New Car :)

[95redBMW]

So my BMW 318is sold for way more money than it is worth :) So now I am buying a 1998 323is for the same price. I know the 323 is not as fast as a 328 but do ya'll think it will be fast enough for me or will I end up doing what I did with my 318 (get bored with how slow it is and sell it)? I want a 328 but its hard for me to find a nice one for as cheap as a 323 (especially a manual trans). So pretty much my questions is....for those of you that have driven a 323 or own one, is it fast enough to keep a smile on your face?

[jandersen]

I've driven one before...they are fun cars, much better than a 318. I have heard that the exhaust on the 323 is very restrictive, and when changed makes a bit more power. Someone correct me if i'm wrong.

[dotpage]

why not a 325?
do u have a problem with the number 6 punk?
just kidding...
I'd get a 6 because I like speed, but buy whatever "tickles your fancy".
good luck buying a new car!

[eunit3357]

ya atleast a 325.. chip tune.. 328s do kick some butt though.. love mine. Then again i still want an M, Then a newer M, they hey why not an m6 or so. Your always going to want more no matter what. Whatever you get just have fun modding it to always get that next 2 hp. If i had the money for a brand new m6 i would probaly never work on it like i do my e36.

[dotpage]

or save the cash and wait for an 135i.... sighhhhh.... 135i.......

[95redBMW]

yeah 135=awesome but i'm 18 and dont have that kinda cash. What do you mean "get a 6"....6 cylinder? The 323 is an inline 6 and is, statistically, mildly faster than a 325 (0-60). After all, it is a 2.5 liter engine, it's just newer. The hp and torque numbers are a little lower though, but I like the "newness" of a 323.

[dotpage]

ooops, my bad, I got confused. ;)
I will blame on the meds...

[OptionlessM]

yeah 135=awesome but i'm 18 and dont have that kinda cash. What do you mean "get a 6"....6 cylinder? The 323 is an inline 6 and is, statistically, mildly faster than a 325 (0-60). After all, it is a 2.5 liter engine, it's just newer. The hp and torque numbers are a little lower though, but I like the "newness" of a 323.

no, a 323 is a downtuned 325 basically. get a 325. i havent spent too much money on mine and its right there with a stock M3

[ajnavo61490]

i think the 6 that hes referring to is a 6-speed? :P

is the price right?!

[95redBMW]

"no" what? 323 has a slightly faster 0-60 than a 325. I don't really want a 325. Like i said, I like the newness of a 323. I want a '98 because it has traction control and stuff and personally I like the 2.5 engine in the 323 better than the 2.5 in the 325.

[95redBMW]

price is ok. $6300, perf. cond. with 139,000 miles. Oh and FatJohn, I believe your 325 is almost as fast as an M3 but I want a good DD that isn't modded much, if at all.

[bmwjuggalo]

The 323 wasn't produced as much as the other e36's of the same year from what I believe, so....
...if you buy the 323 then you'll have yourself a bmw that everybody doesn't have!!

[CrazyCoder]

Don't buy it when people tell you a 323 is going to be slower than a 325. The 325 was built on the M50 platform, and was about 189hp and 181ft/lbs of torque. The 323 is also a 2.5L, only it's a M52, and was about 168hp and 181ft/lbs of torque. So, less HP, but the same torque... and the torque peeks lower in the RPM range, so the car will get off the line quicker if the gearing is the same and will feel more responsive in the lower RPMs.

Then there is the craptacular exhaust BMW put on there to keep the 323 from stealing sales from the 328, which is only .3L bigger (and it gets all that from having a longer stroke, everything else is identical). Basically it's a 2.5L 6-cyl exhaling through the 318s exhaust. Swap the midsection with one off a 328 or M3, and put a catback for a 328 or M3 on it, and you gain a lot more than you'd expect. I've heard upwards of 20hp, which is considerable and only goes to show how much the 323 was restricted.

Oh, and those numbers I quoted? Those are what BMW advertised, the 323 was actually underrated as well. At least, thats the common rumor amongst 323 owners. :D

So, in closing, as much as people hate to admit it, the 323 and 325 are pretty evenly matched. Either is a good choice, but the 323 is going to be newer than the 325 (since it replaced the 325 in the '98/'99 model year).

[catch22]

U want ''newer''?, then get an E46.

[boomersooner523]

hey if ur looking at buying a 328i or328is look on craigslist.com and find a city near u cuz i found mine on there and it was 7500K and it only had 92000 miles on it soo check there best of lluck with finding u a new bimmer

[BimmerLover84]

My 328is with intake and M50 manifold kept up with a '99 M3 with intake, M50, and exhaust. The M3 owner is now wanting cams or a supercharger. Don't underestimate the 328is! ;)

[95redBMW]

U want ''newer''?, then get an E46.

By newer, I meant I would PREFER to have a 1998 323 rather than an old busted 1993 325. I can't spend more than $7k so obviously e46 is out of the question plus, E36s have much better exterior German styling imo.

Yeah I have read the 323 has restrictive exhaust. Exhaust and intake would be the only performance mods I would do to it (i say that now lol...) because it has to be a DD that lasts me through college...which brings me to another question. Do you think, and from your experiences, is 98 323is with 140,000 miles going to be a reliable car if its in good condition?

[amancuso]

the 323is is a fine car, in fact it was my 1st BMW. It's newer than a 325 -- bonus, it also has body matched side skirts-- bonus. Less of a chance of bubbling door panels and more than likely a better stock sound system. Do it!

[condor27596]

Get the newer 323 than the old busted 325 !

I had a 99 323 and absolutely loved it. And it
was plenty fast, faster than my old busted
325 anyday.

[mzmtg]

the 323is is a fine car, in fact it was my 1st BMW.

I just got one as my first BMW a couple of days ago. I have no complaints about the power.

Of course, more is always better, but the car certainly doesn't feel underpowered.

[Schwarz328iS]

you should wait until you find a nice 328is if 7k is your limit. I shopped around for a while, and few months ago i found what i wanted: a black on black 97 328is. It was in immaculate condition, sport & cold weather package, manual trans., 130k, bone stock, female driven, w/ maintence records, brand new Perelli's, and an extra set of snow wheels. I paid 7k.

[Investor]

seems that concensus is for a newer and more moddable 323. :) It's always nice to have a newer car I think, bearing in mind condition is equal on both in terms of wear and tear.

I looked at 323s originally too but didn't find a good one. But for what I need, and its not racing, my current one is just fine. :) I say anything, as long as it's a 6 cyl.

[95redBMW]

thanks guys, i'm pretty sure i will be buying this nice alpine white 323is this week unless a good 328 pops up. it seems like not that many people have alpine white 323, so it'll be somewhat unique. two more questions, is the sound system in a 1998 323 any better than the one in a 1995 318? also, it has power seats, how reliable are those?

[CrazyCoder]

thanks guys, i'm pretty sure i will be buying this nice alpine white 323is this week unless a good 328 pops up. it seems like not that many people have alpine white 323, so it'll be somewhat unique. two more questions, is the sound system in a 1998 323 any better than the one in a 1995 318? also, it has power seats, how reliable are those?


Awww, man, you have power seats? Lucky bastard, I've just got the straight manual sport seats with heat. If the car has the power seats upgrade, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess they opted for the H&K audio system. If there is a HIFI switch on the switch panel and the door speakers have H&K on the cover, then you have the upgraded sound system as well. I think it's a 10-speaker system, it sounds decent enough if none of the speakers are blown.

[JHawlz9989]

But the speakers do blow rather easily... On the upside, I think the speakers sound absolutely terrific. Very clear sound, just don't turn them up too loud... Both of my midranges have tears in the foam so there is an extremely obnoxious buzzing if it gets too loud or hits certain notes.
Josh