WTB: 1999 BMW 318ti 5 Speed

[Triple_A]

Originally Posted by Triple_A

id love to take a pic however i dont have a digi camera, if you want PM me your phone # and i can take a carppy cellphone pic and send it to you, if you so desire.

03/98 is the production date of my ti.
w/o the visual aid of a picture, my side airbags are (im eyeballing here) about 1/2 inch directly left of the inner door pull-handle. and it pops out about 3/4 to 1 inch above the surface of the door in a trapezoid like form, color coded to the black leather. it sits about 3/4 inch above the door arm rest. im gonna try a get a digi pic tomorrow after work, so i can actually show you.

[L84THSKY]

The picture below is of a car with side airbags.



My car doesn't have them, but when I took the door panel off, I found this



See the yellow plug? That is where the air bag connects to. They had wired the car for it, but not installed them.

Hard to believe you have a 3/1998 car with side airbags, and I have a 7/1998 car without them. Check again what month your car was made.

Originally Posted by Triple_A

03/98 is the production date of my ti.
w/o the visual aid of a picture, my side airbags are (im eyeballing here) about 1/2 inch directly left of the inner door pull-handle. and it pops out about 3/4 to 1 inch above the surface of the door in a trapezoid like form, color coded to the black leather. it sits about 3/4 inch above the door arm rest. im gonna try a get a digi pic tomorrow after work, so i can actually show you.

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by Triple_A

I have a 98, not sure how to check the month of production, lil help? anyways i have side air bags just not the M wheel.

Production date is on a placard in the door jamb. Same decal that lists tire air pressure.

[Den]

Originally Posted by L84THSKY

I was doing some digging, and found this out. All imported "1999" models are really calender year "1998" models. My car is a 07/1998 model, but 10/1998 thru 12/1998 are called 1999 models. There weren't any cars imported after 12/1998.

Generally, BMW starts building a given model year ~August of the previous the year, so 10/98 production date for a 99 model would be normal. Also normal for them to sell the remaining stock of a discontinued model as 1 model year newer. I believe the E46 came out in '99, but no M3 or compact in North America. Perfect opportunity to sell off the remaining E36 M3's and Ti's for top dollar as "1999's" instead of closeouts on last year's model.

Originally Posted by 96cali

There were approximately 500 Ti's brought to the US for 1999. Mine has a production date of 10/98. . .All are sport models. . .

Supposedly, the E30 was phased out in the same manner, and all '91 318's were sports, but it was a lil' goofy because the sport packs were all dealer-installed. Maybe the "99" Ti's got a similar treatment and some dealers forgot to install the airbags or steering wheel upgrade. . .

[Den]

Originally Posted by L84THSKY

The picture below is of a car with side airbags.

My car doesn't have them, but when I took the door panel off, I found this

See the yellow plug? That is where the air bag connects to. They had wired the car for it, but not installed them.

Yeah, I think maybe they prewire stuff like that so the dealer can easily sell and install extras.
"Would you like to add side airbags for $2000, Mrs. Jones?"


I was cleaning under my seats the other day, and came across some electrical wires dangling from the bottom of the manual sport seat. Looked in the owner's manual. Sure enough, heated seats were available. Switches go next to the window switches. Anyone think that if I get the switches and wire them up to power, I can warm my hiney?

[L84THSKY]

NO You will need the seat heaters

Originally Posted by Den

Anyone think that if I get the switches and wire them up to power, I can warm my hiney?

I have all the parts to add side airbags, that is except the knock out panels on the doors.

"Would you like to add side airbags for $2000, Mrs. Jones?"

[96cali]

L8- have you noticed the rearmost part of the fabric insert is at the same level as the airbag panel? On non-airbag doors it is lower (ie more inset, closer to outside of doors). IMO you might check at the dealer for ordering a new interior door panel w/airbag panels.

[Triple_A]

Originally Posted by L84THSKY

Hard to believe you have a 3/1998 car with side airbags, and I have a 7/1998 car without them. Check again what month your car was made.

im pretty sure im checking in the right place, it sez production date : 03/1998, but i will check again, im thinking side airbags were not a stantard option, and so therefore you may not have them, but like i sed i will check the prod. date just to make sure, i could have mistaken the 3 for and 8, i did check it at 3 am with a flashlight.

[L84THSKY]

I'm not 100% understanding what you're saying. I did see if I could buy the inserts or the panel that the inserts are in, no luck. It is possible that other E36 cars did use the same knock out panels that I can use.

Originally Posted by 96cali

L8- have you noticed the rearmost part of the fabric insert is at the same level as the airbag panel? On non-airbag doors it is lower (ie more inset, closer to outside of doors). IMO you might check at the dealer for ordering a new interior door panel w/airbag panels.