» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM Yesterday 06:03 PM 5 Replies, 146,574 Views | | | | | | | | | 03-11-2006, 04:00 AM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 368 | Automobile Magazine slams the 318ti In their 20th Anniversary Issue (April 2006), Automobile Magazine lists "Twenty-Year Lows". Number one seems to be BMW's iDrive, but under the heading of "Luxury Brands Reaching Downmarket" they say: Quote: "The Cadillac Cimarron Memorial Downmarket Bust award goes to...the BMW 318ti. ....Warning: Crappy objects in the rear-view mirror are never far enough away." | | | | 03-11-2006, 04:10 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Ouch! Sounds like Satch. Edit: http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_sh..._a3/index.html Quote: Audi joins the premium hatchback segment with the A3, which it hopes will follow in the tire tracks of the Mini Cooper and not those of the BMW 318ti or the Mercedes-Benz C-class hatch. | http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews..._a3/index.html Quote: ll in all, the A3 is a highly likable ride-high class, high content, and high quality. But the sub-$35,000 arena is full of temptations these days, and premium hatchbacks never have had an easy time of it here (BMW 318ti, anyone?). | http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews...upe/index.html Well they got this one right, sort of. Quote: BMW stopped selling its 318ti hatchback in the United States in 1999, and the company won't bring the next generation to the Americas because of certain marketplace failings of the previous car. The original 318ti was supposed to appeal to a new set of BMW buyers--a little younger, a little less married, and a little less male. But the 318ti, with its easily modified four-cylinder engine and recidivist trailing-arm rear suspension, wound up speaking to the hardest core of BMW enthusiasts, who found in it the perfect car for track days. In other words, BMW made a car too real, too specialized, for status-conscious Bimmophytes to grasp fully, and, as a result, BMW sold only 21,377 of the cars from 1995 to 1999. | I wrote to feedback@automobilemag.com __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 03-11-2006, 04:24 AM | #3 | Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bouncing off the rev limiter in CT! Posts: 3,156 | I for one dont care about the opinions of others. They are like @$$holes: everyone has one, and they all smell of $hit... I'll probably die with my ti... | | | 03-11-2006, 04:28 AM | #4 | TRETEN IRGENDEINES ESELS Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 3,687 | My ti will be my coffin. __________________ 98 Avus Blue 318 ti Active clear outs all around,stealth turning signals,blue led interior lights, 35% tinted windows,K&N air filter, 12" Kenwood Sub, MTX Thunder Amp,Alpine cd changer, Leatherz Armrest,ACS Pedals/Handbrake/FloorMats & Vitesse Tuning Carbon Fiber B-Pillars/CF Spark Plug Cover, New 16" MSW Typer 14 Rims on Goodyear Triple Treds www.myspace.com/avusblueti | | | 03-11-2006, 05:46 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 368 | Quote: Originally Posted by Tyler My ti will be my coffin. | Knock wood....or not! | | | 03-11-2006, 05:54 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Long Beach area Posts: 1,189 | I HEART my 318ti lol I plan to keep it as long as possible... If I can't keep it, it'll go to my little brother haha...keep it in the family -Randy __________________ 97 Jet Black 318ti Sport. Not so stock anymore!.... Now Featuring:318ti.org sticker Now featuring: Hartge exhaust|Blacked out Grilles|Front Clear Corners or Ambers depending on how I feel|325is vented front brakes|Bilstein Sports|H&R Sports|E46 RSMs w/ Z3 reinforcment plates|16" Style 45s|17" E46 M68 rims|18" Authentic Hartge Classics C|OEM M135 ZHP wheels and 99 Titan Silver 323is Dinan S1+few more mods Coming sometime in the future:...SCed 2.1...new (to me) car mod maybe?...all in one car | | | 03-11-2006, 06:26 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 322 | Quote: Originally Posted by Tyler My ti will be my coffin. | Haha, I've actually said the same thing before... I love my little ti. | | | 03-11-2006, 06:31 AM | #8 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | the more they trash it, the lower prices should go on them, right? i need to pick up a track toy at some point so ... keep bashing! btw, the same thing happend to the pontiac fiero which i used to be into (and it seems a number of other members did as well). the bashing only seems to fan the flames of fanaticism __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 03-11-2006, 04:48 PM | #9 | Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 67 | Quote: Originally Posted by J!m I for one dont care about the opinions of others. They are like @$$holes: everyone has one, and they all smell of $hit... I'll probably die with my ti... | Couldn't have put it better myself. __________________ | | | 03-19-2006, 07:33 AM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston MA Posts: 221 | I am a faithful subscriber to Automobile Magazine. Now I have second thoughts. Maybe its time to renew my subscription to Motor Trend. __________________ 1998 BMW 318ti M-Tech Sport Silver (Gone to member leeko617) CURRENT: 2015 BMW X1, 2004 BMW 330ci Convertible, 1998 Porsche Boxster, 2001 BMW 525i Touring GONE: 2000 Audi A4, 2002 VW Passat, 1985 VW Cabriolet | | | 03-19-2006, 03:10 PM | #11 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | Quote: Originally Posted by michaelhofastcar I am a faithful subscriber to Automobile Magazine. Now I have second thoughts. Maybe its time to renew my subscription to Motor Trend. | do you like the general writing style and such of the magazine? i wouldn't drop it just because they don't like the same car you do. hard enough to find a magazine that's good. i think i've tended to like every bastard child car that the auto press complains about so maybe i'm used to it __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 03-19-2006, 04:06 PM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 677 | those who put down and complain = never owned or driven.... at least that is what I noticed, the people put down our car are the ones who usually never driven or owned one before. Or if they did drive it, it was around the corner instead of giving it a chance. .....as my parents say dont knock it till you try it (lord help me for using their advice) __________________ my new world | | | 03-19-2006, 07:04 PM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 678 | Well, the fact is that BMW didnt sell as many as they wanted. Neither did Merc. Also BMWNA's marketing position is pushing the brand further upstream. I doubt they would want something as "low" as 318 polluting the pool. It would be nice if they made them available in smaller quantities for the purists. __________________ BostonGreen 97' w/ DASC & Technique Stage 1 software M3 front bumper. BavAuto Springs. Bilstein Sport Shocks. Xbrace. BA Short Shifter. Angel Eyes Headlights, doubled brake lights 225/50/16's Yokohama Advan S4's Panasonic 70Wx4 CD/MP3 player + 4x Alpine 6x9's rear | | | 03-21-2006, 10:45 PM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston MA Posts: 221 | Quote: Originally Posted by cali-ti do you like the general writing style and such of the magazine? i wouldn't drop it just because they don't like the same car you do. hard enough to find a magazine that's good. i think i've tended to like every bastard child car that the auto press complains about so maybe i'm used to it | I like reading Automobile Magazine. I like their writing style. Good advice. I should not hate them just because they do not like my car. On the other hand, I do not want to drive something that so many people like, such as Corolla, Camry, Civic or Accord. __________________ 1998 BMW 318ti M-Tech Sport Silver (Gone to member leeko617) CURRENT: 2015 BMW X1, 2004 BMW 330ci Convertible, 1998 Porsche Boxster, 2001 BMW 525i Touring GONE: 2000 Audi A4, 2002 VW Passat, 1985 VW Cabriolet | | | 03-21-2006, 11:15 PM | #15 | doesn't care about you. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 3,925 | Let's not forget that the 318ti was a failure in the US. There is a reason why it was only available for 4 years. It might hurt, but it's the truth. I'll be the first to admit that it takes a while for the hatch to grow on people, especially in un-modified form. The great thing is that the Ti turns into a completely different looking vehicle with the addition of springs and wheels. I've had 10+ e36 owners tell me they thought the Ti was the coolest looking BMW made, and they wish they had one. Hell, I get 33mph and can keep up with any e36 around, IMO it's the most practical e36 ever built. __________________ '99 Dinan M3 | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Linear Mode | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |