Hi All! Just bought myself a 1996 318ti

[stirlsilver]

Hello everyone! My name is Stirling and I have just purchased a 1996 318ti BMW with 120,000km on the clock.

My previous daily driver to this (which I still have) is a 1981 Series 3 Stage 1 Land Rover which needs about 5 lanes to do a U turn in, has drum brakes, leaf springs and no power steering. So I figured I needed to get out of the dark ages and get myself something a little more sensible. So yep, went out and bought myself a 318ti.

I've owned it now for a couple of days and all is going well so far. Here are some photos.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/4167552.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/4167575.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/4167586.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/4167596.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/4167603.jpg

It is completely stock aside from the custom gear knob from the previous owner... which I don't particularly like... Anyone got an original knob kicking around the place that they no longer need??

Anyway after brininging it home I did a thorough check out of the car, every previous service has been done at a BMW centre. The roof linining is starting to show some signs of age in the corners... So I suppose i'm going to have t re-line it at some point... not looking forward to that.

Snooping around the underside I noticed that the front crank seal leaks ever so slightly... probably not worth fixing

The drivers side window seems like it is a little stiff so I may have to open up the door and reapply some new grease to it... I've read this is a bit of a problem on these cars.

The only other thing that comes to mind is the headlight adjustment switch doesn't seem to do much? Or doesn't work, I changed it from 1 to 2 but I couldn't see anything happening at the lights? Anyone care to explain what this should do??

Anyway I look forward to becoming a part of this forum.

Stirling

[madfronter]

Nice purchase. Thats quite an upgrade from the Land Rover. You should look into getting the BMW ZHP shift knob. I am not quite sure what you mean about the headlights. Post some pictures of your interior.

[tiFreak]

good looking ti and welcome, is that shift knob a MOMO? if it is I think I have the exact same one as you in my ti :lol:

[stirlsilver]

Thanks for the welcome guys. The head light adjustment switch inside the cab actually works I. Before I went to drive out today I tried adjusting it and the lights adjusted up an down so all good!

Thanks for the tip on the ZHP knob frontier, I will look into it. This other knob would have been fine if it was the same colour of the car... but it is more so orange rather than red so it just looks strange.


Freak, does the momo knob have the hollow section running through the middle of the knob from left to right? I will take some more photos tomorrow and post them up when it is daylight.

[marko]

hello - welcome.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and suggest you do not start adding trinkets (momo knobs and such) to that beautiful & clean car.
Get yourself a nice suspension upgrade (lower the car) & find yourself a proper set of wheels (my personal preference would be a set of old school BBS RS splits - or factory M3 wheels) & you are set.

Of course, to each its own - but IMO less is always more.
'all motor' & 'OEM+' FTW every time! :smile:

cheers.

[madfronter]

The ZHP shift knob is touted by some as "the world's greatest shift knob", this black leather knob with ///M logo and 5 spd. gate pattern is not only pleasing to the eye, but its weighted design aids in faster, more precise throws. It is also shorter than the traditional "goose-neck" style OEM BMW knobs. Available in both 5 spd. and 6 spd. patterns!

if you really want to get one you can order them from Tischer BMW

http://www.mileoneparts.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=MorePartInfo&PartID=438185&siteid=214336&catalogid=4462

Though you can just go to your local BMW dealer and order one as well. But I am not sure how much they will charge you for one.

[stirlsilver]

Marko, Thanks.
I completely agree with you. I heavily modified my land rover and I know what sort of problems that brings along. So i intend to keep this one as original as I can... The gear knob was put in by the guy that had the car before me, I did ask him if he had the original but he couldn't find it. So as I asked earlier if anyone has an original knob they don't use I'm interested.

I have also seen some of these cars with some 17-18" rims and they do look soo much nicer with them so that is probably something I will change. I'm also toying with fitting HID's to it as you can normally get away with fitting them without touching the factory wiring (I had them on my land rover and I miss them) but I haven't decided on that yet.

But yeah, I intend to keep this one looking as factory as possible. I have to decide if I want to keep up its full BMW service history or not... going this way will be very expensive!! But it does help retain the value of the car.

As for the lowering... maybe, will see. How much do these cars get lowered by? 1 or 2 inches I am assuming?

[pnosker]

I have an original 5 speed leather knob... send me a PM with an offer and I'll get back to you with shipping if you're interested in it. I have the ZHP knob on now and it's great.

[tiFreak]

Freak, does the momo knob have the hollow section running through the middle of the knob from left to right? I will take some more photos tomorrow and post them up when it is daylight.

yeah, the bottom is chrome and the top is wrapped in leather, I like it but it does look really out of place on your all-stock ti

[Will'sBimmer]

yeah, the bottom is chrome and the top is wrapped in leather, I like it but it does look really out of place on your all-stock ti


His Ti isn't stock. I think everyone has over looked his clear euro lenses.

[tiFreak]

aren't those stock? :confused:

[stirlsilver]

Alright, Photos of the interior... It doesn't put a dent on any of you guys who have put all the time and effort into changing your interiors. But yeah... everythign is stock... aside from that gear knob which has its days numbered.

The weekend got away from me so I had to resort to doing the photos at night... at least it gives you an idea.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/P240808_2127.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/P240808_212701.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/P240808_2128.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/P240808_212801.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/P240808_212802.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/P240808_2132.jpg

[stirlsilver]

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/P240808_213202.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/P240808_2133.jpg

You can see where the headliner is starting to come away in the corners...:ashamed:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/P240808_213301.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/P240808_213302.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/stirlsilver/BMW%20purchase/P240808_2134.jpg

[Mr.Squeelerz]

Very nice looking ride. Clean! Cloth Sag....AHHHH!

[Will'sBimmer]

I want your steering wheel!!!!!!

[bmwpelican]

one clean ass looking TI, verry nice find my man from down under

[marko]

nice wheel.

[spidertri]

Wow, that car is amazingly clean and I also want your steering wheel. Shift knob is crazy looking.

[stirlsilver]

Thanks for the compliments guys. I'm confused. What's so special about the steering wheel??

[tiFreak]

it's different and better looking than the US-spec one, I think there was a member who recently swapped steering wheels to get the one you have

[stirlsilver]

Ahh! I see. I suppose in australia we get the european spec cars then? As you can see i'm pretty fresh when it comes to BMWs!

[marko]

yes you do.. thats also why you have the adjustable height headlights.
man, I want that wheel... LOL

Ahh! I see. I suppose in australia we get the european spec cars then? As you can see i'm pretty fresh when it comes to BMW's!