BMW 318 0–60 Times
The BMW 318 0–60 times and quarter-mile times below are from 13 recorded performance tests sourced from reputable automotive resources such as Car and Driver, Motor Trend and Motor Week and more.
The fastest tested BMW 318 is the 1996 BMW 318 AC Schnitzer S3 3.0 318ti 3-door Hatchback, which went from 0 to 60 mph in 5.80 seconds, reaching the ¼ mile in 14.20 seconds at 98.1 mph, according to Motor Trend.
The slowest tested BMW 318 is the 1983 BMW 318 318i Coupe, which took 11.60 seconds to reach 60 mph, running the ¼ mile in 18.30 seconds at 74.0 mph, according to Road & Track.
Out of all the BMW 318 tests in our database, the average 0–60 mph time is 8.74 seconds. The average quarter-mile time is 16.45 seconds at 83.87 mph.
Fastest Stock 0–60
7.80sec
1995 318ti 3-door Hatchback (Active)
Fastest Overall
5.80sec
1996 AC Schnitzer S3 3.0 318ti 3-door Hatchback · modified
Avg ¼ Mile
16.45sec
@ 83.9 mph trap
Slowest 0–60
11.60sec
1983 318i Coupe
Across 13 verified runs, the BMW 318 ranges from 5.80 to 11.60 seconds 0–60, with a 8.74-second average.
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BMW 318 Performance Overview
BMW’s 318 performance record spans 1982 to 1996 in this dataset, covering 13 verified tests across the E30 and E36 eras. Early E30 cars were defined by the naturally aspirated M10B18 and a narrow 101-hp output band, with the 1982 318i Coupe setting the initial benchmark at 10.5 seconds to 60 mph before a slower 1983 318i Coupe was recorded at 11.6 seconds. Across those first tests, the 318 was a gasoline-only compact sport sedan and coupe with modest straight-line pace.
The E36 period broadened the formula substantially. Power rose from 113 hp in four-cylinder trims such as the M42B18 and M44B19 cars to 260 hp in the S50B30-powered AC Schnitzer variant, and the times fell accordingly. The 1991 318is Coupe cut 0-60 to 8.7 seconds, the 1995 318ti 3-door Hatchback (Active) lowered that to 7.8, and the 1996 AC Schnitzer S3 3.0 318ti 3-door Hatchback reached 5.8 seconds and a 13.7-second quarter-mile at 97 mph.
As it stands in the latest tested E36 forms, the 318 range remains exclusively gasoline and naturally aspirated in this record, with the current-generation best still the AC Schnitzer 318ti’s 5.8-second 0-60 result.
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BMW 318 0–60 Times by Generation: E30 to E36
2 generations| Generation | Years | Avg 0–60 | Fastest 0–60 | Tests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E36 | 1990–1998 | 8.32s | 5.80s — 1996 AC Schnitzer S3 3.0 318ti 3-door Hatchback | 11 | The E36 generation (1990–1998) averaged 8.32 seconds to 60 mph across 11 tests, led by the 1996 AC Schnitzer S3 3.0 318ti 3-door Hatchback at 5.80 seconds. Output ranged from 113 to 260 hp across 1.8L I-4, 3.0L I-6 configurations. Includes 2 results from 1 modified vehicle. |
| E30 | 1982–1991 | 11.05s | 10.50s — 1982 318i Coupe | 2 | The E30 generation (1982–1991) averaged 11.05 seconds to 60 mph across 2 tests, led by the 1982 318i Coupe at 10.50 seconds. Output was 101 hp across 1.8L I-4 configurations. |
E36
1990–1998
Avg 0–60
8.32s
Fastest
5.80s
Tests
11
1996 AC Schnitzer S3 3.0 318ti 3-door Hatchback
The E36 generation (1990–1998) averaged 8.32 seconds to 60 mph across 11 tests, led by the 1996 AC Schnitzer S3 3.0 318ti 3-door Hatchback at 5.80 seconds. Output ranged from 113 to 260 hp across 1.8L I-4, 3.0L I-6 configurations. Includes 2 results from 1 modified vehicle.
E30
1982–1991
Avg 0–60
11.05s
Fastest
10.50s
Tests
2
1982 318i Coupe
The E30 generation (1982–1991) averaged 11.05 seconds to 60 mph across 2 tests, led by the 1982 318i Coupe at 10.50 seconds. Output was 101 hp across 1.8L I-4 configurations.
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BMW 318 0–60 Times by Year and Trim
13 tests · 6 years
▾
1996 BMW 318
3 verified runs
Avg 0–60
6.77
sec
Avg ¼ Mile
14.80
sec
Recorded Tests
3
#01
1996 BMW 318 AC Schnitzer S3 3.0 318ti 3-door Hatchback
5.80sec 0–60
0.0s · 0mph
0.0s · 0mph
14.20s
¼ mi @ 98.1 mph
▾
- 0–60 mph
- 5.80 sec
- ¼ Mile ET
- 14.20 sec
- Trap Speed
- 98.1 mph
- Engine
- 3.0L I-6
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Transmission
- 5M
- Horsepower
- 260 hp
- Torque
- 236 lb-ft
- Production Vehicle
- Body Type
- Hatchback
- Powertrain
- Gasoline
- Test Source
- Motor Trend
- Tuner
- AC Schnitzer
- Overall Rank
- #1 of 13
#02
1996 BMW 318 AC Schnitzer S3 3.0 318ti 3-door Hatchback
6.00sec 0–60
0.0s · 0mph
0.0s · 0mph
13.70s
¼ mi @ 97.0 mph
▾
- 0–60 mph
- 6.00 sec
- ¼ Mile ET
- 13.70 sec
- Trap Speed
- 97.0 mph
- Engine
- 3.0L I-6
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Transmission
- 5M
- Horsepower
- 260 hp
- Torque
- 236 lb-ft
- Production Vehicle
- Body Type
- Hatchback
- Powertrain
- Gasoline
- Test Source
- Motor Week
- Tuner
- AC Schnitzer
- Overall Rank
- #2 of 13
#05
1996 BMW 318 318ti 3-door Hatchback (Club Sport)
8.50sec 0–60
0.0s · 0mph
0.0s · 0mph
16.50s
¼ mi @ 82.0 mph
▾
- 0–60 mph
- 8.50 sec
- ¼ Mile ET
- 16.50 sec
- Trap Speed
- 82.0 mph
- Engine
- 1.8L I-4
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Transmission
- 5M
- Horsepower
- 138 hp
- Torque
- 129 lb-ft
- Curb Weight
- 2,780 lbs
- Power-to-Weight
- 20.1 lbs/hp
- MPG EPA
- 20 C / 29 H / 25 Obs
- Production Vehicle
- Body Type
- Hatchback
- Powertrain
- Gasoline
- Test Source
- Car and Driver
- Overall Rank
- #5 of 13
How we verify BMW 318 performance data
We include only independently published road-test results from automotive publications. Manufacturer-claimed 0–60 times are excluded unless clearly labeled. When multiple publications test the same BMW 318 trim, each run is listed separately — weather, tires, surface, rollout, and instrumentation all affect results.
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BMW 318 0–60 and quarter-mile distribution
0–60 vs ¼ mile · lower-left is fasterEach dot is a recorded test run
0–60 →
¼ mile →
Fastest
Recorded run
Slowest
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BMW 318 performance FAQs
10 questions
For 1996, the stock BMW 318ti 3-door Hatchback (Club Sport) runs 0-60 mph in 8.5 seconds and the quarter-mile in 16.5 seconds at 82 mph. A heavily modified 1996 AC Schnitzer S3 3.0 318ti is much quicker, with verified 0-60 runs of 5.8 and 6.0 seconds.
The quickest BMW 318 on record is the 1996 AC Schnitzer S3 3.0 318ti 3-door Hatchback. It reaches 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, making it the fastest overall BMW 318 test. That car is listed as heavily modified, so it is not the fastest stock or production-spec 318.
The fastest stock BMW 318 on record is the 1995 318ti 3-door Hatchback (Active), with a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds. That makes it the quickest production-spec 318 in verified runs, ahead of other stock E36-based 318 variants such as the 1996 318ti Club Sport at 8.5 seconds.
The E36-generation BMW 318 averages 8.32 seconds from 0-60 mph across 11 tests. The quickest E36 318 on record is the 1996 AC Schnitzer S3 3.0 318ti at 5.8 seconds. Horsepower ranges from 113 to 260, and all recorded E36 318 tests are naturally aspirated gasoline models.
The fastest E36 BMW 318 is the 1996 AC Schnitzer S3 3.0 318ti 3-door Hatchback, recorded at 5.8 seconds to 60 mph. That is the quickest E36 result overall. Among stock E36 318 models, the 1995 318ti 3-door Hatchback (Active) leads with a 7.8-second 0-60 run.
The E30 BMW 318 is significantly slower than later E36 versions. Across 2 recorded tests, the E30 318 averages 11.05 seconds from 0-60 mph. Its quickest result is 10.5 seconds from a 1982 318i Coupe, while horsepower for the recorded E30 examples is 101.
The 1996 BMW 318ti 3-door Hatchback (Club Sport) reaches 60 mph in 8.5 seconds and covers the quarter-mile in 16.5 seconds at 82 mph. It uses a 138-hp, 129-lb-ft naturally aspirated M44B19 engine and sends power to the rear wheels, with a recorded curb weight of 2,780 pounds.
The 318ti Sport is slightly quicker overall. Across 3 tests, the 318ti 3-door Hatchback (Sport) averages 8.83 seconds to 60 mph, with a best run of 8.4 seconds. The 1996 318ti 3-door Hatchback (Club Sport) posts an 8.5-second 0-60 time, so the best Sport result edges it by 0.1 second.
The BMW 318is Coupe has a recorded 0-60 mph average of 9.2 seconds across 2 tests, with a best verified run of 8.7 seconds. That places it ahead of the older 318i Coupe results, but behind the quickest 318ti hatchback variants, especially the 7.8-second 1995 318ti Active.
Across all 13 BMW 318 tests, the average quarter-mile result is 16.45 seconds at 83.9 mph. The fastest quarter-mile on record is 13.7 seconds at 97 mph from the 1996 AC Schnitzer S3 3.0 318ti. For a stock 1996 example, the 318ti Club Sport runs 16.5 seconds at 82 mph.
Sources
Car and Driver
Motor Trend
Motor Week
Road & Track
0–60 and quarter-mile times vary with driver, weather, tire temperature, and wear. We collect every verified run we can find — so you see the range of what a BMW 318 can do, not a single marketing claim.
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Other BMW 0–60 times
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