New to 318ti's

[Billabong81]

Hey guys, I'm thinking about buying my first car and I'm strongly considering a BMW 318ti (1996-1999 most likely). I've found a few good deals in the $3.5k-$4.5k range and will be going to see the cars in person either this weekend or next. I do have a few questions for you guys first though!

1. In my searching I've read 318ti's usually get around 27-30mpg. Would you say this is accurate (mostly highway driving)?

2. I've also read numerous posts about certain parts that should be replaced near the engine. Apparently at 130k miles most 318ti's start having problems with certain pieces breaking. Can anyone tell me exactly what parts these are and approx. how much it would cost to replace them (I tried searching this part, but couldn't find anything...maybe I was using bad keywords).

3. If I keep the car well-maintained, how many miles do you guys think I can get out of it? 90% of the 318ti's I've found have between 115-145k miles on them. I just need a car for the next 4-5 years (basically to get through college, 1st year right now). Would a car with ~130k miles last that long (I will probably only drive ~8-10k/year).

Thanks a ton in advance and I look forward to seeing your responses!

[Will'sBimmer]

1. Yes highway driving I get 30+ miles. Once on a full tank I went 450 miles.


2.The radiator and some other coolant parts break down. I just waited till my radiator started leaking and then I replaced it. Won't hurt to change the valve cover gaskets, and the oil filter housing gasket. I would also check my air filter and see if it needs to be replaced.

3. You can alot of miles out of the Ti with proper care and maintenance. Mine has 171k right now. Other member have 250k and I saw one with over 300k. So you should see plenty of miles out of it.

[Billabong81]

Awesome, thanks for the quick reply! I also had a fourth question I forgot to add:

4. I've been driving an automatic ever since I had my permit (4 years now). A lot of 318ti's seem to be manual transmissions. I am interested in learning how to drive a manual transmission car, but I'm afraid if I learn on my 318ti (if I get one of course), it could have long-term effects on the car. Is this true? Also, is it hard to learn how to drive a manual if you're already adjusted to a automatic?

That is more general auto knowledge (that I lack haha) than 318ti-specific, but important none-the-less! Thanks again guys.

[Billabong81]

Also, another 318ti Q. Is there such thing as an M-series 318ti? One ad I'm looking at claims it is a rare 1998 M-series 318ti. Owner told me only 250 were made. Can anyone provide any background on this?

[tiFreak]

learning to drive a stick isn't too hard, just practice in parking lots and if you know someone who knows how to drive a stick have them ride with you (unless they're the kind of person who gets frustrated easily, because that can be a little stressful) there are no real long term effects from learning to drive a stick except for replacing the clutch

there were 318ti's that had the full M3 style bodykit (front and rear bumpers, mirrors, door moldings) a sport suspension and a couple other options, they were called the clubsport and only 300 were made, but they were only made in 95, so there is nothing rare about that 98

[marko]

to be on the safe side you may wanna replace the timing chain tensioner right of the bat - as well as the 2 notorious plastic coolant connestors (one between the cyl head & the firewall & the other under the intake manifold)...

Originally Posted by Billabong81

2. I've also read numerous posts about certain parts that should be replaced near the engine. Apparently at 130k miles most 318ti's start having problems with certain pieces breaking. Can anyone tell me exactly what parts these are and approx. how much it would cost to replace them (I tried searching this part, but couldn't find anything...maybe I was using bad keywords).

[Billabong81]

Thanks for all the info guys, I appreciate it.

[ajs_in_Mn]

Billabong, all of this is only my opinion. I've been driving Bimmers for about fifteen years, though.

My ti is the first Bimmer that I bought with fewer than 150k on it, and it had 116k. Maintained, a BMW goes a very long time. The keyword is 'maintained'. My mom is still driving my '86, with about 250k on it. Buying a car with detailed repair records is usually a safer bet. If the seller is a member of the BMW Car Club of America, that is often a help.

BMW automatics are famous for early failure. Part of this is due to the way that the maintenance schedule changed/was gutted when scheduled maintenance became bundled in the purchase price, so the automatics rarely saw fluid changes. And tended to die at around ~120k.
Because of that, and the fact that the auto saps power, you want a manual anyway. And it's more fun. My opinion, only reason to drive an automatic would be a missing or non-working left leg.
The ti is part of the E36 platform, which is famous for a crappy cooling system. Look especially closely for coolant leaks.

Beginning in MY '96, the engine switched from the M42 to the M44. One of the disadvantages of that is that the M44, being an OBD2 compliant motor, is allegedly harder to diagnose. On the M44 motors, a very common failure is the secondary air pump, which is often (though by no means always) the source of a Check Engine light on a used car.

If you look around on this site, you'll find a wealth of information about the cars. In a nutshell, they came in 3 trim lines. Base, Active, and Sport. The easy way to spot a Sport is leather and fabric upholstery (as opposed to all cloth or all leather/vinyl) and foglights. The Club Sports, mentioned above, have two-tone cloth/leather with contrasting stitching. The easy way to spot an Active is cruise control and a more sophisticated clock known as an onboard computer, which has a control switch integrated into the turn signal lever. That lever'll have the inscription 'BC', and an arrow pointing towards the column, and one of the buttons on the OBC will be marked S/R.
A Base will have none of these things, steel wheels, and frequently, cloth upholstery that would look more at home in a prisoner transport. All '99s are Sports, and have a distinctive 3 spoke steering wheel. You may also run into something called the California edition, which has a nearly full-length fabric sunroof. Anything like that on a Bimmer will give you fits, sooner or later. But I'll bet they're fun.

As tiFreak said, this guy somehow doesn't know what he's talking about. Club Sports were only imported in '95 (though there were very few, ~350, I think). The M-Tech package (aka Sport) was available in '98. I know that because I own one. While they aren't rare, per se, Sports tend to be harder to find than Bases or Actives.

While you may get lucky, especially in California, you probably won't. It took me ten months to find a '98 Sport that hadn't been practically beaten to death. And it still needed work.

Absolutely you should have a professional inspection by a BMW mechanic before you plunk down the money. Dealers can be variable-one of my dealers missed a failing cooling system and a broken spring on my prepurchase inspection. Only dealers, and very good independent shops, have the computer equipment to speak accurately to these cars.

Unless your car has impeccable records, expect to immediately change ALL fluids. If you don't know anything about the car's history, I think that this is one of the single best things that you can do to assure longevity. Especially given the cooling system in these cars. If the car has its original stereo, be sure to get the unlock code for it, which should be (but may not be) in the owner's portfolio. Without that, the radio will become useless should it lose power. You'll need to go to the dealer to get the code and restore the radio.

That's more than enough out of me, and I have only scratched the surface. This is a pretty good site, and the denizens tend towards the knowledgeable and friendly; so I encourage you to dig around and learn more, if you are serious about this. Barring a miracle, you'll be looking for a while but I'll tell you this-my BMWs are the only cars I've owned that come to me in my dreams. It's the damnedest thing.

Good Hunting!

[tiFreak]

that pretty much sums it all up lol

[Billabong81]

Wow, thanks a ton ajs_in_Mn. That cleared up so many questions I had. The car I am looking at is indeed a '98 sport. I can tell by the two-tone leather & upholstery and the car definitely has foglights (visible in pictures). I look forward to getting a good discount off the price now that this guy knows he doesn't have a rare (such as 250-ever made anyway) car. Again, I appreciate all the help!

[Billabong81]

Another question if you guys don't mind. What do you guys think is a fair price for a car w/ following specs:

1998 318Ti Sport (M-tech package)
Diana Sports Package (any info on this?)
135k miles
Manual Transmission
18in. Alloy Wheels
Kendwood XCELERON mp3 Player w/ USB iPod Hookup

From pictures, it looks pretty much dent-free and paint looks like it is in excellent condition. He is asking $4,800. I think that is too much, but that is why I'm asking you all. Again, I appreciate the help guys and wish there was some way I could do something to repay you for all the help you're giving me!

[tiFreak]

4.8k wouldn't be too bad a price, if he's not firm you might be able to talk him down to 4.2k or so, no idea wtf "diana" means

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by Billabong81

...
Diana Sports Package...

OOOHHHHHH! Ultra rare DIANA sports package... Just kidding, you meant DINAN, not Diana. Oh and a manual isn't hard to drive, just different. I don't own any manual cars, but can drive a manual if I had to... My best friend has a manual Z3 and a manual 318is and both of them are a pleasure to drive. BMW manuals are smoother than any domestic manual I have ever driven.

-Al.

p.s. this does not mean you guys can trash BMWs with auto transmissions

[Billabong81]

Originally Posted by amancuso

OOOHHHHHH! Ultra rare DIANA sports package... Just kidding, you meant DINAN, not Diana.

No, I meant Diana. That's what the ad says. The OWNER meant Dinan, I was correct though. I will never admit fault in this.

Haha, thanks for the information. I was finding it weird that I couldn't find any information on a Diana sports package.

[ajs_in_Mn]

I concur with amancuso, this is probably a reference to Dinan, which if you don't know, is probably the premier BMW tuner in North America.
What it 'Dinan (or Diana) Sport Package doesn't tell you, though, is what has been Dinan-ized, since it can include engine, suspension, wheel, exhaust, or software modifications in pretty much any combination.

AFAIK (and smarter people feel free to jump in), some of the common Dinan options for the Touring are engine software and Cold Air Intake. Without hooking the thing to a Dinan computer, you have no way of knowing if the engine software is there or not. The software adds a little power and removes the factory top speed limit of, I think, 116 mph. And REQUIRES high octane fuel (91 or better), versus the normal ti's 89. The CAI takes a special (and spendy) filter sold by Dinan.
Well, okay, you could take the car out and see if it will go beyond 116 mph...

My car allegedly has Dinan software and CAI. I can certainly see the CAI. The OBD port in the engine compartment has what amounts to a 'don't tase me, bro, I've been Dinan-ized' warning sticker, because if a dealer reflashes the car's software, buh-bye Dinan-ized software.

What, if any, specific Dinanizing has happened to your candidate is difficult to tell without an inspection by an expert. Some BMW dealers also deal in Dinan mods-perhaps use one of those for a prepurchase inspection. If there is a Dinan badge on the hatch, there may have been extensive mods, because the badges are only sent out when you accumulate sufficient Dinan 'points'.

Also, you might consider running a Carfax and asking Mallard on this site for a report on the serial number-he usually responds quickly, and gives you a list of what was on the thing when it left the factory.

You can learn more about Dinan's BMW molestation program at
www.dinancars.com

As far as pricing goes, I paid just over $5k for mine, with 117k. '98 Sport, sunroof, supposed Dinan software & CAI, stock sound system with CD changer, heated seats, 18" BBS Wheels (which I wouldn't mind selling, come to think of it), 2 sets alloy wheels of dubious worth, and a set of steel wheels with a somewhat worn set of Blizzaks that have been very useful in this Minnesota winter. And a Bentley manual for the E36, which is only somewhat useful since it doesn't cover the Touring. Sadly, I can't tell you if your guy is asking a fair price in your market.
If he has complete records, maybe?

hth

EDIT: If you're talking about the one in Yorba Linda That I just found on Autotrader, something is odd. For one thing, the interior looks like a Club Sport, which wasn't made in '98. The seat bolsters show more wear than I'd expect on a '98, though maybe not a '95. The central locking button and traction control buttons did not, I think, exist in '95. Somebody jump in if the red/black upholstery thing was available in '98. every Sport that I have seen that wasn't a Club Sport had black leather bolsters and charcoal grey patterned fabric. Also, the head restraints are fabric and leather. In this example, the head restraints are all leather, like a Club Sport. I haven't seen them all, though, so maybe I'm hallucinating.
But most importantly, why is the owner not putting the VIN up with the ad?