BMW 3 Series Coupé

FernandoTorres

Hi there,

I'm thinking of buying a BMW 3 Series 318c, probably around 2000-2002 as my budget is €7,000. Anyone got any experiences good, bad or indifferent on these cars? Would they be expensive to maintain etc?

Thanks

Hogzy

FernandoTorres wrote: »

Hi there,

I'm thinking of buying a BMW 3 Series 318c, probably around 2000-2002 as my budget is €7,000. Anyone got any experiences good, bad or indifferent on these cars? Would they be expensive to maintain etc?

Thanks

Try get the 2.0 version instead of the 1.9
Nothing stands out just make sure it has the usualy
Service history etc.

Iv had a 2003 318ci for the last 4 years and I have had no trouble with it. Bar a clogged catalytic Converter which was covered under warranty.

bazz26

From early 2001 the old 1.9 litre engine in the 318ci was replaced with a more powerful and fuel efficent 2.0 litre engine with 143bhp. It's the one to go for.

seanyleary

buy a 6 cylinder one, much better engine.

unkel

seanyleary wrote: »

buy a 6 cylinder one, much better engine.

Gotta agree there. The straight 6 is a very smooth engine and will give you just that much more refinement, torque. But it will drink more too though...

The '01 or '02 320 has a 2.2l 170BHP engine. For only a bit more tax wise, you could have the 3.0l 230BHP 330 - probably won't cost you any more to buy or to put petrol in it and I doubt much more to insure if you have a full NCB. Drive one and you'll be convinced

Idbatterim

Go for an 02 or on, I own a 00 318ci and it is underpowered, nice extras are mfsw, leather, climate control, sunroofs are rare... get it checked with AC car sales before you purchase if your based in Dublin, also do a history and finance check, I got mine checked the other day by AC I have a list of 15 items that need attention, some cheap, some expensive, the suspension, bushes, control arms etc etc etc, nothing unusual but you dont want to go spending 7k on a car and find it needs half that again to rectify everything! You could pick up an 02 or 03 msport for 6-7k. Then again dont think just because their an msport they will have good spec, the spec of alot of them is incredibly low.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/M-Sport-/201031199064376/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/320-CI-M/201033199263502/advert?channel=CARS

(change the horrible interior trim, and you have a beauty above)

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/CLUB-SPO/201029198942204/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/318Ci/201033199214176/advert?channel=CARS

there are actually alot of nice examples on carzone now, more than I have seen in a while.

If you prefer the facelift i.e on 3 and on a few are still in your budget... also for every 20 or more 318's there will be 1 320's. The difference in 0-60 between a 318 v 320 is 1.1 seconds, not like some on here would have you believe, that with the 6 cylinder it will be vastly quicker, it wont.

Slaanesh

I have a 2002 318ci.

It's a lovely car to drive, coming from a citreon xsara it has a bit of poke but nothing too mad (I also own a motorbike).

The only thing that makes me sad is the lightness of my wallet from putting petrol into her. I'm lucky to get 22-27mpg. 30 if I'm an absolutely granny driver for the duration of the tank, but I didn't buy it for that

seanyleary

If your going to drive a 318 on the red line it will use alot of petrol. i had a 328i coupe sport and used to get 350/400 miles for a 60 euro fill up (not bad). i also drive a 205 gti 1.6 and it is as hard on petrol as the 328 because its always at high revs.
i now have a 528 sport and that is getting 32mpg, (so the computer says anyway).
The 320 with the 2.2 engine is nice to drive and you wont have red line it to pass out a car.

Pique

seanyleary wrote: »

i also drive a 205 gti 1.6

Nice...don't see too many of them around any more...

yllw.ldbttr

Nice car, I enjoy the drive although many do not.
Watch the turbo, mine went, but was under warranty.

Try get leather, mfsw, climate control if you can, they make a difference.

MarkN

There's no such thing as a turbo in a 318ci unless you bought the badge in Halfords.

There's 330s on donedeal for that budget by the way.

SpannerMonkey

try asking on here www.bmw-driver.net/forum its a irish bmw owners site youll get plenty of answers from people that own the same car

FernandoTorres

Cheers for the responses, certainly food for thought. This will be my first car buying from a dealer, anyone know what kind of discount I could expect from the advertised price by paying in cash?

Silvera

I'm also considering a 318Ci...have been for a while actually.

Look at this link for plenty of info on faults, etc
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/bmw/3-series-e46-1998/

yllw.ldbttr

I have a 2006 E46 320 SE Coupe Diesel.
Has all the usual extras, MFSW, Leather interior, AC, 102k km, full BMW service history.


Anyone know what I could expect to get in private sale?
Or if that car would even sell privately in this market, I might have to trade it in instead.

alanmc

Slaanesh wrote: »

I have a 2002 318ci.

It's a lovely car to drive, coming from a citreon xsara it has a bit of poke but nothing too mad (I also own a motorbike).

The only thing that makes me sad is the lightness of my wallet from putting petrol into her. I'm lucky to get 22-27mpg. 30 if I'm an absolutely granny driver for the duration of the tank, but I didn't buy it for that

That's shocking MPG. I'm getting about 25 from my 3.5l. Some motorway, some more spirited N-road driving.

Idbatterim

i would definitely try and sell privately. looking at carzone, the below one seems to be very similar to yours, priced at 13k although the advert was last updated 55 days ago.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/201045200151381/advert?channel=CARS

given that there are only 4 2006 320D on carzone currently, and the most expensive is a nice msport at E15,875, maybe put it up for E13950, if not biters after say 2 weeks drop in maybe E250 increments. Unless you are desperate to sell, I dont see the point in putting it up at rock bottom price.

The most important thing is alot of good quality photos and being very comprehensive with the info you give.

bmw535d

as a general rule if your not a hair dresser, 4cyl bmw's are ****e. 6 cyl or nothing. you should get a petrol 03 bmw for 7 k no probs. i wouldnt pay more than 5 for an 01

Youmarkmywords

Silvera wrote: »

I'm also considering a 318Ci...have been for a while actually.

Look at this link for plenty of info on faults, etc
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/bmw/3-series-e46-1998/

I have a '01 318ci. It's the se version so has the air con, mfsw, cd changer etc. I have it for 3 years and mind it like a baby - spotless and v well serviced, but I wouldn't expect to get any more than 5 for it. Not in this Market anyway. I suggest u lower ur budget as u don't need to spend anywhere near 7k. It does cost bucks to keep them serviced properly, but it's a really comfortable drive. I wouldn't hold back on the pedal, but still get over 30mpg. My mechanic said that every cars varies and I just got a good one! Even so, I've started doing massive mileage lately so will prob buy a newish diesel shortly.

Idbatterim

if going for a 318ci, i would go for an 02+ though, air con came as standard from 02 on and the engine went from 118 - 143bhp also fuel consumption improved. One of the big issues can be the rear subframe on those cars. I honestly reckon you should get a nice 02 now for 5k. I appreciate what people are saying about the 6 cylinder, but if you compare the (4 cylinder) 2L and the (6 cylinder) 2.2L the difference is 25bhp and the combined mpg is nearly 25% worse for the 2.2L rather than the 2L!

Elessar

I had this same dilemma 3 years ago when I wanted a BMW. I opted for a 2001 320ci (2.2L) and love it. Buckets of power, a beautiful drive and a silky smooth engine.

I got one privately which was a UK import. Try to get one with as many extras as possible. As an example mine came with Black leather sports seats, climate control, OBC, MFSW, cruise control, Harman Kardon sound system.

Everyone who has been driven in my car has commented on how smooth it is. It really is a nice drive. Absolutely drinks petrol though. I do mostly urban driving and get about 23MPG.

It's 10 years old next year and I'm constantly in two minds about changing it. It would be a shame to scrap it. Just the MPG, tax and servicing are killers. I'm itching to change....but then it's a great car, but then I also want 4 doors, but then...argh!

Idbatterim

I just took a quick browse on carzone, the below is very nice

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/TRADE-SA/201048200416181/advert?channel=CARS

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1773137

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1647864

carzone and donedeal are they places you want to keep an eye on. M sports are nice as you get the sport bumper and alloys.

Idbatterim

the though is Elesaar, unless it is an import, the spec is usually crap. and for every 320 here there are god knows how many 318's (which atleast means you have alot more options when it comes to color etc).

bmw535d

Idbatterim wrote: »

if going for a 318ci, i would go for an 02+ though, air con came as standard from 02 on and the engine went from 118 - 143bhp also fuel consumption improved. One of the big issues can be the rear subframe on those cars. I honestly reckon you should get a nice 02 now for 5k. I appreciate what people are saying about the 6 cylinder, but if you compare the (4 cylinder) 2L and the (6 cylinder) 2.2L the difference is 25bhp and the combined mpg is nearly 25% worse for the 2.2L rather than the 2L!

but if you consider, the noise, the smoothness and the character difference you would always pick the straight 6 over the 4 pot. well any car enthusiast would anyway.

Leonard Hofstadter

All proper BMWs have at least six cylinders.

Four cylinder BMWs are for those who value badges over good cars.