Conference terri::cars_uk

    I am told that BM are bringing out a 518 soon.
    Can anyone comment on this, please
    
    Eddie

    Not often I agree with Derek on BMW's but i would think a 518 would
    be a bit of a slug.
    
    
    
    wouldnt agree about a 318i being underpowered though, now i'm driving
    around in a Golf 1800. (no not a GTi, obviously, but comparing standard
    1800 with standard 1800)
    
    Tony

    there used to be a 518 
    on the older version of the car
    apparently this was dropped because of its naff performance
    
    
    ...art

    I noticed at the weekend that the 318is is now available in the yUK, so
    perhaps the 518 will have the same engine. It is supposed to be a nice
    engine ... 16V, injected etc etc. The 318is has been rated on a par with
    the current 325i in terms of performance.

    The 318is was apparantly introduced in Italy because of the tax 
    advantage with a 1.8 engine.

  Mark

  BTW The old 518 was a real slug ...

I would think that a 518 would perform about as well as a 318 with one of the
spark plug wires removed.

Buy a Fiesta 1.1 and save your money.

-Al

    
    Agreed... 518 was indeed a non-performer. I read in AutoCar 
    that the new 518i will be a milti-valve engine and on par
    with the 520i in terms of performance.
    
    Even so.. the 520i is no performance car either !
    
    Later.
    
    -fv

    Later this year in September I have heard, that the 5 series engines
    will be modified in the following way:
    
    	520i 12v ------> 520is 24 v  (also true for new shape 320i)
    	525i 12v ------> 525is 24 v  (also true for new shape 325i)
        530i 12v ------> will be discontinued as 525is will have much more
                         power than exisiting 530i. 
        535i 12v ------> ????? dont know, may be only available in sport or
                         even M5 only. 
    
    I have also heard that the 7 series will be getting a brand new series
    of V8 (+ exisiting V12) engines, to make them different from the 5 series 
    which has effected the sales of the 7 series, can any one expand ?
    
    PS - I will be test driving the 318is this Saturday, can't wait.
    
    Raj

    
    re .last
    
    Your comments about the 520i,525i and 530i are about right from
    what I've read. And no new engines in the 3 series until the new 
    shape.
    The 525i is, I think going to produce about 180bhp? which would
    still leave room for the 535i.
    
    The 518i was mentioned in a previous note (.-2?). This is not going
    to be powered by the 318iS engine, but the older 318i (8 or 12valve?)
    unit. It will though, be lowered geared making it a bit less sluggardly.
    The review I read was quite favourable.           
    
    
    

I saw something about a 400 series BMW coming at about the same time as the
*new shape* 300 series.  Anyone else heard about this?

-
Al

    A few notes back, a 12V 5.20i was mentioned. Not being a BMW guru,
    but isn't the 2.0 litre a 4-cylinder. At least it used to be about
    5 years ago. Hence 5.20i 8V ---------------> 5.20i 16V
    
    But don't quote me..
    
    Billy

    re-2
    
    Fast Lane said the 520i was a 16valve but I am sure they are wrong
    because the 520i it replaces was a 6 cylinder (same as in the 320i).
    
    Confused!!!!
    
    Grant

    Ref .-2
    The 2.0 engine has been a 6 cyl for at least 6 years.
    
    The power output of the 2.5 24valve is rated at 192 bhp (according to
    the reports from the Geneva show).
    
    regards
    
    Jim

    ...I remember when the smallest BMW 6 cylinder was the 323i while
    the 320 was definitely a four.
    
    Billy	

RE: last

The 2 litre engine was a four cylinder until 1983 (or maybe 1984), then the 1.8
took its place.  I'm not sure when the 2 litre 6 cylinder came into being, but 
the 2 litre 4 was retired.

-Al

    
    Who's not wrong? 1978 520 was a 6 cylinder. There was also a 318 at one
    point with a 6 cylinder. As I remember, it was with the replacement of
    the 2002 that we got the small sixes.

    I just test drove the 318is, for the second time this lunchtime, and
    one thing I noticed on both the cars I have driven is a distinct noise
    coming from the engine as you rev the engine up. It's like a
    'winding'/'grinding' noise from the engine. I queried this and they
    said it was either due the fact that the car was still running in or
    that the 16V gear makes that noise. Both cars had around 1000 miles on them,
    so they had'nt had the 1200 miles tune up done on them.
    
    Questions:  Does the 16V make that much difference to the engine noise?
    		Or is it due to the running in (past expierence anyone?)
    
    Besides, that I thought the car was great, handling/suspension was
    superb and it went very well aswell, even though it was still running
    in, using a cat and unleaded fuel.
    
    Raj (who will hopefully order one soon!)
    		
    		

    I noticed that graunchy noise from a G-reg 3-series recently - going by it
    at 70(-ish!) on the M56. Can't confirm its valve count though.
    
    Brian
    

    
    I saw in a recent UK publication what is said to be pictures of
    the new BMW 3 series. The pictures showed the 4-door model with
    much softer curved lines compared with the current 5 series. I felt
    that it looked both smooth and expensive (... so what's new ?)
    
    The article claimed that the 318i and 325i will be the first 
    to be launched.
    
    From a recent copy of AutoCar and Motor, they claim availability
    will be Spring '91.
    
    Has anyone else seen/read the reviews ??
    
    Later.
    
    -fv
       

    I thought it looked like a Cavalier with a kidney grille.
    
    Steve