MilesP 13 Report post Posted July 14, 2013 I am missing my BMW to much so I want to go back to an E36. I am looking at several options and one that I am considering is a 318ti with the M44 twin cam engine. I had a 1996 323i imported from Japan and the gearbox was average. It wasn't rough but was jerky between the initial gears. I think that this is referred to as Jatco jerk. I have noticed though that the 318i and ti does not have the same 5 speed auto. My question is do they suffer from the same problem? Another question is would a low kms 5 speed jatco transmission have this issue? There is an 83000km 328i on trademe atm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BM WORLD 1283 Report post Posted July 14, 2013 (edited) the 318i 318ti 318is all use the GM brand of 4 speed automatic gearbox , not the best gearbox around but they seam to last for ages , dont have the jerk . but a bit sluggard . its a large gearbox over engineer for a 4cyl , weighs heaps . they are a pretty old unit like holden HQ trimatic with a overdrive added to them best to buy a manual 5spd one or convert a auto to a manual , my mate has had 2 318ti with the auto's both where converted to manuals , and both cars got about another 150km per tank of gas. he drives from manurewa to pukekohe each day and with the auto's use to get about 550-600km per tank now that they are converted manual he gets about 650-770km per tank, and thats driving any odd way a/c on or off etc. i have another mate with a 318ti auto and he complians too his 330i gets better millage. so the 316i , 318i , 318ti 318is all seam to work better when manuals. Edited July 14, 2013 by Brent HARTGE535i Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MilesP 13 Report post Posted July 15, 2013 My budget will b 3500. I had the 5 speed on the 323i and while it was ok it felt a bit bogged down all the time so a manual would be wicked. There are a few out there but looks like its hard to find a good manual for cheap Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allanw 1071 Report post Posted July 15, 2013 ..... its hard to find a good manual for cheap There's a good reason for that There's not that many of them, and they are WAY better. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BM WORLD 1283 Report post Posted July 15, 2013 $1500 and i can make it a manual Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MilesP 13 Report post Posted July 15, 2013 $1500 and i can make it a manual Yeah I thought that. I could be keen to get a tidy cheap auto E36 and get it converted. I sent an email to the local guys here and am keen to see what they come up with. TBH I would love a 318ti with the twin cam engine and a 5 speed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matrox02 0 Report post Posted July 15, 2013 $1500 and i can make it a manual Id Do what he says, He knows what he is doing , My Bimmer is being repaired by his team, and im happy so far Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MilesP 13 Report post Posted July 15, 2013 Where are you/is he based? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sp8s 1 Report post Posted July 15, 2013 Save yourself a heap of time and just buy this. http://www.bimmersport.co.nz/forums/index....showtopic=45173 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MilesP 13 Report post Posted July 15, 2013 I really really want that car but I just cant afford it right now Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nath 134 Report post Posted July 15, 2013 I had the GM 4 speed in my 1998 1.9L E46 318i sedan. As soon as I purchased the car I had the tranny flushed and it shifted like new, at 150km. The only grip I can muster is that when going up a steeper hill or when overtaking, the kickdown to what I imagine was second gear, was more sluggish than letting it change down to 3rd instead. I suppose that is to say that the torque and power curves were badly matched to the gear ratios. Incredible economy, however. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MilesP 13 Report post Posted July 15, 2013 I had the GM 4 speed in my 1998 1.9L E46 318i sedan. As soon as I purchased the car I had the tranny flushed and it shifted like new, at 150km. The only grip I can muster is that when going up a steeper hill or when overtaking, the kickdown to what I imagine was second gear, was more sluggish than letting it change down to 3rd instead. I suppose that is to say that the torque and power curves were badly matched to the gear ratios. Incredible economy, however. I had an E46 318i as well with the same box but the E46 is quite different to the E36. Or am I wrong? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MilesP 13 Report post Posted July 15, 2013 What would be the better car for daily driving? I drive about 40km a day and I do a mix of 60kmph and 100kmph. I like power but just needs to make me smile when I put my foot down. I also need economy and reliability. Would I be better suited to an M44 or an M50/52? Also which would be the cheaper to convert to manual? I noticed that almost all manual conversion kits on trademe don't include diffs. Would I need a different diff if say the car was an auto 318ti? Forgive all of the questions Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MilesP 13 Report post Posted July 15, 2013 Also just had a chat to the local guy and he basically said that while you are doing the swap and it costs around 5-600 for a 318i/ti you should do the fluids and master/slave at the same time so installed would be around 1800 - 1900. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BM WORLD 1283 Report post Posted July 15, 2013 early 1998-99 e46 318i have a sleightly different 4spd gm trans , better at changing but seam to pack up more often. later 2000 318i have a 5spd gm trans better again. buy my 328i m-sport coupe convert it to manual (can do it for you if need be) they return pretty good ecnomy etc.. http://www.bimmersport.co.nz/forums/index....showtopic=45181 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
