1998 BMW 318TI

0 recalls, 18 complaints - 8 TSBs

No recalls found for this vehicle.

Complaint Statistics

18 total complaints 1 crashes 1 injuries

Top Reported Components

ComponentComplaints
TIRES4
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR2
SUSPENSION2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR Dec 28, 2007
Incident date: Nov 25, 2007
1. WINDOW MOVEMENT STOPPED 2. WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR AND THE TINT GOT SCRATCHED 3. THE DEALER QUOTED 300 TO FIX IT, REPLACED REGULATOR AND BRUSHING. *TR
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS Mar 23, 2007
Incident date: Mar 21, 2007
BMW318TI - BOTH DRIVER-SIDE AND PASSENGER-SIDE WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS . REPLACED THE PASSENGER-SIDE REGULATOR TWICE ALREADY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. FORTUNATELY ONCE WAS WITHIN THE ONE-YEAR WARRANTY OF WHEN IT BROKE THE FIRST TIME SO THE EXPENSE WAS JUST THE LABOR, STILL EXPENSIVE. JU... Read more
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS Jul 28, 2006
Incident date: Jul 18, 2006
3 SERIES MODELS (E36) AND NOTABLY THE 318TI BMW AUTOMOBILES HAVE AN EXTREMELY HIGH FAILURE RATE FOR THE WINDOW REGULATORS. ITS NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE TO REPAIR THEM ANNUALLY AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY 300 DOLLARS PER DOOR. THE FAILURE OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE WINDOW TO JAM, OR FALL INSIDE TH... Read more
TIRES Feb 8, 2006
Incident date: Jan 24, 2005
PIRELLI P205 60R 15 TIRE BLOW OUT RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY TO CLIENT. *JB
Crash 1 injured
TIRES Jul 16, 2001
Incident date: Jul 5, 2001
CAR HAS A SAFETY DESIGN FLAW. SPARE TIRE MOUNT DESIGN ALLOWS THE SIDEWALL OF THE SPARE TIRE (MOUNTED UNDER THE TRUNK) TO RUB AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK DURING NORMAL DRIVING. UPON TAKING OUT THE SPARE, THE TIRE WAS FOUND TO HAVE PRONOUNCED MARKS AND GROOVES ON THE TIRE SIDEWALLS FROM THE RUBB... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM Mar 22, 2000
Incident date: Aug 21, 1998
SMOG DEVICE FAILED. YH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Mar 22, 2000
Incident date: Aug 21, 1998
GASKET WEAR CAUSED GASOLINE LEAKING. YH
TIRES Sep 21, 1999
Incident date: Aug 1, 1998
MICHELIN TIRE (P205/R15 MXV) BLEW OUT ON FREEWAY. YH
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS Apr 20, 1999
LOW HEAM HEAD LIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH ILLUMINATION.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Apr 20, 1999
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY.
SUSPENSION Apr 20, 1999
THE SUSPENSION DOES NOT SOAK UP BUMPS WITHOUT HOPPING.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) Apr 20, 1999
VEHICLE LACKS TIRE ROAD GRIP ON SOME TURNS AND THE REAR OF THE CAR SLIDES OUT.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Feb 3, 1999
Incident date: Feb 2, 1999
UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION: I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I EASED THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE TO LET THE CAR ROLL FORWARD SLIGHTLY, THEN INCREASED THE BRAKE PPRESSURE AGAIN, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO REV FAST, CAUSING THE REAR WHEELS TO SPIN AND PROPELLING THE C... Read more
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH Dec 18, 1998
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE ROAD PROPERLY.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Dec 18, 1998
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY.
SUSPENSION Dec 18, 1998
TIRES AND SUSPENSION OF VEHICLE ARE INADEQUATE RESULTING IN REAR OF VEHICLE SLIDING DURING TURNS AND BUMPY RIDE.
TIRES Dec 18, 1998
TIRES AND SUSPENSION OF VEHICLE ARE INADEQUATE RESULTING IN REAR OF VEHICLE SLIDING DURING TURNS AND BUMPY RIDE.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR Oct 20, 1998
Incident date: Jul 24, 1998
DRIVER'S WINDOW GLASS PLATE CAME OUT OF THE DOOR CHANNEL.

EPA Fuel Economy, 1998 BMW 318TI

Trim / Engine City MPG Highway MPG Combined MPG Fuel Type Annual Fuel Cost
1.9L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd (Rear-Wheel Drive) 20.0 28.0 23.0 Regular $2,700
1.9L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd (Rear-Wheel Drive) 20.0 29.0 24.0 Regular $2,600

CO2 Emissions: -1.0 g/mile (Compact Cars)

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.

Technical Service Bulletins, 1998 BMW 318TI

8 manufacturer communications from 7 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

ComponentBulletins
140000 AIR BAGS2
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS1
162000 STRUCTURE:BODY1
980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
133000 VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS1
B510819 Jan 16, 2024
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
B510819 Jan 16, 2024
133000 VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
000699 Aug 1, 1999
980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SUBJECT REGARDING 1998 FINAL EDITION ETM. *TT
61 14 98 Nov 1, 1998
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SUBJECT ON EWS3D CODING NOT POSSIBLE. *YC
72 04 98 Oct 1, 1998
140000 AIR BAGS
INFORMATION ON NEW AIRBAGS. *YC
51 02 98 Sep 1, 1998
162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR LID IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN. *YC
65 12 98 Jul 1, 1998
122000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS ON FOG LIGHTS FOR 318TI VEHICLES. *YC
72 08 97 Feb 1, 1998
140000 AIR BAGS
VARIOUS INFORMATION REGARDING DEACTIVATION OF AIRBAGS. *YC

BMW 318TI - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the BMW 318TI across all model years (1995, 1997).

3 Total Recalls
31 Total Complaints
0 Investigations
2 Reported Crashes
0 Reported Fires
0 Reported Deaths

BMW 318TI - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year Recalls Complaints
1999 0 1 View
1998 (current) 0 18
1997 1 1 View
1996 1 8 View
1995 1 3 View

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