Looking to buy this today, thoughts?

[mreroc]

Would be my first 318ti. Been corresponding with the owner, but found your forum and thought I'd get someone's quick take on it. I imagine if I buy I will be here often. Thanks for any thoughts on this ad.

Selling our 1998 BMW 318ti with automatic, 4 cylinder, 170,XXX miles, I am the 2nd owner and have had it for nearly 2 years. The BMW has the following options:

Super cold A/C
Automatic
Power Steering
Sun Roof
AM/FM with 6 CD Changer (factory)
Keyless entry with alarm
M Sport Suspension and aerodynamics
Hatchback
Leather and cloth interior
Brand new dark limo tint
Excellent paint
Performance tires

Price is $3,300 CASH no trades and I am firm at this price.

[mreroc]

Just to add some details. The following has been replaced since he had the car; not sure about previous owner:

• All intake gaskets
• Valve cover gasket
• PCV valve
• Plugs
• EGR valve
• Both oxygen sensors

24mpg with AC on. We're down to $3200 and he can't sell it today, so I'll have proper time to mull things over and see if there are any responses. I am inclined to buy as I've wanted to get into one of these. I do plan on having it on dirt roads and depending the costs have it lifted slightly. Would have like less mileage, but this is what the area has to offer. Again, thanks for any input.

[tiFreak]

if you're looking to lift it you could probably just swap the sport springs and shocks with the regular springs and shocks, you might even find someone willing to trade with you since most of us prefer to lower instead of raise our cars

[mreroc]

Cool, thanks for the info. Might look into something like that if I find other Phx owners.

[jca]

That seems like a reasonable price if the car shows well. I would be interested to know if the transmission has ever been serviced; same for the diff. Good luck.

[mreroc]

jca, gonna check that out, thanks. Looking in Cali now too since slim pickings in Phx.

[jca]

I encourage you to widen your search. Good ti's are usually found, "someplace else." Don't be afraid to look on autotrader and cars.com and jump on a plane when you find the ti of your dreams. I did, anyway, and have never regretted the trip.

[hotmilk400]

you should also be careful buying cars that are far away. i know i bought a car in Ohio (about 6 hours drive from me) and i was planning to fly out. instead, i had the car shipped to me. when i got it, the car had no fluid in the radiator and other damage under the hood.. it was to expensive to ship back, so i just kept it, but i was not happy. i should have complained somehow, but what could i have done? haha. keep that in mind. I also guess i am lucky, there are a ton of BMWs in my are, including alot of 318ti. i can pick them up pretty easy and really cheap.

be somewhat cautious of the high millage on the car. alot of stuff will start to break just because of age. some transmissions might start to slip, so make sure you do alot of test driving, and make sure you put the car under some hard conditions (flooring the gas pedal on the highway to make the RPMS go up high, see how it shifts)

i would say the trans is the only thing that is expensive and could have problems. if it seems okay, then go for it if you light it.

best of luck

[mreroc]

Thanks for the opinions guys. Sitting at my buddy's in LA right now after making a purchase out here; dealer flew me out. 96 base with 113k miles. Service records, some key parts serviced or replaced; hope this works out. Extremely clean all around (shocked me), blew a couple I was looking at in Phx away. Made a donation, driving back to Phx tomorrow, and will be back here for info. Thanks again.

[grizlik]

Hey MREROC. You live in Phx? will it be possible for us to meet up and check out both of our 318tis? i live In Tempe. i just would like to know somebody with a TI here in AZ

[grizlik]

Message me at grizlik1@gmail.com

[Platanos]

Congrats on the purchase, how much did you end up paying? enjoy your new ti

[mreroc]

Thanks. I paid 55 for the one in Cali. A touch more than I was hoping to pay, but I hadn't found anything in the southwest in the kind of condition and miles of this one. Plus it was the color I was looking for. Engine is in great shape, interior is spotless, and exterior is pretty damn good; a few nicks here and there. Paint is solid though. I figure I paid a luxury tax to get what I wanted. So far so good. Got it out on the forest roads in northern AZ this weekend and had some fun. A few things I'd like to upgrade over the next year, but extremely happy with it a week in. Giving it a full month test period before settling.

[jca]

Nice ti! Let me put in my two cents' worth and advise you to change all the car's fluids and filters before you do anything else. Cheap insurance...

[mreroc]

thanks. getting on it.