E30 Zone

is the 1.8 the same engine thats in the e30? im just wondering if they are really that underpowerd it will be a daily driver i dont expect it to be quick but i dont want something that struggles up hills etc, im after a nice comfy cruiser.

whats the 0-60 time?

I believe the 518 will struggle up hills, on straights, even down hill!

i think they fitted a calendar to the e34 518 as a speedo wasn't needed .

Early ones had the M40 but later cars (L reg onwards) had the vastly better chain driven M43 which bar the odd head gasket is bulletproof.

The 518i is preferable to the 520i IMO. Much better low down torque. 0-60 is about 12 seconds.

monkey wrote:i think they fitted a calendar to the e34 518 as a speedo wasn't needed .

Pmsl!

not a fast car but much better than you think.drive one first,you may be surprised,better than a 520 of any description.

had a 518i on an M reg for a short time and was not that bad really! slow but not that slow!

my situation is i have a baby on the way i need to save all my pennys so running my current car (audi 80 v6) isnt helping i need a 4 door saloon for the kids cheap insurance and ok on fuel and cheapto buy ! iv been drawn to the e34 as £600 can get you a nice clean one.

im not after power but some people make out the 518 is slowe as hell and other say its not so bad who do i belive? dose it really struggle up hills? is there any cars you could compare it to my misses has a rover 21416v and thats slow but its ok for a daily would it be slower than that?

Drive one... they are a decent car,ignore the 520i,it's a rolling road block,the 518i is lighter and feels it too.

I would reccomend driving one,its the only way you will know,a later one is best with the later engine,IIRC around 1993 onwards.

We had one for a good while and it was a great machine. Not super quick, but economical, quiet and comfortable.

You don't need a quick car if you're going to put a baby in it anyway !!!

They are fine - but unless you need the room, an E36 318i is better.

I had one it was my first BM had it for nearly 2 years without any trouble and it was at a time when I couldn't afford an E36. Great car I loved even with steel wheels and an engine bay you could walk around.