BMW Compact

[bluestreak56]

Anyone had any experience with these?

Looking at an E36 based 316i or 318ti 1998 - 2000 as a runaround

recently sold my scirocco which had 5 months insurance left on it. I can either forefit it (£225 worth)or get another "classic" which for bmw's is anything over 10 years of age so was contemplating one of these.

Seen a nice 1998 BMW 318 ti Sport 90k, MOT, tax, looks in good condition, 2owners (ebay says its 5!) for £995...

Any thoughts?

 

[Paza3]

Looks pretty sweet for the bucks , alloys are a bit.. :gfight:

As you know with any old car can be a bit touch and go on quality. The owners a bit of a concern.... I bet its "well it was my brothers dogs aunt and he bought it off my grandfathers brotherinlaw so its basicly 2 owners from new....."

Really like the colour , is that the going price for one these days seems ok sub 1k market is rather odd sometimes

 

[bluestreak56]

Haha as I know with old cars he politely remarks after my past 4 years with my 88 E24 and 92 Rocco

You're probably right about the owners.

yea the going price varies from 500-1500 depending on age, condition mileage.

I know what you mean about the owners, I actually like the alloys!

If it has MOT, tax and doesnt need a service before Oct I may keep it for 5 months and sell it.. hmm decisions or do I just use the zed more?

PS started a poll to see what people think.

I walk to work 3 days a week (less than a mile, drive the other two days)
I will mainly be using a 2nd car for very short journeys weekly
I barely do any mileage as is
I would only be getting a 2nd car to avoid anything happening to the zed / 4 seats / save my £225 worth of insurance

Cast your votes now!

 

[Oakandacorns]

What does it cost to run, like for fuel?

Why didn't you keep the Scirocco? I like those.

Have you looked at this car?

 

[Paza3]

Dude just use the Zed more, it will be a waste of cash in my view, but that’s me I get frustrated if I have not driven mine in a few days even if it means a few miles to the shop and back

The wheels a still naff! :lol:

I think if you’re going to get a work horse get a cheap low CC engine that costs peanuts to run insure and fix and that your happily squeeze into those carpark spaces that no zed should ever go!

Otherwise it could become a little side project and before you know it you have spent 6k restoring it

 

[Oakandacorns]

..

I think if you’re going to get a work horse get a cheap low CC engine that costs peanuts to run insure and fix and that your happily squeeze into those carpark spaces that no zed should ever go!
..

+1. If you want to get a second car, get a Ford Fiesta or Focus. And like Paza3 says, one which you can just squeeze into a car park space or park wherever without worrying.

One thing, get a hatchback! Cos I have access to a Fiesta sometimes still, (miss it being my second car, though costs were more with running two cars), and it is great, to put a bike in the back, go to the tip, put a snow board in (okay, I know you said summer, but think indoor snow centre).

 

[bluestreak56]

Thanks for the tips people, I was only looking at the compact because of a relatively small engine and a hatchback but I dont think it matches either of those.

IF and its a pretty big if right now I do get another car it will be a small hatch I dont care about like a mk3 VW Golf or something.

Oakandacorns - I would have loved to keep the rocco but it cost me too much on an annual basis and I was getting to the stage where it was going to need a bit of resto for it to survive another 20 years..

I think right now im swinging towards just having the 1 car and cutting my losses on the insurance..

 

[Oakandacorns]

Sorry, my bad, I mis-read before, ah the old dear is already old.

With the insurance, how does it work?? They let you re-insure but give not a pound for refund if not use?

 

[bluestreak56]

Sorry, my bad, I mis-read before, ah the old dear is already old.

With the insurance, how does it work?? They let you re-insure but give not a pound for refund if not use?

Exactly.. all because after 6 months exactly you lose the rest AND have to pay an admin charge to cancel it!

 

[Adamski]

Get a shed for the daily trips I've got a yr 2000 VW Polo GTi. 125bhp in a car that weighs the same as a packet of quavers. Goes like stink. Can return 45mpg on the commute if I'm not too pushy on the loud pedal. It's a great runaround.

The Polo is a narrow car, easy to fit in parking spaces, dont need to have OCD style worry about parking it in a "safe" place etc.

Can understand that the compact is almost a hatchback, but isnt the 1.8ti only 105 bhp? RWD etc, wont be too nippy.

Just my tuppence worth of course... :lol:

 

[2alpsade]

... after 6 months exactly you lose the rest AND have to pay an admin charge to cancel it!

Why cancel a policy if you're getting nothing back? (And that's a $h1t insurance company if they do that trick!). Leave it running and alternate every 2nd year to keep both policies NCD valid in case you need 2 cars in future.....I know it can happen; has to us on many occasions, and we run 3 cars on 2 policies now as I 'lost' a policy of full NCD by forgetting about it

Alternatively, buy a proper shed, not an expensive-for-parts BMW compact (which was not a great car when new). We have an old (2000) Astra 2.0Dti estate (we've had it in the family for nearly 8yrs, so we know this one) with towbar for our trailer, roofbars and no worries about using it in snow, tight carparks...and most crucially, keeps our £300 a corner Alpina tyres off recycling centres. Cost us peanuts to buy, cashews to run (parts are sooooo cheap, and diy is easy), and peace of mind :wink:

 

[bluestreak56]

Thanks all the only reason im tempted by the compact is because to qualify for "classic insurance" cars have to be of a certain age:

Polo 20 years old!!
Golf / other vdubs 15 years old
BMW's 10 years old!

I wanted something not too old, reasonably reliable. I only buy German, Jap or Korean and the classic insurance limits me as such..

I may go see this compact to see if its as good as advertised (full leather, sport edition, etc)