advice on which bimmer

[maybeabmw]

Im looking into getting a bmw. Id be coming off a 93 audi. I am considering a 92+ 325 is, 318is, or 318ti. Are there any major problems with these cars??? what is the tunability of all of them as well? The 318 seems to have a tiny engine, is there a good way to tune that up a notch? Im looking to spend under 8k on this car, the budget is a bit low going into school. Thanks in advance!

[caddy_patty]

I had a '92 325i (4 door sedan) that I purchased new. I logged 200,000 miles on it before trading it for an '02 330xi.

I have no experience with the 318 motors, but I can tell you this about the 325's: The damn thing was bullet proof. Powerful, reliable, and it moved that sedan without any hesitation. It never leaked a drop of oil or coolant in all the years I owned it. (I must admit that it was ALWAYS dealer serviced, oil changed every 4,000 miles).

My rule of thumb: When it doubt, go for the bigger motor.

Also, the 325's had features that might not always have been offered in 318's (leather, cruise, computer, etc....I think). I'm just saying that you might find 325s to be better outfitted.

Good luck.

[DMC12]

Originally posted by maybeabmw
Are there any major problems with these cars

Every single BMW owner I have known is pissed off at BMW because of mechanical defects. A good friend of mine saved for many years to buy his (he was going to buy a Corvette), and has had to bring it to the dealer every month for some repair. He says he gets a free detail job whenever they do warranty repairs, but that doesn't sound like a good deal to me...

[Rossco]

All I can say is that DMC12 obviously doesn't know many BMW owners.

By the way I notice you don't list what car you own - is that because you're afraid to let anyone know what you own! - in case they criticize it.

Rossco
1996 E36 320i

[Sniperseal]

Very well said. I have a 03' 325xi and i have not had a SINGLE problem in 4 months of owning the car.

[tenzoracerevovii]

Originally posted by Sniperseal
Very well said. I have a 03' 325xi and i have not had a SINGLE problem in 4 months of owning the car.

Please don't take this as a flame because it's not, but 4 months isn't a long time. a freakin KIA can go for 4 months w/o a problem....but going on the 5th.........................

[DMC12]

Originally posted by Rossco
All I can say is that DMC12 obviously doesn't know many BMW owners.

By the way I notice you don't list what car you own - is that because you're afraid to let anyone know what you own! - in case they criticize it.

Rossco
1996 E36 320i

I don't need to list the DMC12... its in my name. The other cars are inconsequential. Also, listing too much personal info on the Web is just plain stupid.

Peace:bandit:

[ExCape]

I own a 92 318is, great car. I have leather,computer but no cruise. As for the engine, its not powerful but its not incredibly slow either, great car for a student (like me). The engine sounds nice and does 0-60 in about 10 seconds, which isnt that fast but isnt that bad either. Besides the ladies will love it and u cant go wrong with that. I've had no experience with the 325is but my guess is if you have the bucks its the better choice for the extra punch out of the inline 6.

[dollarauto]

remeber the old commercial for some car company where they welded the engine compartment shut... except for the oil changes you can do that to the bmw's currently i own 4 of them mostly late 80's and early 90's all run great and all have well over 150,000 miles on them. any one who has owned a bimmer and had problems obviously was doing something wrong.

[NSX]

Originally posted by tenzoracerevovii
a freakin KIA can go for 4 months w/o a problem....but going on the 5th.........................

But you've always got that 5 year warranty Well, in Canada anyways.

A guy on my street has a 330ci. Nothing wrong with it...still growls like an underfed M3!:coolguy:

[lowridder11]

330 anywhere in you price range?

[Hoosier]

Originally posted by DMC12


Every single BMW owner I have known is pissed off at BMW because of mechanical defects. A good friend of mine saved for many years to buy his (he was going to buy a Corvette), and has had to bring it to the dealer every month for some repair. He says he gets a free detail job whenever they do warranty repairs, but that doesn't sound like a good deal to me...

Is this guy kidding?!?!? The DMC12 was notoriously a mechanical piece of crap. What are you doing on a BMW forum if you think thy are such terrible cars. Moderator?!?! phttt.

I have 30,000 miles on my 2001 330i, no mechanical problem at all.

[Bijan]

I've owned 2 BMW's which I bought brand new. one is 1988 325 which now has 217,000 miles on it and the other is 1994 325i convertable which has 105,000 miles on it. On both cars other than the oil changes and tune ups which I have done myself, I have not had to go for any major repairs other than the standard repairs and maintenances. Other than the water pump which seems to go out every 75 to 80 thousand miles on the 88 and 100000 miles on the 94, and also the fuel pump in the fuel tank of the 88 model which goes out about the same mileage every thing else is just great .

[romabimmer]

BMWs are above average for reliability. Much better than VW Group products.

The 3 series has always had very good reliability even compared to other BMW products. Mostly because they lack many of the electro-gizmos of higher BMW's and when they do get them the technology has been around for awhile and "perfected."

Have had 3 BMW's, '96 328is, '00 328i and E46 M3 problems:

'96 - Bad heated mirror

'00 - Loose driver's door weather-stripping

M3 - nothing so far

The cars are solid, very solid. And I'm very hard on my cars, in 7 years I've gone through 5 sets of tires, 4 sets of brake pads, 2 sets of shocks and most of the front suspension bushing on the 2000 328i in less then 20,000 miles. Cars held up well, no rattles, leaks or vibrations.

[Celsdogg]

this one is gettin a lil heated. . .

in any case i would defiantly go for either of the 325's. i am not sure wut the sport package intailed that year, so i am not sure if they added any engine mods. for the most part prolly like a spoiler or something to that effect.

i believe the 318 of that year had the m30 engine, i think. that puts out about 130hp, a lil higher then your average car. in my opinion most cars today come with between 110 - 130 hp, no sure about torque.

i am an enthusiest for anything bmw, however i would never purchase a 318. at the risk of getting flamed by 318 owners, i believe that the 318 is great for what it is, an entry level bmw. however, i would buy a 318ti for the right price, i think that would be fun to drive


Concerning reliability:
I drive a 1991 E30 325i. i got the car nov. 2001 with 59k on it. today, feb 2003 i have 90k on it. i have had no major issues with my bimmer. the only thing i have had much to pay for was the timing belt replacement, which all owners of bimmers with the M20 engine should do every 60k miles. otherwise the car always runs perfectly never any probs, except in snow which any bimmer owner will tell you, bimmers are not meant for snow, excluding X cars. over all bimmers are great relaiable, quick cars with exceptional handling, breaking, and creature comforts.