Early models were criticised for poor quality interior, somewhat improved in later models. Initially available as 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe introduced 1992, 2-door convertible, and 3-door...
Today is the final update for the supercharged BMW 318is as it has been sold and I will be attempting to use my new (to me) Volvo V50 as my daily transport. The BMW sold very quickly - within a...
Selling my 1998 BMW 318is, Avus Blue, 5-speed manual, M44 1.9-litre twin-cam engine. Has done 310,000 km. Registration to 29 October 2020. Limited-edition Sport model which came with a factory...
For several years I've had a strange knocking type noise coming from my car. I've tried to solve it myself, and replaced several parts. I've also sought expert help on a couple of occasions but...
BMW Australia launched the E36 3 series in May 1991. The range initially comprised of the four-door sedan with 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine (318i) and two six-cylinder models - the 320i (2...
Article from Autocar (UK) magazine, 3 July 1996 BMW 318is coupe - On sale: now Every now and then a car comes along that represents more than the sum of its parts. The 1996 BMW...
Reproduced from the BMW TIS. With the introduction of the 1993 E34 and E36 models, a revised version of the M50 engine is also introduced. The revised four valve, six cylinder engine is...
My car originally came with rear headrests but I broke the rear parcel shelf and replaced it with one that didn't have the holes for the headrests, and I didn't mind the improved rear vision that...
Garage clean out! Parts going cheap. If you see something in the photos you are interested in message me for availability, price or feel free to make an offer. Note: some parts may have been sold...
Over the last few weeks I've attempted to sort out a few issues with the car. Some time ago I ordered some new window slides hoping to fix the issue with my passenger-side window getting stuck...
For a week or so now I have been noticing a problem when driving that most occurs when going down hills where I can feel the car bucking or surging. I also noticed that sometimes it would idle at...
Today my 1998 BMW 318is reached 300,000 km (186411 miles), and is still going strong. Not bad for a car with an aftermarket supercharger fitted for most of its life. I haven't updated on the...
I recently bought a short shifter for my 1998 BMW 318is off eBay (or maybe it was Aliexpress). After watching various instructional videos on Youtube on how to install it I gave it a go myself...
I know people say you shouldn't skimp on something as important as brake parts, but I had already bought a set of reputedly good quality DBA HD rotors hoping to fix a break vibration issue on my...
As per usual, I fix one problem and another appears. This time the airbag warning light came on for a moment, then stayed on, then was off the following day but came on again momentarily. I...
I bought a set of new DBA 4000 series heavy duty rotors and Bendix Euro+ pads for the front of my BMW E36. After a month or two I started feeling vibration under braking, which progressively got...
The passenger door has been difficult to open from the outside for a long time now. Sometimes it would only open if you pushed against the door. But it wouldn't open at all the other day, and the...
I noticed the other day that my radiator expansion tank was empty so filled it up and the next time I drove the car it was empty again. I had a look for leaks and found a trail of coolant under...
There was oil around the exhaust side of the cylinder head cover gasket and also in one of the spark plug tubes so time to replace this gasket. I last did one of these on my first E30 318is and...
I had been hearing some unusual noise from the rear which I thought might be the differential possibly low on oil. Also the gearbox sometimes doesn't spring in and out of fifth gear. First was...
Article from Car (UK) magazine, September 1996 They're an ad agency's dream, tailor made for a thirty-something lifestyle. PAUL HORRELL drives four 'estates' that put image way before...
Back in 2003 I was shopping for an E36 325i manual coupe and not having much luck finding a good one. After a while I decided to up my budget and also look at 328i coupes. Still no luck and...
I started having some trouble with my supercharged BMW E36 318is a few weeks ago. Firstly the car smelt strongly of fuel, and then it started losing power or stalling while driving. I kept a...
My passenger side window on my 1998 318is coupe has been stuck in the closed position for some time. I can usually get it going by removing the door trim and then hitting the window motor with a...
If you hear a squeaking noise coming from behind your 1991 to 1998 BMW 3 series steering wheel, or possibly the steering doesn't feel so smooth and maybe binds every now and then, then there's...
I have a strong disliking of the climate control system in my BMW E36, but in my previous E30, the controls for ventilation, heating and air conditioning were near perfect. Let's look at the E30...
Since I bought this car, the air intake system has been a bit of a mess. Originally the exit from the PCV valve was routed to before the MAF. Except there was no PCV valve - just a pipe from the...
I have a spare 7-button MID from one of the cars I dismantled and now that I have moved to a colder climate (Sydney Blue Mountains) I thought it might be interesting to fit it to see what the...
The ABS+ASC warning light has been stuck on in my 1998 318is coupe since I bought it. When I checked the fault codes the error was a fault with the pump unit. I have looked into this problem a...
The airbag warning lights on both of my BMW 318is's have been on for some time now and, because I now have my 4-door 1997 model up for sale, I thought it was time I did something about it. I had...
Last time I had a wheel alignment done the mechanic told me that my front lower control arm bushings were worn out and were in need of replacement. The ball joints and control arms themselves were...
My fuel gauge in my 1998 BMW 318is coupe stopped working the other day. My first thoughts were to check the sender which I believed was on the left side of the car, underneath the rear seat. I...
I finally got around to having the second hand M50 dual mass flywheel and clutch kit fitted today. I can confirm that it is a bolt in replacement with no modifications required. The...
The other night I noticed an unusual whirring noise from the engine area on my 1998 BMW 318is coupe. I assume it was one of my idler pulley wheels which I have previously noticed as being noisy and...
After several months of excessive noise due to the previously mentioned cracked exhaust manifold, my 1997 318is sedan is now fixed and quiet again. I had previously purchased a second hand...
My wife's car, the four door 1997 318is, has developed several faults over the last few months. The most annoying is that the exhaust manifold seems to have developed a crack, which I believe is a...
For some time I had noticed some noise from the rear of the car but it got to the point where I finally did something about it. I jacked the car up and could hear and feel the problem by turning the...
There's a common problem with the BMW M50 engines as fitted to the E36 320i and 325i, and the E34 520i and 525i. On the intake manifold there is a air pipe connection that over time can come...
When I got home after buying my 1998 318is Sport, my wife, who had been following me, said that that when I accelerated hard it was quite smokey - although she couldn't tell me what colour the smoke...
I bought another parts car, this time a 1998 BMW 318is 4-door sedan. For only A$500 I got a car registered for more than a month, and with half a tank of petrol. It drove the hour long trip home...
Recently we have been having problems starting our 1997 BMW 318is sedan. The symptoms are that the engine does not turn over but the starter motor does spin. However, it only happens sometimes...
After several months of searching for my next car, last night I spotted a 1998 318is Sport for sale. Not only was it priced quite low, but the advertisement said it was supercharged. The next...
The 3-Series Coupe Sports Option - Even more distinctive. Even more individual. The 3-Series Coupes continue BMW's impressive heritage of sporting character and dynamic exclusivity. The...
With some remorse already, last weekend I sold my 1991 BMW 325i. It had been for sale for sometime, and as I hadn't any idea what I would replace it with, I was in no rush to sell it. But it...
In October 1994 BMW Australia introduced a sport option pack for the 318is coupe. This option pack included 16-inch alloys and certain M-Technic parts. I've seen three such 318is's around....
A$100 was the amount received for the shell of my 1992 318i parts car, with no bonnet, guards, boot, doors, interior or transmission. Once again I have my carport back. I knew this car wasn't...
The ignition lock on our 1997 318is 4-door has for some time shown some signs that it was wearing out. Sometimes when you turned the key the lock would just spin freely. Today there was a...
The instruments in my 1991 E36 BMW 325i intermittently stop working. Usually it happens when I operate some electrical equipment like the wipers or press the brake pedal and activate the brake light...
