M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
FAQ / REFERENCE => Member Profiles => Topic started by: Alburglar on September 11, 2010, 01:27:48 PM
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Hello everyone,
I've been watching threads on this site for ages now, since I was deciding what engine I should put in my Granny spec 318i touring....and I thought it was about time I posted up. It is my daily driver and retains a full interior, albeit with a bucket recliner and harness', but I've been slowly developing it as a multiple use track car for trips to the Nurburgring. I started with an engine swap to a low mileage m42 and a new clutch. Nice 15inch mims 1900 wheels. E36 steering rack (its quicker). Then a bored out throttle body, stainless exhaust and a chip. Then a 4.27 LSD also from a e30 318is with solid alloy mount. Then I polybushed everything including m3 eccentric suspension bushes where possible. It's lowered on proper Eibachs 30/40. Strut brace at front and tower brace at rear. Then I had to cut a load of rust out of her and body is now good as new. New diff oil and new gearbox oil.
I love her!
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/alburglar/E30%20Touring/RingActionPics2008_1.jpg)4
...has strut brace now.
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/alburglar/E30%20Touring/enginebayClean.jpg)
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/alburglar/E30%20Touring/e36steeringrackconversion2.jpg)
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/alburglar/E30%20Touring/19042010072.jpg)
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/alburglar/E30%20Touring/30082010114.jpg)
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/alburglar/E30%20Touring/30082010116.jpg)
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next job's will be making a fibreglass bootlid, bonnet (to use standard fittings, hinges etc) and wings.
And longer term goal is a 1.9 crank or longer stroke, but quite happy with her for the time being.
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niiice
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Um, more pics, please. :) That thing sounds COOOL!!!!!!!!! I have to admit, though, that I would have thought the touring a touch on the heavy side for an M42 for track work (although all the ones I see in a local yard are M40 motors).
How do you like the Mims for the track? I just got a set and thought them rather heavy compared to the basketweaves, but think they are some of the best looking wheels on these cars.
Hopefully I can get some brakes on mine shortly and make it to the 'Ring before winter sets in.
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The tourings aren't galvenised, I don't think, but I can;t find a listed kerb weight for an m40 touring. Plus you can loose loads more with a fibreglass tailgate and plastic window, than you would putting a fibreglass boot lid and plastic window on an IS. So it's possible it will end up even lighter than you could go with an IS.
I'll get it on the scales at some point.
according to CARFOILIO:
320i touring Kerb weight 1230 kg 2712 lb -5door
318IS Kerb weight 1200 kg 2646 lb
which surprised me, seeing as the touring is a 5 door and a 6pot, so an m42 5door touring must be somewhere between the two.
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Mims are definately not the lightest, but I like them. Basicly, I see them as cheap deeper dish hartge replicas. - can't go wrong
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ooh plus the m40 touring has as near as dammit 50/50 weight distribution too. Shouldn't think that alters to much putting an m42 in
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The tourings aren't galvenised, I don't think, but I can;t find a listed kerb weight for an m40 touring. Plus you can loose loads more with a fibreglass tailgate and plastic window, than you would putting a fibreglass boot lid and plastic window on an IS. So it's possible it will end up even lighter than you could go with an IS.
I'll get it on the scales at some point.
according to CARFOILIO:
320i touring Kerb weight 1230 kg 2712 lb -5door
318IS Kerb weight 1200 kg 2646 lb
which surprised me, seeing as the touring is a 5 door and a 6pot, so an m42 5door touring must be somewhere between the two.
Um, I think your number on the 318is is a touch high according to this: http://www.new-car-model.com/bmw/3_series/bmw_3_series_e30318_is(1332)/
It puts the 318is at 1125 kg or 2480 lbs. or almost 200 different from what you mentioned. However, it shows the 318i touring at 1180 kg or 2601 lbs which ain't too bad. http://www.new-car-model.com/bmw/3_series/bmw_3_series_touring_e30318_i(1384)/
There are discussions here about how much the 318is weighs as well.
Regardless, you still have an ultra cool car. I wish they were a bit older and I'd try to find one to take home to the States when we go back. Most of the E30s I see around Germany now are beaters which is really a shame.
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Great.
The engine could need some cleaning though! :D
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it has had a good clean now lol.
I am gonna weigh my car today hopefully too.
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Weighed it today. m42 engined touring, 5 door, full interior, 1/4 tank of fuel and me in it (72 kilos): 1280kgs split 630 front 650 rear.
so it looks like they weigh about 1200kg
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Apparently BMW quoted weights are with a full tank of fuel, so that would push it up a bit.
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Very cool! Tourings are next to impossible to get here in the US but they're really cool.
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Regardless, you still have an ultra cool car. I wish they were a bit older and I'd try to find one to take home to the States when we go back. Most of the E30s I see around Germany now are beaters which is really a shame.
I'll second that. I'd love to have a federalized Touring. It's not that much more better than a sedan, and it does have the slight weight penalty, but they're versatile...and the OEM trailer mount is actually useful.
How many e30s would you say are still left beating around there? I see a day coming up soon that any good e30 iS will be worth more than a decent '02. Good 318iS are already heading up in value.
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I'll second that. I'd love to have a federalized Touring. It's not that much more better than a sedan, and it does have the slight weight penalty, but they're versatile...and the OEM trailer mount is actually useful.
How many e30s would you say are still left beating around there? I see a day coming up soon that any good e30 iS will be worth more than a decent '02. Good 318iS are already heading up in value.
Not many. The only truly quality examples are convertibles. I was just commenting this morning to my wife on a poor old E30 touring that is just being beaten to death and then will be discarded when something catastrophic breaks.
Bottom line, I've seen more nice E30s in the States than here. I see more unique ones here, but none have any options that we are used to in the States like AC and power anything. Most are pretty bare bones.
Now keep in mind, I'm in Stuttgart, which is the home of Porsche and Mercedes (my wife's office is literally right next door to the MB world HQ) so I don't expect to see many.
No one should get all riled up and think a journey to Germany is a pilgrimage. It's not near as cool as everyone thinks. Frankly, it's kinda boring and it's built up to be much better than it is.
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Nice ride... I want one!!!! :-)
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There are hundreds of nice 318is's in and around Nurburgring. The local car of choice seems to be either a striped out caged 318is or a mk2 golf.
There's loads in the uk too
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I am planning on a trip over there when the tourings get to be 25+. I'm hoping that a few have survived. I'll pick up two along with some other neat stuff (a buddy is tagging along to score a Beemer C1 moped). What I buy will mostly depend on Euro-dollar and shipping container costs. I'm hoping that some Euro-only parts will offset a lot of the cost, but it's not really about money...just about my addiction to cars.
I know I'm totally off-topic here, but I liked Germany a lot (even though I stayed in Frankfurt). Reminded me of Pittsburgh, to be totally honest. I guess that's why my German ancestors emigrated here. The Rhine was a disappointment, as was most of the beer I had, but the liveliness of Germany (& the Netherlands) was refreshing.
The thing I liked best about Germany (other than a few tourist spots) was the attitude. Germans are healthy and hearty people in general. They don't seem quite as clueless as your typical American. They understand that we all live in a small world instead of just a small corner of it.
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The thing I liked best about Germany (other than a few tourist spots) was the attitude. Germans are healthy and hearty people in general. They don't seem quite as clueless as your typical American. They understand that we all live in a small world instead of just a small corner of it.
Paging LTS to the white courtesy phone . . . :D
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I am planning on a trip over there when the tourings get to be 25+. I'm hoping that a few have survived. I'll pick up two along with some other neat stuff (a buddy is tagging along to score a Beemer C1 moped). What I buy will mostly depend on Euro-dollar and shipping container costs. I'm hoping that some Euro-only parts will offset a lot of the cost, but it's not really about money...just about my addiction to cars.
Word. Parts in yards here are DIRT cheap. New parts, however, are STUPID expensive. I actually order my German made parts from the US since the price difference is so great. Cars in general, though, regardless of year, are way expensive. The only way I've found to get cars cheap- and those are the ones that are true beaters- are from American folks involved with DoD or the military and who are leaving (a perfect condition E38 750i sold recently for $7k whereas the same car on the German economy would go for over 10k Euro. Like I said, don't bank on it being a pilgrimage or fire sale from that perspective.
As the hamburglar mentioned, I'm sure there are some cool bits over there close to the track (and as a former A2 16v GTI nut, I'm bummed that I've only seen 1 cool A2 since getting here), but where I am, it is all about new cars. Brand new 911 turbos and AMG wagons are like Civics here.
Cost to ship a car will be a bit over $2k each and it is based on weight and mildly on size (irrelevant to the E30). And you are not allowed to pack it full of additional parts- I even had to remove the tools in the tool kit and floor mats from mine when it shipped. You can get a separate container for it and such, but cost will be twice as much per, as well.
I know I'm totally off-topic here, but I liked Germany a lot (even though I stayed in Frankfurt). Reminded me of Pittsburgh, to be totally honest. I guess that's why my German ancestors emigrated here. The Rhine was a disappointment, as was most of the beer I had, but the liveliness of Germany (& the Netherlands) was refreshing.
It should remind you of PA, and there is a lot to like. Lots of fests, lots of history, ease of access to the remainder of Europe, etc. However, as an outdoorsman like I am, it sucks beyond compare to be in such a hamster cage. I'll watch the History Channel or read a book. I can't tell you how annoyed I've been each time I've ridden to the Alps; 6 hours of Stau for 20 minutes of fun twisties and never did I reach a place that had not been totally invaded by the hand of man and never devoid of cars. So much so that I don't really ride here (I've only put 1k miles on my bike since getting here, almost a year ago, and I typically ride around 20k miles a year on 2 wheels).
And forget about off road- there isn't even a translation in German for it! (I had to explain to my German neighbor the concept a while back.)
The thing I liked best about Germany (other than a few tourist spots) was the attitude. Germans are healthy and hearty people in general. They don't seem quite as clueless as your typical American. They understand that we all live in a small world instead of just a small corner of it.
Now wait a minute, Dave. The ONE thing that makes Germany very cool is the BEER!!!!!! I barely drink since my undergrad days, but since arriving here, generally have a beer a day. It is EVERY bit as good- if not better- than the reputation.
You are spot on with the people, though. However, they are not quite as robust as you might think (they think we are nuts for how much "sport" we do). German bikers absolutely crack me up. They try so hard to look hard core and rough and tumble, yet even the motard guys don't engage in hooliganism. Granted, my riding resume is a bit radical for even the US, but these folks are positively pansies. However, I do like being able to go into any store at 6'7" and buy clothes off the rack (although, they are quite a bit more thin than my Midwestern goony goo goo butt).
The reason they aren't clueless and aware of their surroundings is b/c they have only a tiny amount of space to work with compared to what we have in the States. The mass population of Europe is mind boggling. The efficiency by which man, nature, industry, and farming are all interwoven is equally mind boggling.
Some times things like this make it horribly inconvenient to be here. There is no regard for traffic (staus are the norm) by the farmers or construction (CONSTANT construction). EVERYTHING is closed on Sunday, and most places close in the evening before you get home from work. You are not even aloud to wash your car in your driveway. All things one can learn to live with, but annoying nonetheless.
Bottom line, it's a killer place to visit and I'm excited to get my E30 to the 'Ring, but I'll be much happier when I'm back in the wide open spaces just outside the larger and more convenient major metropolitan areas of the Western US.
Sorry to threadjack hamburglar, but perhaps you can let me know when your next run over there is and we can rock it.
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next job's will be making a fibreglass bootlid, bonnet (to use standard fittings, hinges etc) and wings.
And longer term goal is a 1.9 crank or longer stroke, but quite happy with her for the time being.
Why not go with an M47 crank? They're readily available 'cross the pond, right? You could do better than a 1.9 that way. I'm tempted to do some 'glass myself, but funds & space are always the problem...
You should post some interior pics too. I <3 analog clocks!
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I love Frankfurt and have spent a bit of time there (and Leipzig) over the last few years. I should probably learn more of the language, but heck, I barely know english. The people are great, the cars are awesome, and the yeigerschnitzel (vienna style) is AWESOME!