_____

Main Menu
internal pages
bmw

 

BMW 316,318,320,323,325,328,330,335,518,520,523,525,528,530,535

540,545,550,630,645,650,728,730,735,740,745,760,840,850

compact,m3,m5,m6,mini,x3,x5,z1,z3,z4,z8

Bmw(Yes Please)

Lacks the looks of Alfa 156 or class of Audi A4 . Performance and driving pleasure slightly blunted compared to the best E36s. Cornering brake control on early E46s could take over, but does make car safer in unskilled hands when a corner tightens up unexpectedly. Heavier, so uses more fuel than E36. Much criticism of poor-quality conversion to RHD of early E46s. A few complaints about offset driving position even on 2002MY cars. Build date now shown on engine compartment label on top of front nearside wheel arch. Original 316 and 118bhp 318 not powerful enough. (318 cured with 143bhp from September 2001 facelift; 316i got new 115bhp engine from April 2002.) Reports of harmonic vibrations through steering and floor of 330i. Side repeater indicators pop out and damage the front wings on early cars. Pre-November 2001 3 year warranty required expensive top up to be comprehensive in 2nd and 3rd years. Build date now shown on engine compartment label on top of front nearside wheel arch. Original 316 and 118bhp 318 not powerful enough. (318 cured with 143bhp from September 2001 facelift; 316i got new 115bhp engine from April 2002.). Steptronic auto increases fuel consumption of 330d by around 25%.


Bosch Motronic and Siemens engine management ECUs suffer water damage due to blocked heater inlet drain hose. This hose is supposed to drain any water in the fresh air inlet. Debris blocks this hose and allows water to build up eventually flooding the ECU compartment and causing ECU failure. The fix is easy - shorten hose by 2cm at bottom and clear drain pipe with thin wire as part of winter service. If you believe the ECU to be damaged.

BMW related auctions


News Jan 2008

Council cuts speed camera budget because they are now 'more about making money than saving lives'

North Somerset Council has slashed its funding for speed cameras after claiming they had become more about making money than saving lives

A council has slashed its funding for speed cameras after claiming they had become more about making money than saving lives.

North Somerset Council has cut a third of its ?300,000 contribution to the West of England Road Safety Partnership, after complaining the group had lost sight of its original purpose.

It also blamed the Government for taking money generated by fines to swell central coffers, rather than ploughing it back into local safety schemes.

Councillors now want to spend their budget on other road projects, and have even threatened to cut all funding for speed cameras.

North Somerset councillor Elfan Ap Rees, who is responsible for transport, insisted the cash could be better spent in other areas.

He said: "Motorists have wised up to where the cameras are and slow down and then speed up again. The Government has also changed the rules.

"What used to happen was all the money brought in from fines was passed straight to the local authority and the road partnership.

"But it now goes to the Treasury which creams some off the top, so it is a money-making exercise."

The announcement has been condemned by the local road safety partnership, which says lives will be put at risk and that it could lead to more irresponsible driving on the region's roads.

Spokesman David Gollicker said: "The vast majority of residents agree that cameras play a vital role in cutting speeds and casualties.

"This move is bound to lead to a reduction in camera enforcement in North Somerset , which I believe will put lives at risk."

Speed cameras have been repeatedly attacked in the area by angry drivers. The partnership admitted earlier this year it had even installed CCTV to spy on a speed camera, after it was twice targeted by vandals.

Councillor Ap Rees warned that other councils could follow their lead and begin switching the focus of road safety strategies away from speed cameras.


News Jan 2008

UK Petrol Prices

Are the British being robbed? Let us know what you think about British petrol prices and the latest boycott.

Newest Review: ... Government. Petrol is the most taxed item in UK (and for that matter in Europe too). Are we paying the right price or are we being robbed off? As much we pay for petrol is a political decision and it always hit me that people in USA pay much less than us, and their cars use much more petrol, contributing to the pollution of the planet on a much larger scale than ours?

Welcome to our site
BLACK OR WHITE


common faults

mark.d.neal

Fuel Fool, the campaign for fairer fuel prices