e36 318is vs 328is for daily drive
Discussion
I need a new daily drive and love the e36 but petrol is high and was thinking saving money on running costs is a good idea. Originally thinking a 328i sport but is the extra mpg worth considering the 318is? Thanks guys
edited to add : is there anything else I should consider?
edited to add : is there anything else I should consider?
Edited by The Lukas on Thursday 29th April 09:55
The Lukas said:
I need a new daily drive and love the e36 but petrol is high and was thinking saving money on running costs is a good idea. Originally thinking a 328i sport but is the extra mpg worth considering the 318is? Thanks guys
edited to add : is there anything else I should consider?
What sort of budget, running costs, mpg, pace, speed, handling, fun, seats, journey length and type and driving style?? edited to add : is there anything else I should consider?
Edited by The Lukas on Thursday 29th April 09:55
Seriously I can't see a 318, even an IS really being all that comparable to a 328i Sport.
Both are very much "regular" cars though designed for daily use, so I can't see why they should be an issue.
Things to watch is rust and condition, lots of ropey ones. And they can be pricey to maintain. I had a 318 last year, horrid interior. The previous owner had spent a fortune replacing the suspension, brakes, bushes and track rod ends.
If you buy one with that sort of stuff done, then no worries. If you buy one and it needs all that doing, then expect it to cost a fair few ££££ to sort.
But to be fair, this could happen with most cars, but the E36 does seem quite good at it.
As for mpg, well many with 328's claim good mpg, over 30 average. I'm a little more skeptical though, because if you do a Google on it you'll get far more variance.
Driving style and journey type will make a big difference IMO, so if you budget for more like 25-28mpg and if it then does better you are quids in.
The 318IS should be more frugal, but again this will depend on how and where you drive it.
My 318i was managing 33mpg, which I was highly impressed with as I was ragging it everywhere in it.
300bhp/ton said:
The Lukas said:
I need a new daily drive and love the e36 but petrol is high and was thinking saving money on running costs is a good idea. Originally thinking a 328i sport but is the extra mpg worth considering the 318is? Thanks guys
edited to add : is there anything else I should consider?
What sort of budget, running costs, mpg, pace, speed, handling, fun, seats, journey length and type and driving style?? edited to add : is there anything else I should consider?
Edited by The Lukas on Thursday 29th April 09:55
Seriously I can't see a 318, even an IS really being all that comparable to a 328i Sport.
Both are very much "regular" cars though designed for daily use, so I can't see why they should be an issue.
Things to watch is rust and condition, lots of ropey ones. And they can be pricey to maintain. I had a 318 last year, horrid interior. The previous owner had spent a fortune replacing the suspension, brakes, bushes and track rod ends.
If you buy one with that sort of stuff done, then no worries. If you buy one and it needs all that doing, then expect it to cost a fair few ££££ to sort.
But to be fair, this could happen with most cars, but the E36 does seem quite good at it.
As for mpg, well many with 328's claim good mpg, over 30 average. I'm a little more skeptical though, because if you do a Google on it you'll get far more variance.
Driving style and journey type will make a big difference IMO, so if you budget for more like 25-28mpg and if it then does better you are quids in.
The 318IS should be more frugal, but again this will depend on how and where you drive it.
My 318i was managing 33mpg, which I was highly impressed with as I was ragging it everywhere in it.
300bhp/ton said:
The 318IS should be more frugal, but again this will depend on how and where you drive it.
My 318i was managing 33mpg, which I was highly impressed with as I was ragging it everywhere in it.
Once, on a long journey, I managed to get 40mpg out of the 318iS.My 318i was managing 33mpg, which I was highly impressed with as I was ragging it everywhere in it.
But that was an anomaly, as most of the time regardless of how I drove it, I got around 33mpg - ragging it, driving gently, 33mpg average.
By all accounts a 328 is only a few mpg different, and servicing costs aren't that much more either. And that 2.8 engine is pretty sweet .....
It will be used for my daily commute which is about 13miles each way over a selection A and B roads. I may well use it for long motorway runs from time to time.
If the average difference in mpg is about 5, then it may not be worth worrying about. I think there is £300 - 400 between the two as regards annual fuel costs.
If the average difference in mpg is about 5, then it may not be worth worrying about. I think there is £300 - 400 between the two as regards annual fuel costs.
I looked at tons of BMWs and the mpg difference is so small between the 4 and 6 cylinder cars that unless you REALLY REALLY need to save fuel (in which case you should probably be buying a diesel) there is very little point than buying the best 328 or 330 you can source in budget.
And if I am talking s
te I don't care this is exactly how I explained it to SWMBO and she agreed a 330 would be ok 
And if I am talking s
te I don't care this is exactly how I explained it to SWMBO and she agreed a 330 would be ok Borrowed a friend's 318iS for a weekend motorway trip, decent progress all the way, got 30mpg, so not amazing. They are very accomplished if you get a cared-for one though, didn't really think it lacked power for normal driving, but out of town a 328i's economy isn't going to be much different.
I've not had a 328 but my 318 (compact) is not as frugal as you might expect - c.32-33mpg, down to 28-29 over winter. Doesn't seem to make much difference if you drive like a granny.
My reasonable expectation for a 328 would be 25-28mpg, anything more than that would be a bonus.
Interior comfort is good - driving position is fine, seats comfy and the position of major controls is all rather intuitive. Don't expect "modern" levels of interior trim quality or toys and you won't be disappointed. If you care about that sort of thing then look elsewhere.
I've found running costs to be very low - maintenance is cheap, insurance is cheap (for me), it's been very reliable and impressively resilient.
My reasonable expectation for a 328 would be 25-28mpg, anything more than that would be a bonus.
Interior comfort is good - driving position is fine, seats comfy and the position of major controls is all rather intuitive. Don't expect "modern" levels of interior trim quality or toys and you won't be disappointed. If you care about that sort of thing then look elsewhere.
I've found running costs to be very low - maintenance is cheap, insurance is cheap (for me), it's been very reliable and impressively resilient.
The Lukas said:
It will be used for my daily commute which is about 13miles each way over a selection A and B roads. I may well use it for long motorway runs from time to time.
If the average difference in mpg is about 5, then it may not be worth worrying about. I think there is £300 - 400 between the two as regards annual fuel costs.
In that case then I see no reason for not getting a 328i over a 318IS. The 6 pot will be smoother, sound better, be more fun, produce a bigger grin, have more kudos and be quicker.If the average difference in mpg is about 5, then it may not be worth worrying about. I think there is £300 - 400 between the two as regards annual fuel costs.
As for alternatives, well there are loads, but it depends what you are after. The e36 somehow manages to be quite small on the outside, feel small to drive yet still have plenty of people space and a decent boot.
I actually didn't mind mine at all, it drove quite well and was quite compliant on B roads too. The steering was a little boaty as was the low speed handling and steering rack a little slow. I found it handled much better if you drove it hard, sort of grab it by the scruff of the neck style driving. But it was certainly a lot nicer car to steer than most hatchbacks.
And in many ways I actually wouldn't mind a 328i as a daily.
But if you want to look at other cars then depending on budget things like a DC2 ITR, MG ZS180, Honda Accord Type R, Subaru Impreza WRX/Turbo 2000, Celica GT-Four, MR2 MKII could well be things to look at.
LayZ said:
Borrowed a friend's 318iS for a weekend motorway trip, decent progress all the way, got 30mpg, so not amazing. They are very accomplished if you get a cared-for one though, didn't really think it lacked power for normal driving, but out of town a 328i's economy isn't going to be much different.
Yep, did a trip to Liverpool airport at weekend - light traffic and cruised at same speed as most traffic and very comfortably over 30 in a manual 328. Zeroed mpg before as a friend was paying petrol ( going to collect a car ) My E36 M3 is showing 25mpg on the computer and what I am paying at the pumps seems to tally. If your commute is only 13 miles each way I wouldn't even bother thinking about fuel. If you pick a car that needs new pads or discs you will have lost a months worth of fuel in one go?
I would go for one that needs no work doing at all.
I would go for one that needs no work doing at all.
300bhp/ton said:
The Lukas said:
It will be used for my daily commute which is about 13miles each way over a selection A and B roads. I may well use it for long motorway runs from time to time.
If the average difference in mpg is about 5, then it may not be worth worrying about. I think there is £300 - 400 between the two as regards annual fuel costs.
In that case then I see no reason for not getting a 328i over a 318IS. The 6 pot will be smoother, sound better, be more fun, produce a bigger grin, have more kudos and be quicker.If the average difference in mpg is about 5, then it may not be worth worrying about. I think there is £300 - 400 between the two as regards annual fuel costs.
As for alternatives, well there are loads, but it depends what you are after. The e36 somehow manages to be quite small on the outside, feel small to drive yet still have plenty of people space and a decent boot.
I actually didn't mind mine at all, it drove quite well and was quite compliant on B roads too. The steering was a little boaty as was the low speed handling and steering rack a little slow. I found it handled much better if you drove it hard, sort of grab it by the scruff of the neck style driving. But it was certainly a lot nicer car to steer than most hatchbacks.
And in many ways I actually wouldn't mind a 328i as a daily.
If you want to waft, it'll waft too.
Hence, it's a fantastic all rounder in terms of speed, handling, running costs looks and space. Hell I even brought mine back again!
I looked into this a good number of years ago. I ended up buying a 328i on the basis that the extra performance/sound was worth paying for, and it's not really that much less economical, due to the fact that you'll have to gun the 318i far harder to get it moving along at any real pace.
neil_bolton said:
Blimey. I actually agree you for once, you're indeed very right. It needs grabbing by the scruff of the neck and mercilessly throwing down a road.
If you want to waft, it'll waft too.
Hence, it's a fantastic all rounder in terms of speed, handling, running costs looks and space. Hell I even brought mine back again!
I don't like the E36, I don't like older cars unless they are classics, I hate the idea of buying high mileage cars, I want a sports car or at the very least a drop top......If you want to waft, it'll waft too.
Hence, it's a fantastic all rounder in terms of speed, handling, running costs looks and space. Hell I even brought mine back again!
So tomorrow after work I am off to look at a 140,000 mile, 11 year old, E36 328 Touring.
varsas said:
Buy a 'normal' 328i instead of a sport, the £1500 difference in cost will buy you a lot of petrol!
Yes that's what I did 4 years ago, though mine has got all the sport bits except the seats fitted, despite what some say I still wouldn't buy a nikasil block car, and the inlet derestiction does wake the engine up. Mine has done 91k, 3 mature owners, excellent condition, and I'm thinking about selling if anyone is looking for one. 
Edited by blade7 on Thursday 29th April 13:58
blade7 said:
varsas said:
Buy a 'normal' 328i instead of a sport, the £1500 difference in cost will buy you a lot of petrol!
Yes that's what I did 4 years ago, though mine has got all the sport bits except the seats fitted, despite what some say I still wouldn't buy a nikasil block car, and the inlet derestiction does wake the engine up. Mine has done 91k, 3 mature owners, excellent condition, and I'm thinking about selling if anyone is looking for one. Edited by blade7 on Thursday 29th April 13:58
(like this)
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff