1994 Bmw 318i problems

General information about Bmw-318i
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list
Recalls list

The third generation of the BMW 3 Series range of compact executive cars is designated under the model code E36, and was produced by the German automaker BMW from 1990 to 2000. The initial models were of the four-door sedan body style, followed by the coupé, convertible, wagon ("Touring"), and eventually hatchback ("Compact").

The E36 was the first 3 Series to be offered in a hatchback body style. It was also the first 3 Series to be available with a six-speed manual transmission (in the 1996 M3), a five-speed automatic transmission, and a four-cylinder diesel engine. The multi-link rear suspension was also a significant upgrade as compared to the previous generations of the 3 Series. All-wheel drive was not available for the E36, unlike the previous (E30) and successive (E46) generations.

The E36 was named in Car and Driver magazine's 10Best list for every year it was on sale.

Following the introduction of its successor, the E46 3 Series in 1998, the E36 began to be phased out and was eventually replaced in 1999.

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Common 1994 Bmw 318i problems

Based on the complaints from owners of the BMW 318i 1994, several common problems have been reported:

Ignition Barrel Issues: One of the main problems with the BMW 318i is related to the ignition barrels. There have been instances where a pin inside the ignition barrel snaps, causing issues with turning the key and starting or stopping the car .
Volume Knob Malfunction: Another common problem reported is the malfunction of the volume knob on the original stereo system of the BMW 318i. Over time, the volume knob may stop working, affecting the ability to adjust the volume or even turn the radio off .
Plastic Fittings of Radiator Hoses: The plastic fittings of the radiator hoses in the BMW 318i are prone to cracking due to the car's age and constant exposure to extreme temperatures. These cracks can lead to coolant leaks and overheating issues .
Power Steering Fluid Reservoir Hose: The lower power steering fluid reservoir hoses have been known to burst off, potentially causing damage to the power steering pump, rack, and other components of the power steering system .

These problems highlight some of the common issues that owners of the BMW 318i 1994 have faced. It's essential for owners to be aware of these issues to address them promptly and ensure the proper maintenance and longevity of their vehicles.

Is the BMW 318i a reliable car?

Is the BMW 318i a good & reliable car? So long as it is serviced on time and looked after well, the BMW 318i can be a great, reliable and enjoyable mode of transport. Although it is no tar-burning supercar the 318i has been known for 30 years as a well-made, pleasant way to get around town.

What engine is in a 1994 BMW 318i?

1.8 L 4-cylinder1994 BMW 318i / Engine

How many miles per gallon does a 1994 BMW 318i get?

The best mileage recored was 44 MPG on a straight long trip, and it usually scores between 37 and 41 on any highway trip. The actual gas mileage is far better than what the EPA said it would be! It is a great, durable car that is easy to work on and is very economical!

What is a BMW 318i worth?

Pricing guides

BMW 3 Series Model	Body Type	Price to
318i	Convertible	$7,590
318i JPS	Convertible	$11,550
318i	Coupe	$5,720
318i	Coupe	$4,070

Is the BMW 318i A Good car?

Is BMW 318i fuel efficient?

With a fuel consumption rate of 5.4 liters per 100km, the BMW 318i is a fuel-efficient choice for those seeking a spacious and reliable four-door car.

Which is better 318i or 320i?

Both the 318 and the 320, whether in petrol or diesel form, are about as efficient as each other in the real world. However, the extra power of the 320i and 320d models makes lighter work of moving the mid-size saloon and estate, and we think they're the better option for more drivers.

How many miles per gallon does a 1994 BMW 318i get?

1994 Bmw 318i car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Bmw 318i problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Engine and engine cooling problems
Electrical system problems
Power train problems
Fuel system problems
Gasoline problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1994 Bmw 318i vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1994 Bmw 318i complaints

The NHTSA has received 14 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1994 Bmw 318i.

2012-12-19

POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2011-08-22
Crash: 1
Components: POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES
Summary: MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT HILL AND THE HAND BRAKE WAS PULLED UP TO ITS FULL CAPACITY. MY BROTHER SAT IN THE CAR AND SMOKED A CIGARETTE BEFORE GOING TO HIS APPOINTMENT. AFTER HE RETURNED FROM HIS APPOINTMENT, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE FOUND. AFTER LOOKING AROUND, HE REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED DOWN THE HILL, ACROSS A BUSY TWO-WAY MAIN ROAD IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF THE CITY AND HIT THE WALL OF THE AT&T BUILDING. THANK GOD NO PEDESTRIAN WAS WALKING DURING THIS TIME AND NO CAR WAS PASSING BY. MY INSURANCE PAID $12,000 IN DAMAGES TO THE BUILDING OWNER AND THE DAMAGES TO THE CAR WAS MASSIVE. MY PREMIUM INCREASED DUE TO THIS INCIDENT BECAUSE AT THE TIME, BMW STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE HAND BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN TIP TOP SHAPE AND THE ONLY ISSUE I HAVE EVER HAD WITH IT WAS HAVING TO GET THE HAND BRAKE ADJUSTED PERIODICALLY BECAUSE IT KEPT SLIPPING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL EVEN WHILE EXTENDED. *TR

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2005-08-12

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2005-08-09
VIN: WBACA6321RF
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary: DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE OVERHEATED RANDOMLY. THE ENGINE HEAD WAS REPLACED TWICE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE REPAIRS WERE COSTLY. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP REIMBURSED THE CONSUMER FOR ONE REPAIR, BUT WILL NOT DO IT AGAIN. CONSUMER STATE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE ENTIRE HEAD OF THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEALER DID NOT STATE THE REASON FOR THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING. *AK

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2002-05-14

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2001-11-23
VIN: WBACA6320RF
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Summary: FUEL LEAKAGES FROM THE UPPER RETURN LINES. DEALER MAKING REPAIRS. *AK DEALER CLAIMS IT WAS NEXT TO THE STARTER. ALSO CLAIMS IT WAS FIXED, HOWEVER IT IS NOT. *JG

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2002-03-04

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2000-10-20
VIN: WBACA632XRF
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Summary: INITIAL THROTTLE RECALL (NHTSE #97V131000) PERFORMED 5-13-98. PROBLEMS RELATING TO CRUISE CONTROL/BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUE. (PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE IRREGULARITIES IN SEVERAL FIELDS OF THE QUESTIONAIRE THAT SHOW UP INCORRECTLY ON THE FINAL CHART.)

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2001-09-02

STRUCTURE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2001-03-01
VIN: WBABE532XRJ
Components: STRUCTURE
Summary: INTERIOR DOOR PANEL ASSEMBLIES ON 3 (THREE) SECTIONS OF THE VEHICLE HAVE DETACHED - IN THE EVENT OF ACCIDENT, PASSENGERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE! ALSO, FLAWED DOOR PANEL ASSEMBLIES MAKE ENTERY/EGRESS FROM VEHICLE DIFFICULT/DANGEROUS.

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2001-08-01

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2000-10-15
VIN: WBACA5320RF
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary: TEMPERATURE GUAGE RISES AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF COOLANT SPILL ENGINE OVERHEATS ENGINE STALLS I REALLY DON'T EXPECT THIS ON A BMW WHY DON'T HELP US WITH THE PROBLEM I'M REALLY DISAPOINTED THEY JUST IGNORE THE PROBLEM.

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2001-06-08

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2001-05-26
VIN: WBACA6328RS
Components: POWER TRAIN
Summary: WOULD BE DRIVING AND VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM FIRST INTO 2ND GEAR. WOULD GET HUNG UP IN FIRST. THEN, IT WOULD SUDDENLY JERK AND SHIFT INTO 2ND. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC INDICATED PROBLEM OF SHIFTING WAS REPAIRABLE.*AK

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2001-04-30

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2000-09-22
VIN: WBACA6321RF
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary: WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY, VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND RED LIGHT CAME ON, CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED AND WAS ADVISED THAT HEAD GASKET CONTAINED A CRACK WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE HEAD, CONSUMER WAS ALSO ADVISED BY REPUTABLE BMW DEALERS THAT VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITH A FAULTY PART CALLED THE PROFILE GASKET AND IT IS WELL KNOWN, BUT MANUFACTURER DOES NOT WANT TO RECOGNIZE IT AS A PROBLEM, CONSUMER HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS TWICE, THE FIRST REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE RADIATOR AND ALSO THERE WAS A RECALL ON RADIATOR CAP. *JB

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2000-10-26

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
VIN: WBACA6321RF
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary: WHILE DRIVING THE OVER-HEATING LIGHT CAME ON, DEALER FOUND HEAD GASKET TO BE CRACKED, CONSUMER SAYS THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW TO THE PROFILE GASKET WHICH CAN LEAK AND OVER A PERIOD OF TIME CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. *SLC

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2000-06-16

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2000-05-11
VIN: WBACA6322RF
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary: CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO A CAR WASH WHEN CONTROL BOX GOT WET, THEN THE FUEL INJECTOR FROZE OPEN, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. CAR SPILLED GASOLINE ALL OVER THE GROUND. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO START VEHICLE WHEN THE CAR WHEN A CAR WASH ATTENDANT CAME OUT AND TOLD HER NOT TO START VEHICLE BECAUSE IT MIGHT BLOW UP. PRIOR CARS OF 1994 BMW HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. *AK

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1999-10-04

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1999-09-28
VIN: WBACA5322RF
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary: THE CAR KEEPS STALLING OUT WHEN I AM AT A STOP, STARTS RIGHT UP AGAIN AND IS FINE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THEN STALLS AGAIN (MAY BE DAYS LATER). DEALER IS CLAIMING IT'S THE ALTERNATOR.

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1999-09-02

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1999-09-02
VIN: WBACA6324RF
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE
Summary: WHEN ONSUMER'S SON GOT INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND LOCKED DOORS MANUALLY. THEN TRIED TO TURN ON ENGINE, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT START. DRIVER TRIED TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE, AND HE COULDN'T BECAUSE THE DOOR WON'T UNLOCK. SOMEHOW HE OPENED THE SUN ROOF AND GOT OUT. THEN UNLOCKED DOOR WITH KEY. *AK

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1999-03-10

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1999-01-02
Crash: 1
VIN: WBACA6326RF
Components: AIR BAGS
Summary: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ACCIDENT ON ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. UPON IMPACT OF APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH HEAD-ON COLLISION, BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT AIR BAGS SHOULD NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WILL HAVE VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IF NEEDED. *AK

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1996-11-27

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1996-09-30
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary: VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN, UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE.

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1994 Bmw 318i recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 1994 Bmw 318i.

1998-08-04

Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.
Consequence: IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.

1997-08-19

Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Summary: THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.

Additional sources

More sources of information about 1994 Bmw 318i problems:

1994 BMW 318i Potential Issues? | VW Vortex - Volkswagen Forum

https://www.vwvortex.com/threads/1994-bmw-318i-potential-issues.6145016/

Sep 26, 2013 ... The common issues are going to be the same as other E36s - cooling system, suspension bushings and shock mounts, windows coming out of their ...

318 common problems to look out for.

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1765736-318-common-problems-to-look-out-for

Dec 31, 2011 ... Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum - Powered by vBulletin. The Facebook Platform. 318 common problems to look out for. Thread: 318 common ...

E36 318is problem areas?| Grassroots Motorsports forum |

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/e36-318is-problem-areas/37766/page1/

E36 318is problem areas? · 1) Cooling system: if it's got 100k on it, the water pump, radiator, and expansion tank should have been replaced ...

list of all common E36 problems

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?813462-list-of-all-common-E36-problems

Aug 20, 2007 ... 1. rad plastic reservoir cracked. 2. oil filter housing gasket leak. 3. alternator & idler pulleys sounds like marbles rolling around in the can ...