RE: SOTW: BMW 318is
Discussion
Had mine about 8 months now, bought for £1200 it has full leather, climate and 6 CD changer in boot.
Its a 99 T reg so very late and had 107k miles. Its now done 117k and is still as tight as a drum and has never let me down despite doing 450 miles per week. Only downsize is the gearing which is very short. Fitti ghte final drive from a 6 pot version would solve that.
My A/C is leaking so won't regass which I will have to get fixed. Full black leather does get warm.
Something is wrong with the ABS, light is on constantly when parked along with the handbrake light even when ignition off.
All minor stuff and it saled through its MOT last month with only a fuse needing replacing.
I will run it until it dies or I can afford a nice E46 320d Coupe like this one.
Its a 99 T reg so very late and had 107k miles. Its now done 117k and is still as tight as a drum and has never let me down despite doing 450 miles per week. Only downsize is the gearing which is very short. Fitti ghte final drive from a 6 pot version would solve that.
My A/C is leaking so won't regass which I will have to get fixed. Full black leather does get warm.
Something is wrong with the ABS, light is on constantly when parked along with the handbrake light even when ignition off.
All minor stuff and it saled through its MOT last month with only a fuse needing replacing.
I will run it until it dies or I can afford a nice E46 320d Coupe like this one.
Had several E36 coupes, never had a four pot.
Had the 323i and 328i. 328i was a lovely car, great engine, plenty of torque and great overtaking ability.
323i is a good all-rounder, although the fuel difference between a 323i and 328i is barely noticeable.
My cousin has a P Reg 318iS in Black, bought it last year for £550, with long tax and test (albeit, with the usual E36 rust spot issues).
Engines are pretty reliable, and have good fuel economy. Even though they're not the quickest cars in the world, they're still an entertaining drive. More fun to drive than the equivalent Mark 3 Golf GTi's of that era.
RWD and a good chassis, are always a good starting point!
Very good SOTW - I've actually got a set of those BBS wheels lying around - didn't relaise they are now worth that much now!
Had the 323i and 328i. 328i was a lovely car, great engine, plenty of torque and great overtaking ability.
323i is a good all-rounder, although the fuel difference between a 323i and 328i is barely noticeable.
My cousin has a P Reg 318iS in Black, bought it last year for £550, with long tax and test (albeit, with the usual E36 rust spot issues).
Engines are pretty reliable, and have good fuel economy. Even though they're not the quickest cars in the world, they're still an entertaining drive. More fun to drive than the equivalent Mark 3 Golf GTi's of that era.
RWD and a good chassis, are always a good starting point!
Very good SOTW - I've actually got a set of those BBS wheels lying around - didn't relaise they are now worth that much now!
PetrolHeadSeb said:
I like this, although I've never owned an E36, I am a bit of a fan.
I gave it a 7, purely because I think you could get a reasonable 325 for shed money and I'd rather have the 6 pot.
If you look on eBay, local ads, gumtree, etc, there are plenty of 4 and 6 pots available between £500 and £700.I gave it a 7, purely because I think you could get a reasonable 325 for shed money and I'd rather have the 6 pot.
Avoid the 316i Coupe - too heavy and no power to pull it along!
va1o said:
I don't think the E36 has aged well, too many of them are driven by tools and abused with crap modifications and M3 badges etc.
Sadly so.
I think the E30 has started to enter modern classic status and the good ones are going to proper enthusiasts again rather than the big stereo brigade, but the E36 hasn't quite got there yet. Sad but true.
Personally I'd love a 318iS, but I'll take mine in E30 form please.
Richard-G said:
No. There are many and the post will be long. My point is, this car wasn’t THAT expensive back in the day, your post summed up the general consensus on ph regarding 4 pots, I.e. lumping the 1.8 4 pot in a hyundai lantra in with say a BDA.
I though i mentioned BMW in my original post??????????? isn't that why you posted BMW pictures??????BMW that until recently made 4 pots because they had too and it felt like that whenever you drove one....
I have no issue what so ever with other manufacturers units, some of them are exceptional mills.
It is a sensible Shed of the week this time, the only exciting thing about it is the unusual interior. That said, the E36 is a good looking car and pleasant to drive as a 318is. I prefer them to the E46 in almost every way. The E46 is irretrievably bland whilst these cars have some degree of style.
I've always been tempted by these E36 (323 or 328 though). Great for cruising and posing. They are very competant, precise and composed at any speed and on any roads. That's the problem I had though. They just soaked up everything with no drama and very little interest or driver involvement. Grip levels are far too high to explore safely. You always get used to straight line speed then want more. Precision and reasonable feedback were the only satisfying elements. With that I realised I was much better off with a fwd shopping trolley and something a little more exploitable and stimulating to drive.
Maybe I will change my mind one day. Still fancy an earlier beemer. For me the E30 is a much more rewarding, involving drivers car.
Which E30 spec is best?
Maybe I will change my mind one day. Still fancy an earlier beemer. For me the E30 is a much more rewarding, involving drivers car.
Which E30 spec is best?
mcdk2 said:
I've always been tempted by these E36 (323 or 328 though). Great for cruising and posing. They are very competant, precise and composed at any speed and on any roads. That's the problem I had though. They just soaked up everything with no drama and very little interest or driver involvement. Grip levels are far too high to explore safely. You always get used to straight line speed then want more. Precision and reasonable feedback were the only satisfying elements. With that I realised I was much better off with a fwd shopping trolley and something a little more exploitable and stimulating to drive.
Maybe I will change my mind one day. Still fancy an earlier beemer. For me the E30 is a much more rewarding, involving drivers car.
Which E30 spec is best?
E30 M3! But then you need over £15k for decent examples these days.Maybe I will change my mind one day. Still fancy an earlier beemer. For me the E30 is a much more rewarding, involving drivers car.
Which E30 spec is best?
E30 318iS is a good car. Put some decent suspension on it, few little engine mods, and it is a lot of fun to drive.
Good all-round package is the E30 325i Sport, M tech 2 Kit, in Manual, Full Leathers. Even these are fetching north of £4k for decent examples.
For the money, these E36 coupes are really good cars. They're reliable, pretty stylish, quick enough, and some have decent interiors and spec options.
I had two E36 318is's an M42 and an M44. Both brilliant.
My second one (a run out special with everything on) is the only car I regret selling. Not as powerful as the sixpots, but a lighter front end. Handled beautifully and still a shape I think stands the test of time given it's approaching 20 years old!
My second one (a run out special with everything on) is the only car I regret selling. Not as powerful as the sixpots, but a lighter front end. Handled beautifully and still a shape I think stands the test of time given it's approaching 20 years old!
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