Bmw 318i info

PaulKK

Hi folks, was thinking about changing my car in the new year, ideally I'd like a 03/04 320d, but none of these seem to be within my budget (~€8k) that haven't got huge miles on them.

Now, I was passing a local garage the other day and they have a nice 03 318i se 2.0 with Mtec kit and only 55k miles for €7900, and it seems a few garages have similar examples for similar money. I have a 98 TDI passat with 112k on it and i would consider it reasonable to get an 03 318i for €5.5k or less with my own.

Now my main question is this. Can any owners of a 318i with the 2.0 engine give me some info on what kind of MPG they get and how they find the car in general? Just want to get some real world figures. I just need to do my sums on cost to change, fuel and tax costs etc as I will be doing 300+ miles a week.

I'm in no panic to get rid of my own car, its served me well for the last 50k miles so am just patiently eying up some new options once I have some cash saved.

By the way I'm 23, so please don't tell me that its slow and to get a 6 cylinder because I just can't insure one yet for anything close to sane cash. Its 140bhp and considerably faster than my current car, and I plan on getting a nice 08 330d after that

Reasons I want a BMW are: I have driven a couple and I like them, like the E46 shape, build quality and interior and I think the Mtec versions are the dogs danglies, so please don't tell me I'm buying a paddy spec version for the badge.

Mr Benevolent

I'm confused. Are you expecting a trade-in price of €2400 or more for your '98 Passat TDI ? Not gonna happen in a million years. Trade would give you less than €1500 for it, and selling it privately would only net maybe €1600.

PaulKK

Nah I wouldn't expect that for it, I was thinking it'd be worth around €1.5k alright but I would plan on haggling etc, I didn't say I would trade it against that particular one, I just said I think it'd be reasonable to get one for 5.5k somewhere with my own

Any info on the 318i then?

CoDy1

I have a '02 318 for over a year now and I love it to bits. It averages 30-35mpg on the computer but i do alot of city/traffic driving. I did get to Dublin and back for €30 once. Depends on how you drive it.

Great car, comfortable, solid and more than enough power;)

PaulKK

CoDy1 wrote: »

I have a '02 318 for over a year now and I love it to bits. It averages 30-35mpg on the computer but i do alot of city/traffic driving. I did get to Dublin and back for €30 once. Depends on how you drive it.

Great car, comfortable, solid and more than enough power;)

Cheers, thats the kind of info I want, is yours the 1.9 118bhp or the 2.0 140bhp?

By my rough calculations thats 42ish mpg to Dublin for you from Limerick?
I'll be mostly driving on N roads, my commute is north Kilkenny to Carlow so that would be great if I could realistically see that kind of economy.

Where are all the petrol fans to get me away from my diesel!?

ottostreet

think about it this way.

It's not gonna kill you fuel-wise.

I don't have the exact same, I have the e36 318is (143bhp M44 engine). Arguably same fuel economy. I easily drive from Kilkenny city to Dublin city and back to carlow on 20 euro. Your fuel economy will never be as good as the passat, but you are getting a better car. Drive it, and enjoy yourself!

CoDy1

Mine is the 2.0L 140bhp. The 318 came with the 1.9l until late '01. The facelifted 3series 318 came with the 2.0l from then on.

PaulKK

ottostreet wrote: »

think about it this way.

It's not gonna kill you fuel-wise.

I don't have the exact same, I have the e36 318is (143bhp M44 engine). Arguably same fuel economy. I easily drive from Kilkenny city to Dublin city and back to carlow on 20 euro. Your fuel economy will never be as good as the passat, but you are getting a better car. Drive it, and enjoy yourself!

Yup I'm thinking the cost to go to diesel is not worth it for the premium and more than likely lower spec and higher miles. As long as i get 40+ I'd be happy!

CoDy1 wrote: »

Mine is the 2.0L 140bhp. The 318 came with the 1.9l until late '01. The facelifted 3series 318 came with the 2.0l from then on.

Thanks for that, thats good to know.

rosser44

Hi there op
I've owned the 140bhp 2.0 model for about 17 months now and cant really fault it. I'd average about 30 to 38mpg (have a habit of driving her like I stole her from time to time!!)and also do a lot of city driving, but have gotten more from it in the past. Plenty of power for overtaking and great handling, a pleasure to drive.
The only downsides can be servicing costs and moreso parts from main dealers but I've got a mate who's a BMW mechanic so that saves me a few quid !!:D

ottostreet

PaulKK wrote: »

Yup I'm thinking the cost to go to diesel is not worth it for the premium and more than likely lower spec and higher miles. As long as i get 40+ I'd be happy!

don't think you'll get 40+ without being a careful little driver, but i average between 35-40, and im not the slowest driver in the world.

Anan1

Confab wrote: »

I'm confused. Are you expecting a trade-in price of €2400 or more for your '98 Passat TDI ? Not gonna happen in a million years. Trade would give you less than €1500 for it, and selling it privately would only net maybe €1600.

It depends to a large extent on the pricing of the BMW. For example, if the seller were prepared to accept €6900 for the BMW priced at €7900 then they could give €2400 for the Passat and trade it out for €1400.

PaulKK

rosser44 wrote: »

Hi there op

The only downsides can be servicing costs and moreso parts from main dealers but I've got a mate who's a BMW mechanic so that saves me a few quid !!:D

Ah I wouldn't be worried about that too much, I'd prob service it myself (oil and sparks) and get it checked over now and then with my local mechanic, he's handy with BMWs. Thanks for the feedback!

ottostreet wrote: »

don't think you'll get 40+ without being a careful little driver, but i average between 35-40, and im not the slowest driver in the world.

I've no problem being careful now and then when I'm only going to work, I've had 58mpg out of the passat, but I do like to give it a blast now and again. Thanks for the info though.

Anan1 wrote: »

It depends to a large extent on the pricing of the BMW. For example, if the seller were prepared to accept €6900 for the BMW priced at €7900 then they could give €2400 for the Passat and trade it out for €1400.

Thats the kind of situation I was alluding to in the op.

Bluefoam

Do you only get 140bhp's from a 2L 3 series? Whats the 0-60?

PaulKK

Bluefoam wrote: »

Do you only get 140bhp's from a 2L 3 series? Whats the 0-60?

Think its 141bhp and 0-60 in 9.3s apparently. (Wikipedia, not nesscessarily fact)

CoDy1

Bluefoam wrote: »

Do you only get 140bhp's from a 2L 3 series? Whats the 0-60?

Only? compared to what? its a mid size executive saloon.

a simlar engined A4 comes in at 130bhp

a similar engined C class comes in at 134bhp.

bazz26

CoDy1 wrote: »

Only? compared to what? its a mid size executive saloon.

a simlar engined A4 comes in at 130bhp

a similar engined C class comes in at 134bhp.

Not executive by status but these had more around that era:

Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 litre - 165bhp
Honda Accord 2.0 litre - 154bhp

Bluefoam

What does the current 3 series 1.8 or 2.0L produce?

CoDy1

Bluefoam wrote: »

What does the current 3 series 1.8 or 2.0L produce?

AFAIK 141bhp for the 318i and 148bhp for the 320i

mkdon05

320i = 170bhp

Bluefoam

CoDy1 wrote: »

AFAIK 141bhp for the 318i and 148bhp for the 320i

Does 318i mean 1.8l & 320i mean 2.0l etc?

Anan1

Bluefoam wrote: »

Does 318i mean 1.8l & 320i mean 2.0l etc?

It generally (but not always) used to, now it sometimes does.

Bluefoam

Anan1 wrote: »

It generally (but not always) used to, now it sometimes does.

I'll take that as a no!

Anan1

Bluefoam wrote: »

I'll take that as a no!

ish.;)

R.O.R

Bluefoam wrote: »

Does 318i mean 1.8l & 320i mean 2.0l etc?

Current line up is

318i - 1995cc - 143BHP
320i - 1995cc - 170bhp
325i - 2996cc - 218bhp
330i - 2996cc - 272bhp
335i - 2996cc - 306bhp

The (thankfully) discontinued 316i in the E90 was a 1.6 litre engine.

PaulKK

Another quick question about these lads, do they have a timing belt or a chain and whats the interval on them? 60K or so?

ottostreet

timing chain on them.