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BMW introduced the Compact in 1994 to compete with popular VW Golf and other medium size hatches of the time. The Golf had a good reputation as a hot hatch especially the GTI mark, however BMW’s 318ti didn’t comes close enough to take the title. Most Compact owners who have had the experience of the 323ti that was sold on the continent agree that if this had been released, the Compact would not have become what was the 3 series' poor cousin.
Although having driven both and tried to get insurance, the 318ti does its job of being a safe but entertaining ride in spades. If you want individuality then the BMW Compact is the car for you. It drives like the old Leyland mini, without the repair bills, and cannot be confused or made to look like an M3, something being done by the bucket load to the E36 saloon and Coupe. With the release of the One Series, the Compact may be on it’s way out, but BMW’s approach at targeting new drivers into the marque, has been a bold and impressive one.
Engines were changed/updated, near to the end of the E36, as the 1.6 got a 1900cc/8v engine and the 318ti a 1900cc/16v engine. This was because BMW thought the older 1.6 engines were not fuel efficient enough for the car. Even today E46 316 runs a 1900cc engine
The Compact made a huge impression in America where modification rules were less stringent and many owners did what they pleased. This ranged from putting in an M3 engine (imagine the weight of a compact but with 321bhp on tap…… ) or bolting on the ever popular Downing Atlanta superchargers…. Many articles can be found in the pages of Performance BMW or Total BMW magazines showing just how the compact can be styled to individual tastes without ruining the BMW style.
Club members are avid fans and have had many hours with spanners under their chariots, so anything you may have a glitch with, they may have been there, and done it.
There are many chat rooms, message boards or galleries dedicated to the BMW and that of the Compact such as www.318ti.org and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bmw318ti
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| Contact details for the Compact Register | | | Chair/Registrar | Simon Evans | sievans@aol.com |
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