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318tiSpeed
05-16-2006, 04:35 AM
Bought a Dinan '95 318ti on April 18th this year! Was looking on Autotrader website and just happened to be browsing Beemers that time, saying "what the heck?!".... when I happened upon this one (originally I wanted to get a '92-'97 Accord). I got to talking to the owner on the phone and asked him the general questions: "How many kilometres?", "What shape is it in?", "Why are you selling?" and such. Found out the car had 232,000km BUT the engine he had replaced it with has 120k taken from a similar auto that had been wrecked in an accident. (The reason he changed to motor was he explained there was a thermostat sensor that was malfunctioning and the "original" engine was overheating. I don't know to what point but it must've been severe to warrant an engine change. The cost? He paid $2,000 and yes I have the receipt to prove it!)

Asked him for the VIN to run a Carfax report and he didn't have it on hand so he went down to the car to get it. He called me back and I ran the report with GOOD NEWS! No major problems with odometer rollback, no major accidents, no salvage, etc. etc. so needless to say I arranged for a meeting THAT NIGHT. I know that Carfax is only as accurate as the reports they receive, but I know Carfax is a good place to start to find info on any used car you have an eye on. They have a service history section which I find helpful.

I went over to see and was I ever pleased at first glance: nice in the dark green, almost no rust, and it looked sweet! Took it for a test drive and fell in love ;) And this is BEFORE happening on this website! LOL This car is the reason I'm here now!

Bought it for $4700 and the neatest thing is that it had 232,000km BUT the engine was changed for a "newer" one! So I think overall I got a sweet deal.

The only things on it I'd have to fix are the front driver-side fender is dented in 2 places and rust is forming on the edge of the wheel housing, and the passenger-side mirror has really nasty discolouration along the bottom and sides (I think someone may have tried to use a strong cleaner on it).

The car is stock otherwise. Oh yeah, and it's an automatic :frown:
bmwracerchick
05-16-2006, 04:40 AM
wow congrats, post pictures when you can. And what makes it a dinan if its stock?
cali-ti
05-16-2006, 04:42 AM
cool. welcome to the club! post up some pics when you get a chance.
BobbyDigital
05-16-2006, 04:44 AM
Yeah, thats a good question. What makes it a Dinan?
DustenT
05-16-2006, 04:46 AM
Yeah, thats a good question. What makes it a Dinan?

Check out http://dinanbmw.com/

You need to accumulate a certain number of "Dinan Points" to get the Dinan badge. BTW - Guard that Dinan badge with your life. I've seen them go for over $200 on ebay.

Congrats on the Dinan 318ti purchase. Dinan is top-notch.
BobbyDigital
05-16-2006, 04:48 AM
Well, I understand that, I was just wondering if its stock, why is it Dinan?

I'll buy the badge from you dude!

Then I'll have a stock Dinan 318ti! HAHA!!!
318tiSpeed
05-16-2006, 05:16 AM
Shortly after getting it road-worthy I raced (!) it northbound along the 400 from the 401 to Finch Ave. and hit 199km/h. This was around 3:30am.

I heard from somewhere that these cars are electronically limited to 116mph (or 187km/h) so I think my car has this limit removed!

I'm wondering if I can contact Dinan here in Canada to see if they have a record of this car and what was done with it?
BobbyDigital
05-16-2006, 05:23 AM
I think that would be a good idea. You're right about the governed speed. Dinan's chip would do away with that, so perhaps it has the chip?
cali-ti
05-16-2006, 05:36 AM
Shortly after getting it road-worthy I raced (!) it northbound along the 400 from the 401 to Finch Ave. and hit 199km/h. This was around 3:30am.

I heard from somewhere that these cars are electronically limited to 116mph (or 187km/h) so I think my car has this limit removed!

I'm wondering if I can contact Dinan here in Canada to see if they have a record of this car and what was done with it?
i'm guessing dinan or the dealership that did the install would have a record. do you know where the owner had the work done?
318tiSpeed
05-16-2006, 05:45 AM
Well, I understand that, I was just wondering if its stock, why is it Dinan?

I'll buy the badge from you dude!

Then I'll have a stock Dinan 318ti! HAHA!!!

It's stock in the sense that there are no aftermarket mods (ie. angel eyes, turbo, light kits, skirt packages, etc. etc.). That's what I was after dude!

It does HAVE a Dinan Badge on the back of it... lemme see if I can snap a pic of it now...

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e52/alupic/Dinan.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e52/alupic/IsometricView.jpg

It is raining right now here. Like I said, I need to contact the Dinan rep. here in Canada to find records on this car, because I just dont' know what has been modded/upgraded/whatever.
BobbyDigital
05-16-2006, 05:47 AM
Well, it looks sexy! (if I can call a car that)

Boston Green? I love it.
318tiSpeed
05-16-2006, 05:54 AM
i'm guessing dinan or the dealership that did the install would have a record. do you know where the owner had the work done?

The Used Vehicle Info Package we all have to purchase with a used car here says it was originally reg'd new to a gentleman who lives here in Toronto, so I'm gonna see if I can call him up.

There have been 3 owners previous to me, two of them seem to be brother and sister since the last names are the same (could be mother, but that's a LONG shot! :rolleyes: ) Could also be father and daughter... but I'll stop with that.
BobbyDigital
05-16-2006, 05:57 AM
Could also be grandmother and grandson.

Or grandfather and granddaughter.

Oh the possibilities!
fourbysix
05-16-2006, 06:50 AM
from the Dinan site..

"Performance is a concept that each of us defines individually, so we have made it possible for you to configure your own high performance Dinan BMW. The Dinan Deck Lid Badge is provided at no charge when your perfornance selections total 10 points, as specified in the descriptions of each available product. "

My 325i was Dinan, it was chipped, had a new throttle body, and something else i can't remeber..but yeah, it had that cool badging too.
318tiSpeed
05-17-2006, 07:23 AM
bmwracerchick- Thanks for that, and you're pretty sharp.

DustenT- Thanks for that congrats! I really love the car and will baby it as much as possible. Next step is to get some good 17" alloys :evil:

BobbyDigital- The Dinan badge is not for sale, sorry! LOL, you're a joker :biggrin:, you also have a Boston Green!

cali-ti- Thanks. When I get around to taking pictures, I'll post them up for all to see.

It's great to be here, a 318ti resource heaven! :_paper:
BobbyDigital
05-17-2006, 07:27 AM
HAHA, cool man. I'll try to earn mine the right way.

I am a joker, thats been my downfall lately...I do have a Boston Green, its a great color, I have had a few people tell me its a pretty color; I have to agree!
KetteringTi
05-17-2006, 07:42 AM
Bostongruen FTW :wink:
davendeb
05-18-2006, 03:59 AM
you got a ton of K's on that babe - start saving your $$$ and forget zoomin the 400 -

treat your Ti with respect

DnD
Tyler
05-18-2006, 04:21 AM
Welcome to the site and congrats on your purchase.

I think if it's a real Dinan it would also come with a plaque of some sort mounted either in the car or in the engine bay. I could be wrong though.
1rstbmw!
05-18-2006, 05:00 AM
Boston green rocks!
318tiSpeed
05-18-2006, 08:41 AM
you got a ton of K's on that babe - start saving your $$$ and forget zoomin the 400 -

treat your Ti with respect

DnD

I just wanted to see if it was speed-limited, and to push it :biggrin: Rest assured I will not be driving like that except if I find a track.

Treat MY car with respect? Don't you mean treat the other's on the road with respect? Much more important!

Part of the fun of owning a BMW is the image-aspect, and the other part is the performance!
TiTime
05-18-2006, 02:11 PM
Congrats on the purchase. What does the interior look like?
318tiSpeed
05-21-2006, 10:04 AM
Came back from clubbing... was great! Lotsa "nice" ladies floating 'round... anyone been to MannaBar in T.O.?

TiTime- The interior is in excellent shape. One thing I had to look at replacing is the armrest fabric, being vinyl, since it had a nice 2 1/2" hole for all to see. Luckily my dad's gf works at an automotive fabric plant and brought home some samples for me to match with. My mom's friend has taken up the task of sewing the armrest pieces together, can't wait to fit the final product.

There is also a hole in the fabric in the passenger-side and a (cigarrette?) hole in the left-rear seat. Luckily I'm using covers for the front so the only sore-spot right now is that nasty hole behind me. Not sure what I can do with it right now, but I want to get it taken care of!
davendeb
05-25-2006, 03:13 AM
I just wanted to see if it was speed-limited, and to push it :biggrin: Rest assured I will not be driving like that except if I find a track.

Treat MY car with respect? Don't you mean treat the other's on the road with respect? Much more important!

Part of the fun of owning a BMW is the image-aspect, and the other part is the performance!

We all know Bimmers can perform. (that's why I bought them)

I'm sure you treat the others on the road with respect, ONLY they won't think so if something goes wrong at 199 km (bin der dun dat and DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT) it's not fun.

Hope sometime we have a Canadian meet to see you and your TI

regards, and safe wishes on TO roads

Dnd