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Dec 18, 2014 19:45:32 GMT
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Reviews are all well and good but tend to focus on newer models, I am supposedly test driving a 318is auto tomorrow, it seems mint and very well looked after, 1 owner, quoted 32 mpg, and fuels getting cheaper, but is it going to bankrupt me, 19 with 2 years no claims insurance seems ok, or are there better options for a daily that is RWD?
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Dec 18, 2014 19:51:10 GMT
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Do it. It's the Ultimate Driving Machine after all.
E30 or E36 by the way?
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Dec 18, 2014 19:51:16 GMT
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I'm 20 with 1 years no claims and ive got a 2.5 e36 coupe, my insurance is £100 a month give or take,which is cheap for me, although a 318is is more expensive than a 328 sport for me to insure.
As for fuel 32 mpg sounds abit curse word, my straight 6 averages 27-28 mpg round town and around 38mpg on a decent run.
Hope this helps.
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Dec 18, 2014 19:52:28 GMT
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Not really other than a manual 318is lol.
They seem to be pretty bomb proof, cheap to buy and cheap to run.
I have had 400 miles to tank on a run & 300 miles around town more than once from my coupe & compact.
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Last Edit: Dec 18, 2014 19:53:41 GMT by joem83
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Dec 18, 2014 20:53:15 GMT
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Yeah since found out the car is not as good as promised, so will wait and see what happens!
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Dec 18, 2014 20:57:27 GMT
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I had a 320 was possibly the most over rated car I'd ever driven.
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Some days you just need to take a grinder to an inanimate object, just to make your day a tiny bit better!!
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Dec 18, 2014 21:05:30 GMT
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I had a 320 was possibly the most over rated car I'd ever driven. 320 probably is to be fair, not fast & not good on petrol. In the e36 there are 3 engine choices: 318is/328i/M3 The rest are kinda just range fillers lol |
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Dec 18, 2014 23:07:48 GMT
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My 318is was cheaper to insure than a standard 318. Good fun to drive, revvy little engine. Might be spoilt on a auto though...
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alfaboy
Part of things
stopping smoking
Posts: 126
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If your looking at an E36 you need a 6 pot, the engine makes the car.
I've had 3 so far and every time I buy something else I get bored and go back to an E36. . .
Had a 328i and loved it dearly, next was a 323i touring, fantastic car.
Currently on a 323i saloon, 17yrs old and just clocked 107k miles, nearly mint and all for £800.
Its a great compromise engine, power, torque and noise and they never go wrong.
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I have an idea for a unique alfa. . . . and i think it might just work.
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I had a 320 was possibly the most over rated car I'd ever driven. In the e36 there are 3 engine choices: 318is/328i/M3 The rest are kinda just range fillers lol Spot on joem BTW i loved that little 318ti i had of you, belting car all round. |
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The louder you Scream the faster we go  |
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We have a few BMW's here in sunny Queensland (Australia) and we love them. The old 5 series e34 is still going strong but a little thirsty. Not to wild but it can't come close to the 2 e39 528i's we have. They are for us the pick of the bunch. Cheap as chips to run. Great fuel economy and just a great ride.
Our e46 3 series 325i is giving us a few headaches. It stalling without a reason. Other than that its a great car but not as smooth as the e39.
All our cars are automatic and all of them are recommended but the pick of the bunch is the e39.
Cheers
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tdk
Part of things
Posts: 958 
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I've had an E30 325, E34 525, E39 528 and an E46 330. Three things spring to mind: 1-Autos are always very thirsty. 2-Petrol prices absolutely will go up again. 3-A manual will be more fun and more economical and there are lots of cars to choose from. Good luck  |
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Dec 19, 2014 13:12:04 GMT
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Spot on joem BTW i loved that little 318ti i had of you, belting car all round. Glad you liked it, it was a great little car - kinda wish I kept it. Thought I saw it on a music video earlier in the year lol. |
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Dec 19, 2014 15:41:00 GMT
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I have an e36 compact. 318ti but it is a later model with the 1.9.
I am 19 with 1 year ncb and my insurance is 1300, which is not too bad in all honesty. It's drives faultless, fast if you let it rev and can go sideways if you push it to.
Would HIGHLY recommend one.
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BMW e36 compact
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Dec 19, 2014 16:03:28 GMT
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My old E36's Owned the green one, twice.    |
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Dec 20, 2014 15:41:47 GMT
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If there is one thing BMW owners excel at its opinions  Having got an E30 318is and an E36 318Ti Compact and having driven an E36 318iS Coupe I have this to say: 1. The Ti is the cheapest to buy but the most expensive for me to insure by a significant margin. Avoid. 2. All should be capable of 33mpg in mixed driving and 36mpg on a run in manual form. On track at what all day long they do about 16mpg FWIW. 3. If you believe what everyone says about the E30 318is being the "baby M3" you'll be very disappointed! 4. The rear suspension on the E30 and Compact is.... Interesting at this time of the year! Great if you love driving like an ar$e and looking out of the side windows, not so great if its icy and you have to get to work. The E36 Coupe is much more grown up and well behaved in this regard. 5. There is so much choice around for E36s that I'd seek out a manual - it'll make the driving experience so much more involving. 6.On a similar note get one with matching tyres all round! They awful drive with mismatched tyres, but great fun when they all match Matt |
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 1990 BMW 318iS, 1971 Range Rover V8 |
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,191
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Dec 20, 2014 19:08:17 GMT
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Reviews are all well and good but tend to focus on newer models, I am supposedly test driving a 318is auto tomorrow, it seems mint and very well looked after, 1 owner, quoted 32 mpg, and fuels getting cheaper, but is it going to bankrupt me, 19 with 2 years no claims insurance seems ok, or are there better options for a daily that is RWD? Many good points are present in the above posts and I agree with mwgriffiths' post. The autos are worse on fuel but if you are after a town car which is easy to drive an auto may not be a bad choice, although some will argue that is not the point of an E36 (they do ride well though IMO). Initially I was after an auto 6 pot if I am honest, although I am loving my E36 with the manual 'box admittedly. I would personally go with an E36 Coupe, Saloon or Estate with the superior rear end. My opinion may change in the future but I would say that they are a great canditate for a daily driver. Parts are cheap, many are still available from BMW themselves and they are quite a comfy and relatively well built machine (my e36 has less wear inside than a colleague's E46 which is 5 years newer!). What else can I tell you? As long as coolant changes are adhered to with half decent coolant along with regular oil changes you should be OK in all honesty. The MPG sounds about right for an auto iS. My car does around 30MPG around town with 34-5MPG on a swift(ish) run . |
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Dec 21, 2014 17:29:37 GMT
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Its a great compromise engine, power, torque and noise and they never go wrong. The engines no, the cooling system..... huge pain in the bum!  |
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Dec 21, 2014 17:44:17 GMT
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3. If you believe what everyone says about the E30 318is being the "baby M3" you'll be very disappointed! You mean 320iS? |
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Dec 21, 2014 18:38:46 GMT
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I have just bought an E36 wagon a 316 one. I was expecting it to be dog slow but is fairly nippy well past 3k revs it picks up.
It rides beatifully seriously impressed i paid pittens for my wagon and it has impressed me so far .. So much so I'm contemplating bbs splits, coilovers, and leather seats..... Project #5 lol
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