1996 BMW 3 Series 318ic review from North America
"The BMW 318ic is a solid, great looking and well performing car!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Head light adjusters went bad.
Muffler rusted out on the seam.
Heated seats (bottom).
1st gear pops out once out of every 60-70 times.
Valve cover was leaking when purchased.
Accelerator cable faulty.
4cyl not quite as much fun as my 6 cylinder 325is.
4cyl revs high, which makes it still a hoot to drive.
They last almost for ever!
General comments?
Very solidly built car.
For a convertible, this car is very quiet. If you have the hard top on, it is as quiet as a regular coupe or sedan. With the true convertible top up, it is still very quiet and it has a nice head liner.
I upgraded to 17" Performance Wheels and tires from the original equipment wheels & tires. It is like "Day Light & Dark". This car handles like a dream.
The ride was not compromised adding high performance wheels & tires.
Great gas mileage with the 4cyl; 24-26 city & 30-36 highway.
The convertible back seat is tight for a 6 foot tall built man.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model year | 1996 |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 2007 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.9 Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 2 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 176000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 192000 miles |
| Previous car | BMW 3 Series |
| Date of Entry | 7th January, 2009 |