BMW 3-Series Touring (1995 - 1999) 318i 5d (1998/S) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
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Summary
What does this car say about you?
That we are suckers for image - we don't have the money to buy a new one but we (just about) have enough to keep the old one's high maintenance bill going!
What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?
They like the look of it but don't like the costs of runing it.
Would you buy this car again and why?
No - If we had the money we probably wouldn't even choose a newer one either - the reliability problems far exceed the kudod of the brand.
What are you likely to buy next?
probably go back to Citroen or Honda again for value for money and reliability.
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Buying experience
Type of dealer you bought from?
Independent
Did you buy this car new?
No
What price did you pay?
£3,500
When did you buy the car?
May 2007
Did you get a good deal and why?
Yes they were very good and we had it AA checked and it passed fine. They gave it a full valet plus new tax and MOT - we felt we were getting alot of car for our money.
Is there any special reason why you bought this car?
To gain more space and we thought by opting for a more prestige brand we would get a more reliable car.
What was the dealer like?
Good, helpful and trustworthy.
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Driving it
What's it like to drive?
It is enjoyable to drive - not very fast but fast enough to overtake comfortably. It has minimum body roll around corners and has a 'sporty' fell when driving. The gears are a bit long though - could do with a shorter shift.
What's it like to park?
Straightforward.
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Living with it
Have you had any problems with the car?
Where do I start....This is the first time we opted for a 'premium' brand expecting therefore the car would be reliable and robust. The reality is that it requires constant visits to the garage and after some big bills (including one when the head gasket went at 80,000 miles) we have concluded that it is all image. We have probably spent almost what the car is worth in repair bills after only one year's ownership - appalling - Peugeot and Citroen can do better than this with higher miles.
What's most practical about your car?
It is good if you want a small estate. It is easy to drive.
Favourite gadget, option or accessory?
It has the M sports trim, which looks good and given its age it doesn't look too dated.
