Just got '97 318Ti from Japan... now what?
 

I'm new to this forum and just imported a 1997 318ti from Japan (its easy to do that here in The Bahamas). I've own another Japanese imported '94 318i and absolutely love it so much I sold my wife Mazda to purchase this Ti 'for her' :biggrin:

Carfax does not work on Japanese VIN numbers (WBACG82-0X0KE75003) so I couldn't check it out before I ordered it. It has 83,000 miles and suppose be in excellent condition and runs great. Before I begin burning up the roads I need some advice of some common 318Ti issues that I should be aware.

Thanks

ignition barrel may need to be changed if you experience "spin around"
rear subframe bushes (same as on an e30 so a bit more involved than on a regular e36)
rear wishbone bushes

other than that i´d say it regular maintenance and relative to your own cars´spec :)

Window regulator, door lock actuators, headliner, basic aesthetic stuff like that.

Less then impressive power, solved by our friends at Downing Atlanta. Various clips that constantly break, I have broken clips in atleast three different places right now.

it will share most of the same issues your '94 e36 has- control arms/ball joints are regular maintenance items along with aforementioned window regulators/clips/lube. Cam position sensor, thermostat, later your radiator maybe.

I definitely already noticed that the ignition barrel does have some play in it when I put the key in. Is this usually an expensive replacement job?

not really , about $150 if you have a friendly specialist ;)

you will need the barrel, and some fracture pins. but its dependant on what the problem is. if the lock spins round then i think it could be this .. but if it has play then im not sure.

there are a few threads on this subjuct though, search "barrel"

My expert mech spent an hour just trying to get the cylinder out- you must line up several things while inserting another. I also needed to send proof of ownership and ID to the Fatherland get a matched cylinder (no new key necessary). All in all I was happy to let a pro do that one.

WOW! Without a BMW dealership over here in the Bahamas and only a few BMW repair guys on the island, I truly hope they can handle the job. :confused: Thanks

The power window mechanics are a recurring nightmare but other than that the car is perfect.

Reminds me of the Sam Kinison solution for hunger in Africa. To paraphrase that solution (without yelling like Sam, LOL)...
"Move to where the BMW mechanics are!!"

:wink: :biggrin:

JMJ

Well considering it's a common e36 issue I bet some one has to have done it before. Mine spun 2-4 times a year and I thought nothing of it. Only when it started happening more (not for me btw) did I get it replaced. Has not happened since so I guess it was for real. It can take 5 minutes or an hour my mech said, just luck and patience and if the Parrot Bay liquor ads are correct, you guys in the caribbean have a lot of time on your hands. :biggrin:

plugs..
 

check to see if your plugs are tight, at every oil change... sometimes one will become loose and eventually 'pop' out while driving! not a good thing to have happen (speaking from experience).