Modifications_____*____Tires_____*_____Problems
Modifications_____*____Tires_____*_____Problems
Intro:
I had always wanted a BMW, so, in December 1998, I bought one. I chose the 318ti Compact/hatchback. For those unfamiliar with the marque, the 318ti was the smallest and least expensive BMW available in the US from 1995 to 1999. I've always liked small performance hatchbacks, my last enthusiast automobile being a 1991 Honda CRX Si.
Unfortunately, in 1994, the CRX ran afoul of a telephone pole on my way to work one fateful rainy morning. It was replaced by a thoroughly functional but absolutely lifeless Dodge Colt. We lived with the faithful Colt for 4 years until it's replacement by the Bimmer. This time around, I'll do my best not to wreck the sporty car so early in it's life.
I picked the car up from my local BMW Center, BMW of New London on Wednesday December 30, 1998, Merry Christmas to me! It drives magnificently, almost as much fun on my favorite twisty roads as my Honda VTR1000. Although it falls well behind the motorcycle in the power to weight department. Therefore, it's forte is it's cornering prowess. By positioning the engine well aft in the engine compartment, BMW achieved perfect 50% front/50% rear weight distribution and the wide tires provide substantial lateral grip. It most definitely out performs the old CRX.
It may be blasphemy to say so, but the 318ti is essentially the Escort of BMWs. It is a 2700 lb, 1.9 litre four cylinder hatchback with approximately 140 bhp. Ours is a Bright Red 1999 Sport model, (1999 was the last year for the e36 Compact and the Sport was the only model available in the US that year.) Sport means that it comes with 225/50-16 wheels and tires, BMW Motorsport (M) Division tuned suspension, well bolstered cloth/leather seats, e36 M3 grill, bumper and fog lights, and leather wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel (which I consider to be the most attractive of any in the entire line) and a bunch of M badges that really pisses off the guys that paid $40,000+ for a real M car. Ours also sports optional heated seats and a power sunroof.
(This picture is courtesy of Ron Stygar)
The interior is very comfortable and everything is laid out perfectly for the business of serious driving. Although the seats are manually adjustable for fore/aft position, seat pan angle and seat back angle, a telescoping steering column would be nice to get into a truely optimum driving position.
The car features a traditional longitudinal front engine, rear drive layout with independant rear suspension. This is the first rear drive car I've owned since the 1971 Super Beetle of my college days (1982 - 1983). But it didn't take me long to unlearn 15 years of front driving. I really love the response of a traditional rear drive car. The ability to toss the car into a corner, then crank in a bunch of opposite lock and steer with the throttle is great fun!!
To help out while driving in poor traction conditions, the car is equipped with the BMW DSC (Dynamic Stbility Control) traction control system. This system uses the ABS sensors to compare wheel speeds. If it senses either rear wheel traveling faster than it's mate or the front wheels, it applies one or both rear brakes (independantly), retards the ignition timing and actually closes the throttle to reduce rear wheel torque. I tested this feature to it's maximum while attempting to climb out of our sloped driveway after the first 1" snowfall prior to receipt of the snow tires. The car just inched it's way up the driveway. The part I haven't figured out is how it kept from stalling at the sub 1 mph pace it crept up the grade?
Most of the pictures here are courtesy of BMW North America, via their 1998 318ti brochure. Below are some pictures I've taken of my car from July 2002 and show off some of the modification I have made. All these items came as exceptional bargains from ebay...I LOVE ebay!!
Clear front corners -
These give the car a cleaner appearance and fit just like the amber OE units (you have to replace the OE white bulbs with amber bulbs - about .60 each at your friendly nneighborhood car parts store). The fronts are very reasonably priced, at about $25 for a set. The rears are NOT, they are over $200 for a set. So, for now I still have the amber rear turn lights.
Intrax lowering springs -
Another ebay bargain, these drop the front about 1.5 inches and the rear about 1.25 inches and provide a slightly firmer feel to the car. They significantly reduce body roll while cornering, but are not so stiff that they make the car uncomfortable. I do have to be VERY careful of ramps, driveway entrances and excessively crowned surfaces or the car WILL drag it's belly on the ground. Because of the e30 based semi-trailing arm rear suspension of the 'ti, the lowering springs significantly change the camber of the rear wheels. It looks pretty cool, but is likely to accelerate wear on the inside edge of rear tires.
Bosal Brospeed Cat' back exhaust -
ebay again, this is a very attractive polished stainless steel system that bolts up to the stock catalytic converter and replaces the existing aluminized steel muffler and tailpipe. I much prefer the twin turned up slash cut DTM look tips, but this one has a single 3-1/2 inch tip. I won't complain too loud since I got this pipe at $200 less than the going retail price. The Bosal Brospeed exhaust gives the car an impressive low frequency growl when the throttle is applied between 2500 and 3500 rpm. Unfortunately, it appears that the pipe causes resonance of the passenger compartment and is actually louder inside the car than outside. Personally, I enjoy listening to the the bellowing exhaust note during my daily commute. But it is kinda annoying if there is someone else in the car attempting to partake of conversation.
RamFX high performance Air Filter -
Another ebay find, this one from fxteknology. This is a high flow multi layer open cell foam cleanable air filter that takes the place of the OE disposable filter. Supposedly it provdes higher air flow and superior particle removal. I got it because my original filter was done and this cleanable filter was less expensive than the OE disposable. I use a K&N filter on my motorcycle, but this may actually provide better filtration. Instead of oil, it is soaked with a sticky "polymer" to trap the nasty stuff.
Zimmerman cross drilled front brake rotors -
In November 2002 I procured and installed Zimmerman Cross Drilled front brake rotors from Jerry Sugay (por72914@cox.net) via ebay. At 68,000 miles, my OE rotors and pads were about done. So, for less than the cost of OE non-drilled rotors, I picked up these. Zimmerman is a OE rotor supplier to BMW and the drilled rotors look very well made and Jerry's price & service are excellent.
Wish List -
At some time in the future, finanaces permitting, I would like to procure/install the following additional items...
______
______
______
__ Dunlop 2000 _________ Kuhmo 712 ___________ Dunlop 8000 ________Dunlop Graspic
I've just recently installed my 3rd set of summer tires, I went with Dunlop SP Sport 8000's this time around. The car came with Dunlop SP Sport 2000 tires as OE. I thought the OE tires were pretty good, providing a good balance of traction, response, feel and longevity. I ended up putting about 28,000 miles on the Sport 2000's. Next I tried the very affordable and attractively styled Kuhmo Ecsta Supra 712 ($77 ea. from Tirerack.com). The Kuhmo's were very disappointing. They exhibited much more sidewall roll and much less traction than the OE Dunlops. Kuhmo's advertising copy tout the high silica content of the tread compound to improve wet traction, but I didn't notice that they performed any better on wet roads than anything else. They went about 23,000 miles before replacement, they probably could have fininshed out the season, but I couldn't stand them anymore and ordered the new Dunlops ($91 each from Tirerack again.) I thought about the very highly rated Michelin Pilot Sport, but I just can't bring myself to spend over $150 each for a consumable piece of equipment.
The big fat 225/50-16 performance tires have proven to be considerably less than ideal for driving in any amount of snow. To correct this condition, I mount a set of 205/60-15 Dunlop Graspic HS-1 snow tires on steel wheels. They work very well when there is snow on the road, but really kill the dry pavement performance of the car. I consider this a small price to pay for not getting the car stuck or worse, wrecked on snow covered roads over the relatively short duration Connecticut winter.
My BMW ownership experience has not been without a few bumps. I have had several things go wrong with the car. Fortunately, BMW NA and BMW of New London have supported me pretty amicalbly through it all.
Some of the things that have gone wrong with my car:
Here's a little humor cut out and left on my desk from one of my adoring employees!! Scott Adams would probably be pissed to see that I've plagerized his work here, but oh well. The cartoon fits my situation pretty well since Cathy got me a miniature 318ti for my birthday and it is displayed prominently on my desk at work.
That's all I have to say on this subject for now.
HAPPY MOTORING!
If
you like my 318ti, hit the webring for lot's more!
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Updated 01/14/03
