1992 Bmw 318is problems
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 1992 Bmw 318is problems
The 1992 BMW 318is, part of the E36 series, is known for several common problems based on complaints from owners.
- Engine Durability: The durability of the 318is's engine is questionable, with concerns about the car's ability to handle high mileage. This can lead to expensive repairs or replacements down the line.
- Rust Issues: Early E36 models, including the 318is, were the test bed for BMW's water-based paint, which took them a few years to perfect.
- Front Suspension Lower Control Arm Bushes and Ball Joints: These components are known to wear out, causing issues with the car's handling and ride quality. Replacing these parts can be expensive, but it is necessary to maintain the car's performance and safety.
- Timing Chain System: The timing chain system on the M42 engine can cause problems, with a loose or worn chain potentially resulting in costly repairs. This issue is specific to the M42 engine and can be a significant concern for 318is owners.
- Interior Quality: Earlier examples of the E36 series, including the 318is, were known for having poor build quality, with issues such as ill-fitting gloveboxes, poor quality cloth seats, and door trims that could come off in your hand.
- Electric Window Motors: Electric window motors can fail, causing the glass to come adrift from the regulators or the regulators themselves to break. Repairs can be expensive, so it's essential to use genuine BMW parts for repairs to ensure longevity.
- Air Conditioning System: The air conditioning system, including the control unit, fan resistor, condenser, and compressor, can fail, leading to a non-functioning air conditioning system. Repairs can be costly, but using genuine BMW parts can help ensure the longevity of the system.
Is the BMW 318i a reliable Car?
Key Takeaways. The BMW E46 3 Series, particularly the 318i, was a reliable and affordable choice with good fuel efficiency and maintenance costs. The E46 was a significant improvement in comfort compared to its predecessor, the E36, offering better suspension, increased comfort, and a better balance.
What is the difference between 318iS and 318i?
The late 91 318i is always a four door while the 318is is a 2 door coupe. Generally the coupe had the sport seats, sport suspension, basket weave wheels and a rear trunk spoiler. They even came without a sunroof in some cases.
What is the top speed of the BMW 318iS?
The BMW E36 3 Series Coupe 318is top speed is 213 Km/h / 132 mph.
What is the fuel economy of the BMW 318iS?
Would expect 12 km/l highway and 8-9 km/l in town .
What is the difference between 318iS and 318i?
The late 91 318i is always a four door while the 318is is a 2 door coupe. Generally the coupe had the sport seats, sport suspension, basket weave wheels and a rear trunk spoiler. They even came without a sunroof in some cases.
What is the fuel economy of the BMW 318iS?
Would expect 12 km/l highway and 8-9 km/l in town .
Does the 318iS have vanos?
Your 318i 4 cylinder engine does not have a vanos. The standard i6 double vanos is on all the E46 6 cylinder (non-diesel, non-M3) cars (323, 325, 328, 330).
What engine is in the 318iS?
The E36 318iS has a 1.9 DOHC 16v 140BHP M44 engine. Don't early ones have the M42? http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Engin... M42's (1.8) were fitted until early 1995 when the 1.9 litre M44 took over.
1992 Bmw 318is car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Bmw 318is problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Structure problems
- Latches/locks/linkages problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1992 Bmw 318is vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1992 Bmw 318is complaints
The NHTSA has received 3 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1992 Bmw 318is.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-05-05
- VIN: WBABE5316NJ
- Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
- Summary: MAY 5, 2004 INCIDENT: DRIVER'S DOOR LATCH FAILS TO WORK ... SO THAT THE DOOR FLIES OPEN WHILE DRIVING ... AND CAN NOT BE COMPLETELY CLOSED AND/OR LOCKED WHEN PARKED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1992 BMW 318IS 2-DOOR SEDAN WITH ONLY 34,319 MILES. THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN OCCASIONALLY OVER THE YEARS (ONLY BY MYSELF) AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM: I UNLOCKED AND DROVE MY CAR TODAY (MAY 5, 2004). I WENT TO TWO DESTINATIONS AND CLOSED AND LOCKED THE CAR EACH TIME WITHOUT A PROBLEM. AFTER MY SECOND STOP, I UNLOCKED THE CAR, ENTERED IT, AND CLOSED THE DOOR BEHIND ME WITHOUT REALIZING THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I DROVE AWAY AND WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE DOOR SUDDENLY FLEW OPEN. I WAS ABLE TO STOP IN A SAFE AREA WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT. I LOOKED AT THE DOOR'S LATCH AND WHERE IT CONNECTS WITH THE BODY AND SAW NOTHING WRONG ... BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE OR LATCH SECURELY. I CHECKED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR AND IT LOOKED SIMILAR TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I THEN DROVE MY STICK-SHIFT CAR HOME, WHILE HOLDING THE DRIVER'S DOOR AS CLOSED AS POSSIBLE WITH MY (RECENTLY, SURGICALLY OPERATED ON) LEFT ARM. I THEN PHONED THE NHTSA. OBVIOUSLY, A CAR'S DOORS MUST CLOSE AND LOCK PROPERLY TO KEEP ITS PASSENGERS SAFE. A CAR DRIVEN OCCASIONALLY, WITH ONLY 34,319 MILES, CERTAINLY SHOULDN'T HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN. FORTUNATELY, I WAS JUST A FEW MILES FROM HOME AND THE CAR IS ALWAYS GARAGED. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR REVIEWING THIS CASE. SINCERELY, CHARLES DREYFUSS P.S. I'VE INDICATED '3 FAILURES' ONLY BECAUSE I'VE TRIED TO CLOSE AND LOCK THIS CAR SEVERAL TIMES ONCE I GOT IT IN MY HOME'S GARAGE WITH NO SUCCESS.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-11-08
- VIN: WBABE5316NJ
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: DRIVER'S INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE WHICH CAUSED DOOR NOT TO OPEN FROM INSIDE. IN EVENT OF A EMERGENCY DRIVER CANNOT GO OUT FROM DRIVER'S DOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-03-02
- VIN: WBABE5317NJ
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: AFTER CAR PASSED THROUGH CAR WASH, WOULD NOT START; TOWED CAR TO DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IS 3-SERIES MODELS AND WAS QUOTED $1500 TO REPAIR. DEALER DID COMPLETE SERVICE 8 WEEKS EARLIER AND DID NOT INFORM ME OF WATER INTRUSION PROBLEMS DUE TO WEATHERING TRIM.*AK
1992 Bmw 318is recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 1992 Bmw 318is.
- 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.
- 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.
- Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
- Summary: THE AIR BAG CONTACT RING LOCKING TAB LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAN BREAK WITHOUT WARNING.
- Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE CONTACT RING WIRING COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK. THE AIR BAG READINESS INDICATOR LAMP (SRS OR AIRBAG) IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL ILLUMINATE, AND THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT VEHICLE COLLISION.
- Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOCKING TAB WITH ONE OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1992 Bmw 318is problems:
E36 318is problem areas?| Grassroots Motorsports forum |
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Mar 13, 2011 ... 1992 BMW 318i, thoughts? I have found one in my area that ... The late E30 318i (and 318is) with the M42 engine ... problems. Upvote 1. Downvote
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Sep 26, 2013 ... It's bad because it's been dependable for her and it is a known quantity. The car kind of sucks, but it works. The G/F is very good with money ...
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Oct 27, 2009 ... I've had my '96 318is for 50k miles now (it's at 150k now.) ... The car has lots of common problems, luckily ... It failed at 90k miles -- I should ...
1992 E36 318is m42 issues [FIXED]
Mar 17, 2016 ... Check the passenger cowl drain and be sure the DME didn't get flooded. If that little drain hose plugs up, rainwater will overflow into the DME ...
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