BMW Ti parts commonality?

I am really thinking about pulling the trigger on a 318Ti that has been sitting near my house for a while. I know it would need a bit of work, but it won't be too bad. The real question is can I use suspension upgrades for the coupe to upgrade the Ti?

Do you mean the Z coupes? Yes.

Well, I was talking about This, but after reading that it looks like it shares the front suspension with the Z3, and the rear of the E30. Strange, but should make it cheap to work on.

the Z3 and the Ti are almost identical underneath. To say that the Ti has the exact same rear suspension as the E30 is wrong.. it is an evolved version, not unlike that of the E30 M3s.. strong hubs, better brakes, 5 lugs. The fact that the Z3 and Ti rear suspension bolts under the E30 is just icing on the cake for the E30 folks and feeds the rumors on this hated little car.

The Z3 Ms have a stronger rear suspension yet.. boxed and better supported semi-trailing arms that do not flex at all under that car's more massive power. This is the hot ticket it you want to go 6 cylinder power in the Ti.

So to sum up in a nutshell. The rear suspension is SIMILAR to the E30s in that it can bolt into an E30 with minimal work.. but is different enough in that it is stronger, has better brakes, and can support larger and better rims. IT does make the ti a bit tailhappy if you are the type to let off of the gas deep into a corner or even stab the brakes.. but if you can keep your foot into it.. the Ti is still a very stable car for going fast in.

yes, the front half is E36, the rear half is E30. Very similar to the Z3's

Front suspension is standard e36 - stock brakes are unique, but upgrades are bolt on through e46 - rear will work from z cars with some tweaking. M/S50-54 engines drop right in. Body from the windshield forward shares stuff with the sedan. Interiors are unique although they share some bits - things like window tracks/regulators out of sedans... edit - they are a few hundred pounds lighter than other e36s.

mad_machine wrote: the Z3 and the Ti are almost identical underneath. To say that the Ti has the exact same rear suspension as the E30 is wrong.. it is an evolved version, not unlike that of the E30 M3s.. strong hubs, better brakes, 5 lugs. The fact that the Z3 and Ti rear suspension bolts under the E30 is just icing on the cake for the E30 folks and feeds the rumors on this hated little car. The Z3 Ms have a stronger rear suspension yet.. boxed and better supported semi-trailing arms that do not flex at all under that car's more massive power. This is the hot ticket it you want to go 6 cylinder power in the Ti. So to sum up in a nutshell. The rear suspension is SIMILAR to the E30s in that it can bolt into an E30 with minimal work.. but is different enough in that it is stronger, has better brakes, and can support larger and better rims. IT does make the ti a bit tailhappy if you are the type to let off of the gas deep into a corner or even stab the brakes.. but if you can keep your foot into it.. the Ti is still a very stable car for going fast in.

Yes, but it still has the same cruddy geometry.

mad_machine wrote: the Z3 and the Ti are almost identical underneath. To say that the Ti has the exact same rear suspension as the E30 is wrong.. it is an evolved version, not unlike that of the E30 M3s.. strong hubs, better brakes, 5 lugs. The fact that the Z3 and Ti rear suspension bolts under the E30 is just icing on the cake for the E30 folks and feeds the rumors on this hated little car. The Z3 Ms have a stronger rear suspension yet.. boxed and better supported semi-trailing arms that do not flex at all under that car's more massive power. This is the hot ticket it you want to go 6 cylinder power in the Ti. So to sum up in a nutshell. The rear suspension is SIMILAR to the E30s in that it can bolt into an E30 with minimal work.. but is different enough in that it is stronger, has better brakes, and can support larger and better rims. IT does make the ti a bit tailhappy if you are the type to let off of the gas deep into a corner or even stab the brakes.. but if you can keep your foot into it.. the Ti is still a very stable car for going fast in.

This.......They are a bit tricky to drive at the limit, but the tail out with throttle lift is "entertaining" if it doesn't kill you. With coilovers, and better rubber/brakes.....its actually a very fun little car. Doors, door panels, rear interior, and the bodywork behind the doors is all unique to the ti. Also, if going any more powerfuk than stock, you'll need either an E30 or Z3 lsd large case diff. I'm sure I'll be pushing my 3.45 lsd small case to the limit.

Also, ti's seem to have less room under the rear fenders than the rest of the E36's

Edit: Also, if you want to know more about them, check out 318ti.org .......they'll at least answer your questions. Before I was banned the last time from bimmerforums, the favorite thing to do was bash 318's, I doubt that has changed in the last 3 years.

Once again, we didn't get the good version here... Compacts were popular everywhere else in the world.

My ti is lowered on coilovers with poly bushings. I run a 235/45/17 tyre on it with no rubbing.. and the top of the tyre is equal to the bottom of the arch.. no rubbing.

I have passed E46 M3s on the outside of highway onramps.. still accelerating long after the M car has dropped back.. granted, they usually roar by me once the road straightens up.. but in the corners, my Ti has little to equal it

mad_machine wrote: My ti is lowered on coilovers with poly bushings. I run a 235/45/17 tyre on it with no rubbing.. and the top of the tyre is equal to the bottom of the arch.. no rubbing.

I'm on 235/40r17 over bbs ra's......I'm prolly lower though, as I had to roll the berkeley outta my fenders.

mad_machine wrote: but in the corners, my Ti has little to equal it

yea it does......mine.

I agree with being able to outhandle ///M cars around twisties though.......mine has a history placing no lower than second in bmwcca autox's.

Also, to the OP.....17's and E46 330zhp brakes for the front = win.

In reply to oldtin:

They never actually sold the M ti there either(built a test mule/eye candy though).....but they at least put diesels and 6cyls in them across the pond.

That ti needs moar LOW

6 cylinder E30s and M3's are "medium" case diffs, 318s were "small" case diffs.

The large was in 5 & 7 I believe.

what I find funny... on the E30.. people love the way the car handles. On the E36.. they bitch about the rear suspension and the way the car handles.. people need to make up their minds

Wow, thanks for all the info guys. Making this decision a lot easier!

Found out Ti s door panels are worth their weight in gold. Early Ti s also have solid 12mm front rotors and can also upgrade to regular vented e36 rotors with the correct caliper carriers. Factory LSDs can be found cheap. Building my Ti per challenge rules as we speak and have been researching for all the factory bolt-on tricks. I recently wondered if the E30 rear end subframes bolted in as well and now I know thanks!!

I think all the Tis have those solid rotors.. and yes, the upgrade is quick and painless. Just a matter of replacing the rotor, carrier, and caliper with the correct 325 or 328 piece. To use the M3, you will need the whole hub (but that applies to all non-M E36s.)

The Factory LSD is not the best in the world.. and was only availible till early 1996 as part of the Winter Package. That was when all non-M BMWs lost their LSDs and got traction control

z31maniac wrote: 6 cylinder E30s and M3's are "medium" case diffs, 318s were "small" case diffs. The large was in 5 & 7 I believe.

FWIW, for E30/z3/ti compatibility, its large or small case nomenclature.

mad_machine wrote: The Factory LSD is not the best in the world.. and was only availible till early 1996 as part of the Winter Package. That was when all non-M BMWs lost their LSDs and got traction control

This was a sad sad time as well.......To the OP, if you happen to find an earlier 95, lacking EWS-II makes life much easier down the road. Only thing that sucks about mine is its a Nov '95 build date, yet it still is OBD-1, M42, lsd active, and had EWS-II(even wiring diagrams claimed it wasn't possible)

Mine is a feb 96... M44 engine, OBDII and winter package with the LSD.. I think March or April is when they went to traction control

In reply to mad_machine:

Why does BMW have to be weird with that model year ending when they quit building that in december?

yamaha wrote: FWIW, for E30/z3/ti compatibility, its large or small case nomenclature.

I can't speak for people who refer to things incorrectly.

In those years, BMW made "small" "medium" and "large" case diffs.

having built a few E30s in my time

April 95 for mine - active package, non EWS, LSD, 245/40/17s - not lowered yet - cause I'm cheap and looking for the right deal on some takeoff billy sports/H&Rs).

(the one in the photo is a german market 323 ti - M52 I think.)

Door panels are only worth anything with the panel standoffs intact since they tend to break. There's a JB weld fix or now a guy is selling his own kit. The BMW fix having to buy new panels.

which if you can get them.. you do not want to them buy from BMW... Ti specific interior bits tend to be hugely expensive if you look at the realoem website.

and just because I can.. my Ti when it looked a LOT better:

Before After

In reply to oldtin:

I actually like those wheels......what are they?

Also, because I can.......and to foster the ti love in this community

See, they make decent race cars

I need the M-technik kit though, I think it would look a whole lot better.