Conference terri::cars_uk

    Are you new to BMWs or just this model?
    
    If you are new, I had a 316 till recently. The only criticism I ever
    really had (apart from wet weather handling) was heating and
    ventilation. It was by far the worst I have ever experienced on a car
    and this was AFTER a BMW mod kit was fitted. That is the one area I'd
    check for improvements on before getting another.
    
    Richard
    

    Thanks for the advice.
    
    I don't think the 318iS suffers so much in wet weather due to the
    suspension mods on the rear. Not as tail endish now.
    
    Really just want to find out how it performs in relation to the
    standard 115bhp 318i and 320i 6 cyl.
    
    Andy

    I've got one on order, but I have driven one on two occassions.
    
    To me, the car is great, it has the M-Technic suspension, sports seats,
    etc. The handling was great, I was pushing it hard, with no problems.
    Performance seems good, but not that great, but having spoken to
    several BMW dealers, who are quite excited about this model, indicates
    that it will kill both the 318i and the 320i, and will give the 325i, a
    run for its money !
    
    It is rated at: 	BHP		136
    			MAX SPEED	126 mph
                        0-62		9.9 secs (0-60 8.3 Secs)
    
    I loved it. Cant wait to get it on 1 August !
    
    Raj

re.3:

>                        0-62		9.9 secs (0-60 8.3 Secs)
    
60-62 1.6 secs, that's a bit slow isn't it?

Dave.

    re .4
    
    9.9 secs is the BMW quoted figure for 0-62.
    8.3 secs is the fastest figure i've seen in mag reviews for 0-60.
    
    Make sense now !
    
    Raj.

Also, 60-62 might be the time to change from 2nd to 3rd.

>    It is rated at:     BHP             136
>                        MAX SPEED       126 mph
>                        0-62            9.9 secs (0-60 8.3 Secs)
>    

	60-62 in 1.6 secs? A flat spot?  

Dave

    Performance figures vary a lot depending upon the conditions under
    which the car is tested. I've only seen two road test reports on
    the 318iS - Performance Car measured its 0-60 as 9.3 seconds, while
    Auto Express measured it at 8.5. The difference is that Performance
    Car specify that all speed tests are done with two people in the
    car, and a full tank of petrol. I suspect that the Auto Express
    results are one person, empty fuel tank, which might account for
    this much difference.
    
    How much does manufacturing tolerance play a part in whether two
    'identical' cars are faster/slower than each other? It would be 
    interesting to know what an acceptable percentage of variance the 
    manufacturers allow. Would you expect a so called 'quality'
    manufacturer such as BMW to have stricter quality controls ?
    
    I've also noticed that the glossy brochures for performance cars
    give very conservative 0-60 times. Maybe they're timed with the car
    full of people! Or is it the slowest time that any car of that model could 
    be expected to achieve, so that we don't all attempt to sue the 
    manufacturers 'cos our car isn't as fast as the brochure says it should be.
    
    Just a little food for thought there.
    
    Pete

    
>>    
    I've also noticed that the glossy brochures for performance cars
    give very conservative 0-60 times. Maybe they're timed with the car
    full of people! Or is it the slowest time that any car of that model could 
    be expected to achieve, so that we don't all attempt to sue the 
    manufacturers 'cos our car isn't as fast as the brochure says it should be.
>>
    Maybe these are the times that a purchaser would expect to achieve,
    rather than someone who is prepared to really thrash the car, just to
    get a better figure. 

    The 318iS sounds interesting and I might even be able to afford one,
    just.
    
    Can someone tell what the spec of this car is?  Also there is a new 3
    series car due out in spring 91, does anyone have knowledge on how firm
    this date is?  I need to think about whether I would want a car that
    would be new in December and then becomes an old model within 3 months. 

	Last thing I read, in CAR magazine, was the new 3 series would
	be out, albeit 4 door version only, at the end of this year. 
	Spring/summer would see the introduction of other models, including
	a "semi-coupe" model. 

	As for exact dates, these are shrouded in the usual amount of rumours,
	and nobody seems to know, except for BMW themselves, I hope !

	The new 3 series should also have more, if not all, 16 valve engines,
	so rumour has it...

	Gordon
	

    In Germany, there's a 320iS released, with a 24 valve head. It's
    supposed to closely match the 325i in performance. I went in to
    Snows BMW garage in Portsmouth to ask about the availability of
    that here, and they gave me the latest release dates that they had
    heard, which is:
    
    New shape 318 released 'spring' next year, but old shape 320 & 325
    continuing until summer. 320iS will be available here from summer
    next year, in new shape body. Incidentally, they showed me a picture
    of the new 3 series shape. Not from any advanced sales literature,
    but from the centre spread of 'auto express'. Looks similar to the
    new cavalier, a lot more streamlined than the current 3 series.
                                                                   
    I'm 90% convinced to get the 318iS (depending how much the quote
    comes back at), but I too am a little bit concerned about it being
    superceded fairly quickly.
    
    If anyone out there has had their quote back for one of these, how 
    long did it take ?
         
    Pete

	Pete,

	did the BMW garage have any indication as to the price of the new models
 	compared to the current range ?

	I'm wondering how they're going to price the new 325i against the 24v
	320iS, given the comparable performance . Or will they give the 325i 
	24 valves, stick 4 or 5 grand on the price, and market the 320iS in 
	its place at about the same price.

	Gordon
	

    
    .all    Just snooping around in here and thought I'd stir up some
    brown mucky stuff amongst all these BMW worshippers. What IS it
    about these BMWhatsernames anyway? I've driven 316 and.....yeah
    nicely built but 'orrible seats (for big Bavarian bums I suppose),
    unfriendly, spartan interior,handled like a barge, steering wheel size 
    of a London bus and CRAMPED in the back.......and EVERYTHING cost 
    extra......maybe its 'cos they last longer than ORDINARY cars?......
    Well no, parked next to a 6 year old in the supermaket car park
    yesterday and talk about RUSTY!!...my Dad's Maestro is holding up better!!...
    
    So folks how about taking those BMW blinkers off and checking out the 
    much praised Rover 416 Gti, it doesnt have a litle blue badge on
    the front BUT it has beaten allcomers in the Car rag roadtests.....
    Equally good build quality according to the CAR, WHAT CAR? etc
    reports, better handling, all the equipment a car crazee 
    could want and its BRIT built.....do yerself a favour and reduce the 
    trade deficit....you know it makes sense.
    
    Light blue touchpaper and wait for the impassioned replies!!
    
    Dave

    Ignoring .14.!!!!
    
    The new BMW's due for release in Mid 1990 are to have their prices
    hiked up by Approx 20%. This will probably compensate for the fact that
    the 320iS is to be on par with the current 325i in the performance
    stakes.
    
    The 24 valves will add some spice to the current straight '6' 12 Valve
    that is on the market.
    
    
    
    
    

    I had the opportunity to drive a U.S. version 318is at Lime Rock Park
    (1.53mi road course) a couple of weeks ago as part of an evaluation by
    the BMW CCA magazine (The Roundel).  Current owners of 2002/2002tiis
    were asked to do six laps and fill out an evaluation form.  The car had
    definite but progressive (and useful) trailing throttle oversteer and
    was very stable under power.  This was especially noticeable in the
    very bumpy, 80+ mph Diving Turn that leads onto the pit straight.  The
    16 valve engine was smoother and had a better top end than my old tii.  
    All in all, the 318is is a worthy successor to the tii.  Now with
    stiffer springs, shocks, and anti-roll bars and bigger wheels and
    tires....
    
    Bjorn.

    Anyone got views on the desirability of the limited slip diff option on
    the 318iS?
    
    I'm sure a 325 would need an lsd due to the 170BHP and great torque,
    but does the power of the 318 16V motor justify the extra expense? 
    

    re .18
    
    I currently drive a Renault 5 GT turbo, which is rated at
    120 BHP, and is easy to wheel spin despite being front wheel
    drive, with most of the weight over the front wheels (ie engine).
    
    The 318iS is 136 BHP to the rear wheels, and although the car is
    a lot heavier than the Renault, has proportionally less weight over
    the driving axle, so in theory ought to wheel spin fairly easily
    also. That was the reasoning I used when I worked out what to include
    on the quote.
                   
    As it's an option that makes driving potentially safer, I reckon that
    396 quid for the LSD isn't too excessive (compared to the prices
    quoted for the radio/cassette players - but that's another story)
    
    Pete          
    Pete

re.19

an lsd is not a device that prevents wheelspin

it is used to put power on the road on tight bends (hence of use on racing 
circuits)

...art

	Also, FWD cars will always tend to wheelspin more since the
	Torque reaction from the driving wheels tends to reduce the
	weight on the wheels whilst with RWD it increases it.

	The effect is very noticeable in dragsters.

	-John

    OK, I stand corrected. 
    
    A LSD is useful in situations where one wheel is likely to start 
    slipping before the other. With a normal diff, when one drive wheel
    spins, the differential equalises the lower torque between both wheels,
    resulting in little or no forward drive. A LSD at least keeps some
    power going to the non-spinning wheel. This can be an advantage not
    only when driving hard around corners, but also on wet/icy/bumpy roads 
    where one wheel may loose traction.
    
    re .21 - yeh, I'd forgotten that !!
    
    Pete                               

re.22
can't you get BMW's ASD on this car then?

..art