BMW 318i

blacklilly

Just want a bit of advice.

I'm currently considering buying a 2008 BMW 318i.

My concern is fuel consumption. I don't drive much during the week, however at week ends I can have long journeys. Does anyone know what general fuel consumption is like for this car?

Also it has 106,300m on it, I think this is slightly high for a petrol but again if you could give me some advice on this?

The car has had one previous owner

Idbatterim

how many miles do you drive at weekend and it is motorway driving? They all have a 6th gear, which is good for motorway driving, increases fuel efficiency. the facelift model was released in 2009. Id go for the 320 if i were you though op, decent bit more power, same engine as the 318, not sure if tax is the same, but even if its a band up, difference would be negligible, take a look at below link...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series_(E90)

are you looking at 2008's due to the cheaper tax?

R.O.R

My main concern would be that it's going to blow a coil pack over, and over and over and over again.

Idbatterim

better than the 320d timing chain issue though!

R.O.R

Idbatterim wrote: »

better than the 320d timing chain issue though!

Apart from 3 problems reported on Internet forums in Ireland, I've never heard of an actual car having this issue - and we've have numerous vehicles with the N47 engine on fleet (and my own).

While the coil issue isn't as expensive to fix, it did happen to every single ****ing one that we had on fleet.

blacklilly

Well I'm going from a seat Ibiza 1.2 so I think the 318i will be ok for me power wise.
I can do 200km plus at week ends (motorway and off)but it wouldn't ve every week end. I'm just not sure if the price difference between petrol and diesel models would be worth it for what I travel. So far I think I'm better with petrol.
Yes going for the 2008 due to tax.
Is 106 miles a lot though? I'm sure at this stage the timing belt should have been changed?
Is the coil issue something that keeps re occurring on these models?

Blazer

boss's car had the coil issue and once replaced about 2 years ago never happened again. His was a 08 model as well.
Yeah you're definitely not doing enough mileage for a diesel.
What's your annual? around 15k kms?

Idbatterim

Well I'm going from a seat Ibiza 1.2 so I think the 318i will be ok for me power wise.
I can do 200km plus at week ends (motorway and off)but it wouldn't ve every week end. I'm just not sure if the price difference between petrol and diesel models would be worth it for what I travel. So far I think I'm better with petrol.
Yes going for the 2008 due to tax.
Is 106 miles a lot though? I'm sure at this stage the timing belt should have been changed?
Is the coil issue something that keeps re occurring on these models?

Id go with the petrol for sure, for numerous reasons. 106k miles isnt a lot on the engine IF its been serviced regularly BUT there would be quite a few wear and tear items that could be due replacing IF they havent already been done. The tax on the car you are looking at is E390 per year, you could go for any of the below, it would take 10 years to recover the difference in tax. They are 3k cheaper, if borrowing you will also save the interest on the 3k and they have lower miles. Just worth considering. The tax on old system for 1.6 is E514... Why is it your are specifically looking at the 3 series OP? its a great car by the way, just wanting to find out what your priorities are....

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/316I-ONE/31713559270692500/advert?channel=CARS
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/318-I-M-/31413578274903020/advert?channel=CARS
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/320i--2./32013511127208740/advert?channel=CARS

blacklilly

Idbatterim wrote: »

Id go with the petrol for sure, for numerous reasons. 106k miles isnt a lot on the engine IF its been serviced regularly BUT there would be quite a few wear and tear items that could be due replacing IF they havent already been done. The tax on the car you are looking at is E390 per year, you could go for any of the below, it would take 10 years to recover the difference in tax. They are 3k cheaper, if borrowing you will also save the interest on the 3k and they have lower miles. Just worth considering. The tax on old system for 1.6 is E514... Why is it your are specifically looking at the 3 series OP? its a great car by the way, just wanting to find out what your priorities are....

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/316I-ONE/31713559270692500/advert?channel=CARS
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/318-I-M-/31413578274903020/advert?channel=CARS
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/320i--2./32013511127208740/advert?channel=CARS

When you say a number of wear and tear items, what would they be?
I've just always loved the 3 series, don't particularly like the 1 series and the 5 serious is just a bit too big for me.
As for priorities I'm not sure I have any other than I just like the car.
Thanks for the links btw:)

blacklilly

Idbatterim wrote: »

Id go with the petrol for sure, for numerous reasons. 106k miles isnt a lot on the engine IF its been serviced regularly BUT there would be quite a few wear and tear items that could be due replacing IF they havent already been done. The tax on the car you are looking at is E390 per year, you could go for any of the below, it would take 10 years to recover the difference in tax. They are 3k cheaper, if borrowing you will also save the interest on the 3k and they have lower miles. Just worth considering. The tax on old system for 1.6 is E514... Why is it your are specifically looking at the 3 series OP? its a great car by the way, just wanting to find out what your priorities are....

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/316I-ONE/31713559270692500/advert?channel=CARS
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/318-I-M-/31413578274903020/advert?channel=CARS
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/320i--2./32013511127208740/advert?channel=CARS

When you say a number of wear and tear items, what would they be?
I've just always loved the 3 series, don't particularly like the 1 series and the 5 serious is just a bit too big for me.
As for priorities I'm not sure I have any other than I just like the car.
Thanks for the links btw:)

Convert to LPG if you can get it at a decent price, conversion is a grand though so if not doing the miles might not be worth it?

R.O.R

blacklilly wrote: »

Is the coil issue something that keeps re occurring on these models?

Yes, again and again and again. I think I know the one you are looking at on Carzone, and I think I know it's been in the the BMW dealers 5 times for coils

Blazer wrote: »

boss's car had the coil issue and once replaced about 2 years ago never happened again. His was a 08 model as well.
Yeah you're definitely not doing enough mileage for a diesel.
What's your annual? around 15k kms?

He was quite lucky then.

blacklilly

R.O.R wrote: »

Yes, again and again and again. I think I know the one you are looking at on Carzone, and I think I know it's been in the the BMW dealers 5 times for coils ;

Do tell more?

Idbatterim

Do tell more?

The coil packs in these engine are prone to failure, dont think this applies to the 1.6L engine, just the 2L, but Im not 100% sure... I dont knwo if the below would be of interest to you OP?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3940864

blacklilly

Idbatterim wrote: »

The coil packs in these engine are prone to failure, dont think this applies to the 1.6L engine, just the 2L, but Im not 100% sure... I dont knwo if the below would be of interest to you OP?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3940864

It's a lovely car but I really don't want going any bigger than a 3 series and don't want to be landed with huge tax either. I'm considering an A4 now, doesn't seem to be as many available as there are 3 series but maybe that's a good thing.

bazz26

How about an Alfa Romeo 159, low mileage, higher spec and a year younger:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Alfa-Romeo/159/1.8-MPI/31413579892217130/


Or a Honda Accord, very reliable and decent poke from the petrol engine:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Accord/2.0-TYPE/613261902214790/

blacklilly

Oh the Alfa is nice but I think I'm best to concentrate on one model, too much choice for me is bad as I'm incredibly indecisive at the best of times.
I think I'll more than likely go for an A4 if I can get one at the right price

bazz26

blacklilly wrote: »

Oh the Alfa is nice but I think I'm best to concentrate on one model, too much choice for me is bad as I'm incredibly indecisive at the best of times.
I think I'll more than likely go for an A4 if I can get one at the right price

It's all good and well concentrating on one model but it should to be right one at that, test driving a few of these cars will help make up your mind fairly quickly. Only focusing on one make is not a good idea imo..

blacklilly

bazz26 wrote: »

It's all good and well concentrating on one model but it should to be right one at that, test driving a few of these cars will help make up your mind fairly quickly. Only focusing on one make is not a good idea imo..

Well I've driven the following cars:

BMW 1,3 & 5 Series
A3 & A4
Mini
hyundai coupe
Volvo S40 & S60
Saab 9-3 & 9-5

Of all the above, I preferred the 3 series with the A4 coming a very close second. I never really considered the mini as I just don't particulary like them.
There are so many cars I can choose from but I think it's important to narrow down the ones I'm really interested in. I have been looking for a car for about 4 months now.

from_atozinc

Idbatterim wrote: »

better than the 320d timing chain issue though!

Does the timing chain issue only affect the diesel BMWs ??

bazz26

Only the 2.0 litre.