Car for wife - need some help

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 5:53 pm

Wife has turned out to be quite a decent driver so far. is taking her test at end of month and I want to buy her an E30. She likes the tourings as they are ideal for her and the little monsters.

Im thinking a really nice late 318i Touring Auto (K plate) in that vibrant green colour with 15" BBS's.

What engine is in these later cars and are they any good?

Any idea of fuel economy?

I've driven Malcolms Auto cab before but and I found that to be a nice car to drive but do these late cars have the same engine/gearbox?

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:00 pm

as far as i know - its the same m40 lump.

some of the e36's have it too!

Q

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:08 pm

Yeah, same old tappety M40 engine!

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:08 pm

Yeah definitely the same engine.

Lots of tourers are about on an L plate if you want a really late one.

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:10 pm

Simon wrote:Yeah, same old tappety M40 engine!

Dammit you got in there before me

M40s are OK if they've been looked after reasonably well - as long as they're not ragged from cold they stay reasonably quiet.

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:12 pm

You might get one on a M plate, as they were made up to Feb 1994

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:47 pm

Zayyan wrote:
Simon wrote:Yeah, same old tappety M40 engine!
Dammit you got in there before me

M40s are OK if they've been looked after reasonably well - as long as they're not ragged from cold they stay reasonably quiet.

Stop kidding yourself!

I rebuilt the top end on my old 316i, the tapping was doing my head in, imagine my dissapointment when it still sounded the same after spending loads of money on the rebuild!!!

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:57 pm

Simon wrote:
Zayyan wrote:
Simon wrote:Yeah, same old tappety M40 engine!
Dammit you got in there before me

M40s are OK if they've been looked after reasonably well - as long as they're not ragged from cold they stay reasonably quiet.
Stop kidding yourself!

Yeah OK, you're "probably" right

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:58 pm

Tapping doesnt bother me, I wont be driving it.

She just needs a solid practical car which is easy to drive and not bad on juice.

What kinda MPG do these things do?

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:13 pm

MPG is a bit poo... althought depends how you drive it, I'd expect Zay to have the best MPG out an M40.. bloody students!!! lol

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:18 pm

I average just over 40mpg in the 2-door 1.6, though can squeeze 45 out of it round town if it's not busy (5th gear at 30mph etc).

I'm not sure how worse economy is with an auto but judging by my Mum's 320 auto it's about 15-20%. So I shouldn't think your missus would get under 30mpg if she's sensible.

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:35 pm

I get around 65 miles to Ãƒ”šÃ‚£10 then again I drive as opposed to potter

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:43 pm

The cab gets "driven"

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:55 pm

M40's are only ok when their under 85 000. Think mileage is really important.

If you look carfully enough, you can pick them up pretty cheap and the are going up in value!

My girlfriend recently passed her test and prefered my old m10 to the m40. Maybe she's been listening to me to much....but you can't get m10 tourer's.

Petrol wise their alright round town, but useless on the motorway.

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:59 pm

Gwynleym10 wrote:M40's are only ok when their under 85 000.

Where do you get this figure?!

Gwynleym10 wrote:Petrol wise their alright round town, but useless on the motorway.

Yeah, the standard diff ratio is ridiculous.

Will happily sit at 5 grand doing 100mph and 20mpg if you want it to though.

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:06 pm

look mate e3o's are like yorkie's, not for girls! my misses used mine on a rainey day and stacked it! get her a deisel corsa or something, i got my wife a 1.7dti sri 05 and it does 55to the gallon and when the rare occasion comes when you use it they go like the clappers!

Post Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:54 pm

Bob_S wrote:I get around 65 miles to Ãƒ”šÃ‚£10 then again I drive as opposed to potter

hehe! i get 25 miles to a tenner!

Post Fri Mar 10, 2006 1:09 pm

robs wrote:look mate e3o's are like yorkie's, not for girls! my misses used mine on a rainey day and stacked it! get her a deisel corsa or something, i got my wife a 1.7dti sri 05 and it does 55to the gallon and when the rare occasion comes when you use it they go like the clappers!

I should have applied this rule before the GF got hold of mine and decided she liked the way it "swings its hips" around corners...

err, that'll be sliding then?

"whatever you want to call it"

hmm

Post Fri Mar 10, 2006 3:40 pm

Morat wrote:I should have applied this rule before the GF got hold of mine and decided she liked the way it "swings its hips" around corners...

err, that'll be sliding then?

"whatever you want to call it"

hmm

it's like the E30 version of the renault megane advert!!!

Post Fri Mar 10, 2006 4:51 pm

I found my M40 engine very quiet but it was on 74k with FBMWSH

On another note, I found it "UN"economical

Post Fri Mar 10, 2006 6:19 pm

gareth wrote:
Bob_S wrote:I get around 65 miles to Ãƒ”šÃ‚£10 then again I drive as opposed to potter
hehe! i get 25 miles to a tenner!

I want 325i but insurance said NO

Post Fri Mar 10, 2006 7:22 pm

forget all that, start saving and 1 day i will sell you a GREEN tourer

Post Fri Mar 10, 2006 8:06 pm

Bob_S wrote:
gareth wrote:
Bob_S wrote:I get around 65 miles to Ãƒ”šÃ‚£10 then again I drive as opposed to potter
hehe! i get 25 miles to a tenner!
I want 325i but insurance said NO

i'm only paying Ãƒ”šÃ‚£50 per year more on the 335i than i was a 325i! the with the original M20B25, i used to get 160 miles to a tank around town, now with the M30B35 i get 140-150 miles to a tank around town. not much worse than the 325i really!

Post Fri Mar 10, 2006 9:34 pm

wtf gareth, a whole tank for 150 miles

the worst i had out of my sport was 260 on a tank! hell even my 325i auto managed 200miles on half a tank driving it like a gaylord

3.5 conversion is way too thirsty for my liking

Post Fri Mar 10, 2006 9:46 pm

gareth wrote: it's like the E30 version of the renault megane advert!!!

I find that advert highly ironic, seeing as the megane (well the old one at least) suffered from biblical understeer - way worse than most FWD, more like an oil tanker!

Post Fri Mar 10, 2006 10:38 pm

Simon13 wrote:wtf gareth, a whole tank for 150 miles

the worst i had out of my sport was 260 on a tank! hell even my 325i auto managed 200miles on half a tank driving it like a gaylord

3.5 conversion is way too thirsty for my liking

this is on an average tank around town. it only really does to work and back and this is never enough to get the heater going properly so nowhere near up to temperature. whenever i get to stretch its legs, it's flat out everywhere! it's only about 10% worse than the 2.5. it's currently getting through about the same as my wifes M50 525i sport and a similar work run.

on a run, it'll do nearer 300 miles to a tank. it's no more thirsty than i'd expect.