M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
FAQ / REFERENCE => Member Profiles => Topic started by: arcter on June 12, 2010, 11:51:45 AM
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I bought my '91 318iS several months back after owning first a 1991 525i, and then a 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo. I was looking for something a little more suitable to drive daily than the 951, and I had missed my e34, so I figured I'd start looking for another one. But after a little looking around, I decided I'd probably like more to have an e30, as I had always loved those too.
Anyway, I looked around and first found an alpine white 325i in LA for $5000. I went up to look at it and it was definitely not in $5000 condition, but the guy wouldn't budge, and said he had someone in the office to buy it for that price and he was sorry for the timing. I didn't buy it, so we left. As we were speaking I had my future car in my local mechanic's shop getting a free PPI done, and he told me it was in exceptional condition. But it was a 4 cylinder, so I figured I wouldn't like it as much after driving the six.
But I was wrong. It took a little getting used to, but I was thoroughly impressed with my test drive. It handled great (better than the 325), loved to rev, and won me over in ten minutes. So I bought it for $3k (in much better shape than the 325, also) and used the money left over to do the rear wheel bearings.
Pictures from the ebay ad I found it on:
(http://i49.tinypic.com/2e4hjc6.jpg)
(http://i48.tinypic.com/2nc2dcm.jpg)
(http://i45.tinypic.com/34riu89.jpg)
(http://i46.tinypic.com/a174i.jpg)
Still looks the same!
Overall it's been pretty reliable and a lot of fun, but I have had some problems with it... mostly with mechanics mis-diagnosing my problems. I'm finally hopefully to the point where I've replaced a lot of parts and basically rebuilt the top end, so I hope it's ready to go for a long time. I just had the head resurfaced and had a valve job done, I'm just waiting for it to be all put back together. I drove it for the first time in 3+ weeks yesterday, and man did I realize how much I missed it.
Work done recently:
Timing chain/hardware
Lots of vac. leaks fixed
New radiator
Resurfaced e36 head + valve job
All relevant gaskets
Water pump
Front crank seal
Rear wheel bearings
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Looks like a very nice little car! We just need to find you an IS lip spoiler and you'll be set!
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I'm definitely looking for one!