In 2001 I met John Southin, a car aficionado of the highest order.
A retired Biologist and Geneticist who was a professor at McGill University for 28 years before he retired early (he got his PhD at the age of 23), John was incredibly bright, and unlike most academics I’d known before or since, was also incredibly humble, down to earth and easy to talk to.
But one of the most important things about him when we met was our shared love of all things automotive. Although he’d been a city dweller for most of his adult life and had relied on public transit in university and early professional career, by the time John hit his mid-40’s he was ready to be a motorist.
He used to joke about how he took driving lessons with a fellow professor in Montreal, and when then went to the transportation ministry the person doing their road test pretty much only watched them drive around the block before passing them. He always said it had something to do with being academics.
After having spent the decade after getting his license sating all of his automotive desires (at one time he had a Pontiac Trans Am, Chevrolet Corvette and VW Beetle at the same time), he winnowed his collection down to one: a 1991 BMW 318i. It was this car that he had when we met.
On one of the first road trips we did, I told him that I could drive a manual transmission. Having grown up a farm kid and having driven tractors and combines, I assumed that I could.
However, after stalling the BMW about five times before getting out of my driveway when he came to pick me up, I quickly realized that thinking I knew how to drive a stick wasn’t the same as knowing how to.
The very businesslike interior. A place for everything and everything in its place.
From then on, he usually took the wheel whenever we went anywhere. However, from the passenger seat I got to observe the car in through detail. It was all black, with sturdy grey upholstery. It always seemed pretty quick with the manual but at higher rpm the engine was a bit noisy. The inside seemed well put together if a bit austere.
From the outside it was obvious this was the strippo 3-series of its time, with rather chintzy plastic wheelcovers and black plastic fillers where the fog lights were supposed to be. I also thought it looked a bit ‘retro’ blocky, not unlike other long-lived designs like the Volvo 240.
A similar 318i – note the lack of foglights and the plastic hubcaps!
He had purchased the car in 1992 after it had served as a dealer demo model at Canbec BMW in Montreal (a dealership which still exists). But after driving it for a decade, he decided he wanted something new, or rather two somethings new. So his faithful 318i was traded in on a 1998 Suzuki Sidekick (which eventually became mine), and he decided to move up the teutonic ladder a bit with a car he’d always admired; a 1993 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.6.
Of all the 3 series, this model is my favorite, although I prefer the two door and the sweet little six. Simple, pleasant lines, good ergonomics, great handling and decent reliability. Made me wonder why I kept the 320i so long.
That is a somewhat rare car in the US market (sold in 1991 ONLY)!
The first BMW e30 318i US versions sold between 1984-85. It was a slug. It had the M10 engine passed on from it’s predecessors, the 320i (e21) & 2002, It was a 1.8 FI’d sloth. (105 hp @ 5,800 rpm) I can’t even imagine how slow the 1983 E28 518 was with this engine?
The ’91 318i was the only other e30 318i to be sold in the US after ’85. It had a new & improved M42 engine which was 2 sec. faster then the ’84 & ’85’s. (140 hp @ 5,500 rpm). It was the best 318 built, IMO. Still light enough with a 4-banger, with just enough power to make it the Ultimate Driving Machine to toss around twisty’s..
I owned several ’84/’85 318’s but only one ’91 318i. (along with many 325 e30’s)
I think I paid $200 for my one ‘driver’ ’84… cleaned it up then sold it for 10 times what I paid for it. It was completely stock when purchased, complete with “Bottlecap” wheels. Then I added some aggressive looking mods.from several parts cars… an “S” model front air dam, rear MTech deck spoiler, headlight eyebrows, sunroof wind deflector, etc.
Here’s my ’84 318 in it’s glory. It was the color “Bronzit”, which we in the BMW community call the “default color” (when the factory runs out of every paint color, the back up color is Bronzit”) Disregard the chrome trim rings… on Panasport Minilite replica’s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series_(E30)#Four-cylinder_petrol
Memories of my first BMW, a ’90 325iS bought in 1996. Kept the car for about five years until changing needs around the house necessitated a change. Still think about that car often.
And still wish BMW made cars like that now.
Yes, I definitely played with the thought of getting something like this 318i, an ultimate driving machine even with the little 1.8. Even my about 10 year old son noticed one on the road and said “I like this!”
That ergonomic dash design found its way into our 2003 Ford Windstar. It was the one feature that gave it a hint of “driver’s car” ambience.
Yes this has turned out to be my favorite 3 series. I turned against it when the new gen was introduced, but I have a new appreciation for this body style. Esp with the 6. Grabem while they are still pretty cheap. The m3 the exception.
I had a 1991 BMW 318i manual also. One of my favorite cars ever, if not the favorite. It was red with tan interior. Ran like a sewing machine. Plenty of power out of those 4 cylinders. Great car.
This car reminds me in so, so, so many ways of my beloved 1989 Mazda Protege (or 323). The interior AND the exterior (the Protege was also black).
I don’t know if this is correct or true (I’ve never even been IN a Beemer, let alone driven one), but its former owner told me Proteges drive like a BMW.
The Mazda had a 5-speed stick, sunroof, A/C, grey cloth upholstery, incredibly comfortable seats, and drove like a sports car. It was also equipped with the 102 hp twin cam 4. I loved driving it.
I bought it with 79,000 miles on it for $1600. I drove it until it was only running on 3 cylinders (at 150,000 miles or so) and wasn’t worth repairing.
If i could find another one in good condition, I’d buy it in a heartbeat.
So I guess it counts as a COAL?
I test flew one of these when looking for a replacement for my Amon tuned Corona, then a 320i just to see if the first one was just a bad one off then a 306 diesel back to back same course same day/evening, I didnt buy either of the ultimate understeerers their behaviour when pushed hard on a roundabout is not pleasant or even remotely sporty, yes you can kick the tail out to make them turn in but that gets your car impounded here if the police man is watching.
I had a 91 318i, loved the way it drove!
I thought the plastic wheel covers conveyed tasteful frugality.
However, the front seats were the worst of ANY car I have ever owned. I didn’t discern that during the test drive. But I did after the 75 minute drive home from Raleigh NC to Goldsboro NC.
Flawless dashboard design that tilts towards the driver…