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Sound as the BMW’s mechanicals is their testament to high quality interior trimmings. Every space, nook and cranny of the 318i Executive was pleasing to look at and touch. The Bavarian soft plastics was everywhere and coupled with light-shaded Myrtle wood trim, the interior was perfectly and peerless put together, making any BMW owner as proud to sit in the 318i Executive as to drive it. Everything is so cleanly designed with a minimal of button fuss. All the storage bins and auxiliary switches are covered and activated by soft-push buttons. Unlike its older 5-series and its close cousin, the X5, the 3-series is surprisingly more ergonomic with every bit of control within easy reach and every dial easy to read and understand. The steering wheel is perfectly sized, while the automatic gear selector is fairly easy to hold and to use—very intuitive and connected. The fighter cockpit feel of the 318i extends further to include such controls as the handbrake, where it’s close positioning makes it a tempting thing to yank, after all, this car was designed for that, right? Center-mounted window / door controls may take some time to get used to, especially for those familiar with Japanese car layout, but it’s not so confusing. The real Waterloo of the 318i, much like the rest of the BMW line-up, is its audio system control. The Bimmer’s Business Audio System with stereo cassette and six-disc CD changer contains small and undecipherable prints making changing disc or station a chore. However, once properly deciphered, the premium sound system does wonders thanks to the powerful 8-speaker system. So far, so good then for the BMW 318i Executive as it has negotiated all the necessary things to make it a top notch luxury compact sedan. Now, the biggest question looms, is the two million-asking price worth it? Is this the better buy compared to the Jaguar X-Type and the Volvo S60? According to some long time BMW 3-series owners, the Bimmer still suffers some minor problems such as trim that easily gets worn as well as audio system glitches. A select few also complained of some more drastic durability issues which could make this car dangerous to drive. Problems range from faulty transmission (no forward gears, no selection above third gear, etc.), a faulty electrical system and even an overheating engine. Compared to its rivals, the BMW 318i Executive ends up as a mixed bag: one hand, it’s the sportiest and most dynamic among the three, but on the other hand, the other two, particularly the Volvo ends up being the most practical; thanks to its economical light-pressure turbo and large interior space. A BMW advantage is the numerous service centers out there—making the 318i easier to service in case of repairs. People who know the industry say that the BMW 318i also retains its value better than at least the Volvo because of the continued demand for the sportier Bavarian. |
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