Hello.. just purchased a H plate 318is.. clean bodywork, 115k on clock with all original usual refinements for £1000... Is that a fair deal? Os did i pay over the odds?

And which 318is is quicker/better? The E30 or E36?

I would say the E36 is quicker as I think it has more power, but it weights more!!

On the temp thing, you need a new thermostat. about £5-10. Mine was £10 from BMW for the 328 - not sure if its the same type of stat for yours.

In the E36 model, were the earlier models less powerful?

I thought originally the 318 was about 115-120bhp then later it went to 140bhp

I'm not putting the e36 down.. i think they are a brilliant motor, but the 318is engine doesnt do the body any justice... in that shape you need a 2.5/2.8... or the ultimate the M3... but anything below.. ie.. 2.0 or 1.9 is just not powerful enough..

I mean i drive from london to swindon a couple of times a week... bombing it down the M4, and i quiet a few e36's just get left behind... ok there top speeds may be higher... but general driving wise they have to work hard to keep up...

so DAVE28, you reckon its the thermostat? does it mean it's showing a lower temp than it really is? as i said, if im stuck in traffic the temp gauge evtually moves to the middle, but than when traffic flowing again on motorway the temp needles moves back nearer to the blue side...

The E30 318iS has the M42 engine which was carried over into the E36 when the iS version was released. Later, after the launch of the Z3 the M44 engine with increased capacity (1900cc) was used in the iS.

I'm probably biased but the overall speed of the car isn't as important as the fun you have. The E30, altho lighter, will have the lower top speed because the E30's poor aerodynamics compared to the E36 with either the M42 or M44 engine. Performance wise both cars with the M42: think the E30 will be marginally quicker off the line but the later M44 should be just quicker. I've tried to follow a m8 with the M44 and can't keep up in a straight line (but he does have a chip and air filter compared to my standard car).

Also i find the E30 a more organic experience as you have to work harder when attacking the twisties but in the end it's more fun, plus sideways seems to be more accessable in the E30.

dave 328 wrote: In the E36 model, were the earlier models less powerful? I thought originally the 318 was about 115-120bhp then later it went to 140bhp

The 318i is 118bhp and 318iS is 140bhp, nearly the power of the 320i but a 4pot more rev happy engine.

beema318is wrote: so DAVE328, you reckon its the thermostat? does it mean it's showing a lower temp than it really is? as i said, if im stuck in traffic the temp gauge evtually moves to the middle, but than when traffic flowing again on motorway the temp needles moves back nearer to the blue side...

Basically what happens is with age the stat can warp the shaft inside so it isn't straight thus not closing properly. When the engine is cold the stat should be shut, when warm it opens and closes to let cool water thru, but if it is stuck open slightly it will let cool water thru all the time, so when driving at speed it will cool the engine off more than it should. When stationary the rad isn't getting any air through (at least not as much as driving) then it will warm up and then the engine will warm up (to the middle on the guage).

Mine did this - took longer to warm up and on the Motorway it went to the blue part on the guage, then in traffic it went to half way. Took the stat out and you could see it was stuck open, not loads but enough to cool the engine too much, especially when the weather is colder.

Change it and it will stay in the middle and also warm up quicker - saving money in fuel!!

Dave328.. whats the part called that i need changing ? the car is at my mechanic at the mo.. i might aswell tell him to sort it out before picking it up...

cheers

Thanks mate...

BTW.. Is that something i can change myself...?

Do you mean the antifreeze?

To change the thermo you need to remove some of the coolant and bleed the system so to me you might as well empty the whole lot and only bleed the system once.

It's fairly easy but you need lots of patience bleeding the system. Also, there is only one manual that specifically covers the E30 318iS and that's the Chilton (USA version of Haynes and not great IMHO) other than that your best bet is the Bentley manual for general E30 info.

I've got the Haynes E30 for body work etc. Would the E36 manual do for the M42 engine?

Dave

beema318is wrote: Hello.. just purchased a H plate 318is.. clean bodywork, 115k on clock with all original usual refinements for £1000... Is that a fair deal? Os did i pay over the odds?

Is about the right price

Chris D: unless you have 16v you've got a 318i not the iS. Other clues should be the sports front seats, M-TechI steering wheel & gear knob, no chrome (Shadowline) trim around the windows (front, rear or sides).

The E36 M42 engine altho basically the same as the E30 M42 does have the additional cat and knock sensors i believe but for the most part it'll probably be much the same. So if you have an E36 manual you should be ok. The Chilton is the only one that specifically covers the E30 318iS tho.

Hi,

I just got my H reg 318is M-Technic limited edition. I have been informed by a friend who works for BMW that this car was 1 of about 300 or so made with the M-Technic package. Does anyone know about this?

I only paid £1200 for it from a member of the famially, its silver with pretty good body (few little scratches doors/bumpers) its got 150k on clock but runs well and i know it was never really pushed.

I would like to do a few things to the engine to unleash some power and would like advise if anyone can give it.

When looking at exhausts i have found that both Supersprint and Sebring both produce a similarly priced back box and centre pipe and wondered if anyone has had experience with either companies product.

I also found that Pipercross make a induction kit specific for this model but K&N make on for the E36 1.8is (140bhp) as they are both the M42B18 engine will this fit or have the air pipe bore sizes changed?

If anyone can help it would be much apprieciated,

Matt

Yeah car is ok... body work very clean, just had the car for serviced in garage yesterday, was told engine has a oil leak!!! dont know where though, looks like the headgasket has already been changed, so i'm hoping it's not anything worse... will be gettin the engine steam cleaned and checked up again next week...

I just hope this isn't the start of my problems... but the mechanic did say, for the milage this engine sounds sweet...

BTW there is a E30 318is advertised in the autotrader.co.uk with FSH, lady owner, leather sport seats, e/w, PAS, sunroof with 93K on clock for £1995.  I was originally gonna get that, but the price then was £2595, i was prepared to pay about 2100, but the stupid seller was never available when ringing her, and now i see the same motor advertised 500 squid less... but i think that car looks in a very good nick.....

I bought my iS privately 18months ago with 62,700miles on it and this morning i just passed 87,900miles.

The oil leak could be the rocker cover gasket or the camshaft sensor on the front of the engine. The camshaft sensor has a rubber o-ring which can perish, mine was weeping quite alot but it's a piece of pi$$ to change. One allen bolt if i remember right.

Had the head gasket go on me last xmas, that'll be a £1,000 please sir!! and had the timing chain and pulleys, etc changed shortly after. Sure was a cheap new year. 

Oh yeah, and it's the profile gasket that can be a bit awkward on the M42/M44 engine coz you can really see it.

What??? £1000 for headgasket change? i presume thats not something that can be done with an haynes manual?

still though CeaserB, you seem to have a nice motor, low milage and stuff... 

Head gasket is fairly major job involving half the engine being dismantled, head was also skimmed + i went to BMW for the work. I'm sure i could have got it done cheaper but i decided to have it done by them.

The timing chain was another £500! @ BMW.

To me these jobs are only DIY if you are a very competant mechanic (not me) and you have the time to do it (not me again).

You are joking?? Right!!

There is an awful lot more to be changed than the chain alone and i really can't see an AA man doing it at the side of the road.

beema318is wrote: And to all E30 318is owners.. whats your milages guys... mine at 116000 should still give me plenty of good miles shouldn't it? but that oil leak is worrying me...

I bought a red 318is with full spec extras for £1900. It has just gone over 74K miles.

Can anyone beat that for mileage/price.

Dave

What do you class as "full spec extras"? I have only seen a couple for sale that ever had close to a full collection of options.

Stupid thing was if bought new an iS with all the options cost within a few £100 of a base spec M3.  

hmmm maybe im wrong about the AA man doing a chain... but in previous cars with Timing Belts, ive called AA several times... once the AA man was there for 2 hours until he had the timing belt in place... and he done it outside my house...

but seriously though... changing the timing chain shouldnt be 500 quid though.. thats taking the piss... im never going to bmw..

TO DAVE NEMESIS :

You got a good deal mate... that engine must still be in mint condition...

- Baur Cabriolet Conversion (£4,475)
- Metallic Paint (£375)
- Exhaust Catalysor (£350)
- Leather Upholstery (£901)
- Anti-lock Braking System (£690)
- Spoiler Equipment - Front only (£160)
- Limited-slip Differential (£396)
- Alloy Wheels - 7J x 15 Cross Spoke Style (£1,074)
- Electric Sliding Sunroof (£745)
- Air Conditioning (£1,341)
- Front Seat Heating (£243)
- Rear-seat Head Restraints (£112)
- On-board Computer (£363)
- Anti-theft System (£397)
- Halogen Front Fog Lights (£149)
- Headlight Cleaning System (£310)
- Heated Mirrors, Driver’s Door Lock & Windscreen Washer Nozzles (£89)
- Map Reading Lights (£62)
- Rear Window Blind - Manual (£104)

These are the obvious options, there are also the special order ones like M-TechII bodykit and Aplina stuff which adds extra £££ to the price. I'd class a car with most of these as a well specced E30.

The Sports Seats as fitted to most E30s with the extendable thigh support were originally designed by Recaro but were not branded as such,  because of the volume required Recaro couldn't fullfill the obligation so BMW made them themselves under licence.

to beema318is:

the engine is spot on. If I had the time or skills, id clean it up and put the car in to shows. The bodywork is pretty much mint :)

Caesar BoB:

As for full extras: it would appear as though I don't have the full extras kit fitted as I previously stated. I only have striped MTEC recaros instead of the leatherand the standard IS body kit instead of M3

I must say my favourite extra is the headlamp wiper system - v funky!!

Yep.. I have the standard striped m-tec seats.. and standard 318iS m-tec kit, i think that looks better anyway, car looks lean without too much bulgin kit on it... but with 16" Alpinas it would just be perfect,,, nothin more required...

O yeah just realised this morning that my rear window heater doesnt work.. i was surprised at such a little thing not working... i mean ive drivin b reg micras and other bangers, and one thing that always works is the rear windows heater.. have to sort that out now, its gettin colder...

Number of ways to check whether your car has one fitted:

1) Burnout from the traffic lights. 2 black lines = lsd; 1 black lline = open diff

2) Jack up both rear wheels and rotate one wheel by hand. If other wheel turns in same direction = lsd. If it turns in opposite direction = open diff.

3) Jack up one rear wheel so other side is still on the ground. Turn the raised wheel. If it's hard to turn = lsd. If it turns easily = open.

Hope i've got this the right way round. If not someone will correct me no doubt.

I drove a H reg 318iS (didn't own it, just test drove) and it felt amazing. 125,000 miles on the clock but the engine still felt silky smooth and with plenty of power. The car felt and looked light, but felt glued to the road. Cornering was amazing.

I must admit I love the E36 shape but it does LOOK heavier and theres something classic about the E30.  I wish I could've bought it but my mum didnt like the color :( and said it looked too "eighties".

Oh well..

Sheep

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