3 Series (+1602/2002) Poll

[inlovewithRWD]

It would be an '02 with an S14 for me, although I am hoping to pick up a 135i as soon as they become affordable, because IMO they are the closest modern BMW to the E30, and with a 3 litre engine they are very quick!

[Ollie_bwoii]

This I could live with. And yes I know its a photoshop.

[bss325i]

wish they still done the 130i hatchback, they do no "hot Hatch" 1 series anymore, the fastest is a 123d and its a 4 pot diesel

It may be a 4pot diesel but its a fooking rapid one!

[Alex]

wish they still done the 130i hatchback, they do no "hot Hatch" 1 series anymore, the fastest is a 123d and its a 4 pot diesel

It may be a 4pot diesel but its a fooking rapid one!

i'am not saying it isnt, i think bmw should put the 3.0 twin turbo from the 135i into the hatch. Now that would be a golf gti beater

No doubt when the e8x is 20 year old people will be dropping them lumps into the hatches

[Dezzy]

What's the biggest engine you can get in a 1. I reckon the s54 would be right at home in one. Just get rid of the runflats I sign me up.

3.0 in the hatch and 3.0 twin turbo in the coupe.

Runflats aint as bad as the press make out but i would still go for a conventional tyre.

They are a con. Just a money saving swizzle for BMW not to fit a spare. They feel shit on the car and are at least 20% more than the same tyre non runflat.

To fit they are more difficult. There is a greater chance of damaging the alloy. They blow out just as often and after fitting normal Tyres it improves handling.

Even our local dealer advises there customers to come to us to have normal Tyres fit after the first runflats are ready for changing, as they can't advise it.

I fit 4 toyos to a 3.0lt z4 for a customer last Monday. He came back today and gave me £20 and thanked me for completely changing the way his car drives. They are poo.

Anyway 3.0 twin turbo sounds interesting any figures?

[Alex]

Anyway 3.0 twin turbo sounds interesting any figures?

306bhp

0-62 in 5.3 seconds

and limited to 155mph

Max torque (Nm/rpm) 400/1300


taken from bmw website

[Dezzy]

That would do wouldn't it mate. Bet it's re mappable as fook too.
Might have to replace the leon in the near future.

[bss325i]

What's the biggest engine you can get in a 1. I reckon the s54 would be right at home in one. Just get rid of the runflats I sign me up.

3.0 in the hatch and 3.0 twin turbo in the coupe.

Runflats aint as bad as the press make out but i would still go for a conventional tyre.

They are a con. Just a money saving swizzle for BMW not to fit a spare. They feel shit on the car and are at least 20% more than the same tyre non runflat.

To fit they are more difficult. There is a greater chance of damaging the alloy. They blow out just as often and after fitting normal Tyres it improves handling.

Even our local dealer advises there customers to come to us to have normal Tyres fit after the first runflats are ready for changing, as they can't advise it.

I fit 4 toyos to a 3.0lt z4 for a customer last Monday. He came back today and gave me £20 and thanked me for completely changing the way his car drives. They are poo.

Anyway 3.0 twin turbo sounds interesting any figures?

They dont make that car feel as bad as people make out.

BMW's that are specced with run flats have the suspension set up to work with them so just changing the tyres isn't the right thing to do.

Their purpose is not to save BMW money, its to keep the car mobile in the event of a pucture so someone the driver doesn't have to f*ck about on the hard shoulder in the pissing rain changing a wheel.

Aggreed they are a bit harder to fit but damage to wheels shouldn't happen run flat or not.

[E30BeemerLad]

There was a 335 coupe at Santapod Dezzy and it was embarassing E46 M3's

[Alex]

That would do wouldn't it mate. Bet it's re mappable as fook too.
Might have to replace the leon in the near future.

Oh yes, up the boost

[Dezzy]

BMW wheel quality these days is so poor (they have improved slightly) that in the early days of ru flats they were shattering wheels as the beed broke. This is well known and BMW wouldn't do there own for 3 years due to this.
There is a consumer investigation going on because of it.
Even with the so call spec'd suspention the car feels much better on normal Tyres in all of our and the local dealers customers opinions.

I fit them everyday, this is my opinion based on fact and experience.

[Dezzy]

There was a 335 coupe at Santapod Dezzy and it was embarassing E46 M3's

That's a bit of me I reckon mate. Might have to chuck one up for claire.

[harry_p]

from that list the 2002 is my favourite, but it would be instead of an e30.

for something to run allongside an e30 i'd go for a 1series coupe, preferably a 135i. theryere the closest modern bmw in shape and size to an e30

[bss325i]

BMW wheel quality these days is so poor (they have improved slightly) that in the early days of ru flats they were shattering wheels as the beed broke. This is well known and BMW wouldn't do there own for 3 years due to this.
There is a consumer investigation going on because of it.
Even with the so call spec'd suspention the car feels much better on normal Tyres in all of our and the local dealers customers opinions.

I fit them everyday, this is my opinion based on fact and experience.

I also have plenty of experience of fitting tyres.

I work for BMW now as a technician though.

I'm aware of the consumer investigation going on, this was made famous by the tv progam watchdog.

One of the key facts with regards to wheel fractures is that the bulk of the problem is in the south east with this being down to two things, more newer BMW's are sold here and the road condtion round these parts is diabolical!

A 30 profile runfalt tyre is going to make it easier to crack the alloy rim due to their stiff side wall.

[Dezzy]

Agreed but also poor quality must be a factor as it doesn't happen as much anymore.
I only say because I fit at least 30/40 a week and fooking hate them. I stand by my opinion they are a con and normal Tyres feel better on the car.

[bss325i]

Oh i dont dissagree that non runflats feel better, i certainly would change from run flats to normal if i had a newer BMW with them but i would also change the suspesion to suit.

I do dissagree that that they are a con as they have their place and have no doubt kept countless people mobile.

[Bob_S]

I suppose I'd be looking for an e46 M3 in all honesty infact it's a definate contemplation at the moment I need to thin out my collection first though

[bss325i]

What happened to the porsche idea?

[Fushion_Julz]

Well...I've got an E30 and an E36...I used to own a few 02s also...

The current E90 is not E30 sized in either dimensions or cost, so probably out for me...
Perhaps an E36 M3 at some point.

But my next vehicle purchase is likely to be a 4x4...Disco or maybe Surf or Shogun diesel...

I'd be more tempted by a E39 6cyl TBH...

[clipper]

I'd be more tempted by a E39 6cyl TBH...

Getting too old now (the E39, not you !) and much more complex and expensive to fix than an E30...

[Fushion_Julz]

Depends...I'm not particularly phazed by any mechanical or electrical job...

Parts aren't any dearer than for my E36...most servicing jobs are the same complexity...
I just quite fancy a 528 or 530i...

decent performance, nice interior, enough space, reasonable running costs, rack and pinion steering...

[clipper]

Servicing is OK yes.

For me the problem comes with the electrickery installed (my E30 hardly has any).

Since I've had my 528i:
I've had to trace a fuel pump wiring fault (never found it either, just keep fuses handy),
driver's door airbag shows a failure and costs a fortune to replace (don't fancy an airbag from a breaker really),
xenon control ballast failed (couldn't find one in a breaker and BMW only sell facelift ballasts at 600€ AND you need a fitting kit to install it in a prefacelift car which comes without the rubber seal for the headlight unit and which you can't buy seperately.....),
and the factory stereo has a bad earth which makes the speakers whine in tune with the revs.

Also my PCV valve is failing and I really can't be arsed to replace it oh and the clutch has been slipping for about the last 6 months.....

All of these "niggly" things have cost me far more grief than anything on my E30, hence my opinion.

But yes, it's a nice drive.