| Forum Home | ||||
| PC World Chat | ||||
| Thread ID: 107625 | 2010-02-24 04:34:00 | BMW 318 car owners | bk T (215) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 861172 | 2010-02-24 04:34:00 | Went to the car yard earlier this afternoon and had a chat with the sales rep. He told me that the 318 series of BMW have lots of problems with the electrical systems. How true it is? I'm talking about those imported from Japan models. Looking for a used car either Toyota, Honda or BMW. Notice that the price differences are not much, I mean between a Japanese vs BMWs. Are the BMWs that bad? |
bk T (215) | ||
| 861173 | 2010-02-24 04:52:00 | All I know is that my uncle has a 318 4dr. He has had it for some yrs now and have complained of high maintenance. He bought it used. I have an Audi (2001) but I don't use it often. I think I haven't really driven it once for a decent drive since October from skiing, I have another 1.3L car to use these days but I don't drive often, maybe 1 or 2x trip in the weekend that's about it. 3 or 4km each way. A lot of times I take bus to city in weekend cos of the parking issues - be it price, time limit and finding a vacant slot. Weekdays I bus to work. I'm not really a car person either. I got my license 12yr ago, got the first car last yr. So yeah .. From my one all I know is that the coolant isn't your cheap one, you have to get it from the dealer. They use VW certified ones, BMW might be similar that you need to get specialist stuff. The tyres are $200 each for Bridgestone or $250 for continental, more $$ than a Corolla or Camry but on par with larger cars .... I guess from that a 318 might be compared to a larger car than a economical Toyota. Repairwise mine's been no issues in the one yr. When I bought it I overlooked the aircon not working, cos aircon isn't part of the checks Turners do nor a requirement for the WOF. I took it to a aircon place and I think it is the same for others Japanese or what, that came to $1,000 repair. I had a new condenser put in. With JP I guess, maybe you can get spare parts used cheaper but you probably still need a specialist to fit the air con in ....... |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 861174 | 2010-02-24 04:57:00 | Ever noticed secondhand BMWs are cheap? When they get up in mileage they can be very costly to keep on the road. Parts are expensive and what ever nice things you thought about german engineering will put to the test when you own one of these wallet bombs. Frequently the bills for transmission repairs can be more than the car is worth. German war machine run on BMW engines and they came second in two wars starting to work out why now. |
prefect (6291) | ||
| 861175 | 2010-02-24 05:08:00 | I would not even think about getting a 318 that is such a older car these days. It is pretty much a generation back. The body design is diff, you can see the generation difference. 318 is like a Mazda Familia / 323 / 626 or Ford Telstar, or those older Subaru Legacy wagons the 20s guys drive, arn't those mid 90s when they were common. To me a car whether it is EU or JP, the age of the car is gonna dictate maintenance costs. If it was me I would spend $5-7k on JP, 2000 year +, or a EU like a BMW and spend $10k plus. I assuming the 318 would be about 4k these days. The same age JP might be 2k. In fact you probably struggle to find a a JP like that in Turners if you went to their standard auctions. |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 861176 | 2010-02-24 07:18:00 | Stay away from them, mrs brother has one and thats costing him money reguarly | hueybot3000 (3646) | ||
| 861177 | 2010-02-24 07:39:00 | Rule of thumb for BMW cars: If you cannot afford to buy a new one you cannot afford to own one. | CliveM (6007) | ||
| 861178 | 2010-02-24 07:41:00 | BMW dealers seem very proud of their service dept. Ask yourself why it has to be so big!!!! |
Sweep (90) | ||
| 861179 | 2010-02-24 07:48:00 | BMW parts will cost you more than japanese ones, I know that much. | Cato (6936) | ||
| 861180 | 2010-02-24 08:36:00 | European cars are getting a bit too specialised; the new Volvos have "City Safe" brakes. Once you hit the open road I guess it is a bit hit and miss. |
R2x1 (4628) | ||
| 861181 | 2010-02-25 09:06:00 | Well, I drive a Ford Laser that is close to 20 years old, and it cost me practically nothing. Oil, filters, replace the rubber fuel lines, tyres. Tiny bit of rust over windscreen replaced. Recently a dud gas strut on the rear hatch. "Generic' (cheap) parts available for most all of the routine issues. Ignoring fuel, and licencing, and insurance, the car itself probably has cost me less than $100 per year in parts... so I'm sure not complaining. Wouldn't touch a nob car if you paid me. |
Paul.Cov (425) | ||
| 1 2 | |||||