Help on potential 197 purchase

[Caddo]

Evening everyone

New to the forum and looking for some general advise. I drive a BMW 118d m sport currently and am looking to change to maybe a 197. Have some questions I'd appreciate honest answers:

- I currently get 43 mpg and 450 miles from a £65.00 tank, how much to fill 197 and maximum miles?
- do they have 6 speed?
- heavy on tyres?
- how much are recaro seats if I don't get one fitted?
- recommendations on stereo upgrades and iPod & Bluetooth connections. I have harmon karden currently and would want to upgrade the Clio stereo.
- are they noisy on motorway, my 20 mile commute is all motorway
- servicing cost - what needs doing when

Would appreciate any help as seems these details are vague online

Thanks
Caddo

 

[edde]

Best off searching for MPG there not great though

6 speed all of them not massivly high geared though

heavy depends how hard you are with theem unfortauntly best asking others its a hot hatch so drive it like that and the'll go quick

Not quiet on the motorway thats not there intended place but livable just the fuel to think about

servicing much like the 172 there a thread but rules for Uk are every 10/12k an year cambelts get expensive

However if your buying used no need to keep to those rules.

 

[Goodj]

Evening fella, I'm not an authority on 197's, but there's plenty of owners here who'll put me right if I get this wrong

- I currently get 43 mpg and 450 miles from a £65.00 tank, how much to fill 197 and maximum miles?
You're looking at 98RON fuel (V-Power or Momentum are the prefered) and the £60 quid will get you about 350 miles if you're REALLY delicate
- do they have 6 speed?
Yes, but 6th isn't a touring ratio
- heavy on tyres?
If you push on a lot, you'll be going through fronts quite quickly I'd imagine, certainly quicker than you will the rears on your current motor
- how much are recaro seats if I don't get one fitted?
Someone else help here PLS.
- recommendations on stereo upgrades and iPod & Bluetooth connections. I have harmon karden currently and would want to upgrade the Clio stereo.
You wont get close without a fair spend.
- are they noisy on motorway, my 20 mile commute is all motorway
Not unless you start bolting on go-faster exhausts and intakes
- servicing cost - what needs doing when
Service every 2 years, but the Cambelts every 5

Would appreciate any help as seems these details are vague online

Thanks
Caddo

 

[Gaz_]

Evening everyone

New to the forum and looking for some general advise. I drive a BMW 118d m sport currently and am looking to change to maybe a 197. Have some questions I'd appreciate honest answers:

- I currently get 43 mpg and 450 miles from a £65.00 tank, how much to fill 197 and maximum miles From fumes to brimmed costs me around £70. I average 31 MPG give or take. Stop start is the killer, mine is mainly used for 40 mile round trip of A/B roads.
- do they have 6 speed? Yes
- heavy on tyres? Not really, depends on drving style imo
- how much are recaro seats if I don't get one fitted? Second hand they are around 1k give or take, new over 2k easy!!!!
- recommendations on stereo upgrades and iPod & Bluetooth connections. I have harmon karden currently and would want to upgrade the Clio stereo.
- are they noisy on motorway, my 20 mile commute is all motorway Bit buzzy tbh, the 6ths is quite short
- servicing cost - what needs doing when Every 12 months, or 12k, for basic service. 36k includes plugs, then looking at cambelt every 5 years or 72k. Cambelt is around a £500 job

Would appreciate any help as seems these details are vague online

Thanks
Caddo

Hows them apples

 

[Dan@M.A.D]

Recaro's are around 2k aftermarket (NEW) , If you hold out for a while and look on ebay etc you might find a set for 1k used.

MPG is poor, My dad's got around 26mpg , I don't think iv'e ever heard of one going over 30. , The engine is very reavy and there isn't alot of torque.
Good cars but nothing like a BMW, They are fairly raw and not very refined.

 

[Caddo]

Thanks for your help guys, I used to have a fiesta st but it desperately needed a 6th gear.

I am looking to sell my BMW and save some cash, what can I expect for around £7,000? I'm looking for white or black preferably?

 

[Goodj]

Can't see you really saving any money.
197's will be heavier on insurance, running costs and tax.

 

[Dan@M.A.D]

Thanks for your help guys, I used to have a fiesta st but it desperately needed a 6th gear.

I am looking to sell my BMW and save some cash, what can I expect for around £7,000? I'm looking for white or black preferably?

Try and get an r27 f1 team if you can, They come standard with recaro's and they tend to hold their value slightly better than the usual ones.

 

[Gaz_]

Silver wheels/calipers mean it a standard 197
Cupped cars come with Anthricite coloured alloys and Red calipers. Be careful as some guys paint their standard 197's to look like cup equipped. Cupped cars came out circa Oct 2007. Anything before is a non cupped car.

 

[Šįk]

Sounds like you'd be better off with a Meg 175 DCI.

 

[bmit]

197 on motorway all the time would grate. 3800 rpm ish at 70 mph on early boxes You might get 30 mpg tho on the upside.

 

[Caddo]

The saving will come from the finance, the Clio would be a cash purchase. Also £200+ a tyre and expensive servicing.

I only do around 12,000 miles per year and am 23 with NCB so insurance shouldn't be too bad.

Thanks for all your help, I'm going to take a Clio out and see how it feels.

I'll keep you updated, thanks again

 

[Mr Burns]

Judging from your questions it doesn't sound like the car for you!

The Mpg and gearing/gearbox are two of the 197's weakest points, they're not particularly good on the motorway either.