View Single Post
Old 01-10-2015, 05:59 AM   #1
mobius
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Maine
Posts: 55
iTrader: (0)
Default Long time lurker but new owner of a 318ti

Greetings from the subzero northeast, otherwise known as the great state of Maine. I've been a long time lurker of this website. I'm a BMW fanatic and have been since seeing for and riding around the first time in my late grandfather's 2002 when I was 10 years old. Amazing cars and I'm now 27.


I'm not new to what it takes to maintain them and do my own work. I currently also own a 1999 e36 m3 convertible picked up for a swan song from someone who was afraid "of the millions of electric issues I hear about with BMW's." The person didn't even realize it was something special because it had an M3 badge. Huge loss for them, awesome deal for me.


I'm in the search of my grandfather's 2002 or if not his another one that I could make like his. In not too short of a time I will have an 1997 850ci from a friend who no longer has the ability, time, or funds to keep it going. I've previously owned several other BMW's since I was 16. One of these was an e34 540i/6 that I later sold for the cash for a Toyota, because I figured it would be more reliable . We can all have one huge mistake in our lives right that we'll forever regret? I wish I had never done that now. Epic facepalm....

But anyways I'm the proud owner of a 1998 318ti in the brillant blue color. I've always wanted one of these cars, I don't know what it is about them; same as the early 2000 Mercedes Benz 230 Kompressor hatchbacks. I picked it up for only $300. The body has some clear coat peeling but no dents, damage, or rust. It needs paint but that isn't major. All the electrical components so far look and work great to me. The brake fluid needs to be flushed but the rest of the braking system is in top shape.


Major issues I've noticed so far - the car idles very erratically. It starts roughly and will go up and down in the idle rpms almost dying a few times when it's been below zero. I'm guessing the ICV but welcome any wisdom gladly . The 5 speed transmission is making a whine while in motion in 1st and 2nd gear, it seems to go away in higher gears and speeds (or maybe the noise is being masked). It is also impossible to shift into any gear but 5th when the car is cold after sitting for a few days (although cold around here has been in the -20's with the windchill lately). I plan on changing the fluid and checking out anything else. The exhaust will need some remedies, it's loud right now and I've tracked that down to one of the gaskets. I planned on doing a rehab on that anyways, exhausts don't last long around here with the stuff that is put on the roads, washing your car under neath or not.


The m44 engine seems good no major oil leaks or anything. I figured at the price I got it at I could afford to have it and even if the engine or tranny blows in a couple months it's still a good deal. I mean that would be the perfect opportunity to do the ever popular m3 engine swap , no reason not too. It's funny this car is a prime counter example for everything that most people worry about when they hear BMW and reliability (i.e. the electronics). Even if there are minor quirks here and there to me the smile these cars put on my face makes any hard work more than worth it. We only live once, why trudge around in a car that irritates you or is boring. Just my .02 there.


I'm glad to finally own a TI and officially make myself a member of this wonderfully helpful forum. I just didn't have it in me to be a member when I didn't own one myself . Again I welcome any advise with the issues I mentioned above and look forward to reading through this forum a lot more and supporting it. Happy motoring guys.
mobius is offline   Reply With Quote