I'm thinking of what to have for my next car in the future, and I'm keen on old BMWs. I know they're well built and if you get the right one perform and handle well. Only thing is I know pretty much nothing else about them. I like the idea of a 6pot, although a 4pot would probably be kinder on insurance and fuel costs.

I want it to be a natural step up from a mk2 Golf GTI, so a bit more performance than that.

Advice and recommendations please.

Define old, are we looking E30 or E36 era.

My wifes '95 E36 318iS Coupe was a great car 140bhp, 130k on the clocks, and still handled like a much younger car. Was a really comfortable cruiser, but still real fun on the back roads, all with the standard set up.

I'd prefer E30 era I think. Is the 318iS a 4 cylinder?

Dad had an A-reg 316 auto a few years back. Buy very carefully because when they're good, they're very good, and when they're not, they really not (like his).

They're very common for rusting in less than obvious places, particularly floors, bulheads and inner wheel arches (that you'll have to cut the outer out to do).

Steering racks wear out, so check those carefully.

It's also worth saying, because I know a couple of other people who've found it, give them a proper arse-test. I've gone to buy 3 different Beemers over the years (including a 7-series) and they all gave me back pain.

Personally, my expereince says the Mk2 Golf is the better made car.

So you're looking at a pre 91 car. They did the 318iS as a coupe in that model, however it was the same body style as the saloon but with 2 doors instead of 4.

Yep it's a 4 cylinder

buy an e30 6pot

but to get a good un they are not cheap

check out e30zone for some pointers in what to look out for , as in rust spots

is's are rare , tho will be cheaper to run and insure

i've had a 320i e30 and a type1 m power 325i , which the later was the most amaising raw power i've ever had under my right foot , it spun in 4th gear on damp roads , but 1 of the best machines i have ever owned

not to dis your driving , butttttttttttttttttttt

you will have a lot to learn if you buy a 325 pre ltd slip diff

1 word of advice

BUY 1

I had an E30 once upon a time.

What Yeti says is right, buy a lemon and it will haunt you forever.

Whatever you do, don't get a 320i, the 2 litre really is slow and terrible on fuel.

Join E30 zone, its a great resource.

I don't know how quick a golf GTi is, but a 325i isnt going to set the world on fire, IIRC you can 'chip' them for a bit more but nothing radical.

A 318IS has a better handling package, just a generally sportier model. But you will pay a premium for one.

If you can tolerate looking like a scumbag, then consider an E36. You will get a better car for less cash. My mates just bought a 328i for £550 and its pretty good, it goes ok and you can turn the TC off.

not to dis your driving , butttttttttttttttttttt

you will have a lot to learn if you buy a 325 pre ltd slip diff

not to diss your posting buttttttttttttt

they are fine to drive, unless you do something idiotic then it isnt going to misbehave.

I'm liking the sound of an E21 325. 170 bhp sounds like a decent step up from an 8 valve GTI (112bhp).

The 325 is a 2.5 so I'm presuming it's 6 cylinders.

e30zone is really good... Brian Moore is really helpful on there...

as said above spend the money and get a decent one... if theres any dodgy electrical faults walk away... they can be total nightmares...

they have common faults with the plugs on the loom and fuse/relay board conntections got brittle underneath and everything starts going T U!

E21's are seriously cool, always look like a big VW Derby with round lights on to me. You will be spending quality time with a mig-welder though.

alternatively if you want to go a bit newer I would recomend eitther a 328i (big easily controlable drift smiles) or a 318is m-sport (cheaper insurance) there are a few quite simple mods with oem parts to get a 328 from 200bhp up to 250+ mark very good fun!

Thanks for all the honest advice. I spent today wrestling with all the stuff inside my dashboard replacing the heater matrix on my Golf, welding sounds like a nice change!

I've got an E36 328i and an E30 318is and I've had a E30 325i.

The 318is was a direct competitor to the 16v Mk2 GTI and the 318i was the competitor to the 8v. Its not lightening fast but its quick enough to be entertaining on the road. But as it was an alternative the a mk2 GTI 16v its not much of at all quicker. If you want quicker then a 325 would be your choice

If you are after an E30 then I would go either for the iS or a 325. Personally I liked the drive of the 325 and the noise it made but and iS is a good compromise and will get 30+mpg easily.

Prices of E30 are rising as good ones are getting herder to find and to get a semi decent iS you are looking at least £1500

I think the 318iS sits somewhere between the 8v and 16v Mk2s. An iS wouldn't get a look in at a 16v whether it be off the line, mid range, top end, anything, and would seriously struggle with an 8v from a standing start - a 16v has virtually identical performance to a 325i, they even have almost exactly the same bhp/tonne

E30s can be made awesome for not a lot of money though. 24v conversions aren't all that hard, the E36 M3 S50B30/32 are fairly common swaps, and 300 bhp certainly goes well in an E30 as I witnessed from the passenger seat of an Evo FQ340.

The shape of them lends them to just about any wheel size too. The 14" BBS on the iS look pretty cool, but even 19" BBS LMs don't look out of place! Personally I love the idea of an E30, but I'm wary about buying one because they rot away in some obscure places.

If I was in the OPs position, and really wanted an E30, I'd go for a 318iS, because they are the best all round package in an E30 IMO. Other than the timing case profile gasket, there aren't any particularly common engine issues. They are economical, for an E30 anyway. They have the best handling balance of virtually any BMW. You can do some pretty stupid things with them and although they can and will bite, you can normally power out of just about anything. Don't go lifting off too sharply though, the lift off oversteer is almost as much of a common occurrance as power oversteer... especially in the dry as you'll be lucky to unstick one with decent tyres without being a fanny. If you are after driver involvement, leave it on 14s.

When I said..

The 318is was a direct competitor to the 16v Mk2 GTI and the 318i was the competitor to the 8v.

Thats how it was marketed. BMW needed a car to rivival the Mk2 GTI 16v. Power and torque are the same as the 16v GTI but its the weight thats the problem. 2-300kg different! :)

The good thing about the iS is they are relativly rare due to people not buying them because they cost so much and you didn't get a radio or mats! :)

not to dis your driving , butttttttttttttttttttt

you will have a lot to learn if you buy a 325 pre ltd slip diff

not to diss your posting buttttttttttttt

they are fine to drive, unless you do something idiotic then it isnt going to misbehave.

well i hade a type 1 m power 1986 , PRE ltd slip diff , which was brutal to drive , damp roads , drop your right foot and it spun , in 4th gear

rear wheel m powers do need a bit of thought to drive in any adverse weather

go on the e30 zone and you will find that there are threads on smashed up cars , with people who are not experienced in driving such vehicles

Got an e36 318is, it's done 166k and i've had it 2 1/2 years

awesome car. Handles really well, will powerslide if you know how to wring the power out of the engine and loves to be revved

Never broken down, only issues I've had have been maintenance and a couple of sensors illuminating the lights on the dash. It's for sale also for £1000 cash

i had to do some work on my mates E36 328i which meant i had it over night, needless to say i made the most of it

if you can get over the image problem they have they really are fucking good car's. his has full leather and all the m-tec bits, pretty sure it's got some form of bmw split rim too, think he only paid about 1500 for it. really nice to drive and it's well up for a bit of show boating if the mood takes you. they are a much nicer place to be than the E30 as well.

i'd still rather have an E30 mind but just because they look better, but you definitely get more for your money with the E36 and it doesn't feel as big as you'd imagine

I'd go E30 like the 'IS' or the '325'. I'd avoid the 320 engine, only sounds good because its 6 pot but drinks the same a 325.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I'm gonna get looking to get some ideas of whats for sale and what people are asking for them.