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. |