318TI personal experiences

[ElJimo]

So, i've been shopping for a new DD cause the "short term" e30 project has turned into a log term e30 project. There's a 318ti close to me for $1800 obo. I was gonna take a look at it, was hoping to spend no more than $1500. As of now only known issues are the roof doesn't work (stuck closed) and slight rust on one fender. Is supposedly mechanically sound.

Anyone have any personal experiences with this model? I've never given them too much thought, but this one caught my eye, minimal research tells me they never caught on here in the u.s., but I don't think it had anything to do with quality?

Thoughts, opinions, stories, and tales all welcome.

Also, if anyone has a suggestion for a DD that they would rather have for sub 2k (must be rwd and manual), tell me why. :)

[Stanley Rockafella]

I looked into one years ago. Sure they seem ok, but are REALLY stripped out compared to a base 325.

Interiors improved thru the production run.

Overall for a dd they are fun, light, tossable little machines.

[ElJimo]

I looked into one years ago. Sure they seem ok, but are REALLY stripped out compared to a base 325.

Interiors improved thru the production run.

Overall for a dd they are fun, light, tossable little machines.

Sounds exactly like what i'm looking for!

[rmdashrf]

I DD a '98 318ti.

I got it because it has working A/C, a timing chain, and hydraulic lifters and i dont care about it as much as the e30. Its fun as hell to r3v the shit out of. Sounds like poop though, IMHO. Its also geared to run at nearly 4k RPM @ 80mph.

Maintenance wise its like modern BMW's; cooling system and such. Outside of that typical stuff, mine had problems because the PO was a clown.

Anything in particular you are wondering about, let me know and I'll see if i have an answer.


EDIT: if you could get that ti for $1500, i would def do it.

[ElJimo]

I DD a '98 318ti.

I got it because it has working A/C, a timing chain, and hydraulic lifters and i dont care about it as much as the e30. Its fun as hell to r3v the shit out of. Sounds like poop though, IMHO. Its also geared to run at nearly 4k RPM @ 80mph.

Maintenance wise its like modern BMW's; cooling system and such. Outside of that typical stuff, mine had problems because the PO was a clown.

Anything in particular you are wondering about, let me know and I'll see if i have an answer.


EDIT: if you could get that ti for $1500, i would def do it.

Awesome. Thanks a lot. I'm setting up an appointment to go look at it sometime this week. If there's no hidden issues that come up, I'll probably end up driving it home.

[stonea]

I've always wanted a318ti for a track car or something... Maybe one day.

[Shock(/\)ave]

The only reason I haven't had one myself is that every single example I've seen locally was either worn out or had too much rust for my taste.

They're a great blend of the E30 and E36, and a lot of fun as a daily.

[rmdashrf]

Mine was from Philly but somehow doesn't have any abnormal rust issues, just surface rust on the underside, no cancer through any body panels.

Now I'm kinda wondering how it made it.

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

[Fraser]

I really loved my '95 ti auto-x/track rat car. Coilovers, some mild weight reduction, and a 3.73 LSD made the thing really really fun. I think the last time I corner weighed it, it was under 2400lbs.

The m42 is a great engine if you're not afraid to abuse it, and would still get close to 30mpg even with really short gearing if you could go easy on it.

The interior on my '95 seemed way more robust than any other e36 coupe/sedans that I've been in. It was nice and simple, with none of the electronic and dual zone climate control crap like in the others.

My mom has a '98 ti now that she uses as a pickup truck (literally, hauling goats and hay around regularly), it has a ton of miles on it and it pretty well neglected but just keeps rocking on.

[M-technik-3]

Get a late year, aka 98 or 99 if possible and try for a sport. Has side impact bags and dual front airbags, plus has vented front brakes like the 328i vs early cars had solid rotors, remember these were built to compete with the 90's GTi's and other hot hatches but never got any HP, nor TQ. A stick is the only way to go with them. I've swapped two yuck tired of that. Look at them good as they rust out in the typical e36 area's.

I have one still, been converted to M52 six cylinder.

[djjerme]

I think this has been discussed before, but the problem with these seems to be they ended up in the hands of broke college kids more often then not. And so, they usually got horrible maintenance records and have been pretty much ran in to the ground. IF you find a well maintained example, get it.

Also, 6 cylinders are an EZ swap, so you have that going for it!

[varg]

M42 is crummy, but the later ones have a better timing chain setup and the E36 318s have it, so that part is less troublesome. The whole "timing chains are less maintenance" thing doesn't really apply to engines which consume cam sprockets and are prone to tensioner/guide breakage like the M42. I'd take a timing belt job on an M20 over a chain guide job on an M42 any day.

[rmdashrf]

From '96 on, the ti (and all other E36 318s afaik) got the M44. While it didnt have the forged internals of the m42, it was a little more robust in other areas.

Sometime during the '98 MY they switched from solid front rotors to vented rotors. Mine has a Oct 1997 build date. I think it was like Nov 97 and on that got vented rotors.

[TobyB]

too much rust

If not this, they're pretty good. Personally, I like the M42- but then, you
can't let it drop below 3500 rpm if you want to go now.

I drove mine to work today- it's a lot more fun than the E36 318i because the
rear end is so much more lively. Now, that's not necessarily a GOOD thing
if you're not looking to play with it, but coming out of a 2002 DD, it's like an old, tail- happy friend.

Thing is, the E36 is an old car now, and it has some weak spots. The M42 chain
tensioner should be replaced, the trailing arm bushings are usually done (just like an E30)
and some body/interior parts are hard to get, since it was a low- volume car.

It's a lot lighter than the sedan, and noisier. It's more E30 than E36, and if that
suits you, then you should get it. If you want a newer- feeling car, the sedan/coupe
is a lot more sophisticated. But slower- the weight makes a real difference.
And you can always stuff an M52 into it to make it a REAL handful. I keep my eyes
open for parts to do one- I think it's be a hoot.

Vented rotors are trivial- just get the carriers and calipers from any other non- m E36.
(The E36 318i's got them from day one, btw. It really is a heavier car)
And worth it- the solid ones warp, eventually.

fwiw

t

[ElJimo]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. It's been a couple days since the "seller" has responded to me, so it's starting to look like this dream may be dead. On the off chance he gets back in touch with me, i'll let you all know how it goes.