1998
BMW 318

Starts at:
$21,390
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New 1998 BMW 318
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Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 318TI 3dr HB Manual
    Starts at
    $21,390
    23 City / 32 Hwy
    MPG
    4
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 318TIA 3dr HB Auto
    Starts at
    $21,390
    22 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    4
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 318I 4dr Sdn Manual
    Starts at
    $26,150
    23 City / 32 Hwy
    MPG
    4
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 318IA 4dr Sdn Auto
    Starts at
    $26,150
    22 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    4
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

The good & the bad

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Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
4 years / 50,000 miles
Corrosion
6 years
Roadside Assistance
4 years / 50,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
Certified Pre-Owned Elite with less than 15,000 miles; Certified Pre-Owned with less than 60,000 miles
Basic
1 year / unlimited miles from expiration of 4-year / 50,000-mile new car warranty
Dealer certification
196-point inspection
See all CPO program details

Consumer reviews

83% of drivers recommend this car
4.4 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.5
Interior 4.5
Performance 4.6
Value 4.7
Exterior 4.8
Reliability 3.9

Most recent

  • By m3 from seattle, wa
    Owns this car
    February 17, 2011

    economical, reliable fun to drive

    My first car. at 126000 miles there is no problems at all, the engine is running as strong as it did 12 years ago, built quality is very high. 5 speed tranny is good but requires precision and slowish shifting for smoothness
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Ti lover from BimmerBurg, Germany
    Owns this car
    November 7, 2009

    Red 98 Ti

    I got a red 318Ti from the 98 model year, but you could never tell by looking at it that it's 11 years old. The E36 body style has aged very well and is really the last hoorah of good BMWs before they became all Bangle-ish and blingy. One of my friends almost mistook it for a civic hatchback. So what you have here is a BMW that you can actually be seen in. It's a cheap, cheerful hatchback when the shoe fits, and a tire-smoking, engine-revving, lane-hogging statusmobile for when you're feeling a bit more robust. This car is one of BMWs biggest hidden treasures and i am a fan for life. Great RWD starter car. I haven't tried it but it seems like it would kill at autocross events with a little weight trimming. Amazingly sharp steering, i'm used to AWD so when I first stepped intoi the Ti i thought it was twitchy until I realized that it was because I no longer had to deal with understeer. I would recommend this car to anyone from a random guy on the street to my own mother, just try to find one in fairly good condition.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 3.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By ti owner from Woodbury, MN
    Owns this car
    November 5, 2007

    Very sound auto

    I have owned a 318ti for 10 years, and have had no major problems with the car. I have also owned a 325is, but that car wasn't as reliable as this one. I do wish it had a tilt steering wheel
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By the stig from BMW town
    Owns this car
    July 4, 2007

    TI pre-owner

    This car although small is a good bang for your buck. Between gas and expenses, it sips gas for a premium and performs like no other. Its 4 cylinder gives it no dis-advantage and meets up to the BMW quality standards of their cars. I found people often saying it sounds like a turbo when you hit over drive and has a sound like no other. The cars handling is very well and is great for its since. Its perfectly adjusted and handles great, even under horrible conditions. I found myself in a controlled slide only once on ice, and it pulled out fine. The interior lacks some zang but it does it just fine for the price. My only real complaint about the car is its a lemon. Bought at 80,000 miles.. I have had more problems with this car than imagionable. All the way from over heating problems too the interior door pannels and center consoles falling out. The door panel is rigged in a do-it yourself fashion which means it barely holds and i find myself closing the door by the metal on the window. My car alone maybe a lemon, and i heard that 318's were just not made well, but dont let that stop you! The car is a fun auto, And performes well. It lacks 0-60 speed but most bmw's do. After the 60 mph marker, the car accelerates to a point where its scary fast. You can find yourself out running a squad car if you perform well. All in all i give the car a Ok rating, its a good starter car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 2.0
    1 person out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Original ti Owner from Bowling Green, OH
    Owns this car
    April 5, 2007

    A joy to drive!

    The 318ti is a fun, reliable, and efficient car to both own and drive. I have over 129,000 miles on my 1998 318ti that I purchased new and it's still running strong. An excellent car that I would recommend to anyone!
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By morrphix from Melbourne Fl
    Owns this car
    September 9, 2006

    Best little car i've owned

    I bought this 98 car in 2006 and loved it since. I has its little quirks like every car but nothing too bad. The handaling is wonderfull and the car packs a descent acceleration for the engine provided. Great gas miliage and a confortable ride on long trips. The car is hard to work on by one's self since everything is so tightly packed into the car. I do wish the manual was geared a little better since the car reves high on the highway but other then that the ride is smooth. If your in the market for an used bmw and want a good intro beamer this a good way to go.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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BMW dealers near you

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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 1998 BMW 318?

The 1998 BMW 318 is available in 4 trim levels:

  • 318i (1 style)
  • 318iA (1 style)
  • 318ti (1 style)
  • 318tiA (1 style)

What is the MPG of the 1998 BMW 318?

The 1998 BMW 318 offers up to 22 MPG in city driving and 31 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 1998 BMW 318 reliable?

The 1998 BMW 318 has an average reliability rating of 3.9 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 1998 BMW 318 owners.

Is the 1998 BMW 318 a good Hatchback?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 1998 BMW 318. 83.3% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.4 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.5
  • Interior: 4.5
  • Performance: 4.6
  • Value: 4.7
  • Exterior: 4.8
  • Reliability: 3.9
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