1995 BMW 3 Series 316i SE from UK and Ireland - Comments

Failed MOT with rusty steel brake lines - over £400 to fix! And this was when I was ready to sell the car : (

Front seats groan and creak.

Very slow to speed up from 50-70 on motorway, frequently have to drop lock into 3rd on the auto 'box.

Tricky in wet/snow, even with the modest output from the 1.6 with auto.

Fuel economy okay, especially on a long run.

Built like a tank. When looking for replacement cars I am amazed how flimsy they feel, despite the BMW interior having a few minor squeaks. On the motorway they disappear and it cruises smoothly and quietly.

Keeps up okay on the motorway providing you aren't looking for mid-range. Rests on 80-90 no bother once you are there.

BMW servicing decent, £220 for an inspection 2, £80-ish for an inspection 1 if the car is over 4 years old.

Handling is very good. But as this website says the 1.6 4 cyl doesn't do the rest of the car justice. Definitely go for a 6 cylinder if you are considering one of these, especially in automatic form!

There's a lot of Kev'd up 3-series with suspicious M3 alloys around nowadays... Can't help the cars already dubious stereotypical-owner image!

Keep in mind although these may be quite cheap to buy you could probably do better with something that doesn't have a propeller badge on the top of the bonnet for the same money.

Looking into at a Peugeot 306 GTi-6 next!!!

BMW 316SE I have had my share of cars. I just bought a year ago, 2003, a NICE red 4 door,1995 for £2500. The whole package is great, a good town car, tidy on the motorway and great around the country roads. Yes just like every other car, it has its moments of expenditure and its not that nippy, but unlike most cars of its size/class it's a corker. Solid, reliable, well built and handles like its on rails around corners. I have never been a BMW "person" but from now on...I'm sold. Jason.

I own a BMW 316i - 1.8litre engine, on an '03 plate. Just remember your talking of pretty old models with 1.6 engines. I have absolutely no complaints about my BMW. In terms of speed and finish of car its brilliant and what do you expect of a car that's been around for a decade?! Stop complaining - If you want a 'Perfect Car' you have to either buy a new model of a different manufacturer or buy a newer model BMW.

I wouldn't say this is a negative review. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the whole point of this site is to express opinions/findings on cars that we own or have owned in the past. Therefore many of the cars documented on this site are not new. Whether the new model 3-series are better is irrelevant.

I came to this site while looking for feedback on a 316i, having just purchased one within the past few days.

Obviously there isn't anything to add from the perspective of 'experience', but I can at least contribute the reasons for having purchased this - model of - car.

Rock solid build - standard BMW.

Pinpoint steering accuracy - standard only with better cars.

Excellent cruiser (from my testing) - another BMW standard.

All in all though I'm grateful to be able to come to sites like this and hear what others have to say. The only comment I could add to those already sent is this.

First, this is an older model. Normally that shouldn't be a bad thing as there are always interested people buying and selling better quality cars.

Second (last) why complain about the power? This model didn't come with a monster motor. Compared to other cars of similar spec's it holds its own.