1997 BMW 318i for Mercedes -Benz (W126) 300SE?

In the "Never Happy With What I Have / Am I Ever Gonna Be Done Shoveling Money Into This Thing?" Department, i give you the prospect of a clean 1997 BMW 318i and selling the Benz. I love the Merc, but wouldn't mind something a little more economic, like a Jetta, except, thankfully, it isn't a Jetta.

My Mercedes is a 1988 300SE in pretty good shape: 134,000 miles, strong 6-cylinder (my mechanic came back smiling from driving it and said "You got a good one, most 300s are dogs, but yours really goes!"), shiny paint, some of it original, good interior and original, unused tool kit and spare tire.

I bought it a year and a half ago for $3500, then spent another couple grand on tires and fixing age-deteriorated or DPO-neglected things. It still will need rear shocks rear brakes, a windshield and some idle-control/fuel injection thingy.
I know I should probably keep the Merc and start looking for a manual trans for it, but this overpriced BM caught my eye, and I have this perverted thing for base-trim high-end stuff.

I probably wouldn't, paying an extra $3500 just for low miles on that BMW seems excessive.

I have an E36, and I think that the W126 is a much better car.

Now if you were talking about an E36 like mine, a 328 sport package 5-speed, you could probably say that the BMW is at least the better driving car. But the one in the ad, a base model 318i isn't the same car. What you see here is basically the cheapest BMW one could buy in 1997.

That car will get great mileage and be nice to drive, but not amazing. If it had the sport package I'd say go for it--and go see if you can take it to the Mini's at an autocross (assuming classing hasn't changed in the last few years).

SEADave wrote: I have an E36, and I think that the W126 is a much better car. Now if you were talking about an E36 like mine, a 328 sport package 5-speed, you could probably say that the BMW is at least the better driving car. But the one in the ad, a base model 318i isn't the same car. What you see here is basically the cheapest BMW one could buy in 1997.

Yeah, I agree with your first bit, actually with your whole response, but part of what drew me in on this particular E36 is fuel economy—we're planning to move rural shortly, to the small town where I grew up. You know, the old wholesome small town, raising kids bit. The W126 is gonna burn through a whole lot of gas just schlepping me to work and back, but I still want something cool and RWD. Plus, despite me driving a dictator's car, I do kinda dig base models in sort of anti-bling way.

But I do figure you're right. The extra $3500 for the 318 will buy a lot of gas.

The price on that 318 is nuts. Pass

Nice looking 318 but looks like too much $$$.