Newbie to the cause

[Kaiser]

Hey! First off I want it to be known that I don't have a 318ti yet, but that is why I am here; to get more information and check out the classifieds until I get one.

For the longest time I thought I would never own a E36, as I am a member of the E30 cult, and I thought of the E36 as the less exciting and less boxy son of the great E30 chassis(with that said there is nothing better than an E30 with the engine of a later M3 in my mind, be that E36,E46 or E90). However, I started looking at getting a DD to replace my current 88 325 so that it can sit in the garage and I can get serious about getting it track worthy, and time and time again I come back to the 318ti.

The 318ti has everything I am looking for as far as my current place in life is concerned. Being a college student I need something relatively cheap, reliable, and with some cargo room for the many times I have to move. It has a similar suspension to the E30, is a BMW, and more original looking than the E36 sedan so it is ranking extremely high on my list of cars to get right now. I hope to learn a lot about these cars in the coming days and oh yeah, here's a shot of my crappy E30, not really in its current condition as I am in the middle of a plastic bumper swap on it. BTW I am on R3vlimited as well as E30Kaiser. Also don't take my love for the E30 as a big "F-You!" to the E36 community, I am slowly coming around hahaha.

I am currently saving up what little disposable income I have, but my dream 318ti is Blue, I don't know all the different colors for the E36 yet, just Avus and Alaska blue, but does anyone know if there is a mauritius blau metallic option for the 318ti from the factory? That is one of my favorite BMW colors. Also it would be the sport version, 5speed, M44.

[tiFreak]

welcome, I just picked up an E30 myself to make into a track rat

[UberWagen]

I drive my 5 speed, m44 Ti to college every day I have class, I couldn't have asked for a better commuter car. I get around 31-32 mpg on the trips, you can fold down the backseat and have VERY ample room for things, it's relatively easy to work on, you have a very good source of information here, it definately makes people look twice, and if you take care of it, it will definately take care of you. The only time it's failed me was when my starter went out. But that happens to every starter eventually. Not to mention, it feels very solid. You have the e30 style rear suspension with the e36 style front suspension.

[Kaiser]

Originally Posted by tiFreak

welcome, I just picked up an E30 myself to make into a track rat

I saw your thread on it, looks like a great track rat and probably one of the best platforms to start with since the M10 318i's are by far the lightest E30's from the factory available in the USA. Sucks about the rust, I have a little bit on the rear end as well so I feel your pain, and plan on tackling it in the next couple weeks. My brother worked at Bimmerworld, but is now just a part of their race team so if you have any questions about it as far as being a track car I can throw them at him. He tracks his S50 and m3 suspension swapped 85 325e so he has good experience with the platform in relation to tracking it.

Originally Posted by UberWagen

I drive my 5 speed, m44 Ti to college every day I have class, I couldn't have asked for a better commuter car. I get around 31-32 mpg on the trips, you can fold down the backseat and have VERY ample room for things, it's relatively easy to work on, you have a very good source of information here, it definately makes people look twice, and if you take care of it, it will definately take care of you. The only time it's failed me was when my starter went out. But that happens to every starter eventually. Not to mention, it feels very solid. You have the e30 style rear suspension with the e36 style front suspension.

Glad to hear all my thoughts on the 318ti being a great DD are true!