am i doomed cause i have a 4 cyl.?????

comrade1 · Sep 22, 2003

i was almost t-boned today while turning onto the highway because i had to stop before entering the intersection. it feels like this car can't get out of its own way [:(]

is this just cause its a 318 or is there something wrong this the engine/car? i appreciate all your guy's input.

bahnstormer · Sep 22, 2003

year? miles? auto/stick? when was the last time u had a tune up?

sure the car is slow, but a god driver with a stick and a few mods can make it fly.
off the line u're held back by weight...unsprung weight and ballast. get rid of
heavy wheels and heavy brake rotors.

comrade1 · Sep 22, 2003

sorry!

it is a 1997 automatic 318ic with 97K. I haven't had it tuned yet. (got it about 9 months ago but was overseas 6 of the 9 months). maybe it is me, but it just didn't seem this sluggish we i first got it.

ps. i guess with the weight issue, it doesn't help that it is a convertible.

Big Daddy · Sep 22, 2003

I have a 91 318is with Dinan Stage II suspension, a Conforti Chip, Lightweight Borbet wheels, Zender Aerodynamics, synthetic trans & diff fluids (redline), and more. It is a manual, but she is fast off the line and down the road because I can keep the rpm's in the torque range.

carcus · Sep 23, 2003

bahnstormer said:

Yep, what year is it? A 318 with a auto is pretty slow, I had a Passat with a 4 cyl auto...that thing had no guts at all. Was scary merging into traffic with it.

92-95 BMW 318 put out 138 HP if I remember and an automatic with that will slow it down a bit. You have quite a bit of weight with leather and other stuff. I had a 80's BMW Euro Spec 316i while stationed in Italy, it was a dog on the street but smooth on the SuperStrada. Funny thing about BMW, they import all the big engines to the US, in Europe, Insurance is charged by the Litre of the engine size. Desil engins are popular over there also. Sorry, just blithering. [;)]

comrade1 · Sep 23, 2003

hey carcus it is a 97.

i was so embarassed today! i was beat of the line (wasn't racing or nothing but still) by a TOYOTA MATRIX [?|]

and then a few streets later....by a DODGE CARAVAN [?|]

[???1]

i don't if there is anything i can do short of replacing the engine. just a thought cause someone here in town has a 328 engine for sale! (70K miles)

Kenny2g · Sep 23, 2003

That's funny. By a Caravan. Men you probably needs a turn-up and get your self some intakes and stuff. Was the car driven when you was away, if No, you might consider some Fuel Injector Cleaners and all that good stuff.
hope this helps.
Kenny 2G.

stormy · Sep 24, 2003

well i'm used to faster stuff but i cant complain [:D]

139mph geman spec with more room but rev limiter messes me up at 6700rpm [B)]

after having put a cat back + intake + using 100 octane fuel the thing is revi like hell(well could pic up more after 4300rpm....), same max speed.....(looks like i need a chip to raise the limit up to 7100 but with almost 190tkm ~ 118tmiles i'm worried)

greetz

carcus · Sep 25, 2003

comrade1 said:

Don't worry about it, not much you can do to the engine.....just enjoy the car, DO NOT DROP 800 bones on a exhaust or 400 on a intake. I owned a 316 Euro spec, not sold in the US, but in Europe, cheap on insurance. Engine swap is not cheap. Just enjoy, cruise it. I have a 328, still not racer, 190 hp is peppy, but not what I consider quick or fast. Than again, this is coming from a ex 98 Z28 LS1 owner with a modded car. Will my car beat tons of cars on the road...HELL NO! DO I miss my Z28....with speed....ALL THE TIME!!! But the BMW is such a nice smooth ride. Never planned on any engine mods.....especially with the prices. Just blithering. I know sometimes it sucks with a small engine. Passat had a 2.0 4 cyl......was scary to drive with an automatic. Wish I could help. One thing I can say, with money, every car can be made fast, ever a Yugo. Just depends on what you want and the $$$$$ you have. [;)]

ra328i · Sep 25, 2003

hey comrade? are you pez's friend? he told me about a friend of his who just got a 318 and he also asked me if he could you my number so that i could help out with any problems wit your ride. you're from tpa so i thought you might be who he was talking about... i'm seth by the way...

stormy · Sep 26, 2003

actually the intake cost me 150 and exhaust 400 [:)]

there are a few things that can be done, but thats only something for freaks thant want to build a special engine....(not one with power out of the box)

not speeking of turbo or supercharging.......

but bottom line both aint worth the money in the long run.....like i said for freaks

greetz [driving]

bahnstormer · Sep 26, 2003

the convertable really puts the nail in teh coffin as far as speed and acceleration is concerned

carcus · Sep 26, 2003

bahnstormer said:

Not like 190 HP is fast anyway, these cars are not racers, just fun drivers, and a convert adds to the fun. [:D]

If I wanted fast, would have picked a different car. Not everyone has money for a E46 M3 or a M5....those are fast. [;)]

Than again, you can make anything fast with $$$$......BMW are not cheap to mod though. A exhuast and intake do not make fast. [;)]

andreyiv · Sep 26, 2003

You can start by replacing the oxygen sensor, or two, don't know how many an OBDII 318 has. BMW reccomends replacing it every 100k miles or so. It will help the gas milage for sure but I can't promise you an increase in power.

comrade1 · Sep 27, 2003

hey guys, thanks for the advice. i do need to get it tuned, so i'm hoping that maybe that will help the acceleration. carcus made a good point about just enjoying the car....true. problem is that i might not be able to enjoy the car for too long if i get hit by someone cause the car can't move out of the way fast enough. but you are right, it isn't a racer. i'll let you all know if there are any improvements after the tune-up. in the meantime, if you have any more suggestions......THEY ARE VERY WELCOME!!!!!!!!!! (andrey, thanks for the O2 sensor info, i'm coming up on 100K soon)

so, since no one answered to the question about me getting a 328 engine, i'll assume that it isn't worth it??????

ra328i, no i'm not pez's friend but thanks for looking out! [thumb]

andreyiv · Sep 27, 2003

About the 328 engine, I don't know if it's possible but I would think you would have to replace most of the electronics in the car also. I'm not talking about power windows and such, but the engine controls and the computer. It would probably cost you over 3 grand, but I don't know much about it.

carcus · Sep 27, 2003

comrade1 said:

Not worth it. Way too much money for really not that much HP on an engine swap. Hell, if I could throw a LS1 in a BMW.....would be sweet!!!! Someone is actually doing that.

http://www.vorshlag.com/E36ProjectBook.asp

That pics is nice enough.

ODDferkOUT · Sep 27, 2003

bahnstormer said:

Yeah, that's true, but mine has pretty good accelerration considered it's a cabrio...

...and once you pass 3000 rpm it flies!

[:D]

am i doomed cause i have a 4 cyl.?????

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