Was thinking of buying an old BMW

Bearcat

Wilko121 wrote: »

I was looking at the 316 because im limited to a 1.6L due to tax and insurance, and because I think its stylish

wilko, the 316's would pull the skin off a sausage.....avoid like the plague. Do more homework and you'll come up with a decent 1.6.

VolvoMan

Admit it. You just want it for the blue and white propeller on the bonnet, am I right? Just buy yourself a proper car and avoid all of this badge snobbery sh1te.

Edit: And by the way, the E46 316i never had a 1.6 litre engine. It had a 1.8 litre and later a 1.9.

So basically you're paying nearly 2 litre road tax for a car with 1.6 litre performance.

madaboutcars

VolvoMan wrote: »

Edit: And by the way, the E46 316i never had a 1.6 litre engine. It had a 1.8 litre and later a 1.9.

Actually it was a 1.9 first and then became a 1.8 back in 2001/2002, can't remember which year but it was one of those.

The 318i became a 2.0 whenever the 316i changed to a 1.8.

Wilko121

VolvoMan wrote: »

buy yourself a proper car and avoid all of this badge snobbery sh1te.

And what would that be? A volvo perhaps?

Andrewf20

Unless you go for an E36 316i which is a 1.6, but is painfully slow.

Id er on the side of being patient till youre ready for a 318is. 2 lads in work with 316i's regretted buying them due to their lacklustre pace.

E92

A BMW, especially a petrol one only makes sense if it has the magic number of 6 cylinders as standard.

A 4 pot petrol BMW(barring the E30 M3 of course;)), especially a 316i is a serious case of style over substance. The E36 318is is meant to be very good though if it absolutely has to be a 4 cylinder model but 6 cylinders is where it's at. The cheapest and probably the best route into 6 cylinder motoring would be the 2.0 320i.

I wouldn't waste my time trying to find a good 316i/318i - people who are into BMWs will have a 6 cylinder model or else a 318is.

If you want a good one then buy one from a BMW enthusiast - a good one will live up to the "Ultimate Driving Machine" slogan and will be very reliable too.

Don't mind the trolls in this thread, those who think BMWs are crap and go wrong don't own them; listen to those of us who do own a BMW like kdevitt or myself or others - you'd never know, there is this dangerous possibility that we might actually know what we're talking about and might be able to tell you real life experience as opposed to what your mate in the pub said:rolleyes::rolleyes:.

hallstatt

Bmw for life mate. I Have drove many many cars both here and around the world and i can tell you you cant get better than Bmw. Its just my opinion many will disagree but I also think the old 90's style are a lot more reliable than some of the newer bmw models.Try find a more more mature seller as a lot of boy racer little toerags have bought some of the beautiful bmw history over the last few years and drove them into the ground.If not bmw my close second choice would be volvo, but then again thats just my view. good luck mate

VolvoMan

madaboutcars wrote: »

Actually it was a 1.9 first and then became a 1.8 back in 2001/2002, can't remember which year but it was one of those.

The 318i became a 2.0 whenever the 316i changed to a 1.8.

I stand corrected.

Wilko121 wrote: »

And what would that be? A volvo perhaps?

No, I wouldn't even suggest a Volvo. If you're looking for low running costs do not buy a bottom of the range car from a prestige manufacturer with a weedy little engine. You should be after a car, not a badge.

hallstatt

VolvoMan wrote: »

I stand corrected.



No, I wouldn't even suggest a Volvo. If you're looking for low running costs do not buy a bottom of the range car from a prestige manufacturer with a weedy little engine. You should be after a car, not a badge.

I had a 94 volvo 940se 2 litre for years. unreal workhorse and great for juice for the size of it. this is back when men were men and cars were actually cars and built not to break. Thinking back i wish i had never sold it.dont remember it ever once acting up on me.Built with the best of stuff.

VolvoMan

hallstatt wrote: »

I had a 94 volvo 940se 2 litre for years. unreal workhorse and great for juice for the size of it. this is back when men were men and cars were actually cars and built not to break. Thinking back i wish i had never sold it.dont remember it ever once acting up on me.Built with the best of stuff.

Was it a saloon or estate? I love them myself, especially the 960 with it's smooth 3 litre straight six.......:D

hallstatt

VolvoMan wrote: »

Was it a saloon or estate? I love them myself, especially the 960 with it's smooth 3 litre straight six.......:D

It was a saloon. I still see the odd estate one here and there around the place but they just dont build them like that anymore sadly... everything in them was laid out so simple too.only downside was trying to find a parkn space for them.

Spipov

have an e36 316i. its a joy to look at and handles very well. but thats because ur not getting anywhere fast. i like it, its in very good nick, looks nice and gets me where i want, and has more power than my previous motor (almera 96 1.4 - tin can) and when i press my foot down, i feel the joy! (and i know its underpowered, but in my case it seems enough) as well as giving me just about 400 miles to the tank.


i can recommend it, but i think in the current climate you can do better. i paid over 6k for it 6 months ago (99 model - last year in the series) and im not even sure i can get 5k for it now. and its only 87k.


btw, this isnt advertising, im not selling yet! im just giving a comparision. i only wish i was buying now as id always dreamt of an e46 but went for the e36 (btw, a 00 golf was costing the same amount of money - so really, had no choice if u get what i mean).


but these are underpowered. i would heed e92's advice and do what he says, blindly. guy is good with bmw's.

VolvoMan

hallstatt wrote: »

It was a saloon. I still see the odd estate one here and there around the place but they just dont build them like that anymore sadly... everything in them was laid out so simple too.only downside was trying to find a parkn space for them.

Yeah, I'm finding most of the saloon's are dying off now. You still see a good few of the estates around with either kids hanging out of the back of them or shifting around antiques. The basic 940 was also so mechanically simple and luxurious, there used to be loads them around as taxis years ago. I always thought they had a timeless look to them as well. The saloons were my preferred bodystyle as I never liked the image of the estates.

Seth Brundle

The amount of crap in this thread.
My current 523i yesterday passed the 125k mile mark. Apart from being rear ended twice, the only painful experience from her was the cat going at about 95k miles but this can happen on any car!
I tend to do most of the simple servicing myself and to date I spent that much on it thankfully. Any bigger work I bring the car to a specialist.
Like many cars, BMWs are fairly robust if they are looked after. If they are not then don't expect them to keep going! However, they do not cost the earth to service. Petrol will be the expensive part!
Anyhow, if you are going for a 316i then I would suggest that you wait another year or two and get a decent BMW. The 316i will most likely be a poverty spec low powered car and probably difficult to sell on!

Darragh29

E92 wrote: »

A BMW, especially a petrol one only makes sense if it has the magic number of 6 cylinders as standard.

A 4 pot petrol BMW(barring the E30 M3 of course;)), especially a 316i is a serious case of style over substance. The E36 318is is meant to be very good though if it absolutely has to be a 4 cylinder model but 6 cylinders is where it's at. The cheapest and probably the best route into 6 cylinder motoring would be the 2.0 320i.

I wouldn't waste my time trying to find a good 316i/318i - people who are into BMWs will have a 6 cylinder model or else a 318is.

If you want a good one then buy one from a BMW enthusiast - a good one will live up to the "Ultimate Driving Machine" slogan and will be very reliable too.

Don't mind the trolls in this thread, those who think BMWs are crap and go wrong don't own them; listen to those of us who do own a BMW like kdevitt or myself or others - you'd never know, there is this dangerous possibility that we might actually know what we're talking about and might be able to tell you real life experience as opposed to what your mate in the pub said:rolleyes::rolleyes:.

Or you could listen to those of us who have changed many cam position sensors, hazard switch circuit resistors that are conveniently buried in under the dashboard, front wishbones/ball joints, clutches, engines, timing chains, crankshaft pulley assemblies, etc, on BMW's.

If your mate in the pub has done these tasks and can speak for the cost of them, then by all means listen to him.

Just for the record, I don't have a negative or a positive opinion on BMW cars as suggested by the poster above, actually I'm indifferent on the brand, it's just another make of car to me. My issue on this forum has always been BMW drivers, who typically demand a MDOFSH (Main Dealer Only Full Service History), before buying, only then to immediately undergo some sort of Pauline conversion and then go looking for a good indy mechanic who they can subsequently bring a Quinton Hazell bag of spurious parts into, usually because they have the money to flash on the car but not the money to service & maintain it, which I happen to think is unfair on people who make their living from servicing and maintaining cars...

I don't want to get dragged off topic but at the same time being fingered as a troll here is not something I'm going to not respond to...

Chergar

What about an e30 325sport. for the kind of money the op is talking about i think would get a good well looked after car. and what a car, one of the best looking bimmers ever made i think, with an LSD to make you think your on LSD. and enough dynamics to let you enjoy and learn to drive a little sideways... Just aslong as its not wet:D fairly reliable car in my expierence, and ye it goes like snot.

Seth Brundle

The OP is limited financially so tax & insurance on a 2.5L may be too much (http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=58404235&postcount=31)

Chergar

kbannon wrote: »

The OP is limited financially so tax & insurance on a 2.5L may be too much (http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=58404235&postcount=31)

Yes that would make my point fairly irelevant. (keeps happening:D) shame, because it would be such a nice choice. That car deserves a thread all to it's self