Opinions on BMW 316's (1995 model)

[Lankytim]

Looking round the local salvage yard today, Spotted a mega clean 1995 BMW 316i SE (think its known as the E36 model). Will need a slight pull on the rear end to fix a light rear end bump but apart from that its spotless, 50k manual, immaculate cloth interior, metallic light blue bodywork. Its obviously been really looked after. I was consiering buying it for the wife to smoke round in but I don't know ANYTHING about beemers, especially the 1600cc 3 series ones.

Ive never been a BMW fan as the rusty old banger on a council estate image puts me off, this 3 series was just so clean though.

Has anyone had one of thse before, are they slow and curse word or nice cars to own? opinions opinions!

[arthurbrown]

I had an E30 316, on a fugging carb. It was so dog slow that I despised it instantly.

[fusebox]

mate, I had a touring engine was a little noisey but remained noisey for the 80 k me and the misses put on the car!
No problems parts ae easy to get and cheap !
Slow as F**k drifted good though..
You aint gonna go wrong fella IMO cos the scene for these cars is growing by the day!

Fusebox

[seansmk1mad]

As stated already, they are no rocket ship but they are deffo built to last. Ive owned 4 e36's & they have all been superb. Parts, suprisingly, are not very expensive either

[Datsun4Life]

316 is a perfectly decent car. Don't expect to win any races, but still a nice drive. I recently saw a 316 on the 'trader which was being sold as an 'M3 look-alike'. How embarrassing would that be at the lights...

[Lankytim]

datsun4life said:

316 is a perfectly decent car. Don't expect to win any races, but still a nice drive. I recently saw a 316 on the 'trader which was being sold as an 'M3 look-alike'. How embarrassing would that be at the lights...

Thats exactly the type of image that puts me off old beemers. The salvage yard was full of bad boy beemers with M3 badges and poorly modded bodywork that had been stacked into lamp posts e.t.c. This one seems to be the exception though!

[bodieanddoyle]

reasonable little car. will have the m43 engine in '95, meaning no cambelt worries as they're chain drive. wheel bearing front and rear can go at seemingly any mileage, rears are a ball-ache. rear trailing arm mount bushes are real "bread and butter" money for specialists like me and the perenial favourite front outer ball joints.
keep 15" wheels on it and it will be really smooth, bigger wheels make them harsh quickly. not many "grot spots". make sure its got water in and DON'T LET THE WATER DROP BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK!
apologies for the volume but its one thing that really kills 'em quick. because of the side mount expansion tank, if the water drops below the bottom they need to be bled, which people don't do and you get pieces of cylinder melting down the bore. not nice. they use a little water so just be aware of it
bits are cheap as chips from GSF or euro car parts, even BMW aren't mega money on a lot of stuff. and i do mail order too

[keithyboy]

Thing is a 316 will be about grp 14 insurance despite the fact you could get out and run faster whereas there is loads of stuff that's much much quicker with much lower insurance ratings.

[Lankytim]

Its £30 more to insure than the wifes current 1996 bubble Rover 214 so its not too bad. I tried to isure a sharknose 1600cc 3 series when I was about 18 and nobody would touch me. Seems they just don't like insuring BMWs for younger drivers.

[B-8-D]

the 16 engine is underpoweredv imho.
get the 318 for povopower...
si

[penski]

Roll it low and on wide Euro rims.

Still 4x100 on these, B&D?

*n

[bodieanddoyle]

penski said:

Roll it low and on wide Euro rims.

Still 4x100 on these, B&D?

*n

nope. 5x120. or almost 5x4.75". always fancied one on pro-stars

[penski]

I thought they started off as 4x100? :/

*n

[B-8-D]

penski said:

I thought they started off as 4x100? :/

*n

i think anything after the e30 3's had std bmw 5by 120mm pcd..
si

[bodieanddoyle]

all e36's are 5x120. e30's e21's and 2002/2000 types (e-09 and e10 if you want be technical) are 4x100 all other bmws are 5x120
e36 coupe on cragars ;D

[penski]

Mmmmm....Cragars...

There's a part of my brain that says E36 Compacts have E30 rear ends...Is that right?

*n

[Lankytim]

I think the E36 compact has the suspension from the previous 3 series.... or something.

[keithyboy]

You are correct about the compact rear suspension.

[PhoenixC]

A mate of mine used to have a 98 316 coupe and to be fair for a 1.6 it wasnt that slow.

I have been running a 95 318i (8 valve) for the last 6 month. Bought it with 237,000 mile on it and a full service history. Done 7K on it in the time I have had it and other than normal servicing (and the paint when I got it)it has been faultless. Its been the most enjoyable daily driver I have ran for awhile.
Might not be the quickest car around but it can be coerced to give a decent turn of speed and even more impressive it has returned an average of 32+mpg. Which considering my notoriously heavy right foot is pretty damn good. Mine has Mtech suspension and seats so I don't know if that makes much of a difference.

Definetely intend on getting either a 318iS or a 325 at some point in the future.

Started using a 406 HDI as my new daily smoker and I am missing the BMW already

[Lankytim]

Is the floor-hinged accellerator pedal set up any good? not that it makes any difference...

Oh yeah, ive tracked down a rear bumper in the right colour for £35, just need to find out how much a little jig time will be at my local friendly bodyshop will be.