Newbie Beemer Owner

[johnlangley]

Hi all. Im new to BMW. I bought a 2004 318 ti just over a week ago. I love my car!!! I was just wondering if anyone who knows this kind of car or has one could please tell me about common problems with these cars and on what kind of milaege which parts should generally be replaced. It currently has 155 000km

 

[Ralf*]

hello John

How about a few pictures, we here "drool" over levely pictures of our favourite subject BMW's

Welcome welcome

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

Welcome mate.
All the best with the new acquisition and many happy miles with it! :thumbs:
As for the car itself, dont know of many faults with it at all really. Great little car right thurrrr....

Now get some pics up! :rollsmile:

 

[Theo333]

Welcome bro....:thumbs:

 

[Tareeq]

Welcome to the Forum Bud :thumbs:

 

[Gizmo]

Do yourself a favor right now and trade it in on a 6cyl model or your wallet is in for a major hurting! The engine in your 318ti is garbage and parts cost the earth because you can only buy replacements from the agents...
Not so with the 6cyl models...

 

[DPpK]

Welcome bud:thumbs:

 

[Rayzor]

Welcome :thumbs:

 

[PhoenixGG]

Welcome, that a great little car and may I say...

:ttiuwp:

 

[johnlangley]

Sorry guys my car just needs a wash and then I will take pics and post!!

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Do yourself a favor right now and trade it in on a 6cyl model or your wallet is in for a major hurting! The engine in your 318ti is garbage and parts cost the earth because you can only buy replacements from the agents...
Not so with the 6cyl models...

Hi there, thanks for the info. Please tell me how the six cylinder is better in terms of getting cheaper parts and being more reliable? And why is that the case with six cylinder models, but not my 4 cylinder model?

 

[131GAV]

Congratz and safe travels....

:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

 

[Dippies]

Welcome to the forum :thumbs: and congrats on the car.

Sorry guys my car just needs a wash and then I will take pics and post!!

---

Do yourself a favor right now and trade it in on a 6cyl model or your wallet is in for a major hurting! The engine in your 318ti is garbage and parts cost the earth because you can only buy replacements from the agents...
Not so with the 6cyl models...

Hi there, thanks for the info. Please tell me how the six cylinder is better in terms of getting cheaper parts and being more reliable? And why is that the case with six cylinder models, but not my 4 cylinder model?

---

he will know cause he works on them. he is giving you some free advice and if you have known GIZMO for small time you will come to realize that he will not give you crap advice. Just my 2c

 

[Iceman007]

Welcome to the forum :thumbs: and congrats on the car.

Sorry guys my car just needs a wash and then I will take pics and post!!

---

Do yourself a favor right now and trade it in on a 6cyl model or your wallet is in for a major hurting! The engine in your 318ti is garbage and parts cost the earth because you can only buy replacements from the agents...
Not so with the 6cyl models...

Hi there, thanks for the info. Please tell me how the six cylinder is better in terms of getting cheaper parts and being more reliable? And why is that the case with six cylinder models, but not my 4 cylinder model?

---

he will know cause he works on them. he is giving you some free advice and if you have known GIZMO for small time you will come to realize that he will not give you crap advice. Just my 2c

---

:thumbs:

 

[johnlangley]

Some pics of my car

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Sorry guys my car just needs a wash and then I will take pics and post!!

---

Do yourself a favor right now and trade it in on a 6cyl model or your wallet is in for a major hurting! The engine in your 318ti is garbage and parts cost the earth because you can only buy replacements from the agents...
Not so with the 6cyl models...

Hi there, thanks for the info. Please tell me how the six cylinder is better in terms of getting cheaper parts and being more reliable? And why is that the case with six cylinder models, but not my 4 cylinder model?

---

I am extremely grateful for the advice. The only problem is that I am only 18 years old and cannot afford to buy a better car than what I have right now. So for now I will have to keep it

 

[Yulz9081]

Awesome awesome colour!
Wish you many happy trouble-free miles bud :thumbs:

These motors are usually prone to issues with age so maybe just set some money aside every month in case of any problems that may arise. Since yours is 2004 you most likely have the N46 motor and not the ghastly N42 motor that I had in my ex E46, they did solve some of the issues in the N46 which was an upgraded motor for the 318.
Some guys just require a bit of tact in the way they say things :idea:

 

[Gizmo]

Just hope and pray you don't have the N42 motor. There is a sticker on the front passenger shock tower in the engine bay that will tell you if the motor is N42 or N46.

 

[johnlangley]

Just hope and pray you don't have the N42 motor. There is a sticker on the front passenger shock tower in the engine bay that will tell you if the motor is N42 or N46.

Hi there. I just checked, it is N46. I have a very important question to ask. There is an extremely strange problem with my car's brakes. The brakepads are fine, but while I am driving, the following happens: You get to a stopstreet and apply the brakes and then they work fine for a few seconds and then they just cut out completely, as if would happen if you switch the engine off while driving. Nobody can explain to me what is wrong, because they just say it is extremely odd. The brakepads were apparently replaced a short while back, but it could possibly be pirate brakepads, because the sensor wires are connected, but the warning light stays on. If you have any suggestions or an idea of what could be wrong, it would be much appreciated.:ty: