** Buying a 318ic or 325ic HELP! **

[lespaul]

Ok, I'm confused.. One minute I want a 318ic the other minute I want a 325ic.

I've found a few between $4000-$6000. All with under 100k miles on the odo.

Also a lot of them are automatic. Especially the color combo's that I want.

Has anyone wanted a stick, but settled for an automatic and been happy with it? I'm focusing on 89-92's..

The other thing, If the top is bad (blurry rear window), is that an expensive replacement for a new one?

Is there a big difference in feel between the 325 and the 318?

What goes bad on a very well maintained 318 at 71k miles?

Can you get a chip in a 91 318 to give it more pep and keep the gas mileage the same or better?

I'm tempted to go 318ic for gas reasons, but I'm scared of a sluggish car in low rpms. Then I'm worried about the 325, really not getting a whole lot better gas mileage than my SUV (i'm getting 15mpg on the truck).

I'm thinking about this one, although the leather is split on the rear seat.. I hate that, and the washer fluid motor looks like it went bad.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___WBABB231XMEC25456_W0QQitemZ300242915193QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item300242915193&_trksid=p3756.m14.l1308

and this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___LOW-LOW-LOW-72-000-MILES-ALL-ORIGANAL_W0QQitemZ190236586486QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190236586486&_trksid=p3756.m14.l1318

Which one would you buy?

Any thoughts on this would be great.. I posted another add a few weeks ago asking for help with this.

Thanks,

Jeff

ps I posted this on one other forum to get as much help as possible so sorry for being redundant if you read it twice.

[olskool]

I'd go for the green one; more fun to drive than an autotragic and better on gas.

[Rede30eS]

that 318 is clean!

[Jonsku]

No idea buying 318. It's value won't be as good as 325's in the future. Everytime you drive it, you remember that you could've bought faster one for the same money..

Rear window can be brightened with correct chemicals from BMW dealer, no big problem.

And who the hell buys automatic cars? Manual, absolutely, is the only right option! :)

[OrganicMechanic]

If for some reason you don`t get a 5 speed, you can swap it in with a week-ends worth of work and about $500.00 worth of parts.

[justin325ic]

My 1992 325ic had a cracked and blurry rear window when I purchased it. However, my top happened to be in decent shape AND it had a zip in window. So, I was able to buy a replacement zip in rear window for under $200 (more if you want OEM) and the top looks great now. You should check whether the rear windows are sewn in or zip in.
As for manual or auto, I've driven and owned a few auto BMW's, and I don't think I can ever own another automatic BMW again!

[CorvallisBMW]

Buy whichever color combo you like best, then swap in a 5-speed if it's an auto. It's really easy to do. Also, zip-in rear windows are easy to replace. I just replaced mine with an OEM one from the stealer, cost me about $260 but it fits perfect, comes with installation kit/instructions and will last a long time (unlike the ebay junk ones)

[87Blue325iC]

I take it you had no interest in mine?

[morningsmiler]

Having driven both very recently (I just bought mine,) I can absolutely advise you to stay away from the auto. A swap to a 5-speed is easy, but its just as easy to find one you like.

As for the 318, they are slower, but can be fun in the upper RPMs. I like the torque of the 325.

[PУCCKAЯ_e30ka]

318's are slow