 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  |  01-03-2012, 03:58 PM | #1 | | Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 9 |  Proud 98 318ti owner!
Hi everyone, this is my first car so I would appreciate any advice anyone has to give me about the car. The car has a California roof and I live in Michigan so I was wondering what are some things I can do to the roof to keep it in good shape for I can enjoy it during the summer. Also what r some good cheap performance upgrades I can do to the car. I'm not looking for major hp but a little more would b fun. So if u have any more advice pls shoot it my way I'm very excited to learn all I can about my car. I'll try to post some pics but it's got a little snow on it. Also if u have any questions pls ask. |  |  | | 01-03-2012, 04:05 PM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ottawa Posts: 579 |
welcome! | | | | | 01-03-2012, 06:43 PM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 252 |
Welcome to the site! Check out the knowledge base, tons of great information in there. __________________ 1996 318ti base: m44, 5 spd, lsd - 18x8 bremmer kraft wheels w/sumitumo tires 225/40R18 & bmw locking lug studs, 10mm spacers in rear, halo headlights, cold air intake, koni str.t struts and shocks w/mounts, h&r sport springs, serp belts, control arm & tie rod kits, front sway bar links, JVC kd-x50bt headunit w/ipod hook up in the glove box, alpine sps-500(front and rear), jl audio 10" powerwedge max, jl audio 250.1 amp, motor mounts, fuel filter, passenger side window motor, drivers lower window run, muffler hanger kit, various interior bulbs, left door striker/ajar switch, lower hood latches, changed from gray vinal to black leather shift and parking brake boots, m3 weighted shift knob, ngk-r spark plugs, magnecor spark plug wires(blue),new cabin micro-filters,new headliner & a-pillar mouldings, 5w20 synth-blend oil and filter, BG Ultra Guard syn. rear end fluid & ls additive, BG Syncro Shift II syn. manual trans fluids, stainless steel braided brake lines and dot 4 fluid, extra brake light mod, new p/s reservoir and rubber hoses
need to do - fix door panels, paint job, MORE MONEY!!  | | | | | 01-04-2012, 12:30 AM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 1,364 |
Welcome! My advice: change all, and I mean all, fluids and filters immediately, unless you have solid documentation when they were last changed. Use only the best synthetics and only BMW antifreeze. Now that's done, you have the piece of mind that comes with knowing that you have lowered your chances of mechanical failure in the car's major operating components. Overheating is deadly in BMW's, and E-36 cooling systems have several engineered in weaknesses, so make sure that your cooling system is leak free and in tip top shape. Water pumps should be replaced a damage prevention measure every 60,000 miles. If your temp guage needle ever goes beyond the half way point, pull over immediately and find out what the problem is. I don't mean to scare you but rapid coolant loss at highway speeds and the resultant overheating can ruin an engine in a few seconds. Be quick on the kill switch when you suspect overheating. | | | | | 01-04-2012, 01:40 AM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SW Florida Posts: 4,275 |
welcome to the Org __________________ 
Sean
1995 Active | | | | | 01-06-2012, 09:58 PM | #6 | | Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 9 |
Thnx for all the welcomes, and I appreciate the advice jca. I been reading about the cooling system, and it seems there are plastic pieces in the radiator and the water pump that break. So I'm gonna try to replace those as soon as possible does anyone have any recommendation on what brand I should get. | | | | | 01-07-2012, 12:39 AM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SW Florida Posts: 4,275 |
genuine BMW if you can. __________________
Sean
1995 Active | | | | | 01-07-2012, 07:50 PM | #8 | | Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 9 |
Quote: Originally Posted by teetime4one  genuine BMW if you can. | Won't they just have the same plastic parts that would break, so shouldn't I go with an aftermarket item? | | | | | 03-07-2012, 12:58 PM | #9 | | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: California Posts: 9 |
Welcome | | | | | 03-07-2012, 06:39 PM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 1,364 |
Quote: Originally Posted by thesilversurfer Won't they just have the same plastic parts that would break, so shouldn't I go with an aftermarket item? | Aftermarket versions of these two parts commonly don't fit, so I would go OEM. New OEM parts should be good for 75-100K miles if you use BMW antifreeze and change it out every two years. | | | | |
| Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | |
 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
| | |
|
Linear Mode
