Today we’re back with the owner’s review of a 2013 BMW 316i. In this review, Ali Rehman, a well-known food blogger, shares his experience of owning his beamer and briefs us about its quirks and features. This particular car is the 6th generation 3 series, known as the F30.
It remained in production from 2012 to 2019, where this car is a 2013 model. This is the entry-level 316i variant which comes equipped with a 1.6 liter turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine producing around 136 hp and 220 nm of torque. This engine is configured with an 8-speed automatic transmission while the power is delivered to the rear wheels.
Purchase Decision
The owner bought this car in 2016 when he was predominantly searching for newer German cars. He mainly considered the three main German companies, Audi, Mercedes, and BMW. He looked at the Audi A4 but was sceptical about its dealership backup, he also had the C-class in mind, but it was way out of his budget back then.
At that time, Dewan was importing the 3 series for around Rs. 7 to 7.5 million, but the owner got a splendid deal on this slightly used 316i for only Rs. 5 million which proved to be a deal breaker. He also preferred this car due to it being rear-wheel drive.
Drive
As per the owner, the main reason for going for a BMW was its drive. In his opinion, a rear-wheel drive car’s drive is way above cars like Audi, and the driving pleasure is noticeable. Although having a small engine, it still pumps out 220 nm of torque which gives it enough kick to excite the driver.
Suspension lies somewhere in the middle of being soft or stiff, but the road grip is phenomenal. Another noticeable quality of this car is the cabin insulation; with no signs of traffic or tyre noise, this beamer is not even comparable to local cars.
Fuel Average
Although the owner has not strictly observed the fuel consumption within the city, he has once calculated it on the highway. As per his experience, the car gave an impressive average of around 17 km/l from Lahore to Islamabad. “When you drive a car like this, it’s more about pleasure than fuel consumption,” he added.
Space
The 3 series is a compact sedan, and the way it is designed, the cabin lacks a bit of space, at least for the rear passengers. Front headroom and legroom are not an issue, but the rear legroom is a bit compromised. It’s an ideal four-seater which is good enough for the owner’s family. The 5th passenger can, although fitted, will be quite cramped due to the large hump on the floor bed.
Ground Clearance
Moving away from all the pros, ground clearance is a big hurdle in driving this on our roads. Like almost all German cars, the car stands quite low on the ground and is a hassle to maneuver over speed bumps and potholes with multiple passengers. The owner is now used to the ride height but still takes sufficient precautions.
Missing Features
This BMW lacks the fancy frills offered in Audis, but the owner doesn’t feel the need for electrically powered seats or memory settings and thinks they are not the features he misses. However, he sure misses cruise control in this car which would have made highway travel a lot more convenient.
Maintenance And Spare Parts
The owner maintains the car from Dewan, and in his opinion, it is the right choice to get it serviced from a place where they understand the car rather than save a few bucks from local workshops. Spare parts are obviously expensive as he sourced a battery terminal from Germany worth 1 lakh rupees. Otherwise, the owner thinks that the car is pretty reliable and contradicts the stereotypes regarding a beamer in Pakistan.
