» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | 01-07-2007, 10:17 PM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nassau, Bahamas Posts: 3 | Just got '97 318Ti from Japan... now what? I'm new to this forum and just imported a 1997 318ti from Japan (its easy to do that here in The Bahamas). I've own another Japanese imported '94 318i and absolutely love it so much I sold my wife Mazda to purchase this Ti 'for her' Carfax does not work on Japanese VIN numbers (WBACG82-0X0KE75003) so I couldn't check it out before I ordered it. It has 83,000 miles and suppose be in excellent condition and runs great. Before I begin burning up the roads I need some advice of some common 318Ti issues that I should be aware. Thanks | | | 01-07-2007, 11:41 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Land of the Vikings Posts: 2,700 | ignition barrel may need to be changed if you experience "spin around" rear subframe bushes (same as on an e30 so a bit more involved than on a regular e36) rear wishbone bushes other than that i´d say it regular maintenance and relative to your own cars´spec __________________ Vin Number decode and Retrofit Pdfs Available Free ! Just PM | | | 01-08-2007, 12:59 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Central NJ Posts: 2,440 | Window regulator, door lock actuators, headliner, basic aesthetic stuff like that. | | | 01-08-2007, 01:12 AM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Quad Cities, Iowa Posts: 2,110 | Less then impressive power, solved by our friends at Downing Atlanta. Various clips that constantly break, I have broken clips in atleast three different places right now. __________________ "Drive Fast and Take Chances" | | | 01-08-2007, 02:41 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 3,244 | it will share most of the same issues your '94 e36 has- control arms/ball joints are regular maintenance items along with aforementioned window regulators/clips/lube. Cam position sensor, thermostat, later your radiator maybe. __________________ My Former Rides 1999 318ti Alpine White, Cali Roof, Dinan goodies 1996 318ti Hellrot California Edition | | | 01-08-2007, 02:46 AM | #6 | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nassau, Bahamas Posts: 3 | Quote: Originally Posted by Mallard ignition barrel may need to be changed if you experience "spin around" rear subframe bushes (same as on an e30 so a bit more involved than on a regular e36) rear wishbone bushes other than that iīd say it regular maintenance and relative to your own carsīspec | I definitely already noticed that the ignition barrel does have some play in it when I put the key in. Is this usually an expensive replacement job? | | | 01-08-2007, 12:02 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Land of the Vikings Posts: 2,700 | not really , about $150 if you have a friendly specialist you will need the barrel, and some fracture pins. but its dependant on what the problem is. if the lock spins round then i think it could be this .. but if it has play then im not sure. there are a few threads on this subjuct though, search "barrel" __________________ Vin Number decode and Retrofit Pdfs Available Free ! Just PM | | | 01-08-2007, 06:08 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 3,244 | My expert mech spent an hour just trying to get the cylinder out- you must line up several things while inserting another. I also needed to send proof of ownership and ID to the Fatherland get a matched cylinder (no new key necessary). All in all I was happy to let a pro do that one. __________________ My Former Rides 1999 318ti Alpine White, Cali Roof, Dinan goodies 1996 318ti Hellrot California Edition | | | 01-09-2007, 12:30 AM | #9 | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nassau, Bahamas Posts: 3 | WOW! Without a BMW dealership over here in the Bahamas and only a few BMW repair guys on the island, I truly hope they can handle the job. Thanks | | | 01-09-2007, 12:37 AM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ft Lauderdale, Fl moving to Eastern PA in May of 2007 Posts: 326 | The power window mechanics are a recurring nightmare but other than that the car is perfect. __________________ 318ti, sport, hellrot, 05/95 Munich, Germany | | | 01-09-2007, 02:24 AM | #11 | That's not Millpoint Blue Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: BNA Posts: 3,161 | Quote: Originally Posted by henryk WOW! Without a BMW dealership over here in the Bahamas and only a few BMW repair guys on the island | Reminds me of the Sam Kinison solution for hunger in Africa. To paraphrase that solution (without yelling like Sam, LOL)... "Move to where the BMW mechanics are!!" JMJ __________________ Real men know how to SEARCH! THIS IS A MILLPOINT BLUE INTERIOR Mods 'n' stuff: Star Spoke 43 wheels - X-Brace - Mason Engineering front strut brace - CF gauge overlay - ZHP shifter knob - Racing Dynamics cat-back - Doubled brake lights - M-tech rear spoiler From Page 68 of the 1997 Owners Manual: "Vehicles equipped with ASC+T remain subject to the laws of physics." | | | 01-09-2007, 06:13 AM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 3,244 | Quote: Originally Posted by henryk WOW! Without a BMW dealership over here in the Bahamas and only a few BMW repair guys on the island, I truly hope they can handle the job. Thanks | Well considering it's a common e36 issue I bet some one has to have done it before. Mine spun 2-4 times a year and I thought nothing of it. Only when it started happening more (not for me btw) did I get it replaced. Has not happened since so I guess it was for real. It can take 5 minutes or an hour my mech said, just luck and patience and if the Parrot Bay liquor ads are correct, you guys in the caribbean have a lot of time on your hands. __________________ My Former Rides 1999 318ti Alpine White, Cali Roof, Dinan goodies 1996 318ti Hellrot California Edition | | | 01-09-2007, 02:59 PM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 1,625 | plugs.. check to see if your plugs are tight, at every oil change... sometimes one will become loose and eventually 'pop' out while driving! not a good thing to have happen (speaking from experience). | | | | 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 | | | |