Thinking of buying a e36 318is, what should I look out for?

[someguy]

Hey,

I need a new car, it's got to be something reliable and has to be pretty comfortable on the motorway, I think a late e36 318is is about the right thing to go for and I'm just wondering what I should be looking out for (as in what usually goes wrong and where do they start to rot).

Also how are they to drive and is there much difference thirst wise between the 318 and the six pot versions?

Oh and if anyone has any other suggestions for a car. I'm not going to go the e30 route because I'll probably be putting up about 30-40 thousand miles a year and if I find an e30 that's in decent enough condition I'm not going to want to put a ridiculous amount of miles on it.

Thanks,

Peter

[neilofla]

Peter,

An E30 would be hard going over 30-40k miles a year! The E36 is more refined alright, more suited to motorway driving, surprisingly nimble, but only if suspension in decent nick

I'd say the iS would be a decent compromise in Ireland, the 320i isn't much faster and deffo drinks more, and the 323i / 328i (fantastic engines) would crease you on tax - up to yourself of course, but e1200 a year would kill me!

Why not go for a E46 320d? common-rail diesel streets ahead of the E36 diesels, the early E46 320d are 136bhp, don't have the turbo problems of the 150bhp engine, and aren't too far off late E36 318iS prices. plus 45mpg easy, the petrol won't be doing that kind of mpg, so you might recoup the higher cost of the E46 over 12 months. Very refined on motorway, and the torque of the diesel makes it seem faster than the petrol.

I know I sound like luicifer himself promoting diesels, but they suit long distance driving and you can always pick up a e30 iS for weekends!!

[darkchild]

E36's have the munchies for suspension components. Bushes, balljoints and snapped springs are quite common. A good one handles superbly. Main rot places are rear arches, front wings (if mudflaps are fitted) and some tend to rust around the bootlid. Early ones can be quite grotty (they are 17 years old now) but later ones should be rust free. The engine is practically bulletproof. 6000-8000 mile oil changes keep them running sweet.

I used to do 30K a year in my 1997 316i. Quick? No, but the most reliable car I've ever owned. Comfortable, smooth, nice to drive and returned 40mpg on a run all day long. In 75K miles it cost me two suspension bushes in addition to regular servicing, tyres etc.

[someguy]

Neilofla:

Was half thinking of getting a diesel, if I was it'd have to be an e46 320d touring, unfortunately they're a bit out of my price range, so I figured I'd get something a bit fun (i.e. the 318is) I can pick up a well speced lateish one for not too much money.

Darkchild:

Thanks for the pointers. I should be able to get one just over 10 years old so hopefully I'll be able to avoid anything too bad.

Any ideas what an is would do on long ish runs fuel wise? And did any have cruise control or can it be retro fitted?

[Ian_M]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=95660

That's my one, paid a little over 3k for it with 130k up (I know it's a lot but got wedges of service history with £1000s spent recently).

On a long run I can easily get about 40-45 MPG... If you want to pratt about expect mid 20s.

When I bought mine I had a good poke around the arches etc, mud and dirt gets caught up underneath them and rots the arches so check for that and get rid of the dirt asap.

checked underneath for 4 circular type jacking points as they can dissapear (don't know if they're actually jacking points) as the rubber can dissapear and leave holes underneat the car. In the door sills, check the rubber isn't perished... around the rear windscreen and windows etc, check the same as it can cost a lot to replace them (window out jobby).

Check the Engine bay and around the top of the engine for oil leaks etc.. just the usual stuff..

As already said suspension is a bitch on these cars, check make sure it's still firm and not rocking all over the show.

I'm sure someone else can point out more problems to look for.

[someguy]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=95660

That's my one, paid a little over 3k for it with 130k up (I know it's a lot but got wedges of service history with £1000s spent recently).

On a long run I can easily get about 40-45 MPG... If you want to pratt about expect mid 20s.

It appears that you have exactly the car I'm looking for. It's a nice colour, I also prefer them with out the rear spoiler.

[neilofla]

Before I bought my E30 iS, I was looking at a few E36 318iS, early ones admittedly, but all the same I didn't see any with cruise control, though I'm 99% sure it was an option.

From speaking to a number of E36 owners, 40mpg on a run would be as good as it gets, the M42/M44 just isn't built for economy. BMW developed the N series valvetronic petrols for economy, but from the short drives I've had in those cars, a lot of the fun has been sapped out of them.

On the plus side, the iS revs sweetly all day long. Nothing worse than a grating engine

[someguy]

Before I bought my E30 iS, I was looking at a few E36 318iS, early ones admittedly, but all the same I didn't see any with cruise control, though I'm 99% sure it was an option.

From speaking to a number of E36 owners, 40mpg on a run would be as good as it gets, the M42/M44 just isn't built for economy. BMW developed the N series valvetronic petrols for economy, but from the short drives I've had in those cars, a lot of the fun has been sapped out of them.

On the plus side, the iS revs sweetly all day long. Nothing worse than a grating engine

Not overly worried about the economy, just want to make sure I'm not burning all my money. Anything towards the high 30's is fine by me, I'll get a diesel if I want to do better.

[M3Macao]

I had a J reg e36 318is for 7 years..brilliant car!! Had 144k and still drove as nice when it was new.

[Andyboy]

The 318iS is okay but a 320i is just nicer - lovely engine noise and the two I had (vanos and non vanos) were both pretty respectable of fuel (30 mpg). A 1994-5 320i Coupe with the iron block engine is a nice thing. The iS does not handle any better than the six pot btw.

[someguy]

The 318iS is okay but a 320i is just nicer - lovely engine noise and the two I had (vanos and non vanos) were both pretty respectable of fuel (30 mpg). A 1994-5 320i Coupe with the iron block engine is a nice thing. The iS does not handle any better than the six pot btw.

I wouldn't expect it to handle better than the 6 pot, mostly it's the fuel usage I'd expect it to do better at, that and the tax and insurance costs! I just want something that handles better than a mk4 golf or a bog standard 316.

[Matt_M44is]

Oh... check the bushes where the rear axle is held onto the chassis!!

I found out after i sold my K reg 318is that two of the four buses had rotten right out!!

Thats why it was making a squeaky noise! oops

It was slammed to the floor on 17's with stiff old bilstein dampers though.

Just a heads up as aparently common and not always picked up on mot's like mine wasn't!!

[someguy]

Will do Matt, though I assume they're not easy to check if they're missed on the MOT's?

What are the main differences between the 318i and the is? or were all the 2 door 318's sports? Everything for sale here (Ireland) appear to be badged 318is.

[baur320]

Avoid saloons - built in South Africa and rust badly

[stevo]

i've owned an e36 is copue for a few days now lol, it's pretty nice to drive and responsive as well, i've been quite impressed

[stevotheevo]

i had one for about 2 months, although slightly more refined than the 30, i found it a bore to drive.

but, 30k a year, im guessing a lot of motorway miles, the 36 may be better suited, but a 6pot version would do better.

[GrooveRyder79]

The 318is has M-tech springs and shocks, should try and make sure if any shocks have been replaced they fitted the shorter traveling M-Tech items and not the cheaper standard ones

[someguy]

The 318is has M-tech springs and shocks, should try and make sure if any shocks have been replaced they fitted the shorter traveling M-Tech items and not the cheaper standard ones

Any way of verifying what they are? Is there anything else that comes as part of the m-tech package? As in for the e30 there was the is front splitter and rear lip spoiler.

[GrooveRyder79]

length and possibly the colour(?) I think I am right in saying that M-tech shocks are yellow on an e30 so they may be the same deal on the e36.

[Andyboy]

I've never really rated the M42 engine in the E36 - it suits the E30 fine but seems a bit out of place in the E36. The 320i makes a lovely noise, has better real world performance (don't let anyone kid you otherwise) and is about the same on fuel. I used to get 30 mpg from both of mine.

The only E36 to have Yellow Bilsteins was the 328i Sport. The M Tech suspension on Coupes (all Coupes have it - even the 316i) is a Boge set up with black shocks. They are slightly uprated with shorter damper rods.

[someguy]

I've never really rated the M42 engine in the E36 - it suits the E30 fine but seems a bit out of place in the E36. The 320i makes a lovely noise, has better real world performance (don't let anyone kid you otherwise) and is about the same on fuel. I used to get 30 mpg from both of mine.

The only E36 to have Yellow Bilsteins was the 328i Sport. The M Tech suspension on Coupes (all Coupes have it - even the 316i) is a Boge set up with black shocks. They are slightly uprated with shorter damper rods.

I do like the sound of 6 cylinders, I'll have to look into the insurance, unfortunately there don't appear to be many 320's in Ireland (compared to 318's) so it'll be harder to get one with the specs I want, but I'm not in a rush just yet so I'll keep an eye out, and take both of them for a spin.

[darkchild]

The only E36 coupe you're going to see 40mpg from is the 316i. They're underpowered with 102bhp (0-60 in 12 seconds) but make a fine daily smoker. They have decent low down torque which helps. The chain driven M43 engine is so much better than the M40 and is very reliable. Their only real weakness is the occassional head gasket.

The 318is returns about 35mpg, whilst the 6 cylinders all seem to do about 30mpg. A decent 325i is a lovely thing (the M50 engine is more robust than the M52) but probably not the best choice for 30-40K per year if you're buying your own petrol!

[someguy]

The only E36 coupe you're going to see 40mpg from is the 316i. They're underpowered with 102bhp (0-60 in 12 seconds) but make a fine daily smoker. They have decent low down torque which helps. The chain driven M43 engine is so much better than the M40 and is very reliable. Their only real weakness is the occassional head gasket.

The 318is returns about 35mpg, whilst the 6 cylinders all seem to do about 30mpg. A decent 325i is a lovely thing (the M50 engine is more robust than the M52) but probably not the best choice for 30-40K per year if you're buying your own petrol!

Yeah it's definately not going to be a 316i, I think it'll have to be a 318is or something bigger.

[Jeepster]

The 318is has M-tech springs and shocks, should try and make sure if any shocks have been replaced they fitted the shorter traveling M-Tech items and not the cheaper standard ones

All coupes were fitted with Mtech suspension as standard bar the 328 Sport (Avus) and the M3's. They also had uprated arb's.

Yellow shocks were found only on the 328 sport. All of the rest are black, including the M3 ones. Standard springs are black on all cars.