH. It feels superb still - I was expecting it to bang, shake and rattle but it is smooth and responsive. My mate's 320d was faster but it still sounds good. New a/c compressor too so it's ice cold!

It's bog standard and some wheels would be nice - has the most basic 15's.

Hopefully it proves reliable!

[Colonial]

I had one as my first car. Cracking things great to drive and i still miss it.

[dan5oclocksmith]

I think a spoilerless E36 Coupe is still a fine looking machine.

Two flavours:



and



But I'd agree, the 6 pot makes a lot more sense most of the time.

[Kawasicki]

johnpeat said:

Am I right in thinking that E36 Compacts actually don't have the Z Axle rear suspension - so are, in effect, the earlier 3-series model (E28?) in terms of suspension and thus handling?

Here we go again. Yes you are correct, no z axle in the E36 compact. The compact has the same basic rear suspension design as the original (E30) M3 so it has superb handling and it's a real drivers car!

[Jonny_693]

clonmult said:

in the WRX its as much about power and electronics getting you everywhere.

What's these electronics you speak of then? The only electronics in a WRX are the windows, It is 100% mechanical grip.

[Jellymonster]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

That is absolutely delicious.

[GBB]

g3org3y said:

The styling of the car has aged very well. It's certainly a much younger looking car than one would think (also applicable to the Ford Ka). Ask a non car enthusiast an estimated age/value and you'll be surprised. The image has however struggled, cheap prices mean that 'undesirables' have managed to get hold of them and there are many badly modified/crappy examples.

A couple of years back I was chosing between an E30 cabrio and an E36 cabrio. In the end I decided on the E30, I preferred the retro/classic styling and associated image. Plus already having had 2 E36s (325 and 328) I wanted to find out what all the E30 fuss was about.

The E36 is a big step forward over the E30. A well maintained 1995-1996 car can still feel just as modern as a '10 plate Eurobox imo. Very underrated in BMW circles, especially the M3 (not as pure as the E30 blah blah etc).

Here's one of mine when I bought her.



Bought with 130K on it as I was doing next to no mileage, then I started Interim contract in Birmingham and put on 60K in 3 yrs without missing a beat. Had a couple bits changed and fitted a new water pump as a precaution when I had the belts done, plus a new top hose but that's about it other than having the rear arches fixed as well. It's a 328 and 40mpg is feasible if you drive it like a Granny, at motorways speeds then it's 30mpg. A better way to do miles in comfort at low cost I've yet to find.

I've now bought an E30 Convertible to go alongside it which is more of a classic but I'm now looking to sell the E30 as it's not getting the use it should and an E36 convertible would combine both cars into 1.

Interesting hearing people's comments on values - with 190K on it (and FSH) then mine's technically worth peanuts (circa £200 according to WBAC) but it performs as well as anything cost 10 to 20x that amount.

Indeed several of my kid's friends have asked "is this a new car?" - something of a compliment for both my car and the E36 as a whole I think.

[TomJS]

Jellymonster said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

That is absolutely delicious.

+1. My favourite BMW wheels, these or the 330i many spoke wheels like these



or these Jag wheels:

[clarkey328is]

TomJS said:

+1. My favourite BMW wheels, these or the 330i many spoke wheels like these



or these Jag wheels:

Jag wheels go on BMW's eh?

[eggbod]

Is it right that the 318is was built to comply with touring car rules at the time?

[Jw Vw]

These E36's still look good today and seem a cracking used buy. I want one, especially in 328I Sport guise

[JAM35F]

My old 328i touring is one of the few cars I regret selling.

[KM666]

You're always late in a 318!

Whats next a 1.6 focus? save yourself £500 and get 10% better feul consumption without having the embarrassment of coming out of corners the wrong way looking like a dirtbar dealer done good.

Im not sure which excites me more the repmobile performance or the insurance group 13 sting.

Is there a slower way of paying such a high insurance premium? Actually yes, the Proton Persona is group 12 for a 94bhp 1.6. Maybe a 318/persona group test is on the cards?

[Colonial]

KM666 said:

You're always late in a 318!

Whats next a 1.6 focus? save yourself £500 and get 10% better feul consumption without having the embarrassment of coming out of corners the wrong way looking like a dirtbar dealer done good.

Im not sure which excites me more the repmobile performance or the insurance group 13 sting.

Is there a slower way of paying such a high insurance premium? Actually yes, the Proton Persona is group 12 for a 94bhp 1.6. Maybe a 318/persona group test is on the cards?

Idiot.

[GBB]

eggbod said:

Is it right that the 318is was built to comply with touring car rules at the time?

IIRC Saloon yes (SA built and not to same quality), Coupe no.

[GBB]

JAM35F said:

My old 328i touring is one of the few cars I regret selling.

Lovely car, I'm sure I remember seeing it advertised for sale about a year or two ago and admiring it then.