Advice required for BMW 318Ci
Discussion
Hi Guys,
I have been looking at the below two cars, would anybody have any tips/things to look out for during my test drive and inspection. Any advice at this stage would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to buy a dog!
Thanks!
Now..the motors:
Option 1 :
http://www.usedcarsni.com/50406553
Option 2 :
http://www.usedcarsni.com/52213798
I have been looking at the below two cars, would anybody have any tips/things to look out for during my test drive and inspection. Any advice at this stage would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to buy a dog!
Thanks!
Now..the motors:
Option 1 :
http://www.usedcarsni.com/50406553
Option 2 :
http://www.usedcarsni.com/52213798
Watch for rear springs which usually need replacing by the mileages of the cars you're looking at. Front bushes too. From the pictures they both look like nice cars and both facelift models so a bonus in my eyes.
Now, just stand back and await the usual posts about how gutless they are when in fact they are not as bad as people would have you believe. I'm not just saying that because I have one although there may be an element of bias!
Now, just stand back and await the usual posts about how gutless they are when in fact they are not as bad as people would have you believe. I'm not just saying that because I have one although there may be an element of bias!
Not sure about the springs as my (2002 325Ci 71000mls) car is still on the originals.
However the front wishbone rear bushes which I had replaced gave a sort of... sloppy feel over bumps and around corners?? and were most noticably worn when suddenly braking (heavy knocking as the joint moves within the bush).
Having them replaced really tightened up the cars front end.
HTH
However the front wishbone rear bushes which I had replaced gave a sort of... sloppy feel over bumps and around corners?? and were most noticably worn when suddenly braking (heavy knocking as the joint moves within the bush).
Having them replaced really tightened up the cars front end.
HTH
Defo check the springs. Both rears were gone on my recently acquired 2003 with 45k on the clock. Simple enough job to replace. £60 from Euro Car Parts (BMW wanted £190!!) for the springs, then half hour on the drive and job done.
Front suspension bushes as mentioned also. All E46's suffer the same.
A bit of tappety noise from the engine when cold is normal.
The exhaust tends to sound a bit raspy and like they're blowing, expecially when cold - something to do with the secondary air pump and general design of the system.
A few owners have complained of loss of power if accelerating from very slow speed or stop as the engine is warming up, around the top of the blue bar on the temp gauge. This is where the engine changes throttle control from the throttle body to the valvetronic system. I've not experienced this, but some have.
Other than that it's normal car buying stuff - service history, etc.
By the way, I've had a 330Ci before and although nowhere near as smooth and powerful, the 318 is not as slow and gutless as some (abviously 6 cylinder owners) make out. Acceleration below 2000 revs is sluggish, but above that it's not too bad.
Front suspension bushes as mentioned also. All E46's suffer the same.
A bit of tappety noise from the engine when cold is normal.
The exhaust tends to sound a bit raspy and like they're blowing, expecially when cold - something to do with the secondary air pump and general design of the system.
A few owners have complained of loss of power if accelerating from very slow speed or stop as the engine is warming up, around the top of the blue bar on the temp gauge. This is where the engine changes throttle control from the throttle body to the valvetronic system. I've not experienced this, but some have.
Other than that it's normal car buying stuff - service history, etc.
By the way, I've had a 330Ci before and although nowhere near as smooth and powerful, the 318 is not as slow and gutless as some (abviously 6 cylinder owners) make out. Acceleration below 2000 revs is sluggish, but above that it's not too bad.
I recently had the rear springs done on my car and before they were done one side of the car was noticebly lower than the other at the back. There are those that will tell you BMW built the cars like this as when the driver gets in the car it balances the car out - I beg to differ having been told I needed rear springs. There is another method of checking rear spring failure but I can't recall it exactly - it centres aroung accelerating and watching for how the back end behaves? Anyone do better than that?!
If you dip the oil and there is white gunk at the bottom of the dipstick then don't immediately think it's potential head gasket failure (don't rule it out though!). The way condensation builds on these, especially on short journey's causes a build up of this. The dipsticks are often a bit rusty too because of it.
The very last variants of this car had the tyre pressure sensors function too. I notice one of the cars you are looking at doesn't have this. It's an another button which is sited next to the DSC switch on the centre console. Both cars you're looking at have the 18" wheel option which I think looks better than the standard 17's. If you do buy one and want expensive rubber then budget big. I have Michelin Pilot Sports all round on mine and at about £200 each for the rears and £130 for the fronts they're not cheap. A full tank of petrol is about £65 and I'm averaging 28mpg which is 11 miles each way to work through the middle of Nottingham and very few distance journey's.
ETA: Neither car has the tyre pressure sensor's and I notice one of them doesn'nt have the 3rd rear headrest? Both irrelevant but for some reason I needed to point out!
If you dip the oil and there is white gunk at the bottom of the dipstick then don't immediately think it's potential head gasket failure (don't rule it out though!). The way condensation builds on these, especially on short journey's causes a build up of this. The dipsticks are often a bit rusty too because of it.
The very last variants of this car had the tyre pressure sensors function too. I notice one of the cars you are looking at doesn't have this. It's an another button which is sited next to the DSC switch on the centre console. Both cars you're looking at have the 18" wheel option which I think looks better than the standard 17's. If you do buy one and want expensive rubber then budget big. I have Michelin Pilot Sports all round on mine and at about £200 each for the rears and £130 for the fronts they're not cheap. A full tank of petrol is about £65 and I'm averaging 28mpg which is 11 miles each way to work through the middle of Nottingham and very few distance journey's.
ETA: Neither car has the tyre pressure sensor's and I notice one of them doesn'nt have the 3rd rear headrest? Both irrelevant but for some reason I needed to point out!
Edited by Fun Bus on Tuesday 10th August 18:54
I have had a 2004 318Ciand now have a 2005 330Ci and I agree 318 is not as bad as many say it is. OK, not nearly as much power as a 330 but fine for what it is, a two litre motor. I would go for the second, it appears to have full bluetooth, which the seller does not appear to have highlighted. It is avery useful feature, as I have it on my 330.
Thanks for the advice guys....unfortunately, I ignored it and went for a 323Ci instead 
I am over the moon with it however - believe it or not it is a 1999 model with 50,000 miles on the clock in Topaz Blue.
It is absolutely mint and drives like it has just left the showroom.
I will have to take some better pics asap:
I am over the moon with it however - believe it or not it is a 1999 model with 50,000 miles on the clock in Topaz Blue.
It is absolutely mint and drives like it has just left the showroom.
I will have to take some better pics asap:
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