BMW 3 Series 318 is

what a car, great handling, build, economy

this car runs so smooth on the road it is like the key has not even been turned on and already i cant believe its true that engineering is so advanced these days especially in Germany.

all of my favorite cars are from Germany andmost of the are bmw's they are the best cars the have been on the road for so long i think they can go even further if they make the 3 series in to something bigger and join all of their ideas then they will make a mastermind project.

thanks

d3bz

The ultimate driving machine indeed!

I bought a 1998 5 speed standard 6 months ago and am delighted with her. It sips gas, accelerates like a rocket and still turns heads at every intersection.

Gleaming black paint on black leather results in the ultimate sports coupe. At a weight of only 2800 pounds she handles like a go cart on rails.

Forget the new Asian coupes. For 1/4 of the price find a well maintained BMW and enjoy German quality.

just would like to mention i can get 0-60mph in just over 5 seconds, and i'm about to tell you how, you will need very to be very fast, and have good gera change timing, in first gear, after taking off, take the rev to aprox 6,900, as fast as you can, change to 2nd gear, take the revs to 6,500-6,700, that is between 55-60mph, and again change to 3rd, the acceleration u put into 2nd would have pushed you over 60-mph as you just put it into 3rd, do it correctly and you got a beast, well at least to around 60-70mph don't get me wrong it is still fast after that speed .

I have owned three E36 BMW coupes, a 1995 318is a 1996 323i, and a 1999 318is. The E36 seriously impressed me and still does. A well maintained E36 will still compare well or even out drive many modern family saloons and hatchbacks available for the same money especially the 6 cylinder models, however this review will only be covering the 318is variant.

As the E36 coupe range has two distinct periods, I have split the 318 is review into two parts. The first part dealing with pre 1996 cars and the second part post 1996.

Pre 1996

The 318is was originally launched in the UK in 1992 as part of a line up that was as follows:

316i 103bhp

318is 16v 140bhp (1800cc)

320i 150bhp

325i 193bhp

Launched in 1992 with the M42 series 1.8 litre 16valve engine, the 318is was part of the of the pre 1996 E36 coupe line up as the most powerful 4 cylinder engine.

It is reported that early E36 BMW's suffered with some minor build quality issues like creaking trim and fragile plastics but this was common to all early E36 BMW's not just the coupe. By 1993 these issues had been largely addressed.

On a safety equipment note regarding all E36 variants, it wasn't until 1993\4 that a driver airbag became standard in the E36. An airbag was available' retro' fitted from dealers for earlier cars, but was contained within a rather ungainly 4 spoke wheel. The standard' from the factory' airbag wheel was a much more pleasing and sporty three spoke design. This design was in turn replaced during 1998\99 with another three spoke design that featured a larger horn area that also featured in the saloon and touring variants. A Passenger airbag was never standard but was available as an option towards the end of the production run, but not many cars are fitted with this option.

The pre 1996 1800cc M42 318is engine has a known issue with head gaskets blowing due to the design of the seal from the factory. The cost of repairing this problem and it's consequences on pre 1995\96 cars can be very expensive. The youngest of the 1800cc models will be now be 13 years old and are available for under '£1000 so the cost of repairs can now be almost as much as the value of the car itself, so unless you find an absolutely mint 1800cc version for sale that has had the work done (and receipts to prove it) I would avoid the M42 engined model (especially a multi owner high mileage example) and aim for a post 1995\96 M44 1900cc engined model for this reason alone. By a good one and it will be one the best vehicles you own, however buy a pup and the bills will be large, there is no such thing as a' cheap' BMW.

Common to all E36 BMW's are issues with wear and tear in rear suspension and axle bushes and front wishbones. This usually occurs after 60K and is detectable when going over lateral bumps or drain covers in the road. The rear will have a loose feel and you will feel a' shoggle' from the back end. In severe cases the steering will display heavy vibration at speed. This happens to them all, and it isn't a fault as such as BMW treat these components as consumables. If the car you own or want to buy has this do not panic. Budget '£150- '£200 a corner to get it sorted. The pay off for this design and the sophisticated' z link' rear suspension setup (first seen on the Z1) is one of the sharpest chassis in the business.

BMW's during the period of E36 production had their servicing schedules determined by a series of lights below the rev counter and speedometer in the dashboard. The cars used an algebraic formula and engine sensors to determine when the servicing was required, as well as logging fault codes which can be uploaded by the dealer. If a car has just been serviced all five green lights will be showing. The fewer green lights that are showing the closer to a service the car is. If the service is due then a yellow light will be on, if the light is red then the car is severely overdue. How quickly the green lights go out is determined by the type of driving. If you drive the car hard the lights can all go out as little as 6K, with lighter use between 9 and10K.

Something to be aware of is that many car spares outlets especially those that specialize in German or European vehicles sell a small device for around '£10- '£15 that can be plugged into the engine management socket in the engine bay (a black cover located in the left of the engine and looks like a fluid cap) that dealers use. This device has the ability to reset the service lights all to green, so if the vehicle you are buying has all the lights lit, do not take this as read and ask to see receipts or the stamp in the book for evidence of the service. If the owner is not able to do so then assume somebody has only reset the lights, and the car is due a service and budget approx '£200- '£300.

A recall that affects all E36 coupes requires the lower part of the steering column to be replaced. This is a factory recall that will be done by a BMW dealer. It will be easy to tell if your car has had this done as there should be an article in the service history showing this work has been done, but in the absence of this, look underneath and you will see a bright and shiny part of the steering which will stand out from the rest of the components. If you are still in doubt, then call any BMW dealer and they will be able to refer to the BMW GB database. A BMW dealer should not charge if the recall is outstanding.

Something else to watch out for on all models regardless of the year is the electric window closure mechanism. If the window is closed and a door is opened, the window should drop slightly by 5-10mm. When the door is closed again the window should then go up again in the same way to seal against the door frame rubber. If the window does not do this then you will require a sensor or motor to be replaced. Budget approx '£100 for this work. The other thing to watch out for in the same area, which requires the same parts to be replaced, is the window closure motion when the door is closed and you are inside. The windows should be a one touch operation to go up, but if the window gets half way up and then retreats it could be as simple as the seal needing lubricating or again the motor or sensor replaced.

If the remote alarm\locking (where fitted) key fob is in a tatty state, again do not panic. A BMW dealer can code a new fob for you for approx '£70. It is worth noting that some of the Alarms\immobilizers fitted where Thatcham compliant. Others were not it is worth checking before buying as you may have to pay for additional security at the insistence of your insurance company. If the alarm is a closure alarm it worth checking that this functions correctly too.

Post 1996

The post 1996 M44 engined 318is was a subtly improved car. With the 320i now dropped and the new generation of 6 cylinder engines introduced, the improved 318is effectively replaced the 320i as the mid range performer. The new line up was as follows: 316i 103bhp 4 cyl

318is 16v (1.9) 140bhp 4 cyl

323i (2.5) 170bhp 6cyl

328i 193bhp 6cyl

The new engine was smoother with improved torque but maintaining the same power output of 140 bhp. The 1.9 engine also used a more modern version of the Bosch engine management system which improved efficiency and economy, although performance was not significantly better. Crucially the head gasket issues of the M42 engine were now gone. The post 1996 1.9 litre engined model confusingly still kept the 318is badge despite being a 1.9 engine. Interior quality was better, standard equipment was slightly improved with the introduction of a high level rear brake light and auto dim rear view mirror, and steering height adjustment became standard (although a radio was still an option!).

Further detail improvements were a front grill restyle and equipment upgrade during 1998 (the double kidney shapes are larger and the steering wheel will be the later design) Also the mirrors where improved for a wider view, and the (optional) air conditioning controls improved with an impressive for the time dual zone setup (a first in its class). The digital aircon display fitted to the E36 can fail with decent used units quite scarce. It goes without saying of course that you should check that the air conditioning (if fitted) functions fully both hot and cold and does not disperse unclean mouldy smelling air. If there is failure in operation, budget '£100- '£200 for an air conditioning service, or more if a replacement control panel is required...

As the E36 318is neared the end of its production run as is so often the way, there were run out editions and equipment improvements including cargo nets on the back of the driver and passenger seats + rear headrests. The most desirable of these run out editions are the cars badged' m-sport' which came with the M3 body kit and half leather seats. They also had the M logo on the steering wheel and gear knob and behind the indicator on the wings, and also came with a 5 spoke split leg 16'alloys as standard. There will by now of course be a few fakes out there so watch out for these. The easiest way to check is to ring your local BMW dealer and give them the reg no of the car. They will be able to confirm if the exact model of the car, plus any options it would have had when new. Don't pay extra for a' sport' model when it isn't.

One final thing to mention is the BMW dealers themselves. In 17 years of driving and car ownership, the BMW dealer network is the best I have experienced, period. Despite my vehicles always being a few years old and not purchased from them, when it came to my servicing and MOT's, I was treated the same as though I had spent '£70,000 on a 7 series. The car was always valeted and clean. I was sent magazines and reminders for my servicing and MOT's, and was telephoned after I had visited them to see if I was happy. You may be tempted with an older car to skip the dealership network but my advice is not to. BMW dealers in the UK operate a 4+ scheme which offers reduced cost servicing to owners of older BMW's to encourage them to keep the servicing as full dealer history. In my own experience, this reduced cost servicing scheme plus the courtesy you get with it is well worth the money. I compared the cost of a level 2 service with some so called locally advertised' specialists' and found the costs were identical or only slightly cheaper which in my view makes these independent servicing outlets a false economy.

In summary the E36 BMW coupe is one of the very best cars I have ever owned in every way. It is probably one of BMW's best designs from the last 20 years and the demand for clean ones is still strong. It is an almost timeless design that has aged very well, with an almost bombproof level of build quality which makes for a very enjoyable combination. If you are someone who cannot stretch to the glory of a Porsche or Ferrari, then a BMW in terms of the way they drive is the closest you can get. What would you rather see on your drive when you open the door in the morning, a classy E36 BMW or a Mondeo a few years newer? Exactly'

BMW 3 Series 318 is beautiful to drive. fantastic in corners, holds to the road well.I first had the 93 model. It was beautiful. sunroof, superb handling a real head turner. Even though it was a K reg, people couldn't believe. I now have the 98-99 model with the M-tec kit. beautiful minus the sunroof. my next car? quite possibly the 323 or 325ci.

The BMW 318 is most reliable car I have ever owned.

After a 500 miles trip, and getting sick on the boat, when I got home I didn't feel exhausted.

15 years old, without full service history and still fuel consumption is as per manual.

I am driving it for almost a year now, and apart from engine oil, I did not have to spend a penny on it.

Great, beautiful, comfortable, powerful, and so on .......

I am not a mechanic, nor had I owned many cars before, but believe me, I know what quality and value for money is.

I love this car, it's changed my perception of what a car should feel like. Great fun on windy roads (RWD!) and eats up the motorways. Happily cruised from London to Scotland and back.

For me BMW = the ultimate driving machine!

All together, I think it's a brilliant car for the person who really enjoys driving. It's not super fast, but I think it was born to rev hard, and it is very punchy for a 13 year old 1800cc. It has lots of power above 4000rmp, and it pulls like a trooper all the way through the red.

The clutch is nice and springy, with a lot of feel, and the gearbox is very sharp, and once you get used to the sensitivity of the controls it starts to feel very rewarding.

The steering is very precise and predictable, from long A-road bends to tight hairpins, the car always keeps its balance beautifully, and it feels glued to the road. It can be pressed very hard around corners, but as it's rear wheel drive, you have to watch the back end, especially in the wet. If you get too throttle happy around a tight bend you will loose traction, and if you're not quick you will spin off like a go-kart.

People seem to buy BMW's as fashion accessories (probably because of their association with celebrities and rappers), and they have a certain stigma attached to them, which I think is a real pity, as our roads in London are now awash with clapped out old bimmers, driven by asylum seekers, poodling along main roads at 10 - 20mph, often with no regard for other road users or our laws. BMW's can be sensitive, and maybe a touch more difficult to drive, as they command you drive them with a bit of finesse and perfection, so if you cannot confidently handle a vehicle at low speeds, maybe you should be looking for a nice Corsa or Micra?

Even though it's not the fastest car about, and there are plenty of faster BMW's, it's a super fun drive that handles like a race car. If you love to drive, and you don't want huge insurance and fuel bills, then this car could be for you.

This car is my first BMW, after having owned 2 Hondas, and has been quite an experience for me. While it is a little slow compared to some of the other BMW's out there, I have adjusted to a more casual style of driving and I'm still loving it.

The finish of this vehicle is excellent (luckily I bought it off someone who had taken good care of it) and it reeks of quality. A good polish and wax and this thing looks brand new.

I prefer the look of this model to the newer ones, as it seems a bit more aggressive (though they look very lightweight without some sort of bodykit). I bought mine with the M auto body kit and it's a stunner.

Interior is typical BMW: firm but comfortable seats, fairly conservative but quality dash. Everything has held together quite well after 7 years - again, looks close to brand new. Only problem is a glove box that requires a good push to shut properly.

Power is a a bit on the low side (103kw) but it may be attributable to a strange exhaust problem I have yet to investigate properly. The 318 series are all known to be a little underpowered with their 4 cyclinder engine. Mine is manual, and I've heard that these can keep up with an auto 320.

Had some minor electrical issues, the drivers side window getting stuck. Not really a problem as holding down the switch seems to work, but auto-close isn't gonna work any time soon. The sunroof opens a bit 'jerkily'.

Even given the hefty price tag associated with BMW, I will be getting one for my next car.