1997 BMW 318i Service and Repair Manual

This factory service and repair manual for the 1997 BMW 318i works from a compact set of facts: a 1.9-liter naturally aspirated DOHC inline-four on gasoline, a four-door sedan and a two-door convertible, and a single Base trim. Nothing about the powertrain changes between the two bodies, which means the fuel, ignition and cooling procedures are read once and applied to either, while the sections on body structure, sealing and interior wiring recognize the convertible as its own car.

Engines covered

• 1.9L inline-four — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door sedan
• 2-door convertible

Trims covered

• Base

Known issues on the 1997 318i. The federal record shows one recall here, on the throttle linkage. Because the throttle and cruise control cables act on the same lever, a plastic bushing that cracks with age and vibration can let the outer cable housing snag on the broken edge and hold the throttle valve partly open, so the car may not decelerate when the pedal is released. Six complaints have been logged, two on the electrical system, two on tires and one on engine and cooling. Linkage adjustment, charging and cooling diagnostics all carry specifications in this manual.