Student on a budget needs your help!

[SaberCreator]

Yeah, I'm a grad student so I'm low on cash, but I really love the 318ti! I’ve been looking for a 318ti below $3,000 in my area, Seattle, or Wisconsin. (Yeah, I have to move a lot in the near future). I found one not too far away.

Here’s the stats:

Asking price under $3000
1995 BMW 318ti
140,000 miles
Black, Manual Transmission, Leather interior with what looks like red fabric inserts, tilt steering wheel and cruise control, no sunroof that I saw. Here are some pictures:







It's a little rough on the inside and the front fascia/bumper need to be replaced, but I think maybe I can rescue it and if I get a good deal, all the better.

Is this a good purchase? Can anyone tell if it’s a sport or whatever? Thanks for your help!!!

[minicoop900]

i think only club sports came with that interior?
not 100% though

looks like a great deal though,with a manual tranny if you treat it right it will last forever

[SaberCreator]

Originally Posted by minicoop900

i think only club sports came with that interior?
not 100% though

looks like a great deal though,with a manual tranny if you treat it right it will last forever

Do the club sports have cruise control? I'm going to have to do a lot of highway driving. Also, I'm 6'5" will I fit in this car? I usually like to have at least 38" of front headroom.

[minicoop900]

they should, and im 6'1" and fit comfortably

[roadrash]

Looks like a Club Sport that needs some TLC. If that's the case, I sincerely hope that whomever buys it will return it to stock condition when repairing the issues. Hmmm... let me know if you don't buy it. heh heh

I'm willing to bet that it doesn't have a tilt steering wheel or cruise control. Where did you get that info? The dealers often get that sort of thing wrong.

[toie36]

I would go for it. There are a lot of great people with parts for sale nationwide on this site, and many ti parts are interchangeable with other e36's. See if you can bid them down though.

[SaberCreator]

Originally Posted by roadrash

Looks like a Club Sport that needs some TLC. If that's the case, I sincerely hope that whomever buys it will return it to stock condition when repairing the issues. Hmmm... let me know if you don't buy it. heh heh

I'm willing to bet that it doesn't have a tilt steering wheel or cruise control. Where did you get that info? The dealers often get that sort of thing wrong.

Hey! No sniping good deals off the poor students! Right now my plans would be to get her cleaned up and running smooth. I'm not really into mods or the like. I figure it'll be worth more in the end if I keep it stock.

[roadrash]

Originally Posted by SaberCreator

Hey! No sniping good deals off the poor students! .

LOL... I'd NEVER do that! But, if you decide to not purchase that car, let me know.

Originally Posted by SaberCreator

I figure it'll be worth more in the end if I keep it stock.

EXACTLY! That's especially true with the Club Sport.

[lkwd318ti]

It's a Clubsport, and the damage on the front end doesn't even look that bad.
Looks like all it needs is the nosepanel, grilles, bumper and mesh (or slats if you prefer).
Well worth the $3000.

-Randy

[Triple_A]

Originally Posted by SaberCreator

Do the club sports have cruise control? I'm going to have to do a lot of highway driving. Also, I'm 6'5" will I fit in this car? I usually like to have at least 38" of front headroom.

i too am 6'5" and i get around just fine.

[96cali]

+1 for what lkwd318ti said. That is a Clubsport, 1 of 300 made for 1995. The only Ti to come stock with the M3 mirrors. Otherwise everything you see there was made optional in following years. Same drivetrain except it has a limited slip differential which means you won't have stability control (ASC, not seen in pic to left of steering wheel) but with snows (a must) you should be able to get through Wisconsin winter OK.

It could be worth 3 grand but with that cosmetic damage I'd check over the internals as well. Regardless, it's an awesome starting point and as long as you keep it up and don't pile on the miles you should have no problem selling it down the road. And if it does not have a sunroof then it makes it even more rare but no more valuable.

Buy it after a thourogh inspection and haggle a bit.

[vjmvjmvjm]

Originally Posted by SaberCreator

Do the club sports have cruise control? I'm going to have to do a lot of highway driving. Also, I'm 6'5" will I fit in this car? I usually like to have at least 38" of front headroom.

I don't think Club Sports came with cruise control, but I could be wrong. If it has factory cruise, there should be a second stalk on the lower right side of the steering wheel (top stalk is for wipers).

Cruise control can be retrofitted to these cars (if they don't have it already). I don't know if BMW still supplies the kit, but the parts can be obtained.

Vic

[SaberCreator]

So I arrived at the dealership this morning and took a look at the car. It's a little rough on the outside too, but I figure it's still worth the money. So while I'm doing a walk around SS1 (shady saleman 1) comes back and asks SS2
where the keys are.

SS2: That car sold yesterday for $3800.
SS1: Really? Paid in cash?
SS2: Yeah.
SS1: (To me) I'll tell you what, you give me $4800 and I'll go ahead and cancel that other sale.
Me: Sorry.

What the heck? So no awesome 318ti for me.

[tiFreak]

aww, that's too bad hopefully the new owner won't trash it

[TI3FAN]

Originally Posted by tiFreak

aww, that's too bad hopefully the new owner won't trash it

New owner??? I would bet its still sitting there. Just wanted to make some extra $$$$ because there was some interest. Shady deal for sure. I paid $4800 for mine with a great interior and exterior just 2 months ago.