The BMW 3 SERIES (1998-06) 318I 4DR SALOON 2.0 143 SPORT AUTO is a compact premium four-door saloon, pairing a smooth petrol engine with an automatic gearbox. It offers a more traditional, comfortable alternative to a hatchback, with a smart, understated look and the reassuring feel of a well-established executive-car name. mycarcheck.com records 24 look-ups covering 18 different VINs, a useful but modest sample. Those checks show an average private-sale valuation of £1,000, average recorded mileage of 91,000 miles, and around 3,000 miles driven yearly. The cars averaged 4.3 previous keepers, so check each example’s history and condition carefully; these figures describe checked cars, not every 318i. Best suited to commuters or couples wanting a refined daily car, it also works for families needing a boot and rear doors. Against the Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the 3 Series is known for engaging handling; the automatic Sport version favours relaxed progress.