 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM Yesterday 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 322,687 Views | | | |  |  |  | |  12-20-2005, 10:46 AM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 1,363 |  97 Ti is it worth it?
In the next few months I may buy my grandparents naber 97 BMW 318 ti black (with crapy rims) IT has around 40k miles, rarely used runs great, also has a new sound system. He will sell it to me for 6 grand. Now this would be my first official car giving that I am 18 and in college so I ask. Are parts costs at a normal price compared to other car companies and are they easy to assemble without help from a mechanic?  |  |  | | 12-20-2005, 01:56 PM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 669 |
the price sounds really good. The parts for these cost similar to any bmw, which tend to be about double the price of more common (american) cars. The reliability is a lot higher though, so it should take less maintenence. I do all the work on all my cars myself and save lots of $ that way. Working on these cars is rather straightforward, so if you're mechanically inclined, I highly reccomend investing in a service manual and some tools instead of paying a mechanic. | | | | | 12-20-2005, 01:57 PM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by Razor Are parts costs at a normal price compared to other car companies and are they easy to assemble without help from a mechanic? | I would say yes. But BMW parts do wear a bit faster than imports probably due to the closer tolerances of their parts. I had +200K miles on my 1990 Mazda MX6 suspension. Probably had that many miles on the rotors. You won't get that kind of mileage from BMW parts. But what you will get is a car that handles as well with 200K miles as it did with 100 miles. Providing you have taken car of it. One this that scares people are what is called Inspection I and Inspection II. They alternate about every 18K miles. Inspection II is basically a tune up which some dealers will charge $700. You can do most or all of it yourself for much less. My 15" steel wheels with chrome lug nuts and snow tires look better than those wheels. What were they thinking?  __________________ ...steven
BMW CCA #146825
1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i
www.bmwcca.org
| | | | | 12-20-2005, 03:37 PM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: çî†ÿ øf åNgëL§, CA Posts: 5,314 |
those arent even rims, they are hub caps. | | | | | 12-20-2005, 03:44 PM | #5 | | doesn't care about you. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 3,925 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by 1996Bmw318TI those arent even rims, they are hub caps. | OMG - He's right! Those are hubcaps. I thought they were rims. Good eye 1996Bmw318TI. __________________ 
'99 Dinan M3 | | | | | 12-20-2005, 03:47 PM | #6 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
$6k with 40k miles sounds like a pretty decent price. any idea what options packages it has? are you sure it's a 97? i thought they did away with the non-body colored bottom in 95. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 12-20-2005, 04:33 PM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 247 |
The blue book value on that car is probably about 7k, so I think you are getting a great deal, 40k is very low milage...especially for a 97'. Just please, please, please get rid of those wheels!!!
The 318ti is a fun car to drive, and handles like crazy! You are going to have fun. __________________ Silver 98 318ti Standard trans, Sport Package: 16" Stock Wheels, Foglamps, Sunroof, Heated Leather Seats, Bilstein performance shocks, OEM Sach's clutch kit, Dunlop SP Sport A2 225/50/16 tires, Alpine CDA 7894, Dual Rockford Fosgate 12" subs, Rockford Fosgate Amp, Leather Armrest, Replaced M44 engine with only 40k on it!
http://www.geocities.com/evalha/bmwsmaller.JPG | | | | | 12-20-2005, 07:21 PM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 1,363 |
lol ya i know the rims (hubcaps) are bad, he was going to buy some nice rims but the cost was too much.
ALso thanks for the reply, i will talk to him at the christmas party, this week | | | | | 12-20-2005, 07:28 PM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by Razor lol ya i know the rims (hubcaps) are bad, he was going to buy some nice rims but the cost was too much.
ALso thanks for the reply, i will talk to him at the christmas party, this week | You don't need to spend a lot of money on wheel. People are always selling 15" or 16" alloys. I've seen 15" 10 spokers go for $100/4. __________________ ...steven
BMW CCA #146825
1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i
www.bmwcca.org
| | | | | 12-20-2005, 07:33 PM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: cary, nc Posts: 2,259 |
i like the 10 spokers....i think they look really nice for being my stock wheels... __________________ 1995 318ti Active
Pioneer Speakers [] Aluminum Billet door locks [] ACS Pedals/Deadrest [] ACS Shift Knob / E-Brake Handle [] Clear Corners/Tails/Sides [] Sylvania Exterior Lighting [] Custom CAI [] Dinan Engine Chip [] Dinan Transmission Chip [] H&R Race Springs [] Tokico Illumina Shocks [] BMW X-Brace [] Relocated Lighter Mod [] Custom iPod Mod http://www.cardomain.com/id/robcarync | | | | | 12-20-2005, 07:39 PM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Quad Cities, Iowa Posts: 2,110 |
That is a great deal! My 1996 ti with 115000 miles on it was appraised by the bank and by KBB and they both said it was worth 6k. Is it an auto or a manual? Buy that car and use the money you will save on new rims. | | | | | 12-20-2005, 08:25 PM | #12 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 1,363 |
I like evalha007 rims, they look like my thunderbirds rims.
its a manual. | | | | | 12-20-2005, 08:50 PM | #13 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Melbourne, Fl/Athens, AL Posts: 393 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by cali-ti are you sure it's a 97? i thought they did away with the non-body colored bottom in 95. | I'd confirm the year. If it's a 97, it should'nt have the grey sideskirts and bumpers. | | | | | 12-20-2005, 08:53 PM | #14 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: cary, nc Posts: 2,259 |
true that i thought it was a little fishy too...
or maybe on the sports had the color matched side skirts...i dont know though but i thought only the 95s had the grey body kit __________________ 1995 318ti Active
Pioneer Speakers [] Aluminum Billet door locks [] ACS Pedals/Deadrest [] ACS Shift Knob / E-Brake Handle [] Clear Corners/Tails/Sides [] Sylvania Exterior Lighting [] Custom CAI [] Dinan Engine Chip [] Dinan Transmission Chip [] H&R Race Springs [] Tokico Illumina Shocks [] BMW X-Brace [] Relocated Lighter Mod [] Custom iPod Mod http://www.cardomain.com/id/robcarync | | | | | 12-20-2005, 09:03 PM | #15 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Melbourne, Fl/Athens, AL Posts: 393 |
Nah, I have a 97 non-sport and it's all colormatched. | | | | | |
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Not Your Usual Ti, Twice As Fast Than Most
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