2003 Cobra owner here looking to get a 318ti for the winter - need advice...

[QUAD]

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?

[brucelee]

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.

[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.

[QUAD]

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?

[Tyler]

I think it's an option,my car is a sport model and it has it

[1996 328ti]

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.

[96cali]

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.

[ChrisS]

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.

[2ndBimmer]

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.

[ChrisS]

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.

[Phil Marx]

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.

[96cali]

I have the ASC+T on my '96 California Package

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by 96cali

I have the ASC+T on my '96 California Package

Must be a pretty late build.