Price: SOLD | Visit the Bring a Trailer Auction
Mileage: 130,900 Miles
Engine: M42B18 1.8-Liter 4-Cyliner Engine
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual Transmission
Exterior color: Hellrot (red) Exterior (314)
Interior: Black Montana Leather / Red Millpoint Cloth (D7RT)
Additional features:
1 of 94 Hellrot Club Sports
Club Sport
M Sport Package
M Sport Suspension
Manual Sport Seats
HiFi Sound System
Fog Lights
Air Conditioning
Fold Down Rear Seats
Mark D Performance Chip
Z3 Short Shift Kit
M3 Front Splitter
Billy Boat Exhaust
E36 M3 Style 39 17-Inch Double Spoke II (DSII) Wheels
Continental Extreme Contact DW High Performance Tires
Stock Style 18 16-Inch Wheels Included w/
Goodyear Fierce Instinct VR All Season Tires
100% Stock and Unmolested
Time-Capsule Condition
Colorado Car / Purchased at Gebhardt BMW
Clean Carfax
All Mx Up to Date
The E36/5 318ti (Touring International) was a mid-‘90s experiment where BMW brought the European “compact” 3 Series hatchback to the United States. A shorter, lighter, and more affordable 3 Series, the 318ti was a hit for handling-conscious enthusiasts and entry-level BMW buyers, but its virtues were lost on the mainstream US BMW market. Two decades on, those virtues have made it one of the most fun new-classic BMWs. The best of the 318tis were the Club Sport models, of which less than 300 were sold through BMW Individual. You could have your Club Sport in any color you liked, as long as it was red or black—with only 94 examples finished in Hellrot. Outfitted with M Sport bits consisting of an M3 front bumper, mirrors, and side skirts, the Club Sport was a cut above the pedestrian base model 318ti. An exclusive leather and cloth interior matched the exterior kit. The M Division further tuned the Club Sport with an M Sport Suspension that took advantage of the 318ti’s lack of weight and E30-derived trailing arm rear suspension.
In a world where modern BMWs are festooned more techno-gadgetry than a ‘60s-era space program, and even the smallest models border on the Clydesdale weight class, the E36/5 318ti Club Sport is refreshingly light, simple, and honest. The feisty, free-revving M42 engine requires prodigious excursions into the upper RPMs to deliver its 138 horsepower, but those horses only have to move 2734 pounds—over 200 pounds less than a 318i sedan and a staggering 400 pounds less than an M3! Rowing through the gears with your hair on fire is an exercise in smiles and when you get to the bends, you can carry that speed while everyone else has to brake. There is no substitute for lightness! The 318ti offers a quintessential slow-car-fast experience, which combined with the Club Sport additions results in a grins-per-mile ratio that few cars can match. Highway gas mileage north of 30 MPGs makes it downright affordable, too. In a hangar filled with some serious performance iron, the 318ti has been one of our hands-down favorites because it is just so much fun.
This 318ti Club Sport was originally sold by Gebhardt BMW in Boulder, Colorado on December 29, 1995 and remained with that owner for the next sixteen years. The second owner kept it for the next five years before offering it at collector car specialist Mecum Auctions earlier this year. It sold for a premium to a couple for their grandson, but unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for the car) he was not interested in learning to drive a manual transmission. We got it from them and promised to find it a good home, which it deserves because this is by far the cleanest 318ti I have ever seen! Hellrot is the best color to accentuate the Club Sport appearance and the two-tone leather and Millpoint fabric interior is stunning. It was 100% stock and unmolested when we got it. We set about adding a few tasteful correct upgrades that improve, but don’t compromise the original DNA of the 318ti. The short list is: 17-inch M3 DSII wheels with high performance Continental Extreme Contact DW tires, an M3 front splitter, Mark D performance chip, Z3 short shifter and an Billy Boat Exhaust. All original parts and wheels are including and comes with a clean Carfax. It has clearly always been properly owned and maintained. In preparation for sale we gave it a complete inspection including a cooling system flush, water pump, thermostat, rear brakes, transmission and differential fluid flushes with Redline fluids, power steering fluid flush and reservoir, spark plugs, drive belts, refreshed shifter bushings, and a fresh oil change. E36 M3 floor mats, all owners’ manuals, and three keys are included with the sale. As it sits, this is a turn-key car that I wouldn’t hesitate to drive across country. Recent Club Sport sales have shown their collector potential, but I would like to see this one go to an owner who will enjoy it because it is too much fun to sit in a garage.
The Hellrot paint is in excellent condition. It has clearly always lived indoors, having none of the UV fade that kills red cars in Colorado. There are no glaring imperfections or clear coat failure, but minor paint chips can be seen on the lower front valance. There is a small rock ding in the front panel to the right of the passenger side kidney grill. The leading edge of the hood and fenders are covered in clear bra, which has slight crazing if scrutinized. All panels are original and all VIN tags are in place. There is no rust. All trim work is present. The M3 front splitter is brand new. The windshield is crack-free, but it does have minor pitting. The side windows have light tint, which looks great and has protected the interior from UV exposure. The headlight lenses are crystal clear and the fog light lenses are crack-free. The marker and tail light lenses are crack-free and look great! The 17-Inch Double Spoke II E36 M3 Style 39 wheels are nearly perfect. Their only flaws are tiny spots of curb rash. They are wrapped in Continental Extreme Contact DW high performance tires with lots of tread remaining. The original Style 18 16-inch wheels are also straight and true with no curb rash. They are wrapped in Fierce Instinct VR all-season tires with lots of tread remaining.
The Black Montana leather with Red Millpoint fabric is the most defining feature of the Club Sport, and it looks absolutely fantastic! There are no odors and it has never been smoked in. The carpet has no stains or tears and has been protected by BMW M3 floor mats. The leather and cloth seats are in excellent condition. There is very minor discoloration on the driver’s seat bottom cushion and minimal bolster wear. All manual seat adjustments work correctly. The rear seats are the desirable fold-down type. The steering wheel leather has no excessive wear. There is slight discoloration on the headlight / dimmer knob. There are no failed pixels in the instrument cluster, radio, or clock and there are no warning or check engine lights. The BMW HiFi sound system sounds great. The heat blows warm and the air conditioning blows cold. The blower motor does not chirp, and the final stage resistor functions correctly (common issues). The shift boot has matching red stitching. All power windows, door locks, and the sunroof operate correctly. The door cards are solid. The headliner has some sag above the rear seats and minor wrinkling between the doors and sunroof. The trunk tool kit is complete, along with the jack and spare tire.
The M42 engine fires on command, idles smoothly and pulls strongly to redline. It does not leak, drip, or spot. The clutch take up is correct and the shifter is crisp. The brakes are firm, the suspension is compliant, and there is no driveline or wheel bearing vibration or whine. All maintenance is up to date; in preparation for sale we did the following items:
This is a turn-key Club Sport ready for its new home. We would like to find someone who will care for it and enjoy it as much as we have. As I’ve driven it more over the course of writing this listing, I have only come to love it more. With a hangar filled with all manner of BMW M cars and more, the 318ti Club Sport has been the only one I’ve chosen!
VIN Decode - Vehicle Identification Number: WBACG5321SAM53525 - Type: CG53 - Model: 318ti – USA - Development Code: E36 (5) - Chassis: Compact - Steering: LL - Doors: 3 - Engine: M42 - Displacement: 1.80 - Power: 138 Horsepower - Drivetrain: Rear - Transmission: Manual - Color: Hellrot (A314) - Upholstery: Black Leather / Red Millpoint Cloth (Stoff Millpoint/rot – D7RT) - Production Plant: MUNICH - Production Date: 9-28-1995
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