318ti.org forum

Go Back   318ti.org forum > Garage > I'm thinking about buying a ti.

Notices

I'm thinking about buying a ti. Ask all your questions about the possible purchase of a ti. Keep in mind, we are biased.

.
» Recent Threads
1999 M-Sport For Sale
12-31-2023 05:10 PM
Last post by Coop540iT
03-23-2024 06:39 PM
1 Replies, 98,911 Views
Once again 318ti owner...
03-20-2024 12:39 PM
Last post by two30grain
03-22-2024 02:04 PM
1 Replies, 61,818 Views
What brakes do I...
03-20-2024 03:27 PM
Last post by huirtera
03-20-2024 03:27 PM
0 Replies, 59,122 Views
Reply Share/Bookmark
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-16-2010, 06:18 AM   #1
New-B
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 3
iTrader: (0)
Default First Car Possibility

So Im looking into buying a ti from my grandfather, the whole thing to me seems like a no brainer to me but i would like some advice from owners. The car has been maintained extremely well and has and one owner (my grandfather). Not positive but I believe its a 96 with around 100 to 120 thousand miles on it. I could get the car pretty inexpensively and thats why it seems like a good idea to me. So here are my questions:

- The clutch pedal on the car is loose, is this a minor problem?
- Would a 6 cilinder engine swap be worth it? (Im aware of all it initials)
- I've never worked on cars before, is this a good place to start?
- What are some other good performance mods for these cars?
- is it a good first car for a 17 year old kid?

Thanks
New-B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2010, 04:38 PM   #2
hicksr8
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Manchester,Ct
Posts: 55
iTrader: (0)
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by New-B View Post
So Im looking into buying a ti from my grandfather, the whole thing to me seems like a no brainer to me but i would like some advice from owners. The car has been maintained extremely well and has and one owner (my grandfather). Not positive but I believe its a 96 with around 100 to 120 thousand miles on it. I could get the car pretty inexpensively and thats why it seems like a good idea to me. So here are my questions:

- The clutch pedal on the car is loose, is this a minor problem?
- Would a 6 cilinder engine swap be worth it? (Im aware of all it initials)
- I've never worked on cars before, is this a good place to start?
- What are some other good performance mods for these cars?
- is it a good first car for a 17 year old kid?

Thanks
Welcome, Is this 5spd? what color?- was the clutch already replaced before, may need to be bleed. I think its an awesome first car, but deff must be responsible as it is rwd and that takes some getting use to. Any swap is expensive if you are not a mechanic, especially on bmw's- Without doing a swap, there is a decent amount of stuff you can do, intake,exhaust,header,turbo,t-body,better spark-"colder stage"turner chip,etc.... and last but not least, if youve never worked on cars before, this will deff be a project for you, but thats where this site comes in handy ....
hicksr8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2010, 05:17 PM   #3
chudzikb
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Lancaster PA
Posts: 274
iTrader: (0)
Default

Compared to a modern BMW, these cars are child's play mechanically. It sure would be good to learn on if that is what you would like to do? If you have no plans to do your own work and plan on taking to a dealer for service, well that is another story. You would be one very poor kid if you took that route. There is an opportunity here, for you to learn and make your way in the automotive world with a pretty cool car that not every one has in highschool or college.

Hope it works out for you, start reading! There are people on here that will help you if you ask.
chudzikb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2010, 05:29 PM   #4
xxxJohnBoyxxx
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Gulfport, Florida
Posts: 3,208
iTrader: (1)
Default

Clutch petal if it is loose meaning side to side in the car it needs bushings and is a easy fix. Travel meaning up/down is most likely need to bleed the clutch slave cylinder. I-6 swaps are easy by the book and follow directions.
xxxJohnBoyxxx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2010, 03:03 PM   #5
New-B
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 3
iTrader: (0)
Default

It is a five speed its blue, and now im actually thinking its a 98 comparing it to other models. The clutch pedal is all side to side movement which worried me when driving it but if its a simple fix when i get the car i will give it a shot. I know theres been threads already on how to identify wether its a sport, club sport and ect. I cant seem to figure it out, heres what i can tell you about the car, its that artic blue color, all tan leather interior, and what looks to me to be 15 or 16in alloy wheels, any thoughts?
New-B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2010, 05:05 PM   #6
hicksr8
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Manchester,Ct
Posts: 55
iTrader: (0)
Default

LMAO-i just realized that im retarted, I asked first if it was 5spd, then asked if the clutch was replaced before lol......my mistake buddy
hicksr8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2010, 05:32 PM   #7
dave45056
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Oxford, Ohio
Posts: 868
iTrader: (0)
Default

Identifying stuff on your car.
1. open glove box and take papers out. Chances are one of them is the registration. That will tell you what year it is.
2. Look at the numbers on the tires. It should read something like 225/50-16 or something like like that. The 16 is the wheel diameter.
3. The model of your car can be determined a number of ways Lots of people on here can do it from pictures, but the VIN is the best way. There was a thread on here about VIN decoding, but I think the guy that did it is taking a break. Best bet is to post pics here AND call BMW armed with the VIN number.

Want to see something else you can do with your VIN? go to realoem.com and type in the last 7 digits of your VIN. You will then have access to every part number in your car.

Other recomendations:
as a father of a 17 year old, I recommend that you DO NOT swap the engine. Enjoy the car for what it is. Light, peppy and great handling.
Ask your grandfather what he has had done to the cooling system. If he has done nothing, plan on doing a cooling system rebuild (water pump, thermostat, infamous plastic fittings, hoses) as a preventative measure. While you have it apart, you could also replace the oil filter housing gasket for an additional 12 bucks. There are DIY's for this stuff in the knowledge base on this site.

Last edited by dave45056; 08-17-2010 at 09:08 PM. Reason: added other recomendations
dave45056 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2010, 08:48 PM   #8
roadrash
That's not Millpoint Blue
 
roadrash's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: BNA
Posts: 3,161
Vehicles
iTrader: (2)
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by dave45056 View Post
Want to see something else you can do with your VIN? go to realoem.com and type in the last 7 digits of your VIN. You will then have access to every part number in your car.
That should also tell you the build date of the car.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dave45056 View Post
as a father of a 17 year old, I don't recommend that you DO NOT swap the engine. Enjoy the car for what it is. Light, peppy and great handling.
I assume you meant "I recommend that you DO NOT swap the engine." :-)

Quote:
Originally Posted by dave45056 View Post
Ask your grandfather what he has had done to the cooling system. If he has done nothing, plan on doing a cooling system rebuild (water pump, thermostat, infamous plastic fittings, hoses) as a preventative measure.
I would also replace the radiator (if needed) as part of the cooling system rebuild.
__________________
Real men know how to SEARCH!
THIS IS A MILLPOINT BLUE INTERIOR

Mods 'n' stuff: Star Spoke 43 wheels - X-Brace - Mason Engineering front strut brace - CF gauge overlay - ZHP shifter knob - Racing Dynamics cat-back - Doubled brake lights - M-tech rear spoiler
From Page 68 of the 1997 Owners Manual: "Vehicles equipped with ASC+T remain subject to the laws of physics."
roadrash is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2010, 09:15 PM   #9
dave45056
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Oxford, Ohio
Posts: 868
iTrader: (0)
Default

"I recommend that you DO NOT swap the engine"
Right you are Roadrash... I fixed it in my post, too.
dave45056 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
318 ti , dumb kids , first car


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:42 PM.


.
Powered by site supporters
vBulletin Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©1999 - 2024, 318ti.org
© vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2
[page compression: 89.71 k/106.15 k (15.48%)]

318ti.org does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information or products discussed.