1998 BMW 318ti M-Sport California Edition ///M-Powered For sale
 

I'm figuring out my life now, and unfortunately, need to sell my cars! (one of them is an i3 that I cannot charge), looking to buy something newer and safer, like a 1 series M. I work and live in SF and it makes no sense for me to have more than one car, unfortunately. I will be moving to an apartment that's yet to be determined very soon, and would hate to park this on the street. I had this car for a really long time and this is truly an end of an era :frown:

Anyway, here it goes: for sale, one of the nicest, swapped 318ti's out there (bragging :tongue:) I am the third owner, but redid everything in the car that's possible.

I love this thing to death, its amazing to drive, so I want it to go to someone I know here who would be responsible with it, and so I can visit every once in a while... and so that I know that it goes to a loving family!

I spared no expense on this thing - over the past 1.5 years I spent well over $15,000 on it. :eek:

It has the following mechanical components:
S52 E36 M3 engine from a 1999 convertible 3.2L, swapped at 145k miles, engine had 150k miles on it. Car's ODO currently reads 166k.
E28 2.93 LSD Rear end
ZF320 tranny from a 2000 328i w. 50k miles (redid all shifter bushings per BMW instructions before swap)
E30 325i Rear Axles and Axle Stubs
E36 M3 Supersprint Exhaust system
E36 M3 Front Brakes
E36 M3 Front Sway Bar
E34 525i Rear Brake Calipers
E30 M3 Rear Bilstein Sport Shocks
E36 Z3-M Rear Springs installed

All new components, used OEM whenever possible:
Radiator and Gasket Sets
Lightweight Flywheel and E28/E34 M5 clutch w. E36 M3 Pressure Plate
E36 M3 driveshaft
E36 M3 Guibo
E36 M3 front Bilstein Sport Shocks
E36 M3 Shifter
E36 M3 Timing components - all new chains, rails, and hydraulic tensioner
E36 M3 VaNoS Rebuilt unit with good seals
E36 M3 Engine Oil Pump
E36 M3 Belt Tensioners all new
E36 M3 Mtech II Steering Wheel w. airbag
E46 ZHP Weighted 5-speed Shift Knob
Bosch Adjustable Glass Headlights w. Servo Motors - all wired in
OEM Bosch Clear Euro Taillights
OEM Side Marker Lights for Late Model E36/X5
OEM Front Clear Turn Signals
E36 LTW M3 Staggered OEM Wheels w. essentially brand new Bridgestone Potenza RE-11's

Additionally, the car has a very good audio system. I love good audio and I installed a lot of rare and old school SQ components in it - sounds just excellent!
I ran the wiring myslef and modified everything personally.
A/D/S PH15.2 6 channel amp
Pioneer DEH 80PRS Headunit
A/D/S 320is 2-way speaker system, rebuilt tweeters
Infiniti Kappa Perfect 5.1 Front Speaker system w. Crossover
Nakamichi 8" Subwoofer in a custom molded enclosure in the trunk

CA BAR Smog Certificate N0139855, Issued 08/21/2014, car 100% Registered and legal to operate in the state of CA, most recent smog test passed 12/2015

The car is awaiting a front end paint job (someone ran into me last week) and an OEM windshield replacement, which will be taken care of in the next few weeks, by mid-June. I am overseeing the entire process and will make sure they use an OEM grille and nose. It will look brand new after this. I will also install the tachometer adapter so that the 6-cylinder signal is read correctly on the tach.

I'm looking to get about $20,000 for it or best offer; let me know if that seems completely unfair; I went through this thing completely just 11k miles ago - I didnt just swap a used motor in the car and called it a day, I built this thing for longevity, used all new seals and wear parts, greased the hell out of the throw out bearing, and whoever owns this after me will get a lot of life out of it.

Once I repaint it, I will post a lot more detailed pics of the car. I attached one form the last meet we had! Good times :)

Sounds amazing. GLWS.
Here is a point of reference regarding price.


http://bringatrailer.com/2015/03/23/...1996-bmw-m3ti/

Thanks Bozola! That BaT one sounds very similar actually! :)

No cali package and a peeling valvecover, but a solid reference, and had less miles on it too, not that it matters :-P

NVM, test drove a 1M and liked my car more in terms of driving; I'll keep it as long as absolutely possible! :)

/Thread

wow! Artem, that says a whole lot about having a swapped and dialed ti. makes me feel a little better about throwing gobs of cash on a car that has such a low book value. i think i made the right decision in a ti!

Hah, yea; but I feel like most of it is a matter of personal preference.

I mean, dont get me wrong - the 1M is an AMAZING car, much more modern and with lots more features than our TIs. And I could tell it's a lot more safe, and 'feels' more solid. If I had to get a more 'family-oriented' car, i would be absolutely happy with a compromise of a 1M.

But again, the TI is a much lighter and more nimble car, feels a lot easier to throw around, and I dont feel mortified if I accidentally scratched its front bumper. I just looked at the numbers and the 1Ms weigh around 3300lbs; while my car is probably around 400lbs lighter, and with the added power of the S52, it moves.

I feel like mine is more or less adequately balanced with all the stock suspension stuff on it, its not insanely harsh and low, while being pretty sporty at the same time.

Some day I will have to get something like a 1M or a M2, but luckily for me, for now - today isnt that day! :)

get your ///M car - I did :), but keep the ti. the ti is my daily driver and I agree with you 100% on not being so worried about scratching the car. I love the M3, it's an amazing car, but there is just something about a ti - especially when powered by 3.2 liters of fun :).

:) Yea definitely! I just wish I had lived somewhere where I could actually have two cars... And not in an overcrowded SF :-P

What it ultimately comes down to is this - the TI is one of the last cars that was 'raw' - and I am really happy I chose the S52 instead of the S54 in there. It has a bowdoin cable throttle thats directly connected to the pedal, the S52 traction control is incompatible with the TI, so that doesnt exist, and all it has of the modern amenities is an ABS system, and power assisted brakes, both of which are pretty useful for driving around in various conditions.

The bits I added on top of everything there were just my preference - decent audio system and best Bluetooth integrated headunit for under $1000 :)

When my Ti got totaled, I got a 128. I loved the inside creature comforts, but missed the drivability. When I got a line on a pristine 1997 MTech Ti, the choice was obvious. The one is a nice car. I don't miss it. (Except the insides)

Art is that down in dogpatch? Pretty sure I have parked my 02 next to you a few times.

Naa, I been there maybe twice? Months ago... I normally park on mt sutro, but been 'parking' in Russian hill/presidio area for the past month or so on the account of getting a new engine; going to have the old one for sale for parts pretty soon - it's got a blown HG. Getting that sweet paint job soon after that's done ��

Sweet where are you taking it for paint? My roundie got rear ended so im looking also.

Matts auto body downtown, they seem pretty good - Folsom and 11th

Thanks I will give them a look.

Alex, that pic was taken on the old Navy base here in Vallejo