1998 318ti is a great little car
Written: Jan 26 '06
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Pros: Gas mileage, German build quality, peppy engine, good looks for price.
Cons: Premium fuel, maintenance/repair costs
The Bottom Line: The 318ti is a great choice for someone who wants a spirited little 4 cylinder car that looks sporty and carries some BMW prestige.
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| abmw4me's Full Review: 1998 BMW 318 |
If you're looking for an affordable used BMW, the 318ti is a good choice. Of course, it's not the cream of the crop in BMW's suite of offerings, (i.e., 5-Series and 7-Series models), but for the price, you get a car that commands respect when seen by others and certainly fits the mold of what German cars are known for...solid build quality.
I recently bought a 1998 318ti with 107K miles. I have always wanted to own a BMW, but the price of a new one was way out of reach. So the 318ti fit my needs and my budget. I wanted a great little "driving" car. That's the perfect thing about the 318ti...it caters to people who like a little spirit from their car when they drive it. The 318ti is great to take on a curvy mountain road. It wants to be driven.
The car has a 1.9L 4 cylinder DOHC engine with about 138HP and about the same figure in lb. feet of torque. The engine idles well and is very smooth running. Mine has a 5 speed transmission, (this equals to great gas mileage 23/city & 32 highway) which is smooth and allows lots of dancing on the pedals in city traffic. It shifts well, with relatively short throws. The reverse gear engages by throwing the shifter to the far left and up. This takes a while to get used to.
The engine is a high-revving engine. It sounds like it's whining at times, but that's what you expect from a small 4 cylinder. Some people complain the car should have more horsepower to match the noise the engine is making.
Actually, I prefer the 318ti as is, because it fits the model of emulating what a European compact car is supposed to be. It's not going to be a Porsche. 318's are all over Europe, and when you sit inside one, you feel as if you are driving a traditional, compact European car. It feels different from the standard Japanese compact cars.
Mine has leather seating which is great. It gives the car a "rich" look. It has heated seats which are perfect in winter. All of the controls and power options work...not bad for an 8 year old vehicle with over 100K miles.
One of the best aspects of the 318ti is the German build quality. Don't be fooled into thinking this car is a small car trying to compete with a Honda Civic, etc. A Civic is nowhere near the level of the high quality workmanship found on the 318ti. When you close the door, you hear a "thud" that tells you this car is built well. When you unlock one door, all doors and the hatch unlock. Nuts and bolts are thick, and metals in the frame are not flimsy. Yes...there is a lot of plastic in the car, but you have to remember this car was BMW's entry level car in the US market...much less in price than a 5 or 7 series.
On the outside, the car looks like a 318 or 325 from the front and sort of the same from the back. It's when you look at it sideways you say, "So they chopped off about 2 feet of the trunk. That's why it looks short." This is due to the hatchback design. Aside from this, the car looks sporty and tries to keep in line with the traditional 3-series styling cues, such as the double chrome type grilles up front and the taillight scheme on the rear.
On the road, the car is tight, and pretty fast (if driven with a heavy foot)...given it's compact size. It's a stiff ride, but not unbearable. Visibility is good, and the driving position is o.k. I wish the seats were more like the seats in the 2006 325i...you know...the kind of seats that wrap around your body and hug you. I would prefer to have a lumbar adjustment and power seats on mine. The seats I have are manual with 3 levers to adjust length, height and seat back angle. One drawback is the height of the steering wheel. Mine doesn't have a tilt adjustment, so it sits awkwardly high.
Another drawback is that the car takes premium fuel. This is something to keep in mind now that gas prices are high. I'm sure some people use regular, but why take a chance when it's only a few more cents to protect your investment and get the best driving experience as possible.
The 318ti is a hatchback, (which for some reason didn't take off well in the US but was a hit in Europe) and has plenty of storage room, with a cover to keep people from looking in. The room inside the cabin is good for front seat passengers and a little cramped for back seat passengers, unless you're small or a child. It's a rear wheel drive car, so there is a large hump in the middle of the back seat floor board...something not found in all front wheel drive Japanese compacts. The rear wheel drive setup is good for this car because it offers even weight distribution.
Having said all of this, I know...I know...BMW's are known for high maintenance costs. But I have many friends who swear that the Bavarian approach to car building is what all car companies should adhere to.
Time will tell what lies ahead for me in the repair department, but if you're looking for a car that is fun to drive, gets great gas mileage, has some level of prestige, is solidly built, and is something different than the standard old Honda or Toyota, the BMW 318ti is a good choice.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 8,900.00
Condition: Used
Model Year: 1998
Model and Options: 318ti
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abmw4me
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