 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  | |  07-21-2005, 03:52 AM | #1 | | Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Eagan, MN Posts: 36 |  Will I be happy with a 318ti?
I'm looking for a new daily drive can add a little fun to my commute. I'm new to BMW's having only autoxed a E36 M3 and driven 2 E30's. (A 87 325is and 91 318is. )
I really liked the E30 318is. It was fun car, but not fast enough to be my summer car and I had a better daily driver at the time. So how does a 318ti compare to the 318is? From what I remember about the 318is is that it was quick for in traffic driving and city stuff, but lacked power as a highspeed cruiser which is fine. So is that what I can expect with a 318ti?
What do you have to do to get 150hp at the crank? What will it cost to do it? |  |  | | 07-22-2005, 12:00 AM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 225 |
I have had my ti for almost 2 years and I am totally satisfied with it. if any thing happened to my ti, I would absolutely buy another one again. It is fast in the city and handle like a cham. Not to mention that it is quite simple and inexpensive to maintain. Highly recommend. __________________
Love my ti | | | | | 07-22-2005, 12:45 AM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 |
This is going to be a very biased group.
I wrecked my 1998 ti and bought a 1996 ti afterwards.
I bought my98 brand new because of the price. It handled so well and I really enjoyed driving it on the test drives. I had to have another. __________________ ...steven
BMW CCA #146825
1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i
www.bmwcca.org
| | | | | 07-22-2005, 01:16 AM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Port St. Johns, Florida Posts: 2,242 |
150 easy with DINAN engine mods. M44 estimated with 160ish
modding is close to a d16 or B18b, not a huge aftermarket, forced induction is your best bet. | | | | | 07-22-2005, 03:24 AM | #5 | | Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Eagan, MN Posts: 36 |
So what are the pros and cons of owning one? | | | | | 07-22-2005, 03:47 AM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Port St. Johns, Florida Posts: 2,242 |
4 cyl m44 or m42 vs a m50 in the aftermarkets availible. | | | | | 07-22-2005, 10:17 AM | #7 | | Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Eagan, MN Posts: 36 |
So what are your pro and cons?
I was thinking something like:
Pros:
Versatility, Reliable, Good MPG, Handling
Cons:
Wish it had more power? | | | | | 07-22-2005, 12:50 PM | #8 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by not2fast So what are your pro and cons?
I was thinking something like:
Pros:
Versatility, Reliable, Good MPG, Handling
Cons:
Wish it had more power? | sounds about right  there are still a good number of mods (suspension, brakes, etc) that you can do for the ole' ti. it's kinda the odd duck as it has e36 front suspension and more of the e30 rear. the z3 is about in the same boat. that means you have to be a little more diligent when you get suspension compenents that you make sure it'll work for the ti. because of the hatch, i've certainly been able to haul stuff in it that i would not have been able to in a regular e36 sedan/coupe. mine has been quite reliable over the 9 years i've owned it (DO keep up with routine maintenance!). i've upgraded pieces as they've failed and it's probably even more fun to drive now that it was when new! __________________ 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 | | | | | 07-23-2005, 12:24 AM | #9 | | Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Eagan, MN Posts: 36 |
BTW: The cars on my list are:
1. E36 318ti
p: hb, handles good, looks
c: hard to find, might lack a little hp (wish they built a 325ti)
2. E36 325i Sedan
p: 4-doors, little more power, BMW
c: 318ti looks better and is smaller
3. Acura GSR Sedan
p: Motor, transmission, reliablity, handling, fwd
c: Already had one, theft magnet, hard to find not beat, fwd | | | | | 07-23-2005, 12:28 AM | #10 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by not2fast 3. Acura GSR Sedan
p: Motor, transmission, reliablity, handling, fwd
c: Already had one, theft magnet, hard to find not beat, fwd | yeah, i was going to say, when is FWD a pro?  __________________ 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 | | | | | 09-13-2005, 06:56 PM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 247 |
Pros:
Handling is excellent, esp. w/sport package
Comfort
Smooth Ride
Looks cool
32 mpg highway (premium only however)
Rides smooth at 80 or 90+ on interstate @4200rpm
Small = easy to park
Cons:
Not much storage space
More quick than fast (only 140hp w/1.9l)
Probably not great in snow, but does have TC (standard? not sure)
Only 2 doors, but decent back seat space considering... __________________ Silver 98 318ti Standard trans, Sport Package: 16" Stock Wheels, Foglamps, Sunroof, Heated Leather Seats, Bilstein performance shocks, OEM Sach's clutch kit, Dunlop SP Sport A2 225/50/16 tires, Alpine CDA 7894, Dual Rockford Fosgate 12" subs, Rockford Fosgate Amp, Leather Armrest, Replaced M44 engine with only 40k on it!
http://www.geocities.com/evalha/bmwsmaller.JPG | | | | | 09-16-2005, 09:37 PM | #12 | | TRETEN IRGENDEINES ESELS Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 3,687 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by evalha007 Probably not great in snow, but does have TC (standard? not sure) | The ti drives pretty good in the snow for rear wheel drive. I'm buying snow tires this year for my car,usualy use all season tires but they don't plow my street till later in the afternoon when it snows. Damn private property __________________ 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 | | | | | 09-19-2005, 04:25 PM | #13 | | Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Eagan, MN Posts: 36 |
Well I'm going to look at another one if it has not sold by the time I fly home Friday.
95 318ti 5speed 88k orginal owner.
i created a list of Accord Replacements.
1. 325i Sedan
+: Extra doors and 6
-: no hatch and cost a little more
2. 97+ Honda Prelude (loved these when I graduated from college and took the test drive)
+: Motor and Looks
-: 2-door and no hatch
3. 318ti
+: Looks and Hatch
-: 2-door and motor (can live with it)
4. GSR Sedan
+: 4 doors, tranmission, motor are the best
-: Ricer and most have been abused | | | | | 07-23-2005, 01:47 AM | #14 | | Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Eagan, MN Posts: 36 |
One word. SNOW (damn MN winters) | | | | | 07-23-2005, 02:24 AM | #15 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by not2fast One word. SNOW (damn MN winters) | i've lived in WI all my life (up to this point) and i've been driving RWD cars through the last 14 or 15 winters with almost no problems whatsoever (9 of those in the ti). The traction control on the ti is damn effective. other people recommended putting extra weight in the back and i tried it, but found it too negatively affected the feel of the car so i never even bothered with that. personally, i don't want a FWD car even in the snow (but maybe i'm a crazy whacko  ). __________________ 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 | | | | | |
| 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
| | |
|
Hybrid Mode