Been looking for a low mileage 318is for a while and this 84,000 mile one came up a couple of weeks ago. After alot of thought and a view this morning I handed over some cash

She needs a little work to get her upto my standard, as there is a scratch on the o/s/f wing and lower front spoiler, also a small patch of surface rust on the bottom of the n/s door about an inch in diameter. The o/s door mirror also needs painting in the body colour. The o/s/f wing has been painted before, but could do with a repaint and re-align. Also the front bumper cover looks like its about to come off in the pics, but when I viewed this had already been fixed and lines up perfectly.

Interior can only be described as new and it drives extremely well. Under the bonnet is like new too. Drive train is ultra quiet and the gearbox slick and smooth with no slackiness. Its even got the sticker on the rear spoiler still.

I am pretty chuffed with this car, finding one in this sort of condition these days is getting harder and harder as I have found out.

Not very good pics as was a camera phone, paint also looks a little pink, but is completely bright red. She is also crying out for some alloys too. Also the drivers door is slightly ajar in the pics making the front wing look totally misaligned.

What ya'll think?

looks like a nice startin point for a project

think you'll get the v10 from the new m5 in there with a bit of effort hahahahahaha

Rhys wrote: Very nice, makes me want another E30... Looks like the same colour as my first one, is it Zinobar? (did a bit of photoshopping to adjust the colour a bit)

Thanks mate, thats better. Its not Zinobar, its Brilliant Rot! lol

Anyway, Yes I think a V10 should fit, I know of a V12 in one already!

stephenperry wrote: cool, i thought the e30 is had cross spoke alloys like garys?

What you see there is standard fare IIRC, 6x14's and the 7x15's were optional extras.

Sporty1 wrote: Nice... set of 7 x 15's and your away.

Yes, thats what I thought, but I also have some 16" Alpinas to go on too, but then it would need a slight rethink on ride height then, and when you do that the shocks would need looking at.. where do you stop?

You are right 15"s it is.

Right, picked the car up tonight and it drives very well, except when under braking while going over undulating sections of road and white lines. Also has an interesting erge to want to go sideways around right hand corners. I suspect the lollypop bushes so I am going to order some M3 ones tomorrow and fit them tomorrow night. Also center section exhaust has the baffles rattling too, so I will fit a brand new system right through. I have a genuine system lying around somewhere which I purchased for another 318is, but never got round to fitting it.

Some other mods will be probably be billies B8's and just a minor lower of around 30-35mm and fit the 15" BBS's I have or the 16" Alpina Reps I have. May leave the suspension alone if the lollypop bushes sort the handling. Maybe a lower ball joint gone, but the car is totally silent over bumps big or small.

I will keep you all posted with what I do to it.

SHEPSM3 wrote: Some other mods will be probably be billies B8's and just a minor lower of around 30-35mm and fit the 15" BBS's I have or the 16" Alpina Reps I have.

If the car is on original shocks at that age and mileage then they are probably quite tired, in which case billies and lowering and 16's is the order of the day IMO............ this is where it all get a little infectious.

Sporty1 wrote: SHEPSM3 wrote: Some other mods will be probably be billies B8's and just a minor lower of around 30-35mm and fit the 15" BBS's I have or the 16" Alpina Reps I have. If the car is on original shocks at that age and mileage then they are probably quite tired, in which case billies and lowering and 16's is the order of the day IMO............ this is where it all get a little infectious.

Its just gotta be done init!

Cat 1 alarm and imobiliser fitted, so too is a top of the range Kenwood radio/CD player with all sorts of rubbish and a remote control.... Lord knows what I am gonna do with that? Tweaters fitted on door mirror covers inside.

OBC is almost fully fitted. While we were there we fitted the OBC, loom behind dash and the units which go above the glove box and above the engine ECU. Just need to cut out the hole for the gong, feed the wires through to the engine bay and to the horn and outside temp sensor, fit the OBC indicator stalk...have a new one comming, fit the 318is coding plug into the instrument pack and plug the OBC wire loom into the pack aswell.

Got to replace the headlamp adjuster regulator which I have on order. I also have front and rear mudflaps too, genuine BMW ones, but unsure whether to fit these or not  

Dunno whether to get my 15" BBS's referbed with nagaro silver centers or fit the 16" Alpina replicas?

Fitted a red o/s door mirror now, which kinda transformed the car too lol.

Right, just an update after a whole days work on the 318is...

OBC now fully fitted, including correct 318is coding plug, indicator stalk, gong, outside temp sensor and horn. The OBC buttons do not luminate when the lights are switched on. I have a new bulb for this, but didn't have pliers small enough to replace it

New headlamp adjuster (from inside) fully fitted - what a pain in the butt that was!!!

Replaced rear subframe bushes with genuine items and also the front lower arm lollypop bushes with the more solid eccentric M3 ones and reset the front wheel alignment.

Fitted some 15" BBS alloys I bought from a member of another forum which really set the car off nicely.

The osf fog lamp has decided to fog itself up so on the look out for another.

The exhaust has been welded in a few places and the baffles rattle nicely, so its going to be replaced with a full genuine system soon. The front brake disc's are warped and seems to be highlighted now I have done the front bushes, so these will be replaced again with genuine items.

She's comming along nicely and the drive and handling is transformed with the new bushes and wheels.

Will update again once further work's been done

Thanks Kevin, I am acutally very pleased with it now.

Today, I replaced the wiper motor with a brand new motor and was an easier job than I seem to remember. The price of the motor was about double what I remember it too .

I also replaced the front disc's too. The ones which come off were the original items which backs up the low mileage . The brake pads have not long been changed by the previous owner and looked as good as new, so I thought it was pointless replacing these.

With anything, if I don't carry out all the repairs as soon after purchase as possible, it will get left in the corner and in a few years time I will be wondering why the hell I bought it in the first place  So I am keen to get everything done ASAP.

Sporty1 wrote: That's looking very nice Paul.

Thanks buddy

Its going into the bodyshop for some attention to that front wing and a few other touch ups.

1st gear seems a little too nitchy from cold for my liking, It could be just the gear oil needs changing, so I will try this before ripping the gearbox out to change the clutch. I am also looking at a lighter M20 flywheel to fit with a larger clutch - incase of a FI mod  If the gear oil change doesn't sort the nitchy 1st then I will have it overhauled.

I have also got a 3.91:1 LSD to fit too. Although its reported to be in very good condition, I am having it stripped and overhauled aswell. I hate fitting anything second hand only to find it needs things doing. Reason for getting a 3.91:1 and not a 4.1:1 LSD is that these IS's feel like they need another gear on the motorway. I did consider the 3.64:1 LSD, but I think that would make it too lazy on the motorway. Also I think the 3.91:1 ratio is a good compromise between the two and shouldn't upset acceleration much if atall. Should give a little better economy too

When I get round to sorting the transmission, I will fit the new exhaust system. Its pointless doing that before I do the clutch as this would have to come off anyway. I like being economical with labour

Right, not much more done on the 318is, infact nothing this week. Instead a funny thing happend to me earlier this week. I guy from the E30Zone mailed me saying he had a 1986 325i SE for sale and if I knew anyone interested in it. Further mails back and forth it turns out it is a genuine 325i Sport MTec1. As you can imagine, I got very interested and took a look.

Turns out the owner has not used the car since 2001 and in the years previous to that very minimal mileage was done since he owned it. It had thankfully been stood in a totally dry garage for all that time untouched. He opened the garage door and WOW.... there it was. It looked much tidier than I was expecting. Its had some bodywork here and there, but then it is a 22yr old car. The car wouldn't start and I started to take a few steps back, as it was starting to get a bit unknown to me... engine, box could be worn, who knows?

Anyway, he wanted rid and I thought I'd take a risk. Last night I collected the car and pushed it into my workshop at work. I took a quick around it and the more I look at it and check it over, the more chuffed I am with it.

This morning I went into work to try and get her going. I charged the battery up overnight, so plenty of juice to turn the engine over a good few times for diagnosis work. Firstly I got a spare spark plug and attached it to the engine with a pair of mulgrips, Connected number 1 lead to it and turned the engine over. There was a bright spark   Next job, I took off the feed pipe to the fuel rail. Again switched the ignition on, no fuel as there should be, cranked the engine over... nothing! Ok, put the car in the air and gave the fuel pump a clout. Tried again, nothing. I put a multimeter across the pump connections and turned the key, 12+Volts! So pump it was.

I got a pump off my Evo2 breaker and fitted it to the 325. Nice little job. Turned the key a few times to prime up the fuel rail, etc. Then I cranked the engine. Went 1st crank and idled a little lumpy. I gingerly picked the revs upto about 2000 RPM where it ran nice and even, but blip the throttle and she mis-fires slightly. I am more than happy with this. There seems to be a coolant leak from the thermostat housing so I didn't let the engine get warm.

I have done a few other jobs on the car also. I re-aligned the bonnet as best as I could, the boot catch needed adjusting, nsf side light needed a new bulb, washer bottle was full of jelly so took that off and cleaned out. Thats it.

Here she is, pics taken today:

So, now for the bad bits, its got a replica Tech2 rear spoiler, bent front bumper and the Scorpion DTM rear silencer and these MIM beep dish alloys. The gearknob is also worn and the under dash panel on the driver's side is pretty shot. I have a new front bumper coming in the right colour, a proper Mtec1 rear spoiler which needs painting the right colour. I want to get a new gearknob which on this car is the bison gaitor/knob all in one, hopefully this is still available at the dealers and find another lower dash panel. The rear silencer and MIM wheels I dont know what to do with. I am a stickler for originality but getting the proper rear silencer and nice BBS's are difficult. Maybe swop the BBS's with the 318's?

Underneath however, it is simply superb. Solid is the word. Fuel and brake pipes are free from any corrosion, all the components underneath where you would expect surface rust, there just isn't any, or its very, very minimal.

I just can't say no any special E30's

Last 7 pics are just red crosses to me

Simon, help

Try editing the original post and reloading the pics which are missing, as the links are dead for some reason.

Nice purchase BTW both of them

Rossi wrote: Try editing the original post and reloading the pics which are missing, as the links are dead for some reason. Nice purchase BTW both of them

Yeah, I have done that lol, didn't make any difference. Will try again...

That looks very nice Paul....... Another one for the collection.... 

These gaitor/knobs are still available from C3

http://www.c3bmw.co.uk/StockItem.asp?categoryID=46&subcategoryID=0&productID=1105&oRef=-1&section=2&Item=unassign - http://www.c3bmw.co.uk/StockItem.asp?categoryID=46&subca tegoryID=0&productID=1105&oRef=-1&section=2& Item=unassign

IIRC there is a set of 5 Basketweaves on ebay at the moment.

EDIT: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-E30-BBS-wheels-and-tyres_W0QQitemZ280190055668QQihZ018QQcategoryZ10374QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-E30-BBS-wheels-and-tyres_W0QQitemZ 280190055668QQihZ018QQcategoryZ10374QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1Q QcmdZViewItem

( no connection to either of the above )

Thanks Sporty, the C3 one is magga expensive, only £75 from BMW retail.

Thanks also for the link to the BBS's

SHEPSM3 wrote: Thanks Sporty, the C3 one is magga expensive, only £75 from BMW retail.

Wow.... that's some difference, which isn't usually the case with C3.

SHEPSM3 wrote: Thanks also for the link to the BBS's

Not the seats that you want, but have a read of the description.....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320203605705&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320 203605705&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching

( No connection blah blah.)

Sporty1 wrote: SHEPSM3 wrote: Thanks Sporty, the C3 one is magga expensive, only £75 from BMW retail. Wow.... that's some difference, which isn't usually the case with C3.   SHEPSM3 wrote: Thanks also for the link to the BBS's   Not the seats that you want, but have a read of the description..... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320203605705&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320 203605705&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching   ( No connection blah blah.)

Thanks mate, but I know that seller from the other forum and I aint had very good experiances with him

Grant, you got pm.

grant w wrote: Paul     You have a PM .

Replied

Paul,

Are you trying to own more E30`s than me?

Mallorcaman wrote: Paul, Are you trying to own more E30`s than me?

Umm, I think I may have already exceeded  But, I am selling the lot, including the 325i Sport here. I am keeping the 318is here though. Everything else including the Sport Evo has to go

Right.. the 318is I have been to Scotland and back, namely Dastek in Fife for a training course. She drove there and back not missing a beat. Really pleased with how it went. Other jobs I have done to it is OBC button illumination bulb, re-checked the wheel alighnment and reset the steering wheel now the bushes have fully settled in. For now I have resisted fitting a Unichip to it.. but may do in the future once the exhaust has been replaced.

I also fitted an illuminating MTech gearknob which I had laying around. Its in the exact same style as the one which is supposed to be on there except its illuminated  A nice finishing touch.

The 325i Sport has had my attention more than the 318is right now. I sorted out some dash illuminations in the clock, heater panel and headlamp/foglamp switch illuminations. All these bulbs were the original old style 286 bulbs. I hate illuminations not working, makes the car even feel old and wrecked.

I replaced the thermostat housing, thermostat and the blue temp sensor. Drained, fluched and replaced the coolant and all seems well here now.

A rain shower showed a small leak into the boot. The OSR lamp lens seal was leaking, so I replaced that and at the same time I took the battery out and completely dried out the well before any nastyness starts to happen in there. I put some absorbing crystals in there too just to be sure all the moisture is out of there.

I had it MOT'd by my boss last week also. She sailed straight through once the obligatory headlamp adjustment was done.  He even commented on how nice it looked especially underneath (better than your M3) he said!

She runs as sweet as a nut now, no misfires, splutters and sounds real nice. Its a shame I have to let it go.

A little development, The ABS light would show almost as soon as you drove off and wouldn't go out again untill the ignition was switched off and back on again, but then the light would come back on as soon as you drive away again. Obviously this was a sensor. I went round checking them with a multimeter and I found the NSF sensor gave a totally different reading then the other 3. Ordered a new one from BMW at £72  fitted it and she's all good.

Parked it outside in work and 3 lads from Chippenham came upto me and asked if any of the E30's were for sale. I showed them the Sport and they were pretty impressed. Followed by a 10 minute roadtest up the road, and visions of it going through the nearest hedge, they returned with smiley faces and one loved up potential owner.

We agreed a price and what wheels to put on it (I fitted the standard 15" BBS's which looked far better than the MIMs did in my opinon) and they collected it the next day. Although I only done about 3 miles in the car and didn't have much time to get attached to it, I felt pretty sad seeing (and hearing) it go up the road. It sounded absolutely gorgeous.

New to the club.  I have an E30, E36 and E46.  The E30 is a 91 318is and is a great car. I enjoy looking at the cars here and seeing the differences.

I have done quite abit of work to the 318is including replacing the headlights with the "euro" elips.  I will be installing HIDs soon.  Removed the carpet and dyed it using rattle-can VHT charcoal. Replaced all the bumper trim with euro trim and had it painted to match body color.  IS side skirts are painted and ready to mount but I really don't want to drill into the body.  Here in Florida the rain is a problem.

Looking forward to posting some recent pics.  I will be asking for your advice. Planning a trip to Ireland later this year.  I want input regarding both. When we visit I don't want to be a tourist.

Paul, just spotted this thread, A nice little find for both the Is and the Tech 1 Sport, The Is is looking nice, shame you had to sell the Sport, Not that I'm Biased!!!

vpricey wrote: Paul, just spotted this thread, A nice little find for both the Is and the Tech 1 Sport, The Is is looking nice, shame you had to sell the Sport, Not that I'm Biased!!!

Well, if I had the room the Sport would have stayed. I have done a little more work on the Sport for the new owner and drove it in ager the other day, she really goes very well. I was very suprised and kinda wished I sold something else instead now. The new owner is very happy with it though.