Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 50,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) |
Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 318i.
The 1991 BMW 318i paired a 5-speed manual transmission with an engine requiring 5.3 quarts of 10W-30, 10W-40, or 15W-40 oil, returning an EPA-rated 17 city, 23 highway, and 19 combined miles per gallon. Logging just nine total owner complaints alongside a single recall focused on the engine and engine cooling, this model sits firmly on the favorable side of the 1991-2001 generation's reliability spectrum. Consequently, the 1991 model stands as a comparatively trouble-free entry in the lineup, sidestepping the heightened issue volumes that would later peak in 1994.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Manual 5-spd |
| Overall length | 170.1 in |
| Overall width | 65 in |
| Overall height | 54.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 101.2 in |
| Curb weight | 2822 lb |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 53/47 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 17 / 23 / 19 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the 318i of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 318 318is Coupe 1.8L I-4 | 8.70 sec | 16.40 sec | 134 hp | RWD |
| 1991 | 318 318is Coupe 1.8L I-4 | 9.70 sec | 17.30 sec | 134 hp | RWD |
| 1993 | 318 318i Sedan 1.8L I-4 | 9.70 sec | 17.30 sec | 113 hp | RWD |
| 1995 | 318 318ti 3-door Hatchback (Active) 1.8L I-4 | 7.80 sec | 16.10 sec | 138 hp | RWD |
| 1995 | 318 318ti 3-door Hatchback (Sport) 1.8L I-4 | 8.40 sec | 16.40 sec | 138 hp | RWD |
| 1995 | 318 318i Sedan (Sport) 1.8L I-4 | 8.80 sec | 16.60 sec | 138 hp | RWD |
| 1995 | 318 318ti 3-door Hatchback (Sport) 1.8L I-4 | 8.90 sec | 16.60 sec | 138 hp | RWD |
| 1995 | 318 318ti 3-door Hatchback (Sport) 1.8L I-4 | 9.20 sec | 17.00 sec | 138 hp | RWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 5.3 qt of 15W-40 / 10W-40 / 10W-30 API SJ engine oil, GL-5 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Differential Gear Oil | GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 2.4 Pints |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | 15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 5.3 qt |
| Power Steering Fluid | ATF |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 50,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1991 318i sits at the start of a generation that shows a clear arc of rising then falling complaint frequency. With 9 complaints and 1 recall, 1991 is slightly below the peak years (1994 and 1995 each had 14 complaints and 2 recalls), but it is not the quietest year—1996 dropped to just 3 complaints and 1 recall. The top complaint area for 1991 is Engine & Engine Cooling (4 of 9 complaints), though the data does not specify root causes for these issues. The single recall and one crash complaint suggest early-life problems were present but not severe compared to the 1992 model, which had three recalls. Given that later model years (1996–1998) show fewer complaints and zero recalls in some years, the 1991 falls in the middle of the generation’s trouble arc. **This is a passable year to buy only if you have a documented service history addressing the engine cooling complaints; otherwise, a 1996 or later model appears more reliable based on the federal record.**
All 9 complaints on record, top 5 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
DURING TESTING, INCORRECTLY INSTALLED DRIVER-SIDE KNEE BOLSTER PREVENTED STEERING COLUMN FROM MOVING FORWARD AS DESIGNED TO ABSORB IMPACT ENERGY FROM DRIVER DUMMY. Remedy: REPAIR THE KNEE BOLSTER TO ALLOW CLEARANCE AND AVOID IMPEDANCE OF STEERING COLUMN MOVEMENT DURING FRONTAL IMPACT.
Showing 3 of 3 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B510819 | 2024-01-16 | Electrical System | The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. |
| 12 14 97 | 1997-08-01 | Electrical System | M42 FAULT CODE 200/333. DME CONTROL UNIT MEMORY CHIP IS FAULTY. *AK |
| MSG1016 | 1996-10-01 | Exterior Lighting | RECALL 96V111 - THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN INVOLVES THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *TW |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
5.3 qt of HIGH PERFORMANCE MINERAL OILS: ABOVE 5 degrees F: 15W-40 API SJ, SL OR SM, -5 degreesF TO 68 degrees F: 10W-40 API SJ, SL OR SM, 5 degreesF TO 50 degrees F: 10W-30 API SJ, SL OR SM, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 API SJ, SL OR SM, BELOW 32 degrees F:, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 17 city / 23 highway / 19 combined mpg.