Pimping-out my BMW 318iS

Advantages: Amazing control/handling of car and begs to be upgraded (is well worth it)
Disadvantages: Need to upgrade a lot of different things, so have money saved/ready

...If you are going to buy this car, you need to know this: * The "i" in BMW 318iS stand for "injection" (which is good/new) * The "s" stands for "sport" * "Coupe" means "a fixed roof and 2 doors" My car's year: 1994 My mileage: 100,000 kilometers Engine: V6 - 1800cc Service problems: nothing major/expensive yet Original tires: Michellin "?" (15 X 7) Current tires: Pirelli "6000" (15 X 7) FEATURES: The convertibles are not worth buying, as they leak in water when it rains heavily. What is the point of having a roof if it leaks and can't be fixed. I also think the convertible roofs on the old 3 series bmw models look tacky. Much better to have a fixed roof and this car has a sun-roof anyway. But.... ELECTRIC...

YEODIE 02.10.2007 (10.10.2007) · Read review
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Review of BMW 318is Coupé

BMW318iSE

Advantages: A prestigous car giving a feeling of safety and comfort. d
Disadvantages: Latest models not as well finished off as the earlier ones.

...My wife and I have owned a 3 series BMW since 1974. The first one was a 316i (1596cc)with manual gearbox. The car was completely reliable and very well made, and the paint finish was faultless. Servicing was every 6,000 miles, although perhaps more frequent than other cars at that time, the cost of the service was as cheap, perhaps cheaper than that of other foreign cars. The second BMW we bought, in August 1997, was a 318iSE (1796cc)with automatic gearbox, again completely reliable but the paint finish was showing signs of not being as well finished off as the previous model, especially around the wheel acrches, inner boot lid bonnet etc. The servicing intervals however were longer, every 8,000 miles and again the servicing price was competative, the BMW labour costs seemingly cheaper than those of a Ford garage. In September 2001 we...

ChoccyBoy 21.04.2003 · Read review
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Review of BMW 318i

BMW 325i convertable

Advantages: Fair price, electric roof, leather interior, CD player and, of course 'blindingly rapid'.
Disadvantages: Quite expensive parts, can tend to guzzle petrol depending on the speed.

...Two years ago my brother was serching for a car which had class, good looks, gave a good performance, a soft-top and space for his golf clubs. He found a mattalic purple BMW 325i convertable which gave him everything above. The only thing it didn't give him was the good performance - instead it's performance was excellent. The soft-top folded back itself - what would you expect? The car came with black leather interior, a CD player, alloy wheels, a standard BMW alarm system and lots more. Insurance can obviously be high for a quality motor as with the BMW 325i. If anyone was going to buy this car my advice to them would be that: *BMW parts can be expensive, although replica parts are available at a fraction of the cost. *It may be necessary to buy a wind-breaker, (which breaks the sometimes violent wind when the roof is down...

tom13 03.05.2001 · Read review
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Review of BMW 318i

Beem me up

Advantages: Build quality, driver enjoyment and strong resale values
Disadvantages: More expensive than some brands, lack of standard options

...BMW 318D M Sport Intending to replace our three year old Rav4 we were looking to dip our toe into the murky pool of the premium brand, junior executive range. In this class the choice comes down to four realistic options: the 3 Series BMW, Audi's A4, the Mercedes C-Class or the Lexus IS. This is one of the most fiercely contested markets which means there is excellent choice for the buyer. The A4 and C-Class have recently had new models released; this means that nearly new new models are priced quite high. It also means that there are good bargains to be had picking up nearly new older models, although that is what you'll get, an old model with the subsequent hit to resale values. The Lexus is slightly older but has held its value well and trades at slightly higher prices than the BMW, quite likely reflecting the better level...

brereton66 17.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of BMW 318D M Sport

Even The Indicators Are Optional Extras...

Advantages: Desirable, Reliable, Robust
Disadvantages: Arrogant Image, Price

..., and the driver was always happy to race the car to hear that happy wail. I always promised myself at least a 320, first by the time I was 21 and, when that dream wasn't realised, by the time I was 30. Sadly, fate intervened, firstly in the guise of finances -- or the lack of them -- and then later in the guise of the IS200, which was a more financially rewarding package based on similar ideals to the BMW, but when I reached the tender age of 31 I finally managed to get my hands on a BMW 318i SE. The model was a 2001 Y-reg and by now BMW had changed the way their cars were monikered. Originally, the way to identify a BMW's engine size was via the numerics that made up its name: the first digit (3) was the model, so you had the 3-series, 5-series, 6-series and 7-series; there was even, briefly, an eight-series. The last two digits represented...

markd_uk 04.10.2004 · Read review
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Review of BMW 318i SE

carefully does it. What with a beamer

Advantages: style, elegance, sheer driving experience
Disadvantages: engine problems with 1.8 engines

...My wife bought this vehicle when she had to commute up and down to Newcastle every week. She covered at least 1000 miles per week. They are great cars to drive but have to be serviced regularly and correctly. Unfortunately, the car is now in the garage awaiting a replacement engine. It is a 1995 N reg 318i (1796 cc). It was only purchased because it was black and she had always wanted a black BMW. At the time I thought she should have bought the nice diesel version but that was dark green and a bit of a no starter. The colour not the car. The acceleration and the performance are second to none. The breaking is excellent but be careful not to over do it. The main concern to new users is the fact it is rear wheel drive so they can be a little hard to handle at first. The local mechanic recommended putting a bag of sand in the boot to...

limmey 29.11.2007 · Read review
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Review of BMW 318i

Its a tidy Beemer

Advantages: Great looking car. Smooth ride
Disadvantages: Price. Room

.... The most famous of the shapes. The Coupe. The 2 door sporty model of the range. The Convertible. A soft top that offers an alternative to the coupe. The Touring. An estate for those that need a little more room. Most Companies offer entirely different models to cater for these requests. (i.e. Ford used to offer the Mondeo,Orion,Escort) BMW simply alter their shape slightly but rely on one standard car. It works for them and I think it is the best way to offer cars. My 3 Series is the 318 Ci Coupe. Let me tell you about it. Styling. -------- The appearance of the 318 Coupe is nothing if not startling. Benefiting highly from its total revamp just over 2 years ago, the coupe just oozes power. Look at it long enough and it might start growling. One thing that BMW have done to the 3 series is round off its early 90's edges that it...

andycharger 30.01.2002 · Read review
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Review of BMW 318Ci

BMW Sytner Chigwell

Advantages: Great customer service, aparently no matter who you are.
Disadvantages: Services can be a bit pricey, but not as bad as you would think.

...I have visited BMW Sytner a few times over the last 3-4 years & I have to say, they have the best customer service i have experienced at any dealership, bar none. I am not your typical kind of guy you would see in a BMW showroom, I am 27 years old but look like I am 17, I probably go there looking a bit rag tag aswell (I think i do it on purpose, i am not fond of face value). But I always feel that they treat me with the same courtesy as all of their customers I have been to Sytner for 3 series parts a few times & no matter how small the problem, the staff are always very helpful & polite. They took their time to track down some E36 washers I could have probably got anywhere & smiled at me when i thought they would charge me for it!, lol. Specifically, i find parts prices are not that bad at all compared to mercedes or renault. I...

krslim 23.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of BMW

Could Be Better For The Money

Advantages: Good mpg, looks fantastic, feels just like a hardtop when the roof is up
Disadvantages: Storage, legroom and lack of power

...I have a 318Ci Sport E46 Cabriolet (2004). The car looks brilliant, even more so with the roof down, however, looks just a nice and sporty with the roof up. Safety. All in all the car is safe enough. It has a rollover protection system that will operate in the event that the wheels leave the road, these are situated behind the passenger headrests. And the front windscreen pillars are reinforced as well. Comfort. Not a lot of room, especially in the back, very cramped and not alot of storage space in the cabin, which tends to mean the door bins are always full. The boot is suprisingly deep and holds a lot. The sports seats are fully electric, with 3 memory settings, and heated, however, your outer thighs feel really cold against the unheated side cushions. The foot pedals are very close together in true BMW style, which...

Dannymc69 05.12.2008 (29.12.2008) · Read review
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Review of BMW 318i Convertible

A top notch compromise

Advantages: BMW quality, Appeal, Looks
Disadvantages: Not a load lugger, Pricey

...I opted out of my company car scheme last year. Consequently, I spent a very long time trawling the market, looking to replace the company car that was about to be returned (A MB C-Class Estate). My life style was still the same so was looking for a car I could do 'cruising' higher mileages in for work whilst providing me lots of luggage space for 'activity' holidays few times a year. I looked at the following (in alpha order): Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Sportwagon Audi A4 1.8TDi Estate BMW 318 1.8i SE Touring MB C220 Classic Estate MG ZT-T+ Saab 9-3 2.0i Estate Volvo V70 2.4 SE Estate (ex-demonstrator) All of these cars are very competant. My main buying criteria were Drive, Equipment/Options, and Cost of ownership over 3 years - with a max £24k budget. As I was going to be taking out a personal loan (repaid by my car...

HappyHarry 08.01.2003 · Read review
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Review of BMW 318i