1992-1998 BMW 318i - Consumer Guide Automotive

Category	BMW 318i sedan Rating (See All Ratings)

Performance	4

Fuel Economy	6

Ride Quality	4

Steering/Handling/Braking	7

Quietness	4

Controls/Materials	5

Interior Room	5

Room/Comfort (rear)	3

Cargo Capacity	3

Value within Class	5

Total Score:	46

Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category

Chart: One rating chart provided for a representative model

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1992-1998 BMW 318i Review

Not long after BMW redesigned its 3-Series for the 1992 model year with a more rounded profile and greater dimensions, a 4-cylinder 318i (4-door) and 318is (2-door) joined the lineup. Like their 6-cylinder counterparts 325i/is, the 318i/is got a standard driver-side airbag and antilock brakes. Initial models came only with manual shift, but BMW's 4-speed automatic transmission arrived during 1993 as an option. BMW also issued 4-cylinder convertibles for a short time, but with the older, squared-off body. Not until 1994 would 4-cylinder convertibles adopt the smoothly curved shaping of the sedans.

Year to Year Changes

1993 BMW 3-Series: For '93, all coupes and sedans got increased front seat height adjustments to improve head room. A sport suspension package joined the option list for 4-cylinder models.

1994 BMW 3-Series: All models gained a passenger-side airbag. Convertibles finally got the new styling that had first appeared in '92, as a 4-cylinder 318i ragtop emerged during this model year.

1995 BMW 3-Series: Late in 1995, BMW launched a low-budget 318ti hatchback with a closely related engine but a completely different appearance.

1996 BMW 3-Series: A bigger (1.9-liter) 4-cylinder engine went into mid-1996 models. Cruise control became standard on all 318-series automobiles, and traction control was an option. All models got a new 10-speaker, 200-watt sound system, plus a console cupholder. A new automatic climate-control system was also standard, while coupe and convertibles sported new alloy wheels.

1997 BMW 3-Series: All models got standard All-Season traction control for '97. Most other changes were cosmetic, including reshaping of the familiar twin-kidney grille to match the larger 5-Series and the new Z3 roadster. Also, side-marker and turn-signal lamps were redesigned.

1998 BMW 3-Series: The 318 coupe and convertible models were replaced by more-expensive models called the 323. Sedan and hatchback 318is returned mostly unchanged. However, side airbags were now standard on the 318i sedan. The 3-Series was all new for 1999.

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