FS: 1997 318ti Non-sunroof 5-speed Calypsorot (MD)

[themightyquinn]

It's time to sell my beloved 318ti. I think I'm going to move to an e30, as I've always wanted one. I've owned the car since April of 2008, purchased from an older gent who lived in Rockville (I'm in College Park).

EDIT: I'll trade for an e30 too!

Details on the car:

Year: 1997
Model: 318ti
Color: Calypsorot-Metallic
Trim: Base
Miles: ~160k
Transmission: 5-speed manual
NO Sunroof!

The car has cloth seats that hold you surprisingly well. No rips, the seats are in pretty good shape. Black dash and ARMREST in black leather (a little worn but is awesome to have). Tan headliner that's unfortunately sagging (more on that later). Stock wheels, good rubber, currently without the hubcaps. AC blows cold and heat blows hot. Paint looks great, very deep metallic and can range from an orange-red in sunlight to purple-red when cloudy/dark.

Previous owner installed fog lights that run on their own switch independent of the parking/headlights (so you can run just the fogs). I installed "city lights" (5w bulbs) into the highbeams that turn on instead of the parking lights (but when you use the turn signals they still light up along with the sidemarkers). Car is pretty stock except for a few minor things I've done.

She runs and pulls like an absolute champ. This is unsubstantiated but I've driven other ti's and this one "feels" much quicker. The clutch is noticably heavier than other ti's and I'm thinking for some reason the PO put in a sport clutch or lightened flywheel. I have nothing to prove this, but come take her for a test drive and you'll see what I mean.

Things replaced since I bought her:

*Front brake wear sensor
*Plastic head-coolant connector (the one on the back of the block)
*2-in-1 coolant hose associated with the connector
*Both belts and mechanical machine tensioner
*Radiator (Behr), waterpump, thermostat and housing, coolant flush/fill
*New Mtech sport side mouldings with custom "BMW" badges
*New ZHP leather, weighted shift knob
*Pre and post cat O2 sensors
*Fuel Filter
*Clear corners and sidemarkers
*Passenger window regulator/scissor (not the motor)
*Fogged airbox (more later), airfilter
*NGK spark plugs
*Differential Fluid change (Royal Purple 75x90)
*Transmission fluid change (RP man. trans. fluid)
*Cabin microfilters
*Valve cover gasket, oil supply gasket
*Short shifter kit (unknown reduction, but easily 35-40%, perfect feel)
*Rear CD changer

Oil changed with BMW synthetic every 3.5-4k miles. Newish drain plug. Car gets around 30 mpg highway, and 25-26 city.

The Fogged airbox was custom fabbed by me. I used an aluminum tube (I forget the diameter, but around 3.5-4") wrapped in insulation so it won't heat soak. Keeps the stock airbox and filter, and runs from the brake duct space in the front bumper up to the bottom of the airbox. Very stealth and not a hackjob, and sounds great.


Problems:

Recently the car's been having so very sporadic and random starting issues. On any given day the car will start up like it should on the first try, even when cold. Randomly, however, it will take a couple of tries and the starter will spin. There's no rhyme or reason to it, and sometimes it will start normal, and then the very next start require a few turns on the key, and then the third time start right up first try. It's never been a problem for me, and I've never been stranded anywhere or anything. It's always started.

Also, the headliner was sagging when I bought it, and I tried to do some repairs which ended up with a slit in the headliner fabric and it still sagging on the sides. I can overlap the fabric by the slit so only fabric shows, but at least it stays up now.

Third, the passenger side mirror cover (the colored part that faces forward) fell off one day, and someone ran over it in the lot where I park. Thus that mirror doesn't have a back. I can source one for you if you want, but Calypso is a rarer color and I was having trouble finding one in that color.


On to the pix: The first ones with the stock wheels are how she looked when I bought her. She comes with those wheels (which are minus hubcaps right now...but I could source some for you if needed). The others with the BBS are how she looks now. The BBS do not come with the car. I'll get some "now" pix soon but she looks the same as in the BBS pix.

PRICE DROP: Asking $3000.

Car is in College Park, MD. PM me with any questions!

[themightyquinn]

One more picture for now. There's two scratches on the back of the trunk (on the vertical part under the wiper) that were touched up by the PO. Also forgot to mention that the airbag light has been on since I bought it, and I passed inspection with it on. I have an airbag underseat module that may fix it (so I've been told). Also have a spare trunk strut, and paint sticks. And I'm not sure if this makes it the "premium" sound system, but she's got tweets, mids, and woofers up front, and separated tweets and mids in the back.

Oh and everything on the car works like it should. She's 12 years old, so she's got the normal wear-and-tear that comes along with a 12 year old car. She's no garage queen but I take good care of her and she runs great. Waxed 4 times a year minimum. I don't pretend the car is perfect, but it's a solid car, I've never been left stranded. Wouldn't hesitate to drive her anywhere. 80 mph feels as smooth as 30. And surprisingly quick and fun to drive. A great daily, and if I kept her I'd absolutely add some suspension mods and probably track her.

[1996 328ti]

I have a rusted E-30 for trade.
Needs brakes, springs, struts.
AC doesn't work.
Radio is intermittent.
Oil leak.

No sunroof.
Convertible leaks.
Seat torn.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread.
G/L.

[themightyquinn]

Thanks for the offer...but I think I'll pass on that one

[spidertri]

Seriously man, where have you been? I haven't heard from you in ages and now you're selling the ti?? E30 is an acceptable reason though...

[runnr548]

Nice car! Email sent.

[themightyquinn]

Bumparoo!

Cleon I'm going to call you in 15 minutes...sorry it's taken me so long!

[themightyquinn]

Bump, great Ti, guys!

[themightyquinn]

I need to sell this ASAP. Price drop to $3200!

[runnr548]

Quinn, I found a 97 328is locally. Best luck with your sale!

[themightyquinn]

Nice dude, thanks for the heads up!


3 grand takes it!

[pnosker]

Talk to Isis... he is in MD too and has an E30 widebody for sale.

[themightyquinn]

I got to him on PM....thanks a lot for the heads up pnosker!

[themightyquinn]

And just an update on the starting issue:

It's started right up every time, like normal, every day this past week.

I just want to be honest with people about any issues the car has. I'm not saying the problem miraculously "fixed" itself, but for now it seems to be starting without any problems.

[pdxmotorhead]

My 95 has the same odd ball intermittent starting thing, I think its the solenoid getting sticky from age, its been doing it for a year and seems to happen more when hot out....

Dave