318ti with M3 motor- bad idea?
 

Looks like a neat car. The car looks shorter than a regular M. I wonder how much lighter it is.

Speedy:)

Looks like a neat car. The car looks shorter than a regular M. I wonder how much lighter it is.

Speedy:)

That could be a fun car but I'm much more a fan of the V8 swap into the 318ti.

not a V8; awesome and a steal at that price!

So this isn't a really bad thing? I mean, I need to get a car within 2 months, and this is really close to me. Anybody with Bimmer experience care to chime in?

I don't need the car to drive me to work daily, as I can walk. However, I won't want it if its a guaranteed time bomb or something.

I wonder about the transmission and its ability to take the power the engine is feeding it. That seems like a potential issue.

That being said, this car is a very intriguing option, and although a bit more than I would like to spend, if I could be be convinced of its longevity and whatnot, hmm.....

I also really like the fact that the guy didn't feel compelled to put a bunch of stupid body-kit stuff on it. I love that its a total sleeper.

The e36 m3 engine is pretty stout and the car appears to be in good shape. BMWs are like Porsches in that you need to get a PPI done - unless it is just a hell of a deal and don't mind the foibles that could come along.

I can't afford foibles unfortunately...

I just watched a 30 minute youtube video a guy put up on how to visually inspect an e36 M3, and I think it would help me when looking at this car as well.

From the sound of it, I should probably ask this guy to send me a list of receipts fro work done. I mean, if he just had the engine put in, he should hopefully have documentation of all the cooling system being overhauled, which is apparently a weak point on this car. Another thing is suspension bushings, although again if he just swapped the suspension it should be done. I just need proof. Also, I have to wonder why, if he just got done doing this car, he would bail on it.

Lots to mull over tonight.

Check http://www.m3forum.com/ they are the place to talk about m3s. I don't remember reading about too much wrong with the e36 body style. The 318 has a trailing arm suspension of the e30 instead of the multilink independent as the coupes and sedans.

m3 engine
 

i think that this is only a 240 to 250 chp engine...so it is not very stout. i have an s52 in my z3m coupe and it leaves alot to be desired in the power area.

yeh, baaaad idea...

Listen
A friend of mine did the One Lap of American back around 2000 or 2001 in an E36 318ti, with an S52 (3.2 liter us spec 240 bhp M3 engine) swap AND supercharger. It made over 400 hp and was rock solid reliable.

The US spec E36 M3 engines (S50 and S50 3.0 and 3.2 liters respectively) are nothing but larger displacement 1992-style-but-with-vanos 325i engines. No rocket science.

This is a common swap. This car will have dynamics similar to the 1st 6 cyl Z3/M Z3 models due to both using a modified version of the E30 trailing am suspension. Heck, E36 engine swaps into E30s are done all the time.

If the swap was done properly I'd trust the car more than an old 911 or late model VW.

Looks like a fun car. I was able to drive my Dad's E36 M3 at Thunderhill for a session earlier this year, and his car has similar engine mods. Definitely a step up from a standard M3 (and a huge step up from my E30:)), but still a momentum car.

I'd love to drive that car since it has the rear suspension of an E30, which means it will rotate well. Throw in the M motor, suspension, and brakes, and I bet that car is a hoot.

I was meaning stout in that it won't grenade at a moments notice like a lot of the e46 m3 engines had a tendency to do.

I wrote the seller a question about the tranny/driveshaft/diff being used, and also asked him if he had a complete parts list from what was changed out when the swap was done.

I am currently looking to this thread for reference:

http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=7676

Where is the other half of the car? I think the 318Ti is one of the ugliest cars to come out of the BMW stable and to think that Chris Bangle had nothing to do with it.

Great drivetrain on this car but the wrapping is not so dee-lish.

Yasin

WWaHD?

I dig the stubby style!

Well that just went belly up- I wrote the seller and asked him if he was using the stock diff and if he had a list of everything that was updated at the time of the swap.

His answer was "."

I kid you not. He wrote me a period.

Time to move on I guess.