 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  | |  02-15-2008, 12:33 AM | #1 | | Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 55 |  After 6 mo. I just finished fixing up my Ti
Hi Everyone, here is my 1st picture posting and Ti story.
After stumbling to this site 10 month ago, I decided to get a Ti for my self. I first got to drive a Ti back in 1999, a very new m-sport loaner lent to me when I took my 96 328i in for service. The Ti's nimbleness, peppiness and shape have permanently etched into my conciousness after that.
Fast forward to 2004. I decided that the E36 328i was too small for my growing family, so I sold it for $10500 and got myself a euro-delivered 2005 545i. Fast forward again to 2007. The new bimmers although smoother and more powerful in every sense, did not evoke the same driving experience from the older, more direct and raw, BMWs. So I decided to look for a toy car to fill that void.
I looked around for 190e-16v, Crx si, Del Sols, Miatas, GTIs, Corrados, before settling for the Ti. I searched on craigslist, ebay, cars.com, autotrader....etc for 3 long months before finding one on Ebay. It was hellrot, 5 speed, m-sport, stock..Everything I was looing for. So I won the bid at $5460, spent $980 to ship from PA to CA and waited 3 weeks to get the car.
When I first saw the car, my ethusiasm immediately turned to despair. The perfect conditioned 318ti as described on Ebay was nothing like what I imagined it to be. The rear and front bumpers were scratched up on several places, the hood was rusted through, side moldings were falling off, the fog light was broken, the lower fron grille was shattered, weather stripping on the passenger door was missing, a rat nest in the engine compartment, the driver seat was torn, interior lining was falling down like a curtain, dog hair and smell all over the trunk and seat, dog vomit (or something worse) all over the center console, steering wheel at 2 o'clock position when going straight, strong vibration when braking, engine oil so thick and dirty, coolant too. Overall a disaster of a car. My wife refused to enter the car because it was so nasty. I wanted to make a dispute with ebay to return the car, but couldn't. The ad specifically asked the buyer to inspect the car before bidding, and I didn't.
Despite the initial disappointment, here it is. After $6000 later, on top of the $6440 for the car and freight. I can finally enjoy my Ti as I have back in 1999.
I now use it for commuting and every chance I get. My 545i is paid off so it's sitting in the garage ruling her empire.
I fixed all cosmetic flaws, both exterior and interior and added: OEM arm rest, lip spoiler, Bilstein Sport with Bav auto springs, 328 calipers with vented cross-drilled/slotted rotors, 17" Contour with Conti-sport, chrome instrument rings, Z3 short shifter, all-metal tie rods, control arm, solid bushings, secondary air pump and valve, water pump, all belts, 30% window tint, O2 sensor, micro filter, H&R strut bar, X-brace, Silvania bulbs, all fluids...
As you can see from my smile, worth every penny.....
Would you have done the same if you were me? __________________ 1998 Hellrot sport 318ti
2005 Jet Black 545i SMG
2006 Honda Odyssey (for kids and wives) |  |  | | 02-15-2008, 12:38 AM | #2 | | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 |
what a beautiful car! __________________ 4 MORE YEARS BABY!!! | | | | | 02-15-2008, 12:42 AM | #3 | | Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 55 |
Quote: Originally Posted by cooljess76  what a beautiful car! | Thanks, I couldn't of done it without you all.  __________________ 1998 Hellrot sport 318ti
2005 Jet Black 545i SMG
2006 Honda Odyssey (for kids and wives) | | | | | 02-15-2008, 01:26 AM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 3,212 |
It looks sweet, I would have done it if i had the money and i couldn't get a refund for it. Well enjoy it.  | | | | | 02-15-2008, 01:45 AM | #5 | | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 |
If you don't mind me asking, where did you find the factory armrest and how much did it set you back? __________________ 4 MORE YEARS BABY!!! | | | | | 02-15-2008, 01:59 AM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 |
Worth it. I plan on redoing nearly everything on the car in the next few years, which will cost less than a new one, and it'll be something I'm happy with in the end. __________________
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ZOMBIES. | | | | | 02-15-2008, 02:23 AM | #7 | | Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portugal Posts: 31 |
Congratulations for the car!!! __________________ 
'95 E36 316i Compact Alpinweiss 3
'96 E36 316i Coupe CosmoSchwarzs Metallic | | | | | 02-15-2008, 02:52 AM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SW Florida Posts: 4,275 |
yes i would!
what a beautiful car! __________________ 
Sean
1995 Active | | | | | 02-15-2008, 03:54 AM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Eugene Oregon Posts: 6,182 |
i like the ti A LOT! __________________
-Josh
Sold-1995 318ti, Club Sport, Hellrot
Sold-1996 318ti, Active Model, Boston Green
Current- 1995 318ti, sport model, schwartz
| | | | | 02-15-2008, 04:18 AM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Damascus, Maryland Posts: 434 |
Congrats on a fine finished product speedracer. Dedication like that is honorable. You've got my dream ti  __________________  | | | | | 02-15-2008, 04:33 AM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 1,305 |
nice lookin car!! i want a 3 car garage too! | | | | | 02-15-2008, 08:11 AM | #12 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: LA, Bellflower, CA Posts: 3,613 |
wow. the story was sad in the beginning. but in the end it got WAY BETTER! congrats on fixing her up. it looks beautiful.
....maybe one day we can all meet up and look at her in person and appreciate the great work you did on her. __________________ 
-Theta Chi-
Float like a cadilac, sting like a BIMMER
.... my socket is just too thick and won't fit in the hole! damnit!
Marv's 332ti is in the werks. Stay tuned ya'll ...
Check list: S52 swap, manual transmission swap, 3.25 LSD with M Coupe diff cover, SuperSprint muffler, M3 style mirrors, AFE intake, ASC delete, M50 Manifold swap, UUC strut bar, ZHP lighted knob, Vaders, M-tech interior, OEM armrest, AC Schintzer front lip, AC Schnitzer rear spoiler, Roof spoiler, 18'' rims, M3 front drilled brakes, LED interior lights, 3 spoke Euro style steering wheel, OEM roof spoiler and bike holder, Thule fairing, Euro tail lights, oil pressure guage, carbon fiber hood painted to original paint (still showing CF weaving), what's next to do...? | | | | | 02-15-2008, 03:51 PM | #13 | | Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 55 |
Quote: Originally Posted by cooljess76 If you don't mind me asking, where did you find the factory armrest and how much did it set you back? | I bought my arm rest from www.milesoneparts.com for $125 (roughly) in leatherette. The nappa version will cost $225. It's much better than the leathertz version because it's OEm and fits like charm. __________________ 1998 Hellrot sport 318ti
2005 Jet Black 545i SMG
2006 Honda Odyssey (for kids and wives) | | | | | 02-15-2008, 03:52 PM | #14 | | Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 55 |
Quote: Originally Posted by Marv17 wow. the story was sad in the beginning. but in the end it got WAY BETTER! congrats on fixing her up. it looks beautiful.
....maybe one day we can all meet up and look at her in person and appreciate the great work you did on her. | Definitively. I am looking forward to show her off. __________________ 1998 Hellrot sport 318ti
2005 Jet Black 545i SMG
2006 Honda Odyssey (for kids and wives) | | | | | 02-15-2008, 03:58 PM | #15 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 3,244 |
Very impressive. Get some good photos and please submit for next years calendar! __________________
My Former Rides
1999 318ti Alpine White, Cali Roof, Dinan goodies
1996 318ti Hellrot California Edition
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