Just traded for a TI and...

[colacan]

...I love it. I traded my dark blue 92' 325is for a helrot 95' 318ti 5 speed and its amazing. I got to say it pulls pretty hard for a 1.9L completely stock.

I do have a few issues and were wondering if these were common or cheap to fix.

1- The cloth roof is sagging in a few spots and the center(no sunroof).

2- Struts are gone(I knew this trading the car mine had the same problem)Are there performance struts I can replace them with? Or a whole kit springs/shocks/struts?

3-Clear coat on the hood is peeling in a few spots along with 2 spots on the roof.

4-Is there a radio bracket for a single-din radio for the TI? is it easy to do a double din and relocate or turn the heater controls 90 degrees and slam one in there?

5-Unknown cause- When I turn the wheel all the way left I get a semi-loud grinding noise, but not when I turn it right. Alignment? Tie rods? Wheels are 16" stock so no tire rub.
thats it and im proud to own this car!

[b.u.ti-ful]

Welcome to the site.

Pretty normal problems except the grinding noise!

Better put that at the top of the list.

[colacan]

one more question does my bentley service manual still apply to the TI? It doesnt say compact but it all SEEMS the same..

[b.u.ti-ful]

Yeah, I don't know why they don't list the hatchback, but it is the right book.

[pdxmotorhead]

Engine wise and power train more or less ok.
Rear suspension not at all. (E30 style Including rear diff mounting)
TI uses front of a 4 door car, from the windshield back the body is unique to the ti.
Different Dash.

Dave

[roadrash]

1. That's pretty common.
2. There are a variety of options, but the best solution depends on your goals for the car. I.e. is this a daily driver, or do you plan to use it on the track, etc.?
3. Also fairly common.
4. Hmmm.... I've never seen or heard of such a mod. I think I've seen it done in the sedan or coupe, but our dash is different. What specifically are you planning to put in there?
5. Not a clue on that one.

Welcome to the site and good luck resolving your issues!!

[colacan]

For roadrash:

2-It will see track days, its going to be 50/50 daily driver/street car. Id like to lower it for sure, I know bilstein's package lowers it but I cant find the matching struts....TI's are difficult to shop for lol. I put less than 8000 miles a year on a car so I wont need to go over the top to achieve consistent rigidness/performance.

4-Eventually id like to put a alpine ixa-w404 but for now I just have some cheap JVC single din and would like it secured.

and thanks

[amancuso]

Welcome, BTW, your '95 is a 1.8L

Al.

[dave45056]

Hmmm 1995 hellrot car with 16" stock wheels? Tell us more.
I'm hoping you have happened upon a Club Sport.
Post the last 7 of your vin here and you will find out what you car was originally optioned with.
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=18444

I think your grinding problem is likely wheel bearings or brakes. Jack up the front end and see what is going on there. Either problem is not too expensive (under $300 for a DIY'er).

[tiFreak]

Originally Posted by dave45056

Hmmm 1995 hellrot car with 16" stock wheels? Tell us more.
I'm hoping you have happened upon a Club Sport.

it might be, does it have a red and black two-tone interior?

welcome anyway, I've seen a double din done on a ti with the climate controls relocated to the empty panel above the ash tray, it was on some German website though so I don't have any info on it

[Jean H.318TI]

welcome

[colacan]

to amancuso it is the 1.9L, its from 11/95 with the 5 spoke 16"s which look really good on a TI....ill post my vin in that other thread and well go from there

Also the interior is a black/red/greyish interior(cloth not leather) which was kinda weird I was expecting leather from a bmw...ill swap one in later.

[ZEK]

Unless some swapped motors than you should have a M42, which is 1.8. BMW changed to M44 (1.9) in 1996/97, I think. Also if your interior looks like that, then you might have a clubsport. It's a rare model of the Ti, only made in 95. Check here for more about the clubsport http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Compact

[colacan]

Originally Posted by ZEK

Unless some swapped motors than you should have a M42, which is 1.8. BMW changed to M44 (1.9) in 1996/97, I think. Also if your interior looks like that, then you might have a clubsport. It's a rare model of the Ti, only made in 95. Check here for more about the clubsport http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Compact

Well I posted the last 7 of my vin in the other thread and here[am54117] it is if you can tell im going to go look and put my radio in ill be back and take pictures, I paid $1600(plus paperwork for the original car I traded for the TI and paperwork for the TI) so around $2200 all together for the TI...so if its rare im kinda excited lol

oh wow im dumb thats why my insurance says 318ti/CLSP, if it is a clubsport is it worth anymore? im still going to take some pics

[shnikus]

Originally Posted by colacan

oh wow im dumb thats why my insurance says 318ti/CLSP, if it is a clubsport is it worth anymore? im still going to take some pics

There might only be around 300 of those on this planet. I read in this thread http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=129723