» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | 09-13-2012, 06:25 PM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 5 | A project compact from Cincinnati. Hey all, I am new to the Bimmer world. Actually so much so, that I bought my first ever ti this past week. I got the 96 ti for $1100 from a tow company who had it in their lot forever. I know it needs some work (mainly a new cooling system) but I am optimistic that this will be better than it once was. I always loved Bimmers and thought this would be my perfect starter Bimmer. I don't have too much mechanical knowledge, but I have been researching Bimmer's for quite some time. I am hoping to start something big in my city because there really aren't too many European imports running around (mostly Japanese). Anyway here are a couple of pics of my Bimmer, I think I got a good deal on it since it does run (it just runs hot). The red wire in this pic goes to the fan. So whoever owned it before me would attach the cord directly to the positive of the battery to get it running (super ghetto rig) | | | 09-13-2012, 06:51 PM | #2 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | Congrats on the purchase and welcome to the ti family. DON'T RUN IT HOT unless you have an extra 2 grand burning a hole in your pocket and feel like replacing a headgasket and possibly a new cylinder head. This should be very helpful: http://www.318ti.org/forum/showpost....41&postcount=7 As for the fan, It's likely a high speed fan relay, a low speed fan relay, a fuse or a temp switch. The fan should run in high speed mode when the A/C is turned on. It's supposed to run in low speed mode when the temp switch tells it to, but there's a circuit inside of the high speed relay that gets stuck open and prevents low speed mode from working. Read through these threads: http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=34064 http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=34013 | | | 09-13-2012, 07:06 PM | #3 | Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 5 | Quote: Originally Posted by cooljess76 Congrats on the purchase and welcome to the ti family. DON'T RUN IT HOT unless you have an extra 2 grand burning a hole in your pocket and feel like replacing a headgasket and possibly a new cylinder head. This should be very helpful: http://www.318ti.org/forum/showpost....41&postcount=7 As for the fan, It's likely a high speed fan relay, a low speed fan relay, a fuse or a temp switch. The fan should run in high speed mode when the A/C is turned on. It's supposed to run in low speed mode when the temp switch tells it to, but there's a circuit inside of the high speed relay that gets stuck open and prevents low speed mode from working. Read through these threads: http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=34064 http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=34013 | Thanks man. Yeah I drove it around the block then I had to get it towed home (I bought it in a different city). So its been sitting in the parking spot since. Though I wonder if I need a head gasket, because the coolant doesn't seem to stay in, but there is no sign of liquid under the car, so I have no Idea where the coolant is disappearing to. I am hoping that if I just change the radiator and fan then I will be okay. I noticed that when it got hot there was light smoke/steam from the engine but not the exhaust. So I am gonna just put it on stands and buy the necessary parts. | | | 09-13-2012, 07:11 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Central, MN Posts: 1,065 | Welcome! Last edited by Mr.Squeelerz; 09-13-2012 at 07:17 PM. | | | 09-13-2012, 07:23 PM | #5 | Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SoCal318ti Posts: 1,574 | Welcome to the org and get that cooling system fix ASAP!! Nice find by the way! | | | 09-18-2012, 04:49 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 678 | I approve of the color! __________________ 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 | | | 09-18-2012, 01:07 PM | #7 | Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 5 | Quote: Originally Posted by lazoh Welcome to the org and get that cooling system fix ASAP!! Nice find by the way! | So I started her up yesterday and she sounded like she was about to stall out while idling. So I am assuming that I need new spark plugs? Otherwise I am going to start detailing the interior (the back seat has some stains) any advice on how to really give the interior a really deep clean, that will breathe new life into it? | | | 09-18-2012, 05:10 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Potomac Falls VA DMV Posts: 1,794 | If you are losing coolant and there are no leaks, chances are you have a blown head gasket __________________ Im guessing im the youngest member on here with a S52 power'ed Ti at 16 years old! | | | 09-18-2012, 06:17 PM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 890 | Love to see another Cincy member. I'm in agreement, probably time to take the head off. If it was me, I'd do it just because of it's overheat history at this point. Plus all the plastic coolent hoses could be replaced at the same time. Welcome........ __________________ SOLD!!! 1999 332ti //M Sport Titanium Silver M3 S52 3.2 I-6 Engine, M3 Clutch w/ ti Getrag Trans, Z3 3.15 LSD medium case diff and half shafts, OEM Hatch Spoiler, Eurosport HP Underdrive Pulleys, FDM, 17" DS1 rims, M3 Front Struts & Springs, M3 Instrument Cluster, 3-spoke //M steering wheel with tri-color stitching, SSK, CCFL Angels in Depo projectors with 5k HIDs | | | 09-19-2012, 01:57 AM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 1,364 | One episode of over heating ruined my head gasket. These engines are very, very sensitive to heat. | | | 09-19-2012, 02:55 AM | #11 | Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 5 | Quote: Originally Posted by campaiar Love to see another Cincy member. I'm in agreement, probably time to take the head off. If it was me, I'd do it just because of it's overheat history at this point. Plus all the plastic coolent hoses could be replaced at the same time. Welcome........ | Man, getting a new head gasket is not what I wanted to hear. I would be about doing it myself, but that is a bit beyond my mechanical knowledge. I hear that it cost mass as well. As far as overheating, I have only driven it about 3 times (around the block) and two of those 3 times were heating up. I only put coolant in it once when I first got it, and after that it has been sitting for the most part (except for me just starting it to make sure it runs). Well I planned on overhauling the coolant system anyway, maybe changing the head gasket won't be so bad? I already am having problems installing this pioneer car stereo, so to say the least, the ti has been giving me the blues lately, lol. | | | | 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 | | | |