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BMW 3 Series 316I

  • 21-05-2012 1:02pm
    #1
    peace2804
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 435 ✭✭


    Hi all,

    I am thinking of changing my banger and buy a 2003 BMW 3 Series 316I, it's a 1.8 petrol with 80k miles.
    Diesel cars are so expensive and based on the fact that I do less than 10k a year I think that Petrol will suit me, besides if the price of petrol will go up then the price of diesel will go up too.

    I want to hear you thoughts about this car in terms of reliability, MPG, common problems and issues and finally the cost of maintaining/repairing the car.

    Cheers lads


Comments

  • #2
    Connavar
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 849 ✭✭✭Connavar


    I had asked about a 316i here a few weeks ago and got a resounding, go for a 318 instead.


  • #3
    ants09
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 715 ✭✭✭ants09


    peace2804 wrote: »

    I want to hear you thoughts about this car in terms of reliability, MPG, common problems and issues and finally the cost of maintaining/repairing the car.

    Cheers lads

    First thing is make sure it was services to dealer recomendations, get it check over before you buy it and hook it into a diagnostic's machine.
    Common faults is crank and cam shaft sensors, make sure the breather pipe was change if not you could be looking at some nightmare work in relation to oil leaks.

    lovely car to drive but not that powerfull as only 1.8 liter for the size of it.


  • #4
    Leonard Hofstadter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,541 ✭✭✭Leonard Hofstadter


    I'm fairly sure that someone posted up here recently about those Valvetronic engines being liable to cause expensive problems if they were not serviced on time all the time.

    So, a full verifiable service history is an absolute must in my opinion, or at the very least clear evidence of service history over the past 3-4 years.

    I wouldn't expect a 316i to be winning any performance races either, 116 bhp is not a lot for a rear wheel drive car to be honest. The 318i is a better bet really, although if you're not doing a lot of miles, the six cylinder models are worth considering, especially as they are more reliable and more likely to have been cared for by an enthusiast. That said, the 318i has 143 bhp so it should be decent enough if you don't want to be paying 2.2 tax.


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