» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | | | 10-18-2010, 09:46 PM | #1 | Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 55 | I thought it was "loaded", but... I have a 1998 318ti Sport with a manual transmission. It's in awesome shape, and I love the sport seats, suspension, wheels, front, rear and side air dams, and trim...BUT...It DOESN'T have... The computer OR cruise control! I can deal with it not having cruise control...I rarely used it on my 530i, or any of the other cars I've had over the years with cruise control...BUT, I do miss the COMPUTER...In fact, that really bugs me! I know none of the 318ti's had tilt wheels, but, since the wheel is in the perfect position for ME, I don't miss that, either. I can't believe BMW made a car in 1998 WITHOUT the computer or cruise control. Again, crusise control I can live without...but I miss the computer! I guess it would cost an arm and a leg to retrofit the car with the computer, but I'd consider it! ALSO...Although it was advertised as having keyless entry...It doesn't! That's another thing I miss. I went to the dealer to see if the keyless entry system could be installed...It CAN, but WOW...It's expensive! Last edited by bimmerfun; 10-18-2010 at 09:53 PM. | | | 10-18-2010, 09:51 PM | #2 | Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 55 | I should mention that I just spent my limit on this paycheck on a K&N air filter, Bosch cabin air filter, front rondel, ///M shift knob, 2 new Continental tires, a whelskin steering wheel cover, and a new front windshield...The original windshild wasn't cracked, but it wasn't clear! Next week, I'm having it inspected...I hope it doesn't need anything else! If it doesn't need anything else, I'll consider keyless entry next... | | | 10-18-2010, 10:44 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bremerhaven, Germany Posts: 977 | Quote: Originally Posted by bimmerfun I can't believe BMW made a car in 1998 WITHOUT the computer or cruise control. | BMW didn't. BMWNA, however, ordered lots of cars without OBCs, in fact all of their four cylinder cars, with the exception of some of their 318ti's. Quote: I guess it would cost an arm and a leg to retrofit the car with the computer, but I'd consider it! | Well, if it is important enough to you, I am confident that you'll save up the money and retrofit an OBC. Quote: ALSO...Although it was advertised as having keyless entry...It doesn't! That's another thing I miss. I went to the dealer to see if the keyless entry system could be installed...It CAN, but WOW...It's expensive! | The dealer-fitted alarm is just an Alpine unit with an adapter harness. You can probably still buy the 12 pin alarm connector plug and pins, and hook up another aftermarket unit that's more to your liking. Please take this as a piece of encouragement rather than criticism, but I'd say it's time to stop writing and start doing. Last edited by John Firestone; 10-18-2010 at 10:53 PM. | | | 10-18-2010, 11:02 PM | #4 | Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 55 | Thanks John. Actually, I've done a lot to the car in the week or so I've had it. For one thing, I'm having a new windshield and cowl installed on Thursday....plus ///M shift knob, new rondel, K&N air filter, Bosch cabin air filter, 2 Continental tires, Wheelskin wheel cover... I think that's pretty good for a week or so, considering I'm having it inspected next week and it may need other stuff, don't you? | | | 10-19-2010, 12:01 PM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bremerhaven, Germany Posts: 977 | Quote: Originally Posted by bimmerfun Thanks John. Actually, I've done a lot to the car in the week or so I've had it... considering I'm having it inspected next week and it may need other stuff.... | Oh, yes, you can sense that. As what used to be called a man of positive action, I was just trying to constructively give you a hard time. Just for fun, I surveyed my car and counted up the various refinements I have made to its electrics and electronics. If I were to start a thread with one post for every two things about the car I questioned and refined, I'd ramble on for three pages. I haven't as there are more enjoyable things to do -- such as modding the car to how I like it and getting people's reactions. Off and on, someone muses about adding an 18-button OBC from a non-compact E36. It offers a longer list of diversions: - an outside temperature / freeze warning
- the average speed
- two average consumption values
- the range remaining for the fuel on board
- a speed limit warning
- the time and distance to a destination
- a stopwatch or park ventilation clock/timer
- and a drive-away protection code (pretty much eclipsed by the EWS-II in later cars)
The biggest challenges could be finding a place to mount it, and the wiring. The range remaining might also be off because of the ti's different gas tank. Or it might not work at all, but that's just part of the adventure of trying something different. I'd be happy to give you the EINHEIT values from my 18-button OBC to match your M44 engine. You can use them to reconfigure a used OBC without trying to find someone to recode it. That ScanGauge sure looks cool. It does, however, require OBD-II which didn't make it to Europe until the E46. Last edited by John Firestone; 10-19-2010 at 12:23 PM. | | | 10-19-2010, 12:53 PM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bremerhaven, Germany Posts: 977 | This page gives the details with part numbers of installing an aftermarket alarm in a Z3. A U.S. Z3 has the same or very similar alarm connections as a U.S. 318ti. Last edited by John Firestone; 10-19-2010 at 12:56 PM. | | | 10-19-2010, 03:08 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 1,106 | if you do not care about the alarm, only keyless entry, you can get an aftermarket kit that will install pretty easy (about 1 hour or less) for like $60. or even a remote start for like $80 (+ about $50 for extra parts) (takes about 2 hours - 4 hours on an auto, and 3 - 5 hours on a 5spd) atleast with a remote start, you get door locks, and you can start your car from pretty far away. nicer for the Summer (a/c) but it def comes in handy for winter (heater and turn on heated seats) just some ideas. and is much cheaper if you want to do it yourself, and not that hard to figure out, even your first time. you can even get a remote start professorially installed for like $200 - $400, but please goto a custom shop, not a retail store like bestbuy =] __________________ Check out our new website! https://soltechsolutionsllc.com/ Green Your Decor with the Aspect! Shop for the Grow Light Used by Interior Designers, Growers & People Like You! | | | 10-21-2010, 02:56 AM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southwest England Posts: 379 | Quote: Originally Posted by John Firestone That ScanGauge sure looks cool. It does, however, require OBD-II which didn't make it to Europe until the E46. | really? I thought all M44s have OBDII as it was a legal requirement, hence the move from M42 to M44 halfway through the e36 compact's life cycle? | | | 10-21-2010, 03:17 AM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Quote: Originally Posted by vsonix really? I thought all M44s have OBDII as it was a legal requirement, hence the move from M42 to M44 halfway through the e36 compact's life cycle? | He may be referring to the port inside the car. I don't believe UK spec cars have them. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 10-21-2010, 08:39 AM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bremerhaven, Germany Posts: 977 | EOBD didn't become a requirement in Europe until 2001, and even then, a manufacturer could get a waiver which quite a few did. (A couple years ago, the list of waivers was six pages long according to the DEKRA engineer I talked to.) It's possible a European-market DME supports the OBD port and reporting functions even though the car is missing the connector and some of the emissions-related parts for it to report on, such as the post-catalyst O2 sensor. I wouldn't get my hopes up, but I would love to be proven wrong! I'd test the idea if I could. Last edited by John Firestone; 10-21-2010 at 09:27 AM. | | | 10-18-2010, 11:03 PM | #11 | Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 55 | John...I forgot to say...Bitte for the Alpine tip! | | | 10-19-2010, 12:02 AM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Halethorpe, MD Posts: 1,028 | You can get the factory keyless entry system from Bavarian Autosport for around $371. It's not free, but mine's worked great for 13 years and the install is exceedingly easy. There used to be a retrofit kit for the OBC but I don't think it's available anymore. I'm not sure what use the OBC for but you might consider a ScanGauge. It's much cheaper and actually gives you a lot more information out of the ECU. Best part is that you can change the screen color to match the stock lighting and it fits nicely in the tray in front of the ashtray. www.scangauge.com | | | 10-19-2010, 02:57 AM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southwest England Posts: 379 | Quote: Originally Posted by bullmand you might consider a ScanGauge. It's much cheaper and actually gives you a lot more information out of the ECU. Best part is that you can change the screen color to match the stock lighting and it fits nicely in the tray in front of the ashtray. www.scangauge.com | wow, I think I need me one of them, check out the "TURBOGAUGE III" I can live without the OBC but this one basically tells you everything a normal OBC wouldnt! Now I know that it is possible to know this info anyway, I want it! | | | 10-19-2010, 12:21 AM | #14 | Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 55 | Wow Bullmand! That's cool!!! Thanks! I might have to wait a month or two, but I definitely want to do it! Might I ask...How long did it take ou to install? Hey...are you inthe Army Field Band? I'm a trumpet player / band director. I have two old buddies in the Army Blues! ScanGuage...COOLLL!!! | | | 10-20-2010, 12:53 AM | #15 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Halethorpe, MD Posts: 1,028 | Quote: Originally Posted by bimmerfun Wow Bullmand! That's cool!!! Thanks! I might have to wait a month or two, but I definitely want to do it! Might I ask...How long did it take ou to install? Hey...are you in the Army Field Band? I'm a trumpet player / band director. I have two old buddies in the Army Blues! ScanGuage...COOLLL!!! | The install time on the factory alarm was very easy. All the connectors are already in place. You just have to take off some of the interior trim panels beneath the glove box and plug in the control module. You need to cut a hole in one of those panels for the glass break sensor as well. There's one small hole that needs to be drilled in the center console. The siren plugs right in to the harness under the hood. The ScanGauge install was even easier. I plugged it into the OBDII port under the driver's side dash, routed the cable to the ash tray area and away I went. That's after having it lying in the door pocket for about a year because I'm lazy. I'll get a picture of it up later. I am in the Army Field Band. I plan the tours for the concert band and chorus. I've met a few guys in the Blues, but I don't know any of them well. I did serve with their director in Germany back in the day. Since you play trumpet you should definitely check out the Jazz Ambassadors. Our trumpet section is scary. | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Hybrid Mode | 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 | | | |