» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | looove 04-16-2024 01:18 PM 04-16-2024 01:18 PM 0 Replies, 1,646 Views | | | | | 08-28-2004, 08:15 AM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2 | 2003 Cobra owner here looking to get a 318ti for the winter - need advice... Hey all, I just recently started thinking about getting a second car for the winter since my Mustang Cobra Coupe would be a nightmare to drive here in Michigan during the winter months. I've always liked BMW's and think the 318ti is cool. A 325ti would be better but oh well.. damn those Europeans! I'm just curious, how does the 318ti handle in the snow, since it is also rear wheel drive. Do Blizzaks make a difference? I've noticed that 318ti's can be had for under $5000 secondhand. That seems very reasonable. Are they very expensive to maintain? Since I want to get a secondhand I'm assuming the warranty would be gone so I would consider taking the car to third party service centers instead of BMW... is this a good idea? | | | 08-28-2004, 01:07 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 107 | Not really optimal. RWD, no traction control. Look for FWD Japanese car. Perhaps a civic hatchback. Put on some Blizzaks and go. Or, a Older Subaru Impreza AWD. Good luck. | | | 08-28-2004, 03:56 PM | #3 | TRETEN IRGENDEINES ESELS Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 3,687 | My 318 ti has been good in the snow,i have traction control which makes a big difference. I lived in the Boston area so the car has seen the snow and i thought it drove well. | | | 08-28-2004, 06:57 PM | #4 | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2 | Quote: Originally Posted by Tyler My 318 ti has been good in the snow,i have traction control which makes a big difference. I lived in the Boston area so the car has seen the snow and i thought it drove well. | So not all 318ti's have Traction Control? | | | 09-13-2004, 12:20 AM | #5 | TRETEN IRGENDEINES ESELS Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 3,687 | I think it's an option,my car is a sport model and it has it __________________ 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 | | | 09-13-2004, 01:03 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | ASC-T was never an option. The ti was equipped with traction control sometime in 1996 but by 1997 it was standard. Previously cars had the option of a Limited Slip Differential. At least as far as the US was concerned. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 09-13-2004, 06:38 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 3,244 | As a pure winter car the ti is not a top choice but Blizzaks make it more than drivable. I too would consider a Subaru, Honda, Integra, etc. I had Blizzaks on my '88 integra and felt like I could drive up a wall. If you're set on a bimmer did you know they made a 4wd e30 model (the 325xi)? Don't know the reliability but they are 4wd and have a bit of a cult following themselves (like the ti). Good luck. __________________ My Former Rides 1999 318ti Alpine White, Cali Roof, Dinan goodies 1996 318ti Hellrot California Edition | | | 09-13-2004, 08:03 PM | #8 | Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 32 | My '97 has ASC. It's a Sport model and Canadian, so maybe that changes things. Definitely keep that Cobra coupe nice and warm during the winter. | | | 09-13-2004, 11:35 PM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 678 | My 97 has ASC which can be a big help sometimes. Others, when trying to pull out of a snow bank, its better to turn it off and let the wheel dig. I think Automatic Stability Control + Traction (ASC+T) was introduced in 99 or 00. __________________ BostonGreen 97' w/ DASC & Technique Stage 1 software M3 front bumper. BavAuto Springs. Bilstein Sport Shocks. Xbrace. BA Short Shifter. Angel Eyes Headlights, doubled brake lights 225/50/16's Yokohama Advan S4's Panasonic 70Wx4 CD/MP3 player + 4x Alpine 6x9's rear | | | 09-14-2004, 02:02 PM | #10 | Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 32 | My understanding is that ASC is the same as ASC+T. If you're interested, go to BMW Technology's site here and look up ASC+T. A brief description is there plus a video. | | | 09-14-2004, 04:36 PM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 368 | It's a bit more complicated but at least as it applies to the 318ti, you've got it mostly right. According to the '96 price list and BMW internal publications, AST was to become available during the '96 model year as an option on the 318ti, replacing LSD. Price list shows option #214 as $1,100 on a ti. It's questionable as to whether or not any cars were ever delivered with AST for '96 in the U.S. (anyone have one?) but it became standard on all BMWs including the ti (delayed on the Z3 1.9-only until 11/96 production) for the '97 model year. ASC was the earliest BMW Traction Control system and was initially on only the 750iL in the U.S. ASC used only throttle modulation to contol differential in wheel speed during spinning as picked-up by the ABS sensors. In '91 with the introduction of the 850i, ASC+T (for Traction) was introduced which used rear wheel brakes to stop wheel spin. Also the system reacted much more quickly. The +T was standard on the 6-speed 850i and optional on cars that came standard with normal ASC like the 850iA and the 750iL and the normal ASC became avialable as an option on other M30 engined cars (535i, 735i/L). In 1994 ASC+T became the only traction control avialable on BMWs and they began to call it "All Season Traction" even if the button on the dash still said "ASC". ASC+T was an available option on all but the 318 models. By '96 it was standard on everything except the 318 models, 328s, and Zs. and standard across the board for '97 with the exception of the very earliest Z3 1.9 models for that year. Dynamic Stability Control came later on most cars but began on some 12-cylinder models as early as '95. | | | 09-14-2004, 11:20 PM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 3,244 | I have the ASC+T on my '96 California Package __________________ My Former Rides 1999 318ti Alpine White, Cali Roof, Dinan goodies 1996 318ti Hellrot California Edition | | | 09-15-2004, 01:40 AM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Quote: Originally Posted by 96cali I have the ASC+T on my '96 California Package | Must be a pretty late build. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | | 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 | | | |