Difference 316 - 318 - 320 ?

[Johnny Rosén-Lidholm]

I'm new to BMW's, and I'm thinking of buying a '92 - '94
318 or 320, preferably a coupé.

My question is merely what the difference between
the 316, 318 and 320 of these years are?

Not only the engines, I guess?
BTW, I'm not interrested in the so called compact-series.

Thanks
Johnny

[JDawg943]

I could be wrong but if im not, i believe the correct increments are 318, 325,
and 328

[Allan Williams]

A lot of people say the 320 is the silkiest BMW 6 made. Smoother than the
325i, but it's the 325i with the extra WHALLOP of power.

Basically equipment levels changed with the bigger engines, but it also
varied from market to market. In Japan (where New Zealand get lots of used
cars from) the 318i had many extras - climate control electric windows,
almost everything except the OBC.

I'm not sure where you are from, but I would try for a 6 cylinder version
for power reasons. the 318i is OK powered, considering the car is quite
small, but the 6 has the extra torque - the E36 body is heavier than the old
E30.

I think the US got a 318i and the 325i, which was later upgraded to the
328i - other markets had them, as well as the 316i, 320i, and the Motorsport
versions (M325i etc).

So you might want to look at some used car yards and see what options are on
them. Some markets even got the 325i without any options (No air, power
steer or sunroof)

Get the best optioned car you can for your money though.

--
Allan Williams
"Where's my Bong?"
http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/downs/9040/
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Johnny Rosén-Lidholm wrote in message <7fdirr$kmp$1...@news.lth.se>...

[Tommy Liu]

A 316i is the entry level 3-series, 1,6 litre SOHC, 100/102 BHP and 150 Nm
torque
It has rear drum brakes , yes...even on the coupe.
Needs 12 secs for 0-100 km/h

The 318i coupe is a 318is , 92-94 are 1,8 litre engines DOHC with 16 valves,
delivers 143 BHP and 180 Nm of torque,
front ventilated disk brakes and rear massive disks.
9,2 secs for 0-100 km/h (BMW figures are very pessimistic, the car performs
well)

320i is a 6-cyl with single vanos, 150 BHP ... needs 9,9 secs for 0-100
km/h.
So the 320i sounds better but gets outperformed by the lighter 318is coupe.
adds an OBC.

All the cars come with alloy rims.

good luck

Allan Williams <allanw...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:7fdl6s$mvq$1...@newsource.ihug.co.nz...

[Allan Williams]

That poor little 4 has to work quite hard though. For cruising, and
accelerating for passing - the 320 is better. The 80-110Km/h time for the
320i is faster because you have a lot more torque. you can use a higher
gear. The 320i also has higher overall gearing.

All these cars were available with alloys. They were all (except 318is) also
available with steel wheels and plastic hubcaps depending on your market.

A local dealer should be able to point out the major changes.

--
Allan Williams
"Where's my Bong?"
http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/downs/9040/
-----------------------------------------------------

Tommy Liu wrote in message <924538759.860365@marvin>...

[Jens Kr. Kirkebų]

On Tue, 20 Apr 1999 13:00:56 +1200, "Allan Williams"
<allanw...@hotmail.com> wrote:

>That poor little 4 has to work quite hard though. For cruising, and
>accelerating for passing - the 320 is better. The 80-110Km/h time for the
>320i is faster because you have a lot more torque. you can use a higher
>gear. The 320i also has higher overall gearing.

The 320i does not have 'a lot more torque', it does 190nm w/4700rpm.
But it is very smooth and have higher gearing. Mine does 2000rpm at
90km/h (56mph).
---------------------
Jens Kr. Kirkebų
Industri Systemer A/S