good buy for this 318 ?

[pippo]

Guys,

I am enlisting your advice on buying a 318 convertible, 1993, 118,000miles, recent head gasket and water pump. He wants $2600.

I heard these cars had bad head gasket problems. Is this true?

Thanks,
Joe

[E36 Phantom]

My advice is to get a 6 cylinder.

A 318 is overpriced at any price. :p

[xcore]

not really, under this economy, i think 318 is a good choice~
but make sure the car is a proper condition

[Mr AAPL]

not really, under this economy, i think 318 is a good choice~
but make sure the car is a proper condition

depends on how long the OP plans on keeping the car. The economy won't stay like this forever (hopefully :dunno: ) and then they'll be kicking themselves in the arse with a 4 banger while everyone else is passing them up in a silky smooth inline six, but we agree to make sure it's running tip top.

If your doing long commutes then okay I guess but otherwise go for the I6. Oh to answer the original question yes they do have water pump problems however when they replace the unit it more than likely is with a part that corrects the problem. (Has to do with plastic impellers that get replaced with metal ones). As far as the head gasket is concerned I dunno?

Good luck with the buy:thumbup:

[E36 Phantom]

not really, under this economy, i think 318 is a good choice~
but make sure the car is a proper condition

What does this economy have to do with an underpowered 4 cylinder? It's not like the 6 cylinder is exactly a gas guzzler :rofl:


The only good buy for a 318 is good bye.

[silki2112]

wait for a v6...

[Eric Devier]

wait for a v6...

Yeah, since BMW produces V6s all the time :tsk:

[Mr AAPL]

wait for a v6...

We might be waiting in dread for a while, while everyone screams blasphemy!

[darkdemonE46]

how much do these things run for lets say,,a 97 328i? just curious..

[E36 Phantom]

wait for a v6...
When BMW puts a V6 in their cars, f*ck 'em, I'm done with the Roundel.
how much do these things run for lets say,,a 97 328i? just curious..
For the gasket itself, check Pelican Parts.
For the repair job, it all depends on labor prices in your area. Figure on 1500 minimum, as high as 3000, depending on shop experience and hourly rate.

[bimmerblack]

My advice is to get a 6 cylinder.

A 318 is overpriced at any price. :p

Correct! I can attest to this fact and no matter how much i like the aesthetics of my E36 i find myself feeling like it has it's nuts cut off mid drive. Driving my dads E46 328, total other feeling, it feels like a ....BMW, mine feels like it....acts and loooksss like....a BMW, does not feel it so much though :cry::cry:

[pippo]

Update: Thanks for all your advice , guys. Heres what happened that Saturday morning: The guy (an actual german machine mechanic shop owner) thought I was an average dumbbell consumer "just want a BMW" buyer. SURPRISE!!!!

1) the car had exterior mouldings missing noticeable from a distance, as I approached the car......bad sign-neglect, "dont give a damn about missing parts" PO.

2) the car turned over only after many, many cranks from the exhausted starter motor.

3) AC not cold, even with R12 system, indicating bad news, either leaky o rings, /bad component (who knows at this stage), leaky component (evap/etc)

4) handle/knob busted on glove box, ripped up seats, squeaky driver side door

5) driv seat could not even stay in position!! I could NOT drive the car cuz of this!! Tried to play with the lever to adjust, but it kept ratcheting up/down , it was actually kinda funny inside, I mean. So I get out and the guy fiddled with it endlessly until he got it to stay. Then I noticed the pervasive BMW busted odometer....it was not turning....the 118,000miles were a lie. That was the killer for me.

Drove well, shifted nicely, then seat gave out..........brooooooom, back down I went, dangerously. Drove back with my back positioned in "seat" position, forced by my own back muscles....LOL!! When I explained it, he had all kinds of excuses. That was it. Goobye.

Otherwise, the car was real nice........LOL. I would have bought it, (initially, had him down to $2400) 4 cyl or not. I got no problems with a 4. Yeah, a 6 is nicer, but you have to find one around here, guys, and they are almost all automatics/steptronics/triptronices/whatever. I dont drive those kind of cars.

Thanks again,

Joe

[TRIXPD]

Just got a chance to see this thread. Phantom seems to have had some unforgiving problem with a 318. Remember there is also a 316. What will ye say to this. I have a 92 318i and like it cause when i want more power i can take the 528i or 735i. Peppo did not say if this was his only ride. I like the variation. Any good running BMW is a BMW of choice.

[MrGrahamE36]

the seller probably wanted some money in his pocket to throw down on a 328 :D
lesson learned: wait until you see a 6 cylinder that you like

[E36 Phantom]

Just got a chance to see this thread. Phantom seems to have had some unforgiving problem with a 318. Remember there is also a 316. What will ye say to this. I have a 92 318i and like it cause when i want more power i can take the 528i or 735i. Peppo did not say if this was his only ride. I like the variation. Any good running BMW is a BMW of choice.
318 = underpowered
528 = underpowered
735 = underpowered

:dunno:

the seller probably wanted some money in his pocket to throw down on a 328 :D
lesson learned: wait until you see a 6 cylinder that you like

:lmao:

[mksu19]

318 = underpowered
528 = underpowered
735 = underpowered

:dunno:



:lmao:

Well they could always add an "M" badge to up the HP! :D

BTW, my mom-in-law's '06 530d is freakin' fast for a diesel! Torquey too!!! Just thought I'd throw it in there.

[E36 Phantom]

Well they could always add an "M" badge to up the HP! :D

BTW, my mom-in-law's '06 530d is freakin' fast for a diesel! Torquey too!!! Just thought I'd throw it in there.

Yes, diesels have loads of torque. They're perfect for city driving because they feel incredibly quick due to the low-range torque they produce.

A 735 is no different from a 528 is no different from a 318. They're all the baby Bimmers in the US (in other countries they have even weaker variants!!! (316, 520, 728)

Good, solid commute cars. Not bad for corners, depending. Gonna get your heart racing from the powah? Ha.

[mksu19]

...Good, solid commute cars...

The only reason to get a 318ic is to use it as a 2nd car for when your I6 is in the shop getting modded!

[mcarter2007]

i have a 318is myself, actually have owned 2! i love it. true its no ///M3 or even 323 for that matter, but hey....whats the badge on the front say? i think it spells "Getting laid more than honda drivers" but i could be wrong :thumbup:

[the_brouhaha]

i have a 318is myself, actually have owned 2! i love it. true its no ///M3 or even 323 for that matter, but hey....whats the badge on the front say? i think it spells "Getting laid more than honda drivers" but i could be wrong :thumbup:

Yeah but you're not going to be getting laid, when that m3 or 325is smokes you.

[AJ Gure]

Yeah but you're not going to be getting laid, when that m3 or 325is smokes you.

it's not always the car, i've gotten laid in a freakin dodge caravan it's all about how sexy the driver is, but then if a sexy driver like myself ofcouuuurrrsee had a ****ty car, he'd have a low self esteem= less pusssy and vice versa, but i bet a guy in a Honda NSX gets laid more than a guy in a BMW M3