1999 318ti M Sport bought in Japan
 

So I'd like to pinpoint exactly what kind of suspension my new 318ti has. It was advertised by the seller (the second owner) as having the M Sport package, and he pointed out the M badges in and on the car.

My questions are: is it true that every 1999 318ti came with the Sport package?

Is there a separate M Sport appearance package (which comes with the ground effects and the badging) and an M Suspension package (with an upgraded suspension)?

If there is an M Suspension package (or if the M Sport package came with an upgraded suspension) does this add to the Sport package suspension?

If there is an M Suspension separate from the M Sport package (appearance only), how can I tell if my car has the M Suspension package?

What other enhancements come with the M Sport package and/or the Sport package?

Did the Sport Package come with LSD, or was that a standalone option?

OK, I'm sorry for all of the convoluted questions, but I'd like to put my finger on exactly what kind of suspension (and I guess drivetrain with the LSD) my car has.

I'll post pictures in the coming days.

Thanks in advance!

From '96-2000, the "M package" was the "Sport package". It's the same thing. You have a '99 318ti sport. The suspension is stiffer and slightly lower than non-sports. As for LSD, unless it was special ordered or someone installed it after delivery, it more than likely has an open diff.

in the middle of the 96 model year BMW made it so that you had to have an M car to have the LSD

99 was the last year the ti was offered in the US, they all had the exact same stuff the sport package came with, but they were "technically" all base models, 99 was also the only year you could get a ti with the 3-spoke M3 steering wheel

Seems like those comments are for US based spec'ed car.

The OP is from Tokyo. Wonder what they got?
________
marijuana vaporizer

My car has the three-spoke steering wheel. So that's the M3 steering wheel? Very nice :cool:

oh, didn't catch that so I'm not sure how accurate my post was

Aaaaand here she is!

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_YeUW_0mocos/Sn...0/IMG_1737.jpg

Some of the badges need replacing, but overall it looks pretty good

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_YeUW_0mocos/Sn...0/IMG_1738.jpg

That's the road I have to drive down to park (welcome to Japan). You can see the nose of the car in the distance on the left.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_YeUW_0mocos/Sn...2/IMG_1741.jpg

Close up view of how narrow that damn road is

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_YeUW_0mocos/Sn...0/IMG_1743.jpg

Thank you for your advice everyone!

Damn! Time for a sweet Kei car.

if you give me the Vin number i can tell you what is specced for your car

also

There was offered

Standard
Mtec / sport
Motorsport (bilstein dampers)

for the ti :)

I'll PM you my VIN number. Let's hope mine hits the jackpot!

Continuing on with the suspension, for someone on a budget with a completely stock car (like mine) what would you guy suggest is a good first basic change to make? I'm thinking a rear sway bar to control body lean and oversteer, though I've heard goo things about x-braces too.

Hi :)

I only need the last 7 ciphers of the vin (sorry i should have been more specific) to do the decode, and there is no risk of Vin cloning .

If body roll or chassis twist reduction is you main aim, then i would change dampers and springs first. A beefed up front and rear sway bar is an option.

Also a X-brace, strut brace front and rear if you feel you need the extra torsion control

On Mallard's suggestion, here is my car's spec:

Type code CG82
Type 318TI (EUR)
Dev. series E36 (5)
Line 3
Body type COMP
Steering RL
Door count 3
Engine M44
Cubical capacity 1.90
Power 103
Transmision HECK
Gearbox AUT
Colour TITANSILBER METALLIC (354)
Upholstery STOFF MILLPOINT/OELBLAU (D7OL)
Prod. date 1999-02-16

Order options
No. Description
243 AIRBAG FOR FRONT PASSENGER
260 SIDE AIRBAG DRIVER/FRT PASSENGER
305 REMOTE CONTROL FOR CENTRAL LOCKING
315 REAR WINDSCREEN WIPER
337 M SPORTS PACKAGE
354 GREEN STRIPE WINDSCREEN
410 WINDOW LIFTS, ELECTRIC AT FRONT
423 FLOOR MATS, VELOUR
428 WARNING TRIANGLE
441 SMOKERS PACKAGE
481 SPORT SEATS F DRIVER/FRONT PASSENGER
520 FOGLIGHTS
530 AIR CONDITIONING
548 SPEEDOMETER WITH KILOMETER READING
687 RADIO PREPARATION
692 CD CHANGER I-BUS PREPARATION
704 M SPORT SUSPENSION
710 M LEATHER STEERING WHEEL
785 WHITE DIRECTION INDICATOR LIGHTS
807 JAPAN VERSION
818 MAIN BATTERY SWITCH
823 HOT CLIMATE VERSION
845 ACOUSTIC BELT WARNING
875 INFRARED REMOTE CONTROL
925 SHIPPING PROTECTION PACKAGE


Series options
No. Description
214 AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL+TRACTION
510 HEADLIGHT BEAM-THROW CONTR. F LOW BEAM
853 LANGUAGE VERSION ENGLISH

Anymore suggestions on initial suspension upgrades?

wow, careful you don't knock off a mirror :eek:

H&R sport springs and Bilstein sport shocks are a good budget upgrade

Yeeah TitanSilver!!!
hahah The car looks good. I want to go to Japan!

Most of the people on this forum are from the US, so the fact that all the 1999 ti's were sports apply to the US. I'm not too sure if that applied to the cars overseas because if I remember correctly, the E36 ti production ran for a few more years after 99 (someone correct me if I'm wrong)...

I've been to Japan twice. First time I visited Sasebo, second time Yokuska, Tokyo, Roppongi. Great people, Great times. My neighbor actually just returned from visiting Japan last week. He brought me some souvenirs from the Toyota Auto Museum:
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...6/CIMG3618.jpg