Civic Hatch.. Not the only hatch! Permormance Questions

[Sparticus]

I'm looking into this 99 318ti, has 90,508 miles, and it says it has the sport package. All for $9,998. I need to know some facts on it. I had started looking around for stuff I could put on it to make it a real performer. Exhaust, headers, intake, etc... I didn't search to hard, but what I found wasn't promising. From what I saw, not to many parts to be had, for exhausts and headers. Now before I buy this beautiful car, I want to know that I can make it a contender like all BMW's are.

[1996 328ti]

I don't think exhaust or intake is going to do much in hp gains.
It will sound better though.
From what I have read, headers are a waste of money.
BMW already did a pretty good job in that department.

The ti is a very nimble car. Enjoy it for what it is.
For more hp your options are DASC or conversion.

[aceyx]

You really must drive the car to see how much of a performer it is. Not so much straightline speed, but you can really get it going on a twisty road. You can lose cars with more power if you drive it smoothly, just keep the revs up.

Near-perfect weight balance, RWD, and sub-3000lb weight makes it a hoot. If you can't have fun in this car, you're on the wrong roads.

[Bluebimma]

Originally Posted by aceyx

If you can't have fun in this car, you're on the wrong roads.

For some reason, i hear vin diesel's voice while reading this sentence. ROFL

[teetime4one]

i pitched my ti sideways last night around a corner and saved it perfectly!
my step-son and i were racing a scion...he came to the corner and pretty much slammed on his brakes...i lifted, turned (hard) and got back in it (hard again!)...the sound from my tires was enough to wake the dead...and what do you know...another scion in my review probably wondering how the heck i'd managed to do the pass.
good times had by all!
i love driving this car

[Philly]

The TI is a really great car... and a unique BMW compared to the saloon and sedan, you see a saloon or sedan and you don't know if they are a 318,325,328... maybe you see my point already.
As for making it a performer, you can make any car a performer if your willing to spend the dollars.

Originally Posted by teetime4one

i pitched my ti sideways last night around a corner and saved it perfectly!
my step-son and i were racing a scion...he came to the corner and pretty much slammed on his brakes...i lifted, turned (hard) and got back in it (hard again!)...the sound from my tires was enough to wake the dead...and what do you know...another scion in my review probably wondering how the heck i'd managed to do the pass.
good times had by all!
i love driving this car

Normally, i wouldn't say anything about someone 'racing' another car... heck, we've all had our little digs at one time or another...

but your step-son was in the car dude... thats totally irresponisble. Imagine if you hadn't saved it, as good of a driver as you may or may not be, what if your step-son was hurt... from utterly senseless and careless driving....
honestly man... im a young adult (21) and even I know better than that... it a different story if your all by yourself, at least if something were to happen, you wouldn't be taking anyone else with you...

[teetime4one]

naw, he's 24...told me "go-go-go"...so we were in it together.
i hear what you're saying tho.
right on

[Bloodrunsdry]

I would say buy it but try to talk them down because i got my 99 msport with 1k on it for 7k. 10k seems like alot but if you have the money then get the car. They are fun. Also look into engine swaps if you wanna gain hp. More bang for the buck. ha

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by rwd_king

Normally, i wouldn't say anything about someone 'racing' another car... heck, we've all had our little digs at one time or another...
but your step-son was in the car dude... thats totally irresponisble

TeeTime gives new meaning to the title "senior member". It's more like "senior citizen member",lolJ/K

I just turned 31 and I used to be a cop. Even I'll admit to a having a little fun in the turns now and then. Okay, I do it all the time, but yeah I agree it shouldn't be done with passengers. Not to mention the danger I/You/Him/We all present towards other motorists when we push our cars to their limits and sometimes beyond. I'm sure his step-son got a kick out of it, personally I try to restrain myself when I'm carrying a passenger. When I went to pick my Ti up in Michigan, a friend and I had to drive back through an ice storm. We drove on ice for about 1500 miles and it was like rollerblading on dental floss the whole way. I asked my buddy if he wanted to drive, he lasted no more than 5 minutes! After his first near death experience, he slid off the roadway and switched seats, lol. After that moment, he found a new respect for my driving and drifting skills. I told him that I couldn't promise that we would make it home alive or uninjured and offered to buy him a plane ticket home. He declined and said that he wouldn't rather be anywhere else than in the car with me. It was a crazy trip to say the least and we managed to make it home alive with minimum damages(backed into a pole at a gas station when we stopped in AZ). My point is that sometimes we use our judgement and make decisions that aren't really ours to make. If TeeTime's step-son was giving the okay and he thought it was safe, then drive that sucker like it was meant to be driven! Just know that if something goes rye, you're obligated to guide it into a ditch or guardrail to avoid hitting another motorist.

[tastade]

I bought my '95 in 2003 for $7,500, it was 8 years old, which would be the same as the one you are looking at now. Mine had 115k miles and wasn't in the best shape, but was fine. I had to put new tires on it right away, and it has a couple door dings/paint chips. I probably paid a little high, but it was exactly what I was looking for (Red, Manual Transmission, and limited slip differential on a sport package, found out later it was a club sport).

Look at the tires, windshield, etc. For that price everything better be perfect. I would offer them 8k or something if you are seriously interested, and be ready to walk away if they don't take it. People frequently ask too much for BMWs as they say "It is worth it, it is a BMW" even if the car is a pile of steaming feces.

[teetime4one]

my step-son is suicidal (true story) and probably won't be here when he should be 25...so, if we were to die in a gnarly car wreck at least we'd both go to heaven...taking your life by way of suicide is a sure trip to hell. i live on the edge every day...i prefer to stay there until i am too old to react as i do now. i totally agree with you about driving responsibly with passengers in the car...yet, at the same time...i am not about to pass up a killer road if my "co-pilot" eggs me on...Senior Citizen Member or not.
i'll drive on the edge until the AARP refuses to insure my old bones.

WORD

[Philly]

lol @ all of the above...
okay okay :
I was under the impression your step-son was more of a child... (IE - 12-15 max)... that changes the way i feel a little bit... especially if he was telling you to go for it.
I just assumed it was a child who wouldn't/didn't know any better... my apoligies.

I just had a real bad wreck last year whilst horsing around in my 200HP+ SE-R Spec-V... and i thank god every single day that i didn't have anyone else in that car with me.

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by teetime4one

my step-son is suicidal (true story) and probably won't be here when he should be 25...so, if we were to die in a gnarly car wreck at least we'd both go to heaven...taking your life by way of suicide is a sure trip to hell. i live on the edge every day...i prefer to stay there until i am too old to react as i do now. i totally agree with you about driving responsibly with passengers in the car...yet, at the same time...i am not about to pass up a killer road if my "co-pilot" eggs me on...Senior Citizen Member or not.
i'll drive on the edge until the AARP refuses to insure my old bones.

WORD

I totally agree with you. I purposely drive on an empty tank, plug the iron in and turn the stove on before I leave the house, because I like to live on the edge, lol. Seriously though, I've already faced and accepted death several times and I'm at peace knowing that my time can expire at any moment. I've done almost everything that I want to do and I've had a great time doing it. If I knew tomorrow would be my last day on this planet, you might want to stay away from me, lol. When I go, I'm going on my own terms. It's funny when you here people talk about someone who "cheated death". I'm one of those people they talk about and there's no way that I'm going to be "cheated outta death". I want the full experience!

[Sparticus]

You know, after reading stuff on this forum and other sources, the 318ti's aren't that fast are they??? I was expecting a BMW sport package to be fairly quick, but am I on the wrong path with my thinking? I have a 99 Honda Prelude now, pushing 200. I don't want that big of a step down. What would my options be besides supercharger? (Whats the pricing of those anyway?) Full on engine swap? I did it to my first car, but that was a Honda also, easy as pie, but BMW's are probably way more complex. Whats everyones thoughts about this dilemma of mine?

[aceyx]

Take it for a test drive; it's the only way you're going to get a true feel for the power.

As for supercharging/motor swaps, a BMW is just a car. Parts can be more expensive, but it's got more to do with quality and supply/demand than about branding markup.

It has quirks like any manufacturer but it's not like the pistons are made out of platinum or the transmission uses alien technology. Grab a Bentley manual and if you're mechanically inclined, it's all the same.

There are swap and induction forums on this board, probably a good place to read up on what you're looking to do.


I've driven an SH, and comparatively it lacks the feedback you get from a BMW. Fast, but I felt way uncomfortable pushing it to its limits. The ti on the other hand, I had doing J-turns in the high school parking lot a few months after we got it. The rear steps out easier than any FWD car, but at least you're not fighting torque steer.