and model description.

Are these available on here somewhere?  I'm a little confused at the moment about the models, particualrly the 328i.  From the data I've seen the 328i seems to be pretty much the same performance of the 325i but with worse fuel economy and the 323i seems to be quicker and better economy than the 320i (although quite a bit slower than the 325/328).

I drive long miles every day and don't want to pay out too much in fuel but am looking for performance that won't disappoint after having driven 205 GTis for a while.  Fancy something a bit more sensible and rear wheel drive...(not too sensible!).

Rob

Aargh, you're following me!

My 325i (it's an E30) does fractionally more MPG than the 1.9GTi and is supposedly fractionally quicker to 60 (assuming you find 2nd gear and don't just crunch for about 3 seconds  )

I don't know if there is an E36 buying guide availible but plenty of info on what to look can be found on this forum if you do a search. Two things to look out for are suspension bushes and nikasil

The 328 is slightly faster than the 325 because although it has the same power it has more  torque. From what I can gether it also should get better mpg. I get about 28mpg average, but on long runs it does 35mpg at about 80.

If you want performance then don't bother with the 320. If it was me I would go for the 328 or 325.

Hmmmm glad I came on here, not heard of the Nikasil problem before.  Just done a search and now rather wiser.

How common is the problem and is there a list of cars somewhere that could be effected?

Rob

oh, you will find some good E36 articles on http://www.e36coupe.com - www.e36coupe.com .

I think the opinion tends to be now that if the car isnt showign the symptoms if nikasil then it's past the danager. A lot will have had new blocks fitted from as low as 30k miles by BMW. The problem was sorted form 98 onwards though.

sorry to post again (yeah i know there is an edit function!)...

Mileage wise i could get upto 450 miles out of a tank on my 328i sport. That would be cruising mostly though. I generally get just over 400 miles with around a £45-50 fill up cost (60 litres odd). The temptation does get strong to gun it in third though as it goes so well from realtively low speed some which are quite illegal! The MPG is better than my 205 was doing though (and that was a 1.6).

Rob_the_Sparky wrote: Hmmmm glad I came on here, not heard of the Nikasil problem before.  Just done a search and now rather wiser. How common is the problem and is there a list of cars somewhere that could be effected? Rob

As far as I am aware all 6 cylinder cars from about 1995 to 1998 are affected. This includes 320, 323, 325 and 328. All E36 328s and 323s are affected up to the middle of 98 whereas only the later 320s and 325's are affected since they stopped making them in 1995.  

MattB106 wrote: I generally get just over 400 miles with around a £45-50 fill up cost (60 litres odd).

How do you get that much?  Does anyone else get about this?  I'm only managing about 350miles to a tank (and thats if I'm really lean on the pedal towards the end..)  I do a mix of Motorway and city which is roughly 50/50.

320 6 cyl 2.0

323 6 cyl 2.5 (restricted) 170bhp

325 6 cyl 2.5 193bhp

328 6 cyl 2.8 193bhp (restricted, de-restricted 210-220bhp) but more torque

The 323 and 328 came out and the models were revised and some restricted to give another model. The 328 was restricted for German tax laws and kept below 200bhp.

Cheers guys for the info, things are beginning to get a bit clearer now.

Rob

Pegsta wrote: MattB106 wrote: I generally get just over 400 miles with around a £45-50 fill up cost (60 litres odd).       How do you get that much?  Does anyone else get about this?  I'm only managing about 350miles to a tank (and thats if I'm really lean on the pedal towards the end..)  I do a mix of Motorway and city which is roughly 50/50.

I get about 330mls out of a fill up, £42 of standard unleaded.

Peter Fenwick wrote: Pegsta wrote: MattB106 wrote: I generally get just over 400 miles with around a £45-50 fill up cost (60 litres odd). How do you get that much?  Does anyone else get about this?  I'm only managing about 350miles to a tank (and thats if I'm really lean on the pedal towards the end..)  I do a mix of Motorway and city which is roughly 50/50. I get about 330mls out of a fill up, £42 of standard unleaded.

Cheers.. I'm glad I'm not alone in that.  Which leaves the question how does MattB106 get over 400miles to a tank out of his????

Just adding my two pence....

1) I wasn't aware the 325 ever suffered with Nikasil problems.

2) I usually get less than 300 miles on a full tank in my 328i. Probably because I'm rather fond of kickdown on the auto 'box. Having said that, a recent long motorway trip showed about 40mpg on the trip computer.

3) Performance figures - and there's not that much in it between 325 and 328 - can be found here (Acrobat file)

http://www.totalbmwmag.co.uk/Buying/BuyingAug02.PDF - http://www.totalbmwmag.co.uk/Buying/BuyingAug02.PDF

HF