Talk me into it.
 

Alright guys

Just made a profile to see if I can pick your brain, but who knows, maybe I'll buy a ti and can use this forum daily :biggrin:

I've currently got a 1996 Saturn SL1 with 108xxx that needs some work, maybe 800 bucks tops, but its not awful. I REALLY want a bmw again. I had a 1995 325is black on black(god I loved that car) but I sold it a while ago. I'm either going to buy a 3 series like I had before(not necessarily a 325is) or a ti. If i got the 3 series, I might consider a convertible and fix up my saturn this summer and make it a winter car. I WANT A BMW AGAIN. Here is where you guys can help! I want to be able to work on the car myself, and as the years move on with BMW, the cars MUST be taken to a dealer for more and more basic car care, I don't want that. SO. What models would you recommend? Do you like your ti? Are they easy to maintain? Am I going to crash and die in these Wisconsin winters? How hard are oil filters, parts, roters ect. to find? Is insurance killer?( I know that depends on a lot) Keep in mind I'm basically a car noob, but I have the internet, so I'll be an expert in 5 months, regardless of what I get.

I know I'm dropping a lot in this thread but hey its worth a try, thanks guys for your replies!



tl:dr sell me on a ti

ti's are pretty good for what you're looking for. Anybody that comments here is going to love their ti, and probably a bit more than would be considered rational. Ive owned two and loved both of them. Most of the maintenance can be done by you, theres so much information on this site alone that you should be able to figure most everything. As for a convertible, some ti's came with a california roof which is a big folding canvas roof, I've got one and i LOVE it. As for a winter car theres quite a number of active members on here from Wisconsin and Minnesota, I'm from upstate ny and my ti's have been absolute joys to drive in the winter. As for basic maintenance its all reasonable and insurance, for me, a 19 year old kid with a clean license in upstate ny is nothing.

Being an older car, most at least 15 years old, hardly any of us take our cars to the dealer for service. There's a few exceptions, but for the most part the knowledgeable people who make up this forum can offer answers and advice to fix nearly any problem. Parts are still readily available and reasonably priced. As you probably know, many of BMW's parts are interchangeable between the models. The 318ti is basically the same car as the e36 sedan from the a-pillars forward, which makes finding parts a little easier if you broaden your searches. From the a-pillars back though, practically everything is ti specific. People have toyed around with e30 and Z3 rear suspension parts though, but it usually involves some level of creativity. Insurance is dirt cheap. Some of the '95's came with LSDs, but you can always swap in an e30 or Z3 LSD if the car you purchase doesn't have one. The way I see it, e36 coupes sedans and verts come a dime a dozen. The 318ti is a special little car, so if you're the type who would rice it out or drive it into the ground, I'd suggest getting a regular e36 since there's not many of these cars on the road today.

To add to this, I would treat this car like it was my child, I WANT to learn about it so I can take great care of it, and still maybe have a little fun once in a while to :smile: but I'm not one to rage on engines or rice(lulz) cars out. And yes, I'm starting to see that they are a special car. I must say, I'm starting to get hooked pretty fast. Any year recommendation?

i love my '99, it was the last year for the E36 and thus the last year for the ti (in the U.S.) in 99 only 656 ti's came to the us and were all equipped with the sport package. however its not really an available car. in '96 the engine changed from the 1.8 M42 to the 1.9 M44 and from OBDI to OBDII. As Jess said you can find a '95 with an LSD but other than those differences the cars are pretty much all the same (within each model, Base, Active and Sport)

You'll get mixed opinions on this question. Some people like the '95's because they have M42 1.8L OBDI engines which supposeably have "forged internals"(I think that's BS, doesn't really make a difference at this point since nobody here has ever had problems with pistons, rods etc) and slighly less emissions related equipment. Personally I think the M44 1.9L OBDII engines are a little more refined and run somewhat smoother, at least mine did. I've heard others say exactly the opposite though, so take it for what it is. If I had to choose, I'd take a higher mileage engine that has a good maintenance history over a lower mileage engine that was poorly maintained. That being said, find the nicest one you can and give it a thorough inspection prior to purchasing it. The weakest link on these motors are the cooling systems which have brittle plastic components that break after 100k miles and can easily lead to head gasket failure. So plan on replacing the entire cooling system(less than 500 bucks) within the first few months of ownership.

Only a few more worries in my mind.

Rust is one, but I guess I'm going to have to learn to go above and beyond to take care of a ti if I buy one. So that'll be a learning curve thing.

Winter is another, but I think that falls under the learning curve(unless anyone has a good winter tire recommendation off hand.

The transmission is another. From what I've read they seem to be pretty reliable. True?

My old e36 has MAJOR electrical issues, the dash would just short out for minutes at a time without warning or cause. Any electrical issues in the ti?

By the way, thanks for being awesome and helping me out everyone!

i run some cooper winter tires with carbide studs in them and they're great. the manua transmission is a getrag which is bulletproof if its cared for but the autos suck, and i mean suck, like more than a pornstar (thats just my opinion, theres guys who will defend their autos but after owning both, i could never go back)

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/3032999726.html

can they really be this cheap? 3500? can't go back to an auto.

looks about right

I'd sell you mine if it fulfilled your desires at a much lower price than that detroit Ti you posted from CL.:wink:

OK my 2 cents worth....I knew nothing about this car when I found mine. I have more of an emotional attachment now, after being apart of this forum and learning soo much. Like most on this forum I am going to be biased. Like all vehicles it has its issues, but I now am confident that I can tackle almost anything on this car. I like the fact you don't see many. It is great on gas and it is a blast to drive!

The car has endless possiblities..As far a winter driving, being a fellow Cheesehead living behind enemy lines in "Flatland" I would say it is not going to be the best. But as you well know, knowing how to drive in snow is half the battle. There are alot of guys and gals here who live in CO, MN, WI etc..( OH Yeah some Kid in NY :)..) that would say it's not a big deal I personnally have the ability to drive my truck when the snow flies. I love this car so much I have been hoarding parts to perform major upgrades over the winter months as my project...I truly am addicted to BMW now....And you will not find a better group of people , as in this forum to help you....which translates into savings...Good luck and welcome to the forum!

Buy a ti.
Thank us later.
Bridgestone Blizzacs are a must. Once you are comfortable driving on ice/snow...it's a breeze. I found that my car handles the snow quite well. Never had an issue.

my .02

I have had my ti for almost 3 months and am loving it.

After doing research and looking at many cars I knew I wanted a BMW 318. I decided on a TI because of it's unique look and a great mixture of being fun and practical at the same time. Hauling stuff is easy with the hatch and you can fit a lot in there. MPG is good and it is still a blast to drive. Not actually a fast car, but it feels quick and you don't have to slow down much for corners. :smile: You feel more connected to the engine, brakes and road unlike most newer cars. I test drove many when deciding on a car, all 2000 or newer; RSX, TC, Madza 3, Prelude, Accord coupe. I wanted to spend less that $8k and the 318ti was the best bang for the buck I could find and it cost only half of my budget. Also, FWD never has felt right to me.

Good luck with your search.

My $.03 (inflation)

I have owned a 98 ti for 14 years and 135000 miles. Great car. I have owned MB and BMW before, some others (the 65 XKE was sweet) but this little car is simply the best:

1. It is dead simple to maintain. My very good BMW mechanic does not like it b/c he says it is simple and never breaks. He is right. A couple of things in the last year (cam position sensor, PCV valve hose, thermostat, valve cover gasket) but before that absolutely bullet proof - nothing broke except for a bad spark plug lead (under warranty) at 10,000 miles. Anything else that has been an issue was my ham hands doing work or trusting a quick change oil shop.

2. Surprisingly spacious. A standard washer or dryer will fit in the hatch closed. Really surprised the guys at Lowes.

3. Lots of parts, easy availability. RealOEM, PelicanParts, ECS Tuning, etc.

4. Get used to driving a street legal go-cart, cause that is the best description I have seen. Corners like a scared squirrel and gets good mileage too.

5. This place, with its wealth of experience with these cars, is priceless.

RAS