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Car Forum / BMW Cars / April 2004Which BMW should I get?
Hi there, I have the choice of these second hand BMW 3 series e36 models, they are all in good condition. 316i 318i 320i I am wanting the engine that performs the best but is also economic and cost effective to maintain. Your advice would be most appreciated. Thanks! > Hi there, > I have the choice of these second hand BMW 3 series e36 models, they are all [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Your advice would be most appreciated. > Thanks! Fuel consumption of 4 cylinder engines is lower than 6 cylinders. However, once you start using 6 cylinder engines, you will never want to go back to 4 cylinders, because the sound and the smoothness are much much better. I had a 1992 320i which I sold to my father a few years ago. It has now 258,000 km (not miles) and needed only few repairs: 1 water pump, 1 clutch, 2 shock absorbers, other small parts. The engine is still strong and uses no oil. Hope this helps.  SignatureBest regards. Giovanni Tarantino Bevaix (NE) Switzerland 1997 Audi A4 2.8 Q 219,000 km (134,000 miles) 1997 BMW 535i 216,000 km (132,000 miles) Go for the 320i, smooth as silk. > Hi there, > I have the choice of these second hand BMW 3 series e36 models, they are all [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Your advice would be most appreciated. > Thanks! > Go for the 320i, smooth as silk. Definitely, beautiful car. Sounds great when revved :) > > Go for the 320i, smooth as silk. > > Definitely, beautiful car. Sounds great when revved :) Besides, is the most economical way (fuel consumption wise) to have a six cilynder BMW. Altough I have to admit that once I was in your position and I compared the increase in fuel consumption between the 318i and the 320i versus the performance gain in both cars and the equation didn´t bring any good result to the 320i. The performance was practically unnoticiable but the fuel consumption factor (altough not a big difference) was higher. If I was you and a 325i was out of the question I would decide to choose the 320i anytime. I just don´t know how the resale value of a 320i is. I mean people go for a 318i (if you want fun and economy) and a 325i (if you still want fun but more performance albeit higher prices) but the 320i is stuck between those two other choices. Do a little research about the 320i...as I told you, I would choose the 320i, yeah, just to have that 6 cilynder magic :) faive@hotmail.com (Faive) haute in die Tasten: > If I was you and a 325i was out of the question I would decide to > choose the 320i anytime. If you buy an used BMW and take into consideration the total cost of ownership I doubt that there is a significant price difference between both engines. Maintenance should be roughly the same, so is fuel consumption (it is basically the same car which has to be moved). Tax and insurance may vary a bit, but not dramatically. As both straight sixes lack torque a little bit, I would definitely consider the bigger engine which has more oomph. OTOH the 320 engine is considered to be slightly smoother than the 325i Frank Signatureplease replace spam-muelleimer with fk-newsgroups for e-mail contact Time Flies Like An Arrow - Fruit Flies Like A Banana > If you buy an used BMW and take into consideration the total cost of > ownership I doubt that there is a significant price difference between both [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Frank The difference in performance between the 325 & the 320 is like chalk and cheese. Sure, many people are pleased with a 320 - it can do the job reasonably well but a 325 will put a smile on your face & won't cost much more to run (depending how many miles you do). A 325 you'll easily be keeping up with GTis etc. In a 320 you'll be get the run-around by just about everybody else on the road. If you don't care about that then fine - just buy the one that has the best condition/colour/options etc at the best price. > The difference in performance between the 325 & the 320 is like chalk > and cheese. Sure, many people are pleased with a 320 - it can do the > job reasonably well but a 325 will put a smile on your face & won't > cost much more to run (depending how many miles you do). A 325 you'll > easily be keeping up with GTis etc. In a 320 you'll be get the > run-around by just about everybody else on the road. This might be the case in the US, where even a cheap, low-quality family car has a 200 bhp V6, front-drive engine and gets to 60 in 7 sec. But the E36 320i (133 mph, 0-60 in 8.5-9 sec) is still a lot faster than most traffic on European roads, where small-capacity hatches and diesels rule. Its high-speed performance (> 80 mph) is considerably better than at low speed, which is of questionable merit. The thing is, of course, you have to rev it - hard. Very hard. Something most UK drivers, at least, have an aversion to :). The OP is better off considering a 325i, I agree. > This might be the case in the US, where even a cheap, low-quality > family car has a 200 bhp V6, front-drive engine and gets to 60 in 7 [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > The OP is better off considering a 325i, I agree. Isn't it more like 10secs for the 320? Still slower than a 1.5 Mk1 Golf. Slower than a 1.6 astra. Sure you can make progress but like you say - foot hard down and change gear at redline. It's fine if you just want to get places. I live in the UK but contrary to popular belief not every merican rides around in a 5.4 litre camaro. Most of my friends there drive regular japanese or european motors of around 1.8-2 litres. One even has a Mini. The 316 and 318 are 4 bangers. > Hi there, > I have the choice of these second hand BMW 3 series e36 models, they are all [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Your advice would be most appreciated. > Thanks! 320! MC UK. > The 316 and 318 are 4 bangers. > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Your advice would be most appreciated. > > Thanks! > Hi there, > I have the choice of these second hand BMW 3 series e36 models, they are all [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > I am wanting the engine that performs the best but is also economic and cost > effective to maintain. Doesn't everybody... The 320i would be my choice. Jim >> Hi there, >> I have the choice of these second hand BMW 3 series e36 models, they [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Doesn't everybody... The 320i would be my choice. > Jim I would choose the 320i... because the 6 cilinder engine has more torque and also more relaxed to drive... It's not that more expensive than a 4 cilinder... for fuel economy... the 6 cilinder would use more in city traffic but runs cheaper on the highway... If you are searching for performance then you might be better of with a 318iS (also known as the BabyM3) the 318iS runs about as fast as the 320i but feels more sporty... more nervous on the gas... the 320i is more relaxed... performance of both cars are not that different, neither is fuel consumption... but I would recomend testdriving all of your possible choises. last remark: Skip the 316i... sooner or later you will be dissapointed with the lack of power... too small engine for that car. |
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