why do they get slagged off so much?

[DannyW]

e36 316i 318i and compact models

i want one and theres plenty of tidy examples around

i know chavs have them but are they still a good car ?


basically im either gonna buy an E36 316/318 compact or a mk2 ghia x mondeo

try and stop me

 

[Jez]

They are perfectly good cars, they just have a very bad image, and are seen by many to be pointless and girly.

Personally i'd always get a proper coupe model, i dont like the look of the compacts.

 

[ineed2upgrade]

because the 316 and 318's are a bit slow for what they are and bmw should have had the 318is or 320 as the lowest model.if you get a 316/318 dont put an m3 bodykit on it,im sick of people making my m3 look common joking.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Because it has old E30 rear suspension becuase the E36 stuff wouldnt fit under the rear. It also has an E30 interior as well - this dates from the 80's. As a result, it's not really that great a car and tends to sell in huge numbers to people who know nothing about cars other than the fact they want a BEEMER INNIT. They are not really any cheaper than proper E36 saloons, either, making them largely pointless. In E36 form, they were also available only as a very very slow 316i or a slow 318i.

The later E46 variants are far better but retain the image for historical reasons. The 325Ti is especially fun,.

 

[Super Tigers]

a friend has a compact 2000W 318ti with 16in alloys, part leather it seems quite nice but I still prefer my Xedos 6 that cost me only £600. His cost him the sharp end of £5k last year, ouch!!

Rob H

 

[[TW]Fox]

if you get a 316/318 dont put an m3 bodykit on it,im sick of people making my m3 look common joking.

Unfortunately BMW did it for you - the last of the E36 Compacts were mostly Sport models with full M3 bodykit.

 

[ineed2upgrade]

thats strange as the late model compact looks nothing like my e36 m3 evo,more like the e46.i was refering to the 316/318 e36 saloon/coupe not comapct

 

[Ben M]

my mum had a P reg 316i compact.

was crap

the end.

 

[DannyW]

tbh i think ill end up with a mondeo, i need a big boot and i'd really like leather seats, i've also found some decent insurance prices.

is there anything to look out for on the 2.0i ghia x or is it just another ford

 

[Hate]

The E36 ones look horrible, the E46 ones i'm quite partial to.

 

[ineed2upgrade]

The E36 ones look horrible, the E46 ones i'm quite partial to.

cars are always personal choice though,i think ALL porsche's look horrid but many people love them

 

[[TW]Fox]

They did the same thing with those as well.

Here are two factory BMW's with M3 bodykit:

Both of those are totally stock - even the M badge on the side is factory.

 

[DannyW]

hmmmm been put off e36 abit now..

i might go see this tomorrow depending on milage and service history

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...el=MONDEO&min_pr=500&max_pr=2000&max_mileage=

 

[ineed2upgrade]

first time i seen a compact like that.well atleast they didnt include the mirrors too although i saw a focus and an mg zr with m3 mirrors the other day,im considering selling them and putting some non m3 ones on just to be a bit different

 

[[TW]Fox]

Ghia X Mondeos are getting on a bit now, there are not many nice feeling ones left.

 

[ineed2upgrade]

hmmmm been put off e36 abit now..

i might go see this tomorrow depending on milage and service history

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...el=MONDEO&min_pr=500&max_pr=2000&max_mileage=

if they dont put mileage in the add its likely to be stratospheric

 

[DannyW]

if they dont put mileage in the add its likely to be stratospheric

yeh i know, same with serivce history. no mension = none or very little.

 

[FrannoBaz]

Basically: "Look!!! I can afford a BMW ..... But i can only afford half of one "

 

[SB118]

Came in here expecting to find another diesel thread

 

[ineed2upgrade]

Basically: "Look!!! I can afford a BMW ..... But i can only afford half of one "

you can buy a bmw for about £500 so dont think having a bmw makes ya better than everyone else