E46 320i and 318i
Discussion
I'm off to test drive a couple of cars on Saturday - lined up already are a '53 plate 320i and an '04 318i. The 320i is priced at about £1500 more.
I've always been a bit wary of 318s as being a bit underpowered, but was that true of the later 2 litre ones such as the one I'll be looking at?
I quite like the idea of the straight-six, but for what I'm going to be using it for (my main motor, but I only do about 7k miles per year) does it offer a worthwile benefit over the 318 considering it's older and more expensive?
Experiences of owners past and present are most welcome...
I've always been a bit wary of 318s as being a bit underpowered, but was that true of the later 2 litre ones such as the one I'll be looking at?
I quite like the idea of the straight-six, but for what I'm going to be using it for (my main motor, but I only do about 7k miles per year) does it offer a worthwile benefit over the 318 considering it's older and more expensive?
Experiences of owners past and present are most welcome...
318i is a noisy and gutless
320i spins its little heart out but gets no where (works well in a Z3 or Z4 but too much weight with a 3er)
My advice would be go for a 325i does more mpg and nicer drive... much more torquey and I believe higher geared (waits for someone to say you might aswell have a 330i! lol)
320i spins its little heart out but gets no where (works well in a Z3 or Z4 but too much weight with a 3er)
My advice would be go for a 325i does more mpg and nicer drive... much more torquey and I believe higher geared (waits for someone to say you might aswell have a 330i! lol)
I've recently acquired a 320Ci (2.2 6cyl) and i think it's lovely to drive, not "fast" but certainly goes well enough for a bit of fun, and generally is nice to drive about in on either motorway or A/B roads....
I have driven a few 318's and i personally think it's a big difference to the 320 and would go for this everyday over the 318...
Re above comment on the 325i - definitely agree it's better then the 320 but as he said himself you really may as well just go for the 330 as i find the 325's are quite hard to come by so your choice of good ones is limited, where as there seems to be a lot of 320's and 330's about - and as you say you only do 7k a year, why not just go for the 330 on a limited mileage policy?? Shouldn't be too much more to run really (except tax....)
I'd always just recommend you try them all though, then only you have to decide as it's hard to take advice without knowing yourself and forming your own opinion :-)
HTH anyway, Nick.
I have driven a few 318's and i personally think it's a big difference to the 320 and would go for this everyday over the 318...
Re above comment on the 325i - definitely agree it's better then the 320 but as he said himself you really may as well just go for the 330 as i find the 325's are quite hard to come by so your choice of good ones is limited, where as there seems to be a lot of 320's and 330's about - and as you say you only do 7k a year, why not just go for the 330 on a limited mileage policy?? Shouldn't be too much more to run really (except tax....)
I'd always just recommend you try them all though, then only you have to decide as it's hard to take advice without knowing yourself and forming your own opinion :-)
HTH anyway, Nick.
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