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Old 12-02-2005, 10:14 PM   #1
pcmedics911
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Default 318ti Newbie Questions

Hello fellow 318ti owners!

I'm a newbie (real new). Just got a 318ti with serious reservations about the size, 2 days ago. 1996 base model red (ugh) and 92K miles from original owner.

I want to keep the car but have a few questions for fellow 318ti owners. no right or wrong answers but just what you think about owning the car.

1. What makes the 318ti so special to you?
2. I since owing the 318ti, i have not seen 1 single ti on the road. is this odd?
3. My driver side window is flakey but does go up and down. Where do you get your car repaired and do you prefer the dealer or 3rd party bmw specialists?
4. What seperates the 318ti versus the 318si or other 318 models? I know the small compact size (reminds me of a Honda CRX) is kind of odd for a BMW. Most I've seen on the road are 4 door and look, well, bmw'ish.

Thoughts are welcome as I am contemplating keeping the car or selling it for what I paid for it.

Thank you
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Old 12-02-2005, 10:31 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pcmedics911
Hello fellow 318ti owners!

I'm a newbie (real new). Just got a 318ti with serious reservations about the size, 2 days ago. 1996 base model red (ugh) and 92K miles from original owner.

I want to keep the car but have a few questions for fellow 318ti owners. no right or wrong answers but just what you think about owning the car.

1. What makes the 318ti so special to you?
2. I since owing the 318ti, i have not seen 1 single ti on the road. is this odd?
3. My driver side window is flakey but does go up and down. Where do you get your car repaired and do you prefer the dealer or 3rd party bmw specialists?
4. What seperates the 318ti versus the 318si or other 318 models? I know the small compact size (reminds me of a Honda CRX) is kind of odd for a BMW. Most I've seen on the road are 4 door and look, well, bmw'ish.

Thoughts are welcome as I am contemplating keeping the car or selling it for what I paid for it.

Thank you
Hmm why it's special to me,well i personally bought my ti cause of it's color. I wasn't looking at bmw's to buy. But once i saw the color of my ti i was like nice. Other than that now that i own one it's a unique car. I like when people stare at your car saying wtf is that thing.

There were only 30,xxx made inbetween 95-99 in the US. I personally never saw one on the road untill i had one,i wouldn't say it's odd. Once you start driving around you'll notice a few more atleast i did.

I know someone at Bmw that works on my car on his time when i need something major to do. I just take my car to the shop and he works on it after hours. You should look around you and find some local shops that have a good reputation if you don't want to get raped at the dealership.

The 318ti is a 3 door hatch compared to any other 318 model which is either a 4door or a 2dr with a standard trunk. TI = Touring International i beleive.

I mean take a look @ my gallery and check out my ride and everyone else's,they are all pretty much different,we have all done something different to our ti's with random modifications.... Just keep searching the threads on here and read up about it.

Hope you keep her... Oh yeah and welcome to the site...
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Old 12-03-2005, 12:52 AM   #3
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1. RWD. German-engineered for driving, not just transport. Easy to park. Made out with a chick in the hatch once.

2. Not really, but it depends on where you live. Here in Bloomington, I have seen about 3-4 other than mine. However, there are also an inordinate number of E46 M3s in the area, along with other 'spensive cars somebody's daddy bought them.

3. Unfortunately, this is something you're going to have to deal with now and again. There is no permanent fix AFAIK. As for repairs, it depends what I'm having done. For the most part, I do it myself. The process is only different from other car repairs because your tools are metric and tolerances are a little tighter. However, I like maintaining a relationship with my dealer so I go to them for state inspections, tire changes, etc. Every once in a while I'll throw them an Inspection II, but more because I'm busy. There are some really bad dealers out there, so ask around for good ones in your area. For specific problems I could not solve myself or needed expensive specialty tools, I've gone to specialist shops. They charge a little more, but they also do it more quickly, and the work seems a bit more professional.

4. Versus other E36 (the generic model type for 3 series of this look), the E36/5 (specific model of the ti) has a different rear suspension. It is a trailing-arm suspension, like the one used on the E30 M3. It's a matter of preference for most people, whether this is a good or bad thing.


With regards to problems about the size . . . I'm not really sure what you're talking about. With the hatch, the cargo area holds more than you can with a sedan/coupe with fold-down seats. Rear-seat area is somewhat small, but I don't transport people often, and they can deal with it because I'm paying for gas/ins/upkeep. It's not any smaller than a 3er coupe.

The hatch also makes parallel parking a breeze. The car ends literally inches away from the bottom of the rear glass, so you can get real close.

Despite the shorter overall size, it's still very stable on the highway at speed. I generally cruise between 80-90, and it really only gets hairy in the triple digits. Upgrade suspension and that goes away.
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Old 12-03-2005, 01:27 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pcmedics911
1. What makes the 318ti so special to you?
2. I since owing the 318ti, i have not seen 1 single ti on the road. is this odd?
3. My driver side window is flakey but does go up and down. Where do you get your car repaired and do you prefer the dealer or 3rd party bmw specialists?
4. What seperates the 318ti versus the 318si or other 318 models? I know the small compact size (reminds me of a Honda CRX) is kind of odd for a BMW. Most I've seen on the road are 4 door and look, well, bmw'ish.
To answer #1, see #2.
#2, the ti was not marketed very well in the US. It has has been a success elsewhere. The ti was an entry level car. Maybe too entry level for some 'mericans.
#3, that is a common problem.
See the thread in the exterior section.
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2484
#4, the ti shares the same things from the B pillar forward. The rear suspension is antiquated compared to the 318i and 318is but that more fun. See #1 again.
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Old 12-03-2005, 07:30 AM   #5
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1. i have always loved bmw cars...and this was my first car that i inherited from my parents, after i convinced them to buy it for themselves (so i could convientently drive it too ) now this is my pops and mine 'project car' so to speak. not a real project literally, but this is the car i learned about cars on...me and my pops have spent tons of time together working on it and me learning about cars in general...its always great to spend some quality time with the pops

2. not odd...they are fairly rare...ive only seen maybe 4 or 5 between raleigh where i go to school at and cary where my home is...once you have one, you will start to notice more

3. for the window, i generally fix it myself. if im short on time or if its too cold outside for me to work in the garage, ill take it to a local private shop and let them handle it. for special parts, i usually go to the dealer, but for work i usually go to a shop called european performance.

4. i like the hatch back look personally. im not a huge fan of 4 door cars...2 door im ok with, but i just love the unique and special look of the TI hatch
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Old 12-03-2005, 08:38 AM   #6
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1. It's my first car so it has that sentimental part to it. Everything i wanted in a car; compact, RWD, 2 door but seats 5, hatchback, european, power windows/locks (you may laugh at this one but im use to manual EVERYTHING), discs brakes all round, alloy wheels, good platform for modification, unique as bmw's go, and most of all its a blast to drive. I know im not planning getting rid of mine anytime soon.

2. I live in a city of about 70,000 people and I have seen a couple around. I like having a car that isnt seen much because it makes my car much more special.

3. I haven't had problems with my window, but i am not the original owner so it may have had it at point in time. I do most of the basic stuff myself, but if its a bit more for me to handle I have some mechanics in my neighborhood that have their little auto shops.

4. Already been answered.

I guess overall this car is just my taste. I like when I tell people I drive a bmw hatchback and they look at me like WTF since it isnt bmw'ish. Its also funny when people think that your rich because you drive a bmw when I only paid $4500 for it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by aceyx
Made out with a chick in the hatch once.
Can't do that in sedans, so that's another plus.
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Old 12-03-2005, 10:04 AM   #7
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1.its a bmw, thats special enough right there. Everything about it is quality. built to last, reliable, agile.

2. I don't see very many around where i live, see a couple now and then, i like the fact that its kind of rare. also, i turn heads quite often and all i have is wheels. this speaks alot for a car that is almost 10 years old

3. i had a problem with my passenger window, dealer fixed it for 15 dollars.

4. the hatchback is great you can fit ALOT in the back with the seats down, very handy while moving houise etc..
in my personal preference the hatchback looks better than the others especially the 4 doors
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Old 12-03-2005, 07:06 PM   #8
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Default thank you and 1 more ?

Thank you for the feedback and keep it coming!

Obviously the 318ti is pretty rare. I never put that together since I've not seen many on the road and feared I had not seen them on the road because they were extinct. Thank goodness i'm wrong..right?

Well, 1 other ?. I was trying to find the forum for the remote alarm. Mine is out and I need to get another remote alarm and need the instructions for programming it.

I am starting to lean on keeping the 318ti. You folks have pretty much convinced me its rare breed that have this car and really, its unique!
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Old 12-03-2005, 07:54 PM   #9
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Quote:
ts also funny when people think that your rich because you drive a bmw when I only paid $4500 for it.
i get that all the time....'oh you drive a bmw? you must be rich as hell eh?' its like 'nah not really...my parents paid 8500 for it...thats less than your parents paid for your camry over there'

i also get the...'what year is your car...2000 something? it looks pretty new...its a really nice car'...'nah its a 95...10 years old and still fly baby'

as for the alarm question, not sure on that one...sorry
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Old 12-09-2005, 06:23 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robcarync
i get that all the time....'oh you drive a bmw? you must be rich as hell eh?'
I get that all the time. Grrrrrr
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Old 12-09-2005, 06:41 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sparkchaser
I get that all the time. Grrrrrr

I think we all get that, it can get annoying but I let people think what they want about that. I work at a grocery store...so ya if you think im rich hey thats your opinion lol

anyways...

1. I love my car with a passion because it was my grandfathers, so it has a very special part in my heart. The other is the fact that so for its the ONLY BMW I have seen with my color. It is not an individual but you would think it was seeing its the only one so far in the states. I heard they had more over seas but still have yet to see or hear about it. The other, its a BMW, its a pride thing, feeling like your part of a family of bmw drivers, no matter who you run into that has a bmw you are friends without talking.

2. I admit it was weird at first, when I got the car I felt like I was so special for being the only one on the road with a ti, then sure enough BAM they were everywhere. The greatest thing is most of them are my age so its like when you pull up to another you like hey! Great car! Definetly a great feeling seeing more on the road each day.

3. the only problem on my ti is the ABS brakes, they dont work, I dont need em, chances are I just have to blow dirt out of the sensor but my certified mechanic said the brakes are fine unless I really feel I need the ABS feature (which I dont) but as far as the window, no problem. Definetly look for someone who has good feedback on working on BMW's...make the dealer your last resort. See if there is a local online group near where you live, there are always forums locally for BMW fans.

4. Simple its the best! If your going to have a 4 cylinder engine in a bmw better have it in our ti's then the other models. my car is stock and I still find myself beating even the most badass thinking ricer racers with no problems. My favorite is the fact our trunks look small because of the small rear end, you open that hatch and BAM huge trunk, I love the looks on peoples faces. Sure its not the fastest BMW and sure it gets the most crap from people, but nonetheless its still a BMW. I promise you that you will get **** from people for the car and its look, but let it grow on you and then it will grow on others and they will be jealous trust me.

So before you go wanted to sell your car think about it. You have a reliable car, its a BMW, sure it will cost a little more then your typical POS civic but you have a car that will run forever till the day it knows it can run anymore.

BTW how much did you spend on it?
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Old 12-09-2005, 08:01 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by bmwracerchick
4. Simple its the best! If your going to have a 4 cylinder engine in a bmw better have it in our ti's then the other models. my car is stock and I still find myself beating even the most badass thinking ricer racers with no problems.
Definitely. The ti weighs a few hundred pounds less than the 318i and 318iS so we have a nice benefit there.

You eat ricers huh? Sadly, they seem to be scarce in these parts. oh well.
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Old 12-10-2005, 03:47 AM   #13
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Unfortunately, the 318ti is extinct. It was replaced by the E46 version in the rest of the world, but we never got that here. With the introduction of the 1 series, BMW has replaced the 3 series compact. That means no hatchback version of the E90 3 series. It's too bad that BMW NA bungled the marketing/selling of the 318ti and never even bothered with the 325 ti. They sold a crap-load of these cars in Europe, but American snobbery kept us from having access to some great cars. There were even turbo diesel models and 1.6 liter models.



Quote:
Originally Posted by pcmedics911
Obviously the 318ti is pretty rare. I never put that together since I've not seen many on the road and feared I had not seen them on the road because they were extinct. Thank goodness i'm wrong..right?
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Old 12-10-2005, 05:32 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sparkchaser
Definitely. The ti weighs a few hundred pounds less than the 318i and 318iS so we have a nice benefit there.

You eat ricers huh? Sadly, they seem to be scarce in these parts. oh well.

lol ya there are a lot around her but most of them dont know how to drive for ****...so I tend to wipe their ass with their POS cars. The cars that are all show...and I can keep up pretty well with some mustangs but never really beat them, its just the fact that I can keep up...take off sucks though so I have to be moving or kill them on turns.
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Old 12-10-2005, 07:44 AM   #15
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Where I live there are either serious tuners with STi's and EVO's beefed up or they are the civics with bondo all over, unpainted body kits and a wing that makes F1 wings look small. I want to move to Europe just so I can get the good stuff that the U.S. misses out on. One of my dreams is to buy a BMW and drive it off the production and put its first mile on it.
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