Why is there oil in my BMW 318's radiator?

There are two likely suspects here. The first is a blown head gasket which is allowing the oil and coolant to mix. Sometimes this shows up as oil in the coolant, sometimes as coolant in the oil. Sometimes both. But before tearing the engine to pieces to change the gasket, it’s worth checking if the car is fitted with either an engine or transmission oil cooler. These often use the engine’s coolant to keep the oil or transmission fluid cool, and a failed one can allow the two fluids to mix, showing up as oil in the radiator or header tank.

Are there any problems associated with the 2002 BMW 318ti?

The engine in the car you’re looking at has the codename N42. It has a timing chain rather than a rubber timing belt, so that should not need to be changed for the life of the car. However, life is not always that simple and the N42 has a bit of a reputation for developing wear in the tensioners that keep the timing chain taut. If that happens, you could have a chain loose enough to jump a few teeth on the timing gears and destroy the engine in the process. So a service record and close inspection of the engine is called for before any purchase. This model BMW was also caught up in the Takata airbag recall debacle. As a result, many BMWs of this era were actually bought back by BMW and scrapped as the cost of fixing the airbag woes was greater than the value of the cars themselves. Make sure any car like this has had the airbags replaced and is not a candidate to be crushed rather than fixed. Quoting the car’s VIN to a BMW dealership should reveal all.

Is a Mercedes-Benz C220 or BMW 320d better for fuel economy?

I've used the last versions of both those models for this comparison, which means a 2019 BMW 320d and a 2021 Mercedes-Benz 220d (I'm also assuming you're comparing diesels with diesels). As such, the BMW holds a slim on-paper advantage with an official combined fuel consumption number of 4.4 litres per 100km, compared with 4.7 litres for the Benz. In the real world, that difference is a very, very small one and means the two vehicles are more or less line-ball for fuel economy. Real world fuel consumption has a lot more to do with your driving environment and style than it does these laboratory-produced numbers. But the official numbers are valid on the basis that both vehicles were subjected to the same strict test regime, so they do provide a direct comparison, even if you'll almost certainly never match them in real life. Both, however, will surprise you with how frugal they can be.

Should I buy a second hand 2012 BMW 328i imported from Germany?

That’s quite low mileage for a 2012 vehicle and, on the surface, suggests that it has led a pretty easy life. but you’d still only buy it if it is presented with a fully-stamped service book to prove that all the critical preventative maintenance has been carried out. These are complex, high performance cars and they won’t tolerate neglect in terms of skipped services. The major mechanical problems with these cars were found in the engine’s variable valve timing (VANOS) system. Any 'Engine Malfunction' message or 'Check Engine' light in the dashboard could quite easily be caused by a fault in this system. The VANOS arrangement was also the first system to show the effects of poor servicing, so make sure it checks out before you hand over the cash. Fundamentally, though, these cars are not low-maintenance units, so make sure you budget for the necessary ongoing servicing. Don’t forget, also, that this series of BMW was caught up in the Takata air-bag debacle. So make sure the car has been attended to as part of the global recall and don’t take a chance on any car with no proof of this air-bag replacement being carried out.

BMW 328i 2013: Faulty injector

I would only replace the faulty one, unless the others are suspect in which case it’s probably best to replace all of them.

BMW 3 Series: replacement key cost

It depends on the variant and year of your 3 Series. You can get more information on quick and cheap key replacments from dealers or automotive locksmiths here.

Is the BMW 335i reliable and a good car?

With a turbocharged twin-cam six-cylinder, yes the BMW 335i is a great car! The key is to drive the car with an amount of mechanical sympathy, and get it serviced on the dot so it stays a picture of reliability. These are complex luxury cars so don't go in thinking you'll never spend a dollar on it, but they're well-made fast and fun cars.

BMW 3 Series 2005 Problems

No car is perfect, but we've gathered everything relating to the BMW 3 Series 2005 reliability here to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Ford, Mazda lead latest safety recalls

27 Jun 2018 · by Spencer Leech

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has published its latest round of safety recalls, with models from Ford, Mazda, BMW, Kia, Audi, Jeep, Alfa Romeo and Lamborghini affected.

Deadly Takata airbag recall nears 1.2 million in Australia

17 May 2016 · by Joshua Dowling

Only a fraction of the 1.2 million cars on Australia roads with airbags that can spray shrapnel have been fixed, new figures show.

Used BMW E46 review: 1998-2005

18 Apr 2013 · by Graham Smith

Graham Smith reviews the 1998-2008 BMW 3-series E46 as a used buy.

Used BMW 3-Series review: 2000-2005

31 Mar 2011 · by Graham Smith

Graham Smith reviews the 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and BMW 3-Series as a used buy.

BMW Column

Answered by CarsGuide 8 Apr 2010

Take it back to the dealer and insist that they investigate it. It sounds like there could be a wiring problem in the steering column. I wouldn't continue to drive the car until the problem is found and fixed. If the dealer won't do anything, contact BMW and enlist their assistance, if all else fails go to an auto electrician.

Used BMW 3 Series review: 2005-2006

29 Jan 2010 · by Graham Smith

It's a well recognised fact that we humans don't like change, we prefer to stick with what we know and trust and resist that we aren't so familiar with. BMW clearly recognised this trait when it ...

Air of confidence

Answered by CarsGuide 18 Aug 2005

I GUESS because tyre companies haven't yet worked out how to make a tyre puncture-proof without reverting to the solid rubber tyres used before the invention of the pneumatic tyre early last century. The closest we've come is run-flat tyre that is fitted to the latest BMW 3-Series.

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