What should I do?

[witeshark]

Maybe the replacement cases were badly maintained

[Numark318i]

[QUOTE=mullethunter3]Granted, I could get it fixed up, but the thing I am most worried about now is the reliablity of the 318's engine. [/=QUOTE]

M42's from what i heard are bullit proof. Mind you i have only personally put 50k into my car...but those were the worst possible 50k miles an engine could have(im sure it could have been worse..but it takes a pretty good work out) and its running better then when i first bought it.


On the other hand sounds like alot of other things are going bad. I would detail it, fix all the problems u can see(like door panels and headliner) and sell it.

Didnt read all the other threads...so not sure what others said but thats my honest opinion.

[xsperf]

Originally Posted by mullethunter3

I'm sorry? You were saying that because I am a woman I can't possibly fix a damn thing? For your information, I have worked on not only my cars (318is and a fuckin 92 Saturn) but also Porsches, VWs (the Thing and Beetle), dune buggies, golf carts, four wheelers and many other "man" mechanical things. I am studying to be an engineer (and pulling off a 3.4 while doing it) and I am by no means a helpless woman as you or some other people may think. I have worked very hard on trying to break free from that image, and it upsets me when people classify me as such.
Who teaches all the girls on my floor about cars, guns, knives and electronics? Oh wait, that's me.




Dudesky, thank you for backing me up. If I can't pull off this massive repair by myself, my boyfriend and the use of his father's car shop (with a full tower car lift and air hammers and all kinds of fun toys) will help me.


Oh, and I was told by my boyfriend's father that the 318 is unreliable because he has had to replace engines from a 318 many a time in his 50 year career. He is not a dumb man and I do not doubt that he is right.


Catalyst, I am not directing my hate of the "woman can't do shit" arguement towards you, merely at anyone who thinks that I can't be just as good if not better than men.

no, no, not better than men... cmon, get real!! lol
on a more serious note, even if you do all that work(even if it doesnt cost money, it costs time) is it worth it to end up w/ a tip top condition 4 cyl automatic? i think what she wants is something w/a little more power and a manual transmission, no?

[Storamin]

Originally Posted by mullethunter3

Anyway, everytime I fix something, I find three new problems. And now I hear from my boyfriend's dad, a 60 year old foriegn car mechanic, that the 318 engine is not reliable in any sense of the word. Looks like I'm fucked.

This is probaly one of the most untrue statements ever made. The M42 and M44 engines (318) are probaly THE most bulletproof bmw, and possibly automotive, engines. That's one thing you won't have to worry about on your 318.

[drz]

Said several times already, but I will repeat it anyway: the 4-cyls were built like tanks. They are perhaps even stronger than their contemporary 6-cyl counterparts.

If you can deal with it, just sell it or trade it in, even if you get way less than you paid for it. If you are going to try to sell it, do as mentioned above and fix anything that is vicible to the naked eye. eBay is a great venue to sell your used vehicle.

I paid Z$6000 for my car 1.5 years ago, and recently decided to keep it and probably drop $3000 repairs and cosmetics into it throughout the rest of the year. If I were to part with it, I was reaady to take as little as $3000 for the car.

[Chris]

i'm not going to say much other than the M 42 is an outstanding engine, but it is still an engine which means it can only take so much, so the horror stories you hear from your boyfriends father are more than likely stories about people who drove their 318 like it was an M3 racing in le mans...... no engine holds up to that hard of a beat down.

[c1apton]

Amanda that motor in your car is one of BMWs most reliable & longest lasting "lumps" in the fleet. Most 318 complaints & engine probs are from the folks who tend to drive them like it was an "M" car or from "maintenance abuse". 55% of the 300k+BMW mileage club are 4cyls and most of them are 1.8s.
Having an idea of your situation (school & budget) - I'ld make a priority grocery list and attack the maintence & immediate needs issues. Door panels , etc can wait.

[mullethunter3]

okay guys, i get it. sorry i listened to someone who has always been right about my car in the past. geez.
i think i'm just going to give up on getting a better car and fix what i have. besides, it looks like i might get a BMW motorcycle for $100 over the summer. sweet.

as a side note: i had the belts changed yesterday (didn't do it myself because that is something i don't want to fuck up) and turns out my mass air flow sensor/box is the reason that the hose flies of of my idle control everytime i start it up. yay! see, i fix one thing and find another problem, it's a wonderful cycle.

[witeshark]

Tons of luck! I sure as hell know the feeling!

[c1apton]

It's frustrating when the time & $$$ are limited, hang in there girl - time is on your side for catch up.

[Mercenary(FH)]

So since the 318 is so bulletproof are u saying the 6 cyclinder bmw's are like...slouches in reliability and bulletproofness like an e36 325i compared to the 318i?

[witeshark]

They all seem very good. All I can think of is that the 6 cylinder is balanced naturally which makes it smooth running

[celsdogg]

^^^ true. bmw engines are wonderfully engineered. always have been. its just that the m42/44 was at the top of the heap.