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I know this won't be too well received but I've decided that after 11 years of driving Import Skylines it's time to move on.

The car I'm looking at getting is a 98 BMW 318is ( up to 2000 model ). Is there anyone on here who knows anything specific about this model that is good / bad etc. ?? Any meaningfull advice would be great.

Please hold off on the sledging and Skyline vs. BMW etc. Remember, I've been driving an Import Line for 11 years so I know how good they are. :D And it's going to break my heart to hand over my keys to someone else :)

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Argg 1.8L pushing all that German weight

You will get frustrated at the lack of performance.

I advise you to go for a BMW with at least a 2.3L engine.

OR

Go an Audi - as good a build quality and more bang for buck when it comes to performance.

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  n15m0 said:
backwards in performance but forwards in comfort and luxury....love the 318s, just don't dump it on 20" chromies like everyone else out there.

20" Chromies........ LOL !! :D

Come hell or high water the BMW will not be modified !! Well, I'll do my best :)

As for the performance side of things, I know I'll be missing the 300bhp, but that's all part of the rehabilitation program !! :D

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  Wink said:
Argg 1.8L pushing all that German weight

You will get frustrated at the lack of performance.

I advise you to go for a BMW with at least a 2.3L engine.

OR

Go an Audi - as good a build quality and more bang for buck when it comes to performance.

I'm very tempted to go up to the 2.3L but that depends on $'s. I do like 2 door 320's ( I think that's the model ?? )

As for the Audi's, I know they are a good car but I just don't like the looks of the car !! Almost everything on the road looks like an Audi ( or visa-versa ) to me :)

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You mean you won't be riding on 20" chromes.. dropped on it's ass.. with a white baseball cap.. leaning right back to the point of not being able to reach the steering wheel.. dissapointed..

Well - personally - get something more than a 1.8ltr.. they are a little bit too small for the size of the car, parts are probably going to be a bit expensive.. but overall it's a good car I guess..

Haven't heard of too many issues..

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  Liz said:
tsk tsk scotty, I'm disappointed in you!

Forgive me for my sins....... :O

I'll be incredibly honest though. I have a problem with cars that I have to break. Modifications and Upgrades.

No joke, I can't stop !! So long as I have the R32 I just can't help myself !! You'll see what I mean when I put the car up for sale :O

I'm hoping that getting into a BMW ( which I don't know too much about and know that mods will be mega expensive ) will help to cure the problem.

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The 2 door BMWs E36 & E46 coupes still look nice.

They are a step above in class (and build quality) so I'd choose that over the 318i sedans too.

Eg. Many E36 318i sedans I've seen aren't equipped with leather but nearly all E36 320i (lowest spec coupe) coupes I've seen come with leather.

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there is (or was) a bmw on carsales.com.au with an rb25 in it. get something like that, then don't touch the motor. or get one of the ones with a 6 cylinder in it (m3 i think it is). there was one at our last dyno day. stock with maybe exhaust pulled 233hp.

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  mad082 said:
there is (or was) a bmw on carsales.com.au with an rb25 in it. get something like that, then don't touch the motor. or get one of the ones with a 6 cylinder in it (m3 i think it is). there was one at our last dyno day. stock with maybe exhaust pulled 233hp.

lol, a BMW with an RB25 in it....... That would be WAY to hard to resist for mods. I'd be better off keeping the R32. Unfortunately, a reasonably new M3 is way out of my price range. :O I'm not in IT :O :O

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  Wink said:
The 2 door BMWs E36 & E46 coupes still look nice.

They are a step above in class (and build quality) so I'd choose that over the 318i sedans too.

Eg. Many E36 318i sedans I've seen aren't equipped with leather but nearly all E36 320i (lowest spec coupe) coupes I've seen come with leather.

Yeah, the 2 door 318 ( E36 ) is the one I'm looking at. Not "really" fussed about leather although it would be nice. The 320i's are still a bit too expensive I think.

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considered a nice audi?

my cousin bought a new A4 recently.. 2.4L

Build quality, comfort, and luxury is amazing to say the least

As someone else said, they kill the BMW band for buck

my issue with BMW's is that they are not worth what you pay - you are basically paying about 10,000 on top of the price just for the BMW key/keyring to show your mates

drive a few different cars before you set your mind on one

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hmm.. why buy the cheapest BMW just to have a BMW ? Anybody with money looks down on the cheapest bmw in the range, although mind you it's probably several tiers above a skyline :)

Is there any particular reason you want to drive a BMW 318i other than the fact that it's a BMW?

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  WazR32GTSt said:
considered a nice audi?

my cousin bought a new A4 recently.. 2.4L

Build quality, comfort, and luxury is amazing to say the least

As someone else said, they kill the BMW band for buck

my issue with BMW's is that they are not worth what you pay - you are basically paying about 10,000 on top of the price just for the BMW key/keyring to show your mates

drive a few different cars before you set your mind on one

Like I said, I know Audi's are good but for performance but I just don't like the way they look.

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I dont know how youd think an audi looks like everything on the road, id much rather a Audi over a Beema any day, because all the young execs, richboys and general wankers drive them, 318i you say? welcome to the world of driving a slow shitbox, there is nothing you can do to make it fast at all, sounds shit and handling is nothing special, if it had to be a beema id much rather a 325 or something along those lines....

Why not a nice audi

IMG_2.jpg

put that on 19s and youll be set......

1.8turbo quattro, leave it stock and you will love it!

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  predator said:
hmm.. why buy the cheapest BMW just to have a BMW ? Anybody with money looks down on the cheapest bmw in the range, although mind you it's probably several tiers above a skyline :)

Is there any particular reason you want to drive a BMW 318i other than the fact that it's a BMW?

I'm just looking at something with a low change-over and the 318is is around the $17-$18 mark. It's not really about the "BMW" thing as much as I haven't seen anything else I like that's not too old and around that money.

I've test driven / tried the Holden / Ford / Magna thing & I just can't go do it !! At least the BMW has some style & engineering heritage behind it.

And believe me, with a head like mine, I could own a McLaren F1 and still get looked down on :)

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