mate thinking about swapping his...

[stuboy]

w reg 1.8 vectra for an x reg 1.8 auto se 3 series?

 

anything to look for on the beema?

[Morgan84]

Rusty brake pipes from front to rear flexi hoses are a favourite fail; as per any other car just have a good look round 

 

But why swap a reasonably good car for a underpowered 3 series ?

 

Would rather the Vectra myself

[stuboy]

Rusty brake pipes from front to rear flexi hoses are a favourite fail; as per any other car just have a good look round 

 

But why swap a reasonably good car for a underpowered 3 series ?

 

Would rather the Vectra myself

 

he's bored of it

[cort16]

Knackered brake back plates that stop the handbrake working properly

AIRbag lights that won't go out

Oil leaking from the the oil filter (they have stupid paper ones)

Rust in the front wings and rear arches

[Wilko220]

He needs to be aware of the risk of everyone noticing that he's a BMW driver...

[Cavcraft]

X plate will be E46 I think? He'd be criminally stupid not to swap a Vectra for that, and of the 1.7 people on here who like Vectras, I'm 1.6 of them. 

[cort16]

They're good cars and are premium shite. The 318's nice to drive and decent on fuel too.

[srad34]

OMGBMWHGF ALERT........Just sayin!

[Barry Cade]

Overheating, head gaskets,broken rear springs, interior fans staying on and killing batteries, front balljoints and the most common one- indicators not working.....

[stuboy]

so is this a bad move on his behalf...??

[stuboy]

BMWs command a price premium. 

It's the rear drive, the good steering, the whole sports saloon thing.

 

Why pay that sports car premium for one with a small engine, auto box, flat seats and housewife suspension? 

 

If the BMW in question is valued the same as the Vectra then the Vectra is likely to be a better car.

he either swaps/sells it or wreck the vectra till value is 50p

[Split_Pin]

I'd keep the Vectra. Loads in scrappies and not many people like them which means parts are a pittance.

 

If you are going to get a BMW, I'd do it properly or not at all. The interiors of the low spec ones can look appalling.

[cort16]

Its just the same bollocks you get with any old car. Buy on condition and not just what you read on the internetz. Pick any car of this age and I bet all or most of the above applys.

The interior of them is a bit basic but it's still a cut above most stuff of that generation and is probably one of the last BMW's that actually feels propely screwed together.

[srad34]

I have had 2x E36's with the 1.9 engine, whilst slow as owt, both were reliable and well put together ('cept once when the gear selector fell off), but as long as its looked after (coolant in particular), there are good reliable and pretty cheap to run (plus no cambelt!)

 

Vectra's are voxalls are therefore all shite (unless its one of them GSI ones as even I would have one!)

 

SWAP SWAP SWAP SWAP, What's the worst that could happen? - Actually, best not to focus on that but there are plenty of both out there in scrapyard heaven!

[Taff]

he either swaps/sells it or wreck the vectra till value is 50p

 

my bold. Thats not going to take long.

 

E36 everytime. The blue & white badge of courage on the front of the car informs other lesser drivers that they are to allow you proceed unhindred at all times. Thats what your paying for, a touch of class.

 

Check the rear brake pipes, it's a seat & fuel tank out job to change them properly (do-able, but one of those "4 hours prep for a half hour job" jobs, you know?)

front ball joints fail, but they are cheap and easy to change

drivers seat bolster will be damaged, good ones are a premium find.

the trip computer can spaz out on E36, doens't effect anything but the readouts look a bit mad (my last one, a 325icoupe, constantly told me it was minus 35 outside. Even with the a/c on full blast)

 

Don't know if anyone else has suffered this, but all three of mine were sensative to Tesco petrol?

[saucedoctor]

My mate's E46 was sensitive to Tesco petrol. This is because it was a 320d, and he put 30 quid of unleaded into it.

 

I did the brake pipes in that one. As others have said, it's a pain in the bollocks, and a time consuming one at that. They knock out front "rear" wishbone bushes as well, although they're not too dear or difficult to replace.

[purplebargeken]

Go Beemer. Just for the sheer hell of it. I would if I were in the same position.

[Spiny Norman]

A W reg Vectra's a pretty miserable piece of blandness. All things being equal I'd have the BMW, but I'd adjust my journey times accordingly.

[EssDeeWon]

The E46 is a good motor, I would say always go for the straight 6 because they are fairly bullet proof, but with a 318 you really want good service history ideally. Front arches can go. There are a few sensors that give greif on the 318, personally I wouldnt buy one. Also why does the BMW owner want a swap with a Vectra? Sell the vectra, get cash, buy an E39 523 or 528, much more car for the money and a smooth straight 6.

[stuboy]

A W reg Vectra's a pretty miserable piece of blandness. All things being equal I'd have the BMW, but I'd adjust my journey times accordingly.

 

we off to take a butchers tomos

[Barry Cade]

we off to take a butchers tomos

LOL, I read that as we are going to steal a Meat sellers moped that he purchased from Woolworths.

 

Must be the accent.

[stuboy]

after many time wasters with heaps of crap he swapped for this 318

[Split_Pin]

Doesn't look too poorly a spec from that picture. Fogs and alloys are a good start for any BMW.

[PhilA]

_{Knackered brake back plates that stop the handbrake working properly}

_{AIRbag lights that won't go out}

Oil leaking from the the oil filter (they have stupid paper ones)

_{Rust in the front wings and rear arches}

 

?

 

20140226_123557_W Main St by renault9gta, on Flickr