BMW 316i Compact's, Reliable?

Colbaker

Colbaker

Colbaker

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Paignton, Devon
Hi all,

I am looking at getting an older car (for a max of 3k) and have been looking at some BMW 316i Compact's, Are they reliable? as they are petrol are they very good on fuel consumption.

Thanks
 
Get a good one and yes, they are reliable.

Fuel won't be great, I'd get a saloon though, not a compact.


That said, I like the way they handle. :)
 
£3k will get you a ropey E46, so no, its unlikely to be reliable as it will be a scabby absolute base model BMW.

£3k on an E36 316Ti = LOLOLOL.

Basically, get a Focus.
 
[TW]Fox;16458246 said:
£3k will get you a ropey E46, so no, its unlikely to be reliable as it will be a scabby absolute base model BMW.

£3k on an E36 316Ti = LOLOLOL.

Basically, get a Focus.
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Strange you say this, i am looking into a Focus as we speak. I just assumed that BMW is a good well built car so would be reliable (probably wrongly).
 
Try a similar budget Focus and compare itto a similar budget Compact, imo the BMW should still have a better feel from a quality point of view,thats where the superiority probably ends.

Suck 'em 'n see I guess, do you like RWD handling? - You won't get that at least from a Focus!
 
[TW]Fox;16458322 said:
He's looking at a 316 Compact, I doubt he knows what RWD means.
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:D

I wondered that, perhaps, thats his reasoning for wanting a compact? - can't think of much thats small & RWD.... :(


I think your closer to the mark mate.... :D
 
I am assuming you mean Rear Wheel Drive and thinking about it im not sure i want to go down that road, I remember all the BMW drivers having major issue when all the snow was here. I am not a Car nerd as such this show by the fact i thought it was a good idea to buy a Peugeot 307 which i have had nothing but trouble from and would now rather just sell it for dirt cheap and buy an older car.
 
as said i just assumed they were well build therefore reliable, i really want a reliable car not like my current pug in which i have nearly spent 2k so far on "fixing" an issue with the anti pollution light coming on and then low and behold it has come on again, pretty much at the end of my tether with it.
 
Colbaker said:
I am assuming you mean Rear Wheel Drive and thinking about it im not sure i want to go down that road, I remember all the BMW drivers having major issue when all the snow was here. I am not a Car nerd as such this show by the fact i thought it was a good idea to buy a Peugeot 307 which i have had nothing but trouble from and would now rather just sell it for dirt cheap and buy an older car.
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Sensible mate imo.

That said, RWD (Yes, rear wheel drive) imo is better - driving wheels drive, steering wheels steer & all that - but thats quite another debate.... :D

And yes, in the recent Ice Age II (:rolleyes:) I had more problems in my 328i Automatic than I did in my 44ton Articulated truck - crazy really! :o:D


Try a 3 Series /compact though by all means, and see if you like the way they drive, RWD won't kill you (if your lucky) and you may well like it.

Put it this way, I'm a professional driver by trade, so perhaps you'd expect me to say "yes, RWD is fine" but if my 65year old mother has coped for the past 10 years or so in her old e36 318i and current e46 in all weathers living out in the country, I'm sure you'll be just fine! :D
 
[TW]Fox;16458246 said:
£3k will get you a ropey E46, so no, its unlikely to be reliable
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Don't be silly. There's absolutely no reason why a £3k E46 compact shouldn't be reliable. A 316 simply isn't a car that's bought by chavs, neglected and then flipped one chav to another.

Look at this for example. If it comes with a FBMH you should be laughing:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...postcode/ng122pp/page/5/radius/1500?logcode=p

A old Focus on the other hand.....serviced as cheaply as possible with the typical Ford owner skimping on proper servicing and using el cheapo parts.
 
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MarkDavis said:
Don't be silly. There's absolutely no reason why a £3k E46 compact shouldn't be reliable. A 316 simply isn't a car that's bought by chavs, neglected and then flipped one chav to another.

A old Focus on the other hand.....serviced as cheaply as possible with the typical Ford owner skimping on proper servicing and using el cheapo parts.
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Nonsense
 
MarkDavis said:
Don't be silly. There's absolutely no reason why a £3k E46 compact shouldn't be reliable. A 316 simply isn't a car that's bought by chavs, neglected and then flipped one chav to another.
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Where do you get your crack to smoke?

Cheap hatchback BMW, something that chavs wouldn't want to get their hands on?
 
paradigm said:
Where do you get your crack to smoke?

Cheap hatchback BMW, something that chavs wouldn't want to get their hands on?
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Exactly, compared to something like a Focus which will most likely have been a family workhorse or similar, and maintained as such.
 
Colbaker said:
I am assuming you mean Rear Wheel Drive and thinking about it im not sure i want to go down that road, I remember all the BMW drivers having major issue when all the snow was here.
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Turned off all traction control and i was good to go, did not have one issue in the snow tbh.
 
Old Focuses tend to be owned by paupers looking for something cheap to run. They're the sort of people who'll want to spend as little money on it as possible, and avoid doing any maintenance work that involves any expense.

316 Compacts tend to have been bought by people wanting to buy into BMW premium metal and tend to be maintained as such.
 
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