Why do I want a BMW 318ti?

[Jrod511]

And here are some shots I took today per an email request.

[BRealistic]

Decide for yourself
http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/2061705804.html

I've been quoted $400-600 to fix to near perfect; no paint work.

I'm starting to think you have some sort of axe to grind with me, my free time is 1:00 AM on TCL, I don't consider whatever I do to make money to be free time.

400 to 600? Wow, that's good.
I thought - based on the pics - that the entire rear end was askew due to an impact.
I am glad it doesn't need that much work to be right.

As far as having an axe to grind.
(headscratch)
I tend to pick on people I like, and you seem like a likable guy.
If I have come across in a malicious or completely out of line, then I apologize.


And yes- I sort of figured your buying of low priced used cars - cleaning/fixing them up - and selling - was a way to make money. And that's why i said if the 6er could be sold for a good profit and you want something else then go for it.

---

And on that note- if you can make the 6er right for $600... that would be my choice because then that would make the car worth considerably more. Right?

[choochoo]

[DarrenW]

My Brother has one that he has rebuilt from an accident damaged salvage car for Road Rallying.


Red BMW Compact Rally Car by retromotoring, on Flickr

He loves the handling but the engine isn't torquey enough, so he's looking at swapping something else into it over the Winter. He can't run a 6-cyl due to the class regulations (and he reckons a 6 will upset the balance of the handling) so he's looking at a Volvo engine currently.

It can still do this though:


Jonathan Walsh - Red BMW Compact - Car 20 - Knutsford Jubilee Autosolo 2010 by retromotoring, on Flickr

Great fun

[arozanski]

I've always liked those ti models, for some reason. I like that body style

[badb5]

I almost bought a really clean supercharged M package ti in Tampa for $6k but ended up spending a little more for my low mile, pristine 91 318ic instead. I prefer E30's over ti's.

[gizmopop]

I've got an itch to find a really clean BMW 318ti and I don't know why. I've driven plenty of E36 318's and except for feeling smooth they are endlessly gutless and buzzy. There's something about a cheap BMW without all the doodads that appeals to me a I suppose.....but enough to sell an E24 635CSi for one?

Someone snap me out of this....

Get it. and when you come across an E36 M3 engine/powertrain, do the swap.

[CRAIG1MACK]

Awesome cars. Remember during summer hire in Germany, one of the guys there bought one brand new, in yellow. It was awesome.

Looked something like this:

[a2a4raddo]

i tried finding one for months. A clean 318Ti with m-tech and low mileage is not an easy car to find.

[rlsib16]

ive always liked these for some reason. quirky hatch appeals to me.
never noticed the fuel door placement though

[badb5]

Don't forget ti underpinnings are essentially identical to this TCL darling:



E36 in the front/ E30 in the back.

[That1njguy]

I wouldn't do it.

I just don't think you'll be happy with it for any length of time. As you read here, so many are ready to modify it. Why...there's just better than it.

Good luck w/528it search!

[tcslol]

The e30 318is is superior in most ways. It'd be worth getting rid of an e24 for one of those, but not for a 318ti.

[a2a4raddo]

The e30 318is is superior in most ways. It'd be worth getting rid of an e24 for one of those, but not for a 318ti.

except its older (less reliable), not as practical, looks dated next to a Ti, & has an inferior front suspension. The 318Ti may be heavier...but i'd much rather have that then an E30.

[Chris16vRocco]

And on that note- if you can make the 6er right for $600... that would be my choice because then that would make the car worth considerably more. Right?

I agree with this statement. Especially with a 5-speed, these cars are very desirable. You could probably get $6k for it fairly easily with that bodywork repaired, if everything else is as clean as it looks.

[tcslol]

except its older (less reliable), not as practical, looks dated next to a Ti, & has an inferior front suspension. The 318Ti may be heavier...but i'd much rather have that then an E30.

e30s are better built than e36s.
my guess is there's more interior space in the e30.
looks are subjective.. the e30 looks way better than the e36. The e30 is nearly classic, it's the e36 that looks dated.
the front suspension differences are minor. even the latest BMWs have the same basic front suspension design.

[ClockworkChad]

id do it, but just because i always found them to be amazing/quirky looking. my freind bought one for himself, he decided it was way to slow to he gave it to his wife to drive. Id buy a swapped one in a heartbeat.

[mutcth]

I would. I'm not a fan of the 5 and 6-Series of that era - they feel like heavy tanks to me. (The 635 is a sexy looking car, but meh to me to drive.) I prefer the lighter feel of the 318ti.

I test drove a used Club Sport back in the day and really enjoyed it - reminded me of my Infiniti G20t, another torqueless wonder that felt nimble and liked to oversteer with dropping the throttle.

But after you mentioned the 528it with a stick - yeah, I'd get that. The E39 is simply sweet. I still somewhat regret not trading-in my Passat wagon on one...

Tom

[Diamond Dave]

I've got an itch to find a really clean BMW 318ti and I don't know why. I've driven plenty of E36 318's and except for feeling smooth they are endlessly gutless and buzzy. There's something about a cheap BMW without all the doodads that appeals to me a I suppose.....but enough to sell an E24 635CSi for one?

Someone snap me out of this....

Maybe not a good trade to get you out of a shark, but how about these 6 words:

E30 rear suspension and California roof


In the end, few cars are going to have the style and presence of the shark. Can't you just slip an LSx into the 6 on the weekend?

[Air and water do mix]

Reasons not to buy:

#1: Worst fuel door placement evar:



-- DavidV

Subaru Justy sez no. I suppose it has the advantage of being able to open it without getting out of the car, though.

[Nicefeet]

i tried finding one for months. A clean 318Ti with m-tech and low mileage is not an easy car to find.

I looked at 318Ti's and could not find one that I wanted. They all either had automatics or California roof options.

[koko12]

I've always like these little cars and had the money on hand to buy a mint 98 sports model 2 years ago with only 48K miles for $4k. The seller was leaving the country and wanted to get rid of quick, but 20 minutes before I got to where the car was someone had given the seller $4500 for it. Needless t say I was pissed. I was planing to keep it stock for a while and then do an engine swap down the line.

I haven't seen another one even close to that condition ever since.

[badb5]

Ti's are a lot like M42 318 E30's. They were the entry level Bimmer typically used and abused by their first few owners. Nice ones are out there you just have to be patient, it took me two years to find my 91.

[AKADriver]

The prices and selection of these cars on the used market turn me off. I know they're old cars now, but it seems like there's no such thing as a non-M E36 these days with less than 150,000 miles, and they don't take the age well. For what people ask for them, you can get a faster, better-equipped(!) 240SX for less (even including the "drift tax").

[Cr4shT3st]

My buddy put an M3 motor, tranny, suspension and brakes in his ti. It never ran right, and cost generally a ton of money.

When I drove it, though, it had torque everywhere. I personally like a quirky bodystyle. I find it interesting that E30 318is's are generally praised and the 318ti is looked down upon. Are they that much porkier?

[Jrod511]

A lot of you guys are saying just fix up the 635. On one hand, yes, the car would bring more money that way. But where do you start and where do you end? I've cleaned the car up a great deal, replaced some nickle and dime stuff, and spent a good deal of time just getting the rest to work right.

What would it cost to make this a $6000 car? $1500 I bet and some time. So, as it sits, I'm willing to take less than $4000 because I just don't have the time and space required to do what it would take to make the car perfect. How much do you fix? The dents? Start chasing every little thing? Each time you're done just $100 more and it'll be that much nicer...

It seems like I always have a Miata and always have a semi-powerful, semi-comfortable sports coupe...944, 300ZX, Prelude, 635...but I never quite find what it is that tickles my man bits in a soothing and gentle way. I haven't stopped searching for a 5 speed 5 Series wagon; just adding the 318ti to the list.

Here are some pics I took today to email to an interested party.























If you backtrack the url there's about 70 at the link.

[Chapel]

too lazy to read all this, but just thought I'd mention:
the E36 compact shares many things with the Z3...
it's basically a Z3 Coupe in terms of suspension layout. However the 318ti has more room inside.

Great cars though. E36 front suspension coupled with E30 rear suspension. It's a win-win

[Numbersix]

Great cars though. E36 front suspension coupled with E30 rear suspension. It's a win-win

See, I don't see this as a 'win-win'.

The E30 rear suspension is just trickier to handle if you do something ill-advised, like lifting off mid-corner.

[Jrod511]

See, I don't see this as a 'win-win'.

The E30 rear suspension is just trickier to handle if you do something ill-advised, like lifting off mid-corner.

I'm not tracking the car, and, really, I drive quite "normally". I just want to enjoy the BMW feel with a stick and some cargo room. An E30 318is is not even in the running; I've felt they have been overpriced for a long time and it just isn't the right car for my criteria.

[fastjettavrt]

my friend just put this in his 318 this past weekend.

[a2a4raddo]

e30s are better built than e36s.
my guess is there's more interior space in the e30.
looks are subjective.. the e30 looks way better than the e36. The e30 is nearly classic, it's the e36 that looks dated.
the front suspension differences are minor. even the latest BMWs have the same basic front suspension design.

better built, yet older...which means less reliable.

Your guess....is just a guess...318Ti trunk is more useable is my guess.

Looks are subjective...and the e30 being nearly a classic does not make it look less dated then an E36. It looks more dated..and thats because it is. Especially the pre small bumper E30's. Looking and being dated is objective. The E36 is not as dated. Which style you like better is subjective however...and i like the 318Ti better.

The front suspension differences are minor.. You are correct. However, the Ti's front is still better.

[c0mmon]

lust for material things?

[BRealistic]

A lot of you guys are saying just fix up the 635. On one hand, yes, the car would bring more money that way. But where do you start and where do you end? I've cleaned the car up a great deal, replaced some nickle and dime stuff, and spent a good deal of time just getting the rest to work right.

What would it cost to make this a $6000 car? $1500 I bet and some time. So, as it sits, I'm willing to take less than $4000 because I just don't have the time and space required to do what it would take to make the car perfect. How much do you fix? The dents? Start chasing every little thing? Each time you're done just $100 more and it'll be that much nicer...

No. I was just talking about the obvious rear quarter panel sheet-metal damage.
Most buyers care more about the way a classic car looks on the outside than on the inside, since classics can be an image car.

And maybe I am wrong- but when a seller says "Oh that will just take $500 to fix", I just have to wonder if $500 really would fix it, then why not fix it before selling?
If spending $600 makes the car worth $2k more.. is not that a good idea?
On the other hand, if you are getting good buyer feedback for the car in this condition at $4k , then maybe it is a good time to sell. Maybe there are more people willing to buy a nice 635 with some metal creases for $4k than one with no major metal creases/dents for $6k? Money it tight, and sub $5k may be the ticket.

[tcslol]

See, I don't see this as a 'win-win'.

The E30 rear suspension is just trickier to handle if you do something ill-advised, like lifting off mid-corner.

It's a BMW.. That's the point. You have to actually DRIVE the car properly..
The e30 rear suspension is awesome and nowhere near as unforgiving as some of you people make it out to be.

better built, yet older...which means less reliable.

Your guess....is just a guess...318Ti trunk is more useable is my guess.

Looks are subjective...and the e30 being nearly a classic does not make it look less dated then an E36. It looks more dated..and thats because it is. Especially the pre small bumper E30's. Looking and being dated is objective. The E36 is not as dated. Which style you like better is subjective however...and i like the 318Ti better.

The front suspension differences are minor.. You are correct. However, the Ti's front is still better.

Older doesn't mean less reliable. It means whatever you'd find would likely have more miles, but you can find something with less.

[Chapel]

See, I don't see this as a 'win-win'.

The E30 rear suspension is just trickier to handle if you do something ill-advised, like lifting off mid-corner.

guess it depends on your definition of tricky.
The E30 rear suspension always did what I expected... the E36 and E46 suspension always seemed like they were doing their own thing... but that's probably just me