N reg auto version (from new) is slow of the mark mated to the 1.6 engine. The engine needs to be worked hard or the auto transmission kept in sports mode to make the car shift and at high revs the engine is noisy. The car is also unresponsive to the throttle if you need to make a clean fast ... Read review
BMW 3 Series - Saloon - Rear (RWD) - 6 Speed Manual, 6 Speed Automatic - 1995 cc - Max Speed: 130 mph - 143 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: M Sport, Sport, SE, ES
BMW 1 Series - Hatchback - Rear (RWD) - 6 Speed Automatic, 6 Speed Manual - 1995 cc - Max Speed: 127 mph - 122 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: M Sport, Sport, SE, ES
BMW 3 Series - Saloon - Rear (RWD) - 6 Speed Manual, 6 Speed Automatic - 1995 cc - Max Speed: 137 mph - 150, 170 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: ES, SE, Sport, M Sport
BMW 3 Series - Saloon - Rear (RWD) - 6 Speed Manual, 6 Speed Automatic - 1995 cc - Max Speed: 140, 143 mph - 163, 177 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: ES, SE, Sport, M Sport
Advantages: BMW badge Disadvantages: slow, aging design
N reg auto version (from new) is slow of the mark mated to the 1.6 engine. The engine needs to be worked hard or the auto transmission kept in sports mode to make the car shift and at high revs the engine is noisy. The car is also unresponsive to the throttle if you need to make a clean fast getaway at a busy junction. There appears to be a whole full second delay before anything responds, not good for zipping in and out of traffic. Car is quiet ... ...engine is quiet..sometimes I think I have stalled the engine.
The doors never shut cleanly either, always needing a good slam to make them close properly, all passengers underestimate the amount of force needed to successfully close the doors often trying 3-4 times! Sounds trivial, but on a BMW you would expect the doors to shut with precision.
The engine bay is clean and tidy and all the bits you need to get to for ... more
N reg auto version (from new) is slow of the mark mated to the 1.6 engine. The engine needs to be worked hard or the auto transmission kept in sports mode to make the car shift and at high revs the engine is noisy. The car is also unresponsive to the throttle if you need to make a clean fast getaway at a busy junction. There appears to be a whole full second delay before anything responds, not good for zipping in and out of traffic. Car is quiet on the motorway, low wind noise, and on idle the engine is quiet..sometimes I think I have stalled the engine.
The doors never shut cleanly either, always needing a good slam to make them close properly, all passengers underestimate the amount of force needed to successfully close the doors often trying 3-4 times! Sounds trivial, but on a BMW you would expect the doors to shut with precision.
The engine bay is clean and tidy and all the bits you need to get to for routine maintainance is easy to get to..though the dip stick is a bit twisted..works fine though.
Interior is not the interior of the saloon version from the same era, and is black, and well, black..BMW dials are extremely clear though. But some switches are obsured from view e.g. heated window switch. The steering wheel is also offset to the left slightly, I like it dead head on. Rear space seems claustraphobic due to the small rear windows, and the rear backs BMW use for the front seats get scuffed.
The remote alarm fob is also so easy to press inadvertenly, the button is not recessed and if you are standing near the car with the key in your pocket it is possible to accidently lock or unlock the car.
Aircon draws into the cabin some fumes from the engine and gives us a headache on long journeys..the air con compressor was replaced twice because it made cow mooing noises, and the brake discs were replaced at only 15,000 miles as they caused braking judder 'it happens' was the technicians comment.
Steering is nice and tight, braking firm, but the car needs more power (or rather a bigger engine) My feeling is this car is getting long in the tooth with cars such as the Audi A3 being more roomy better...and the new BMW compact should be along soon....
Advantages: Great drive, nice kudos badge Disadvantages: want the M3 now
The BMW 316i saloon is my first experience of owning and driving this superior marque. I’ve driven 15k miles since buying the car new six months ago and I’m really impressed by the quality, the driving experience and overall package. The only addition I’ve made to the car, which is a necessity in my book, is a CD multi-changer which sits in a special pod hidden in the boot compartment (very neat touch).
Driving the car is a real ... ...‘don’t want to get up to go to work’ mornings. The car has a 1.9 litre engine and good acceleration and power characteristics, it sounds sporty (has a growl in the exhaust) and pulls away very smoothly in all gears and road conditions.
It has plenty of power in all the gears, plenty of mid-range, and will cruise well above legal limits with very little effort. You can expect mid thirties m.p.g. even if you thrash it a bit. Handling ...
runmedownmissy 03.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW316i
UDATE AUGUST 2002
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The time has come for me to hand back by Beamer....and I'm gutted. For three years this car has been a real joy to drive...everyday! The fact that I have to hand the car back makes that drive even more enjoyable. Unfortunately, my company has changed its company car scheme and BMW is no longer an option. Really bad news for me. If I was in the position I would either buy my exisiting car or better still ... ...out better then privaste motoring. So it's hopefully gonna be a Mazda6 next or more likely a Renault Laguna. Neither will come even close to the BMW 3 series!
A few updates to the original Op. Since purchasing my 3 series, the SE now comes complete with the following options as part of the SE package:
* Rear parking sensors
* Improved alloy wheels
* Cruise control
* Stereo controls on steering wheel
* Rear electric windows
* Automatic air ...
Asif 02.08.2001 (01.08.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW316i
Advantages: Very affordable and cheap to run. Disadvantages: Nothing that I can think of.
I have a 4 door P'Reg BMW (316i). It is a great runner and has kept on going without any major problems. Unlike the smaller 2 door version, this 1.6 litre engine gives a bit of space and comfort in the back of the car without having to be too cramped. The only thing is that you have to watch that you don't hit any curbs because that will take off your wheel alignment and you will end up with tyre problems and a £150 bill to fix the thing. The standard ... ...the apolstrey has lasted around 3 years and is still holding together very nicely. The dip lights are fun to play with but when buying a BMW, try and get one which has fog lights already installed, or you may end up footing a few hundred pounds to get some in. ...
sp101 27.11.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW316i
Advantages: The name, smart car Disadvantages: Expensive, not many features,
This is what i would like to buy as my next car because it is pure genius. It looks fantastic and it is affordable at £14150 (after recent price cuts of £745).
At lot of the price though, in my opinion goes to the name - 'BMW' and therefore you cannot except a whole load of benefits. However you do get as standard: ABS; central locking; drivers/front passenger airbags; elec windows; power assisted steering; and a whole load of options (after which ... ...1.9 litre 105 bhp engine does 0-62 in a mediocre 11.9 seconds. Maximum speed of 119 mph and insurance group rating of 11.
After writing this opinion and looking at the car - I want one now! (however i will have to pay this one off first - for the next 45 months!).
I absolutely love the car - visit www.bmw.co.uk for more details. ...
Mick1293 09.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of BMW316i
Hi all. I have just bought a black 316i saloon. At first I thought to myself "oh my god what what have I done"!!, as everywhere i seemed to go people seem to stare, and no doubt think I'm some wana be gangstar!! But as I've got used to it i find it to be an absolutely great car. The handling seems to be the best part about this car and this is obviously due to the rear wheel drive. Having a 1.8i engine in mine certainly helps it pull it off the line ... ...The only downfall with this car is the interior is a bit boring, its like being locked in a room with your granddad or something but as long as you dont mind that you can certainly have some fun. I would give this car 4/5 for handling, 5/5 for reliability, and 4/5 for looks. Overall very good car!! ...
surveyben2073 26.06.2008
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: somewhat helpful Review of BMW316i
Advantages: comfort and handling Disadvantages: cost to run
A nice man in a white van decided to go into the back of my little Renault Clio and wrote it off, therefore having children, I needed a car pretty quickly, as their school was too far to go by bus or train. A friend that wasn't using his BMW any more said that I could have his. So I test drove it and decided there and then this was the car for me.
Price?
The price of a BMW316i compact differs to whether you buy this car new or second hand. The prices range from £14,500 new to £1500 second hand in poor condition. I paid £2,500 for my 1998 BMW from a friend, which was in great condition, however had high mileage. The car I got had a full BMW service history. As it did have a full service, I decided that the price was good for the car. I am sure you can get some great car for about this price if you were buying new, however ...
jackiehayes 17.09.2006 (19.09.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of BMW316i Sport
Advantages: Cool lines and a sleek exterior Disadvantages: None
Well this is the first opinion for me and if you know me, everyone is Tony. If you leave a message on the guestbook, you will get a typical Tone response.
Anyway, on with my opinion.
For the past 2 Years, I have been in the possession of a BMW Compact.
The model that I own is the 316i. It is my company car for working as an insurance rep.
Travelling all over the South of England, I must have racked up well over 70,000 miles in its short lifetime.
Yet it runs exactly the same as the day I collected it from the showroom.
The looks of the compact, I feel, surpass anything offered by the rest of the range, apart from maybe the Z3 and the M3. In fact, the most modern version of the Compact has an entirely reworked body shape and a much revised exterior lighting system that lives improved luminescence at night.
Inside the car is ...
Winner 21.02.2002
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of BMW316i Sport
Advantages: Great buys at the moment Disadvantages: Will be replaced in 2005
After a somewhat disastrous encounter with a VW I decided that in my next car, I wanted to stay German as I was impressed with the build quality of the VW but that I wanted a little more prestige but without a huge price tag. A BMW 3 series probably doesn't say cheap to most people but I have just purchased the BMW 1.6 ES special edition for £16, 495 including metallic paint.
What do you get for your money?
With this special edition I have got a 1.8 litre engine with 150 BHP.
Standard features of this car include:
Air conditioning (manual)
CD Player
162 alloy wheels
Electric front widows
M3 steering wheel and gear stick (no controls)
Sports suspension
Anthracite headlining
Storage compartment pocket
The base price is £15, 995 and metallic paint will set you back a further £500 ish. This car is ...
nickjj78 07.09.2004
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of BMW 316i
