Record figures for BMW Approved Used Cars with 318i at number one

The BMW 318i Saloon topped the charts of Approved Used Cars sold by the UK’s BMW dealer network in 2003.

A total of 3,894 BMW 318i Saloons passed to new owners from a record total of 63,706 Approved Used Cars. This was 28 per cent higher than 2002’s figure of 49,700, itself a record.
BMW’s Used Car Manager, Julie Parmenter commented: "Strong demand for the highest quality used BMWs serves to underpin high residual values. This is a core strength for the BMW brand and a key benefit for all BMW customers."

The BMW 318 Now Twice As Much Choice

The new BMW 318d ES also compares favourably with its key competitors, namely the Audi A4 1.9Tdi SE, Mercedes-Benz C200 CDi Classic SE and Jaguar X-TYPE Classic. The BMW has more power and torque than the Audi, it is more economical than the Mercedes-Benz and is quicker from 0 to 62 mph than either. The new BMW 318d also has the lowest benefit-in-kind taxation of its competitors since it is the only car to comply with EU4 emissions legislation. It is also the only car in its class to offer owners the benefit of free servicing and maintenance for five years or 60,000 miles, like all BMW 3 Series diesel models.
Commenting on the new addition to the BMW 3 Series range, BMW’s Corporate Sales Manager, Bernard Bradley said: "The new BMW 318d offers our customers the best of all worlds. Class leading performance twinned with 50-plus miles per gallon and EU4 compliance that gives the car a 16 per cent benefit-in-kind tax rating makes it an unbeatable package for the company car driver and private buyer alike."

BMW 318is

The BMW 318is is a two-door version of the popular BMW 325i sedan, and the BMW 318is offers either a four or six-cylinder engine. The BMW 318is has a sunroof, and except for less passenger room, the interior of the BMW 318is mimics the style and comfort of the BMW 325i. The BMW 318is sells for about $23,975.

BMW E21 – 1975 to 1983

Planet Earth was in the midst of recovering from the devastating oil crisis when the first BMW 3 Series stood up with its four wheels on the ground, outside the Milbertshofen factory on the 2nd of May, 1975. The timing seemed just right, as everyone started looking for smaller cars. BMW was so proud of BMW 316, they even presented the car in the Munich Olympic Stadium. It was anything but simple. The track control arms with independent spring strut suspension at the front and semi-trailing arms at the back were dramatically different, as were the disc and drum brakes. The steering was one of pioneering technology – an elastically mounted, rack-and-pinion unit.

A new 2.0-litre four-cylinder in the 320/4, fitted with a Solex carburettor, had 110 bhp, and met emissions regulations without the need for a catalytic converter. The transmission featured a Getrag four-speed manual, and later on, five-speed boxes were updated as standard, on top of the ZF three-speed automatic option. Later on, the BMW 320 staple gained the “i” suffix, as well as a three-way catalytic converter and a five-speed manual. The recipe worked - sales had tripled in the first year, and had continued to climb despite another hike in oil prices in 1979. When the six-cylinder BMW 320 and BMW 323i models were released, they grabbed the attention of many. The BMW 323i gained its reputation quickly, thanks to its 143 bhp engine and 190 km/h top speed. It was technologically ahead of its time and even had a limited slip differential option

Thirty-three to the BMW Series 3

It began when BMW coined a replacement for its 2002 coupe. An important car in so many aspects, it summed up and defined the fact that the BMW 3 Series was, and still is the very car of which all other small to mid-sized sport sedans are weighed, measured and judged against. Today, the BMW 3 Series is known for its outstanding dynamics, quality and prestige that come with the package. This year also marks the 33rd anniversary since the launch of the first BMW 3 Series. Like how Ferdinand Porsche perfected his cars even with the engine in the wrong place, we’ll take you through the years and several innovations that were pioneered since the 3’s inauguration.