I must admit that I am somewhat biased to BMW's, since I have two BMW's in my garage presently, and I've owned 4 others. But I've also owned a variety of other makes, both European, American, and Japanese.
I purchased 5 speed manual '95 BMW 318i back in 1995 out of sheer necessity. I had just blown the engine to my '88 Toyota Supra Turbo for the 2nd time (broken rod) one evening, and because my job requires that I travel extensively throughout the Southern California area, I needed a car right away and I didn't feel like car shopping. So the next morning, I went to New Century BMW in Alhambra, CA and purchased the 318i immediately. It took less than 30 minutes to negotiate a deal.
I chose this vehicle over a 325i because of the discount offered, saving over $2000 on the MSRP. I also have a fondness for 4 cylinder engines, having owned a BMW 2002 in the past. Since that time, I have put 96,000 trouble free miles on the car. The only items that I have replaced are windshield wiper blades, floor mats, and tires. All other items are original. I am surprised that my brakes and clutch are still in good operating condition considering my car's mileage, and I anticipate changing these items when I take it in for a stage 2 inspection at 98,000 miles.
The engine features port injection and double overhead cams, rated at 138 HP. BMW always rates their engines conservatively. It's performance is more similar to 150 HP engines. It also features a chain timing belt, eliminating the need for replacement, typically of the rubber belts found in Japanese cars.
The car has decent power for a 4 cylinder. I estimate it's 0-60 time still to be in the 9 second range and it makes as much power as it did when I bought it. Certainly, there are other 4 cylinder cars that are quicker (an Acura Integra GS comes to mind), but it's acceleration is adequate when it comes to passing. On long trips from Los Angeles to San Francisco or Las Vegas, cruising at 95 mph and 4500 RPM is not a problem so long as the car is in tune and the oil is changed frequently. The engine has a rev-limiter as a safeguard for stoplight drag racers. Since I have had the car, it has had zero oil leaks, making for a nice clean garage. This car usually gets around 20-22 MPG around town, and 32-38 MPG on the road. It is an excellent road car.
Because it's a rear wheel drive vehicle, the car handles excellently. I prefer a vehicle that slightly understeers and this car does exactly that. It's set up perfectly to pass other vehicles in curves while on the outside lane.
Although the leatherette interior is not as plush as my other car ('95 525i), it has been extremely durable and often mistaken for real leather. It is easy to clean, a simple hose off with a bottle of Windex is all that is needed, as opposed to a bottle of leather cleaner. I thought originally that the matte finish of the black plastic of the dash and door trim was somewhat austere, but it has held up very well, with no cracks in the plastic or squeaks and creaking sounds appearing in the 6 years I've had the car. As with all BMW's, the instrument panel lighting is orange which I have found to be very easy to read at night. The car is also equipped with a small LED computer which provides time, date, alarm functions, and outside temperature.
All BMW's for 1995 were prewired for factory CD changers and alarms. The factory AM/FM cassette stereo system is made by Alpine and is CD-ready. Only a factory BMW changer can be installed in the trunk; if you want to install an aftermarket CD changer, you'll have to replace the head unit. It has six speakers, and the sound is adequate, but lacks bass. Aftermarket speakers would help in this area. I also purchased the alarm which is a very good investment. It allows two modes of locking the vehicle - Mode 1 is locking the doors, Mode 2 is activating the deadbolts which are steel pins that are inserted in the doors. Under Mode 2, the doors cannot be opened, from both inside and outside the car. This is one of the great security features about BMW's, and it helped to drop them off the top ten most stolen car lists.
The lining covering the roof is of a velvet like gray material, just like the more expensive BMW's, and much more attractive than the plastic liners found in other vehicles. It has gotten somewhat dirty around the sunroof area, but there are foam sprays that removes these dirt deposits easily. The carpet has held up spectacularly, showing no wear. I can't say the same for the factory floor mats, however $35 replacement costs for 4 mats is tolerable.
The rear seat is somewhat small, but it holds two occupants comfortably, and three can fit on a short trip. The front passenger space has plenty of room to stretch out. The driver's seat is adjustable in 8 directions, and it is easy to find a comfortable driving position. The steering wheel is not adjustable however.
BMW did a great job in engineering the E36 3-series; it has more interior space than a '95 Honda Accord despite being 4 inches shorter in overall length, but it's wheelbase is longer than an Accord, giving it great handling characteristics and a weight distribution closer to 50-50 front to rear. Trunk space is also excellent. Four golf bags (carry bags, not staff bags) will fit easily.
A used late model 318i is an excellent buy. It is reliable, it holds people, it's economical (the insurance is as cheap as a Honda), and it handles nearly like a sports car. Like any BMW, it holds it's resale well. My car has a low bluebook value of $9,800 and a high of $15,500 which is excellent for a six-year old car.
If you wish to purchase a used 318i, most dealers will gladly provide you with a service history of the car from their service computers.
When I bought this car, I thought I would keep it for a year or two and sell it, since I prefer cars with more horsepower. I ended up keeping it, and it will stay in our family for quite a long time. Chances are I'll give it to my son as he will be driving soon. Of course, he'll insist on lowering it, putting on a suspension package, bigger rims, and a better sound system. And I'll replace the 318i with an M3 sedan.
Amount Paid (US$): 23500
Condition: New
Model Year: 1995
Model and Options: BMW 318i
