WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

[Nick]

Hello,

I'm seeking a good-condition manual E36 318is.

Mileage and age are not critical - I'm more interested in finding the right vehicle that's been well cared for. Of course, I'm mindful that an older car typically has some minor cosmetic issues.

Thanks and regards,

Nick J

 

[Nick]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

Still looking... I welcome some suggestions...

 

[5]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

Hi, I believe that many of the 318iS coupe manual, including my old ride, have been exported over the past few years. Still have some running around but will be very rare to find one which has not been trashed. I don't think there were any 325iS (or 323iS to be exact) coupe made it onto Singapore roads before, but definately have seen a few well mantained 320i & 328i coupe.

 

[yuin]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

Hello,

I'm seeking a good-condition E36 318iS or 325iS.

Mileage and age are not critical - I'm more interested in finding the right vehicle that's been well cared for. Of course, I'm mindful that an older car typically has some minor cosmetic issues.

Prefer a 318iS but would also consider a 325. Must be a manual.

Thanks and regards,

Nick J

Hi Nick,

I saw a '93 318is manual on sg yahoo auction. Not sure if that's what u looking for. Here's the link.

http://page.auctions.yahoo.com/sg/auction/93536832

Good luck.

 

[Nick]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

Thanks for the suggestion. Yeah, I had seen that one before. In fact I drove it. Price is OK, and it looks nice - but you know when something just doesn't feel right...?

I've looked at a few of these - this one had the least kms but somehow felt the worst! Felt... tired. Drivetrain, brakes felt off, pulled slightly to left under braking - just did not feel like a well-loved car!

 

[valvetronic]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

Thanks for the suggestion. Yeah, I had seen that one before. In fact I drove it. Price is OK, and it looks nice - but you know when something just doesn't feel right...?

I've looked at a few of these - this one had the least kms but somehow felt the worst! Felt... tired. Drivetrain, brakes felt off, pulled slightly to left under braking - just did not feel like a well-loved car!

That was previously a Repo car. Probably that's why it didn't feel so well-cared for.

 

[sszone]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

there's a white one 320 coupe on sale at sgcarmart site. not sure abt the condition though.

 

[KOSMIK]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

That was previously a Repo car. Probably that's why it didn't feel so well-cared for.

Bro wat do u know abt the car. Can share some info?..tot of viewing it?..Do u know the owner?

 

[Nick]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

That was previously a Repo car. Probably that's why it didn't feel so well-cared for.

Thanks for sharing this very interesting information. You've got mail...

 

[sszone]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

my ride used to be a repo car too, looks like crap when i viewed it and test-drive it. my fren condemned it....haha......but with some cooperation from the dealer plus a little more effort from myself, the car now is totally different from what i saw on day 1. its like uncovering a treasure from trash, not to mention the amount of money i saved, it was like at least 5k cheaper compared to me getting the same car from iguakarzs or other similar dealers. now my fren is dumbfounded when he sees my car.
bottomline is u gotta look for yourself whether the basic conditions of the car is ok, and if there's any prob, is the dealer willing to committ black n white to do up for u.

 

[Nick]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

After searching around... I ended up buying a 2-door German car (from its owner - not a dealer). Rated at 0-60 in 7.1 seconds. Great-sounding V6 under the hood. 7 years COE. A little over 100,000kms. All for less than $30K. Can you guess what I got?

 

[KOSMIK]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

What did u got bro? VW?

 

[Runner71]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

Hey Buddy,
I see that you're looking for the 318 manual ride. I drive one myself...and loving every minute of it. Hope you succeed in your search. Runner71

 

[valvetronic]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

After searching around... I ended up buying a 2-door German car (from its owner - not a dealer). Rated at 0-60 in 7.1 seconds. Great-sounding V6 under the hood. 7 years COE. A little over 100,000kms. All for less than $30K. Can you guess what I got?

1993 VW Golf VR6 2.8?

 

[valvetronic]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

there's a white one 320 coupe on sale at sgcarmart site. not sure abt the condition though.

The prev owner of this car was a car dealer. The car's done up quite nicely and condition was really quite good the last time I saw the car. Worthwhile considering as E36 320 coupes are quite rare.

 

[valvetronic]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

my ride used to be a repo car too, looks like crap when i viewed it and test-drive it. my fren condemned it....haha......but with some cooperation from the dealer plus a little more effort from myself, the car now is totally different from what i saw on day 1. its like uncovering a treasure from trash, not to mention the amount of money i saved, it was like at least 5k cheaper compared to me getting the same car from iguakarzs or other similar dealers. now my fren is dumbfounded when he sees my car.
bottomline is u gotta look for yourself whether the basic conditions of the car is ok, and if there's any prob, is the dealer willing to committ black n white to do up for u.

Some issues with repo cars:

1) May not have been maintained prior to repossession - May translate to expensive repair bills

2) Dealer may have got it real cheap, but may not pass savings to end user

3) Quality of repairs by dealers (esp after you've seen the condition of the car as it sits in the yard.)

(My 2 cents. But of course there will be star buys.)

 

[Nick]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

Hey Buddy,
I see that you're looking for the 318 manual ride. I drive one myself...and loving every minute of it. Hope you succeed in your search. Runner71

Thanks man. But I have to say that head won out over heart, and I ended up selecting a really nice, clean, well-loved Golf (from the owner). Its a very honest car - clearly has been well cared for (with log books to prove it). The fact that its a 2.8L VR6 helps also... A discrete executive express. Just 106,000kms on the clock also!

What I noticed in my (admittedly short) searching around for a 3xx iS was that these cars look great on the dealer courtyard - maybe they also have big wheels, a nice stereo and a body kit. But would you hop in and drive it to Thailand tomorrow? Perhaps not. But to me this level of reliability is a pre-requisite. Did not feel that confidence with the 2nd-hand BMWs...

Perhaps because I'm from Australia, I'm more cautious about buying an unreliable 2nd hand car that's not been well cared for. That's what you learn when you own a bunch of 1960's and 1970's Italian coupes, as I did when I was younger!

 

[GTV6]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

Congrats on your new stallion...Quite interestingly, I tend to use my heart when it comes to hunting for pre-owned cars. All those logs and records may just be paper used to hide some inherent fault with the car. I tend to have the perception that if they car is so well loved, it shouldnt be on the selling board...not at all. Learnt the lesson from owning few pre-owned Alfa Romeos (still own them!); always be suspicious of well-kept pre-owned Italian stallions. Alfistis are fiercely loyal to their Romeos, unless there is something seriously wrong, they wont be parting with them.

Juz acquired a 318iS recently, was an average car with high mileage on the clock. No bizarre wings, skirts and big alloys to speak of. Was heart over head after the test drive...it's been very reliable and fun with 2 trips up North (touch wood!).

Keep the revs goin....have fun!

 

[Nick]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

Congrats on your new stallion...Quite interestingly, I tend to use my heart when it comes to hunting for pre-owned cars. All those logs and records may just be paper used to hide some inherent fault with the car. I tend to have the perception that if they car is so well loved, it shouldnt be on the selling board...not at all. Learnt the lesson from owning few pre-owned Alfa Romeos (still own them!); always be suspicious of well-kept pre-owned Italian stallions. Alfistis are fiercely loyal to their Romeos, unless there is something seriously wrong, they wont be parting with them.

Juz acquired a 318iS recently, was an average car with high mileage on the clock. No bizarre wings, skirts and big alloys to speak of. Was heart over head after the test drive...it's been very reliable and fun with 2 trips up North (touch wood!).

Keep the revs goin....have fun!

Very good points. In my case, the seller is also an Australian (pure co-incidence - I called him out of the ST Classifieds - no "expat connection" thing going on). He's leaving the country so needed to dispose of his car of 4 years. I'll be the 4th owner.

Ah, the GTV6 - a beautiful car. Is yours the original Alfetta or the more recent FWD model? My father had a GTV6 in Sydney. Perhaps the world's best-looking engine. Sounds pretty good too.

Speaking of Italian stallions, I've seen quite a few 105 series GTVs around, a few X/19s, and even (a few years ago now - when I first arrived) some 124s and Lancia Betas. And they say Singapore has no interesting cars! But I have yet to see a Lancia Fulvia here.

 

[GTV6]

Re: WTB: E36 manual 2-door (318/325iS)

Great, sounds like you have got a wonderful deal and a faithful workhorse!

Yes, mine's the classic GTV6 of 1983 vintage. Could be one of its kind....as rare as hen's teeth in SG. Oh, the world's really small when it comes to Alfa Romeos. Hope he's still keeping the gorgeous coupe; it will certainly be a demandable classic.

There's quite a 105 GTV following here; there are a few in unruffled and pristine condition. Have few frens loyal to their X1/9 and 124 Coupe. There used to be a Lancia Fulvia Zagato in SG until my fren (a NUS lecturer) exported it to the UK 5 yrs ago...what a loss to the motoring heritage! Classics are gradually diminishing here; guess you know all those policies.

Road tax is a real turn off; you've got to be paying a hefty bit for a 2.8L when it hits the 150 mark. I am forking out 3.8k annually for the GTV6....what the &&%#