Buying first car, please help me!

[matt_06]

Hey guys,

Im here from sydney,australia.

Im currently looking for a BMW 323i/325i for under 10k for my first car.

Ive been searching lately and ive found ALOT of 323i/325i models for under 10k. My question is Are they usually this price? Am i going to find them for this price again when im ready to buy in few months time?

Also is the 318i also a speedy car? Ive been thinking its a slug because its a 4 cylinder 1.8L not like the 323i/325i? is this true? Are they worth it for under 10k? or are the other 2 models better options?

[Scotty89]

The 318 is not going to be as fast as the 323/325 obviously, but then again, why do you need to go fast?

I'd rather have a quality 318 (or possibly even an e46 318) than a dodgy 325/328 that you managed to get for cheap.

As for speed (wikipedia):
The fastest 318 listed is the 318is coupe at 10.2 seconds to 100km/h, and
The equivalent 323 in a 2dr coupe does 8 seconds to 100km/h.

So the difference is there, but then again neither are fast if you go looking at M3's etc. Even other brand cars in the same price range (less than 10k) are going to be faster than that.

You get what you pay for. Pick two of the three: Cheap, good and fast. But you can only choose two.

Sounds like you want fast and good... so it's not going to be cheap. Sorry.

[matt_06]

Originally Posted by Scotty89

The 318 is not going to be as fast as the 323/325 obviously, but then again, why do you need to go fast?

I'd rather have a quality 318 (or possibly even an e46 318) than a dodgy 325/328 that you managed to get for cheap.

As for speed (wikipedia):
The fastest 318 listed is the 318is coupe at 10.2 seconds to 100km/h, and
The equivalent 323 in a 2dr coupe does 8 seconds to 100km/h.

So the difference is there, but then again neither are fast if you go looking at M3's etc. Even other brand cars in the same price range (less than 10k) are going to be faster than that.

You get what you pay for. Pick two of the three: Cheap, good and fast. But you can only choose two.

Sounds like you want fast and good... so it's not going to be cheap. Sorry.

Ok cheers mate.

I guess ill just go with the one i find the best.

But there not slugs ay? they have some speed in them dont they?

[skyflyer]

if you're really after 4-banger get at least the 318is (and nothing else) only available in 2-door sedan form only. it has twin cam motor same one as you would find in early e36 318is (e36 = successor of e30). engine codename is m42. later e36 318is got m44 1.9L motor (available both in coupe and sedan forms but this was e36 not e30 tho). its really a refined engine with good fuel economy and more than enough power to get from points a to b. its a good runabout car with around 140hp. don't get the m40 318i and no they're not a speedy car and they're slow as f*ck trust me you'll regret.

the 6-cylinder motor of that era is m20. all m20 motors have single cam with various power figures and internals. the best one would be 325i (with 885-casting cylinder head). the one prior to 1988 had the motronic 1.1 and the update had motronic 1.3 with pretty much the same power figure of around 170hp.

the e30 323i pretty much had the same engine as the earlier 3-series (codename e21) but with uprated cylinder head (with 731-casting cylinder head). it had l-jetronic fuel injection which was much much more reliable than the earlier k-jet (used in e21). hp is around 150hp i think. e30 323i is available in 2-door sedan form, 320i as the 4-door sedan equivalent with slightly lower hp.

one last 6-cylinder e30 is 325e (which stands for eta). it had a torquey motor but lower hp because of the use of the same cylinder head as e21 323i (200-casting cylinder head). some people successfully built a stroker motor using a combination of this eta e30 block and either e30 323i/320i head (or e30 325i head). in return, you'll get a torquey motor and yet as quick or even quicker than e30 325i.

e30 323i wont cost you more than 5g. if they do, you spend too much. they're old car now and only available in early type e30 (with chrome bumpers) which i dont like. but up to you. if i were you, i won't get 323i.

325i should be in the region of 4g-10g depending on condition. early type had chrome bumper, later had plastic. oz used to get sport version of 325i, the 325is. they cost an arm and a leg these days and you expect to pay at least 10g.

if i were you, i will just save and buy either 318is or 325i.

good luck!!

[Scotty89]

Originally Posted by skyflyer

if you're really after 4-banger get at least the 318is (and nothing else) only available in 2-door sedan form only.

Sedans are 4 doors... you're after a 2 door then it is either a coupe or convertible.

Also he said under $10,000, which suggests to me he was looking at e36's (1991 through to 1998). You can definitely find a good 323i or 325i for less than the $10k mark - hell, you may even find 328's for that price nowadays.

From what I've seen, the price dependent factor seems to be the year model of the car more so than the engine size. If I were you, I'd be aiming for the latest model possible, regardless of the engine size (although aim for at least a 6 cylinder if you can). Many of the earlier models had some (minor) issues which were worked out over the years of the e36. The later the model you get will generally have less wear and be in somewhat better condition.

In terms of "speedy" cars, well its not going to be a race car by any means - but even the 323i will be a much quicker car than most average cars on the road. BMW make pretty gnarly engines, with the high compression rate that most BMW motors run, they can get a fair bit out of the engines for their comparative size/displacement. The 323i is actually a 2.5 litre anyhow, and is going to be a better power plant than most average 3.0 litre cars around.

Take for example, those ugly mitsubishi magna's (verada/executive) or whatever they are, run 3-3.5 litre motors or something somewhat larger than any 3'er from the 90's... and for sure, I know my 3'er can leave them for dead (and its an auto....). Nonetheless they are cheap and nasty cars, and cost a fraction of the price, but my point is they run engines with an extra 1 -1.5 litres of displacement - its not simply the displacement of the motor that will determine its output.

If you can, try to get an e36 from 1996 onwards. If not, then as late as possible.

[skyflyer]

no, e30 doesnt have coupe. the first 3-series coupe is e36. the sedan form has two choices: 2 doors and 4 doors.

[Scotty89]

Is he looking for an e30 or an e36... this is confusing...

[skyflyer]

Originally Posted by Scotty89

Is he looking for an e30 or an e36... this is confusing...

e30

[skyflyer]

scotty after reading his original thread sorry i'm not sure if he is after e30 or e36. it is confusing. because both models have 318i, 318is, 323i, and 325i lol...

[matt_06]

Im looking for an e36. Sorry for they confusion

So...think im going to settle for a 323i...but wont mind a 318i i supose