Specifically, a question for someone who has experienced both cars in convertible form:

I am your average daily driver who never races, never speeds, rarely "gets on it" and am not out to impress anyone.

Having said that, for normal daily driving, is there a significant difference between the 318 and 325? I don't need the bullet that I have now (LOL, yeah I know) but I definately don't want to be driving a tank...


If you look in the "Bimmers for sale/trade" forum, you'll know why I ask.

Thank you!! :)

If it's your daily driver and you don't need a "bullet" then keep the 318. Automatic is better for city driving anyway. There are plenty of people that prefer their 318s over bigger engines.

I currently have a 325 and I love the power. I'm thinking about geting a 318.

I want to know how badly I'll miss the 325.

I currently have a 325 and I love the power. I'm thinking about geting a 318.

I want to know how badly I'll miss the 325.

If you never had a 325, I'd say go for a 318, the main difference is the way the engine performs. The I-6 is silky smooth and has a nice tone, works great for getting on highways and passing slow pokes. All around it has a much more refined luxurious feel over the I-4. That being said the I-4 gives great MPGs.

-Al

If you never had a 325, I'd say go for a 318, the main difference is the way the engine performs. The I-6 is silky smooth and has a nice tone, works great for getting on highways and passing slow pokes. All around it has a much more refined luxurious feel over the I-4. That being said the I-4 gives great MPGs.

-Al

A man with a 540 says 318 is acceptable?

Anyway, the sixes are even slow (including the m in our cars). I didn't buy an m e36 because it was not enough difference. Better to FI the m50.

I don't think you should consider it.

A man with a 540 says 318 is acceptable?

Anyway, the sixes are even slow (including the m in our cars). I didn't buy an m e36 because it was not enough difference. Better to FI the m50.

I don't think you should consider it.

yeah, I meant if you've never driven a faster BMW you wouldn't know what you're missing.. But being that he's coming from a 325 he'd be constantly kicking himself in the rear.

I don't even think it would be worth the hassle of buying another used car, getting used to it and everything just for the sake of saving a few gallons. (Imho)

the 318ic auto is the slowest E36 ever made, but at the same time I don't like to shift in traffic, I would like to pay lower insurance! and I would like not to buy as much gas. For those reasons a 318 would be perfect!

an automatic 325i is still quicker than a manual 318iC. how much quicker? quick enough for you to just like your tan interior instead of looking for an all black.

if i were you, i would just look for the interior parts and replace them as they become available.. seats.. trims.

if the main purpose of the trade is to get rid of your automatic, then do it. for daily commutes, the M44 is ok. revs at 3K to maintain 65mph. (and gets 35+mpg).

IMO, black on tan is very elegant.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a307/robertodimaano/120606031.jpg

Just say no to the 318. I own both and look what it's made me do to try yo make the m44 keep up.

Well, I have the 318ic auto. It keeps up in traffic just fine and has enough power to get around. It's faster than our lumina and bravada and gets decent mileage. If you just want to cruise around, you'll be happy. I drive my car very hard and get 23-24mpg around town. Cruising at 85mph on the interstate with the top up I get just shy of 30mpg (29.6 calculated at the pump). You have to use 89 or better grade gas though, 87 runs like crap but I don't notice a difference past 89.

Here's two video's of my car where you can see the speedometer:

My commute to school, the car's not floored here, just my usual hard driving. I was going up a pretty steep hill in the beginning too.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v319/Cyrix_2k/?action=view&current=Untitled2.flv

Indicated 0-60 before I modified my intake. I'm a bit faster now since the engine doesn't die at high rpms anymore.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v319/Cyrix_2k/?action=view&current=Untitled.flv

Oh, and don't mind how loud the car is. The muffler's about shot and there's a high flow catalytic converter on the car thanks to the previous owner.

318 is very underpowered for the heavy vert. Even if you just cruise around.

The 325 is much, MUCH faster.

Well, I have the 318ic auto. It keeps up in traffic just fine and has enough power to get around. It's faster than our lumina and bravada and gets decent mileage. If you just want to cruise around, you'll be happy. I drive my car very hard and get 23-24mpg around town. Cruising at 85mph on the interstate with the top up I get just shy of 30mpg (29.6 calculated at the pump). You have to use 89 or better grade gas though, 87 runs like crap but I don't notice a difference past 89.

Here's two video's of my car where you can see the speedometer:

My commute to school, the car's not floored here, just my usual hard driving. I was going up a pretty steep hill in the beginning too.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v319/Cyrix_2k/?action=view&current=Untitled2.flv

Indicated 0-60 before I modified my intake. I'm a bit faster now since the engine doesn't die at high rpms anymore.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v319/Cyrix_2k/?action=view&current=Untitled.flv

Oh, and don't mind how loud the car is. The muffler's about shot and there's a high flow catalytic converter on the car thanks to the previous owner.

What are those lights flashing on and off in your gauge cluster?

What are those lights flashing on and off in your gauge cluster?
on the second video? High beams and fogs - I converted the video to monochrome in an attempt to increase the video quality. I took those two videos with a digicam - the first was in the morning, the second was at night. It leaves a bit to be desired in the quality department. You can ignore the temperature gauge too - the car was warmed up, but the thermostat was stuck open back then. I have since fixed it.

:edit: and upon review, apparently the airbag light too... which is odd because it has been lit since I bought the car.

:edit 2: I should also mention that my gauge cluster looks like a Christmas tree right now. Just like many other e36s, both my check engine light and SRS (airbag) light are on. I scanned the code for the check engine light and it was for "Catalytic converter below efficiency threshold." Basically, the car dislikes the high flow catalytic converter the previous owner installed to pass emissions with. It will stay off if I erase the codes and only drive around town, but soon as I go out for a decent (100+ mile) drive, it comes back. My brake wear indicator light also comes on every so often right now. I checked all the pads and they're all fine, so it must be a bad sensor.

might be the O2 sensor also!!

might be the O2 sensor also!!
yes, it actually might be. I honestly don't care too much since the car runs fine and gets decent mileage. If it's the O2, it's probably the post-cat O2 which I could care less about until I have to get the car emissions tested.

I had a 318 vert for 5 years and loved it. You have to drive it hard, wind up the rpms. I recently bought a 325 vert and really love it. no regrets. The additional power is intoxicating. The sport seats are a must if you ask me.