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...
1995-1999 · 5 model years
BMW 318TI Problems by year
Owners have filed 24 complaints about the BMW 318TI across 5 model years, and it has 1 recall. The 1998 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (11), while 1999 has far fewer than a typical year. The most reported problem area is the visibility & wipers, followed by the wheels & tires.
- Complaints
- 24
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 2
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Deaths
- 0
318TI complaints by model year
Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.
Most common 318TI problems
BMW 318TI recalls 1
Latest 318TI complaints
This is the 8th time passenger side window of my 1996 bmw318ti is in need of repair. Motor replaced once, than regulator, followed by numerous repairs for slides or clips to be fixed. When putting up window there is a loud crack and the window goes off track, so it can neither go up or down. This is a costly complaint from many owners of this car so there has to be some sort of problem or defect. *Tr
My 1996 bmw 318ti - driver side front window has 3 times in last 5 years fallen into the door interior while driving. I have had this repaired now 3 times in 5 years at a total cost to be of $1300. This is a systemic design and safety problem that occurs not most of the 3 series bmw from 1995 to 2002. Bmw utilizes a very poor channel design to retain the window safely and securely with 3 cheap inadequate plastic / metal clips that fail consistently and repeatedly after repair over a short time it is a...
Read the full complaint
huge design problem and there should be a recall and new design implementation to correct this systemic design safety failure. In my last failure last week I was driving 60 miles and hour on a freeway and window drops into door almost causing a crash. *Tr
Consumer reimbursement for a 1999 bmw 318ti. Consumer is requesting reimbursement for the damages done to her vehicle after it was repossessed. *Kb the consumer stated the bank performed illegal acts to gain possession of the vehicle.*Jb
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
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. Just this week the driver's side regulator failed. Not a cheap fix, and quite a scare when it actually happened. An unexpected loud crack and the window crashed to the bottom of the door, just a few seconds after the window button was depressed. Would love to hear that there was a recall. This was getting too be very expensive.*Ak
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 the door. This is a well known documented problem among the owner community and reactions at dealers is "oh yea happens all the time." I propose this could present an egress issue in event of an emergency. *Jb
Questions about the BMW 318TI
Which BMW 318TI years have the most problems?
Which BMW 318TI years have the fewest complaints?
What are the most common BMW 318TI problems?
Across every model year, owners report problems with the visibility & wipers (7), wheels & tires (4), acceleration & cruise control (3) most often.
How many recalls does the BMW 318TI have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall across all BMW 318TI model years. Each year's page lists the recalls for that year; check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether the repair has been done.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data