"mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin)
10/10/2013 at 10:45 • Filed to: None
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"mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin)
10/10/2013 at 10:45 • Filed to: None | 1
| 7 |
looking at a $1,200 California top 318 for a beater commuter... Any experience?
Jagvar
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
10/10/2013 at 10:47 |
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All I've heard is that they leak, but I have no direct experience with them.
dieselwagon
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
10/10/2013 at 10:48 |
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My eyes have been soiled. Why would you do that?!
dogisbadob
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
10/10/2013 at 10:49 |
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I love those cars! The second-best BMW ever made, behind only the Isetta!
themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
10/10/2013 at 10:49 |
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Yes, a bad one.
Don't buy it if the upkeep has been poor on it. Bad maintenance = bad car. A fixer is fine if you plan on spending a month or so going over all the little things when you have the time, but driving one while trying to fix it is a recipe for disaster.
MIATAAAA
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
10/10/2013 at 10:53 |
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Get it! Make sure the drains work properly by running some water through them and seeing if they backup or not.
Chairman Kaga
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
10/10/2013 at 11:12 |
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A good friend of mine has one. Actually I think he finally sold the car after they had a kid.
He took good care of his and never had any major issues. I think he replaced the main seal once, not long before putting it up for sale. He used some sort of wax or spray to keep the material of the actual top supple, as it was parked uncovered a lot of the time. The switch broke once, which we replaced himself. It has a manual backup crank.
ANYWAY, the 318ti is relatively lame for a BMW, so the top was easily the best thing about his! He did however get great fuel economy, and it was remarkably reliable as a DD. In that regard, hard not to say go for it.
RPM esq.
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
10/10/2013 at 17:28 |
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I think MIATAAA and Jagvar's comments are directly related. What I've heard is that they frequently leak because the drains often get clogged up. Keep them clear and you should be fine. Another potential leakage source, I'm told, is that the ragtop can occasionally get kind of caught on or under the lip where it closes, leaving a tiny gap that water can drip through. The solution there is just to run your finger along the sides where it closes to make sure the ragtop is fully on top of the lip, if that makes sense. If you've ever driven a ragtop convertible before, you've probably done some version of this maneuver.
My uncle has one of these that he bought new and, barring an accident that totals it, will never ever give it up. It's a great commuter car—light, great handling, and excellent gas mileage. One of those cars that feels so good to drive, who cares that it's slow as all hell?