M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
FAQ / REFERENCE => Member Profiles => Topic started by: Flavor Dave on November 17, 2011, 05:23:17 PM
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Hello there,
They call me Flavor Dave at my workplace, and honestly I have no idea why. I'm about as hood as an Easy Bake oven.
This past August I was fortunate enough to find an E36, 1993 318iS (M42), brillantrot, JA04375 (http://www.bmw-z1.com/VIN/VINdecode-e.cgi), with 184K miles on it for $2200. Everything on it is stock except the catalytic converter (previous owner replaced it in '07) and the stereo, a Pioneer with a missing faceplate (/facepalm). I haven't gotten around to swapping the stereo out yet, as I enjoy listening to the car itself.
I'm a pizza delivery guy, so I rack up anywhere from 60-120 miles per day on this beast, and I'm going to do my absolute damnedest to keep it in tiptop shape. Hence why I came here - actually discovered this forum looking for a thermostat swap DIY (mine is stuck open, it's been running cold since I got the car, but in San Diego that doesn't really mean a whole lot as it never gets cold here.); my buddy Jason (E34 Dinan525i manual swap, E29 535i) and I will tackle that either this week or next.
The only things wrong with the car that I noticed, not counting the stereo, are:
1. Thermostat stuck open
2. Sunroof cassette broken (happened two weeks after I bought it, cheap plastic crap)
3. Interior lights for window switches and temperature dials (except for the AC/rear def buttons) do not work
4. Instrument panel goes schizo 1% of the time, refusing to read anything until I shut off the car and restart
5. AC needs recharging
6. Power steering hose has small leak
Except for the instrument panel, these are all things I can accomplish repairing in the next year. Because the fluke happens so seldom and I've learned how to tell how fast I'm going by feel alone, I probably won't replace the instrument panel unless I decide to switch out the 7-button OBC with the 18-button (as I was told to replace them in tandem to preserve compatibility).
I will also be eventually adding foglights and angel eyes (DRM in Kearny Mesa makes E36 angel eyes, and I really like how they look on the E36), and I'm not sure whether I'll swap the tails with the white-top M-tails or not, as the amber really doesn't look all that bad against the Brillantrot. (If I had Boston green or something, I most certainly would.)
Pictures coming soon; I have to take some worth showing first.
Nice to meet you all.
Cheers,
Dave
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Post some pics...we love to see what you're getting yourself into...and welcome to the 'club! I agree about listening to the car. I wired in a new Blaupunkt and never seem to turn it on, even during some of my marathon 9-hour-drives.
FYI...when you replace the thermostat, be careful bleeding the car. Be sure the little coolant bleeder passage is clear (it's molded into the thermostat casting), some will cut the gasket to be totally sure. Avoid sealing it up with silicone. I have had the least trouble with OEM paper gaskets installed dry. A non-curing gasket sealer instead of silicone is a great idea too.
I'd suggest some Water Wetter and a little more distilled water than coolant. I usually run 66% water even in ice cold PA. Also beware that some unscrupulous POs will remove the thermostat to "band-aid" an overheat situation. The M42 is not tolerant of overheating, not even once. If it creeps up well above the 3/4 mark, shut it down & find out what's wrong first. Don't let it get to the red!
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Thanks for the welcome.
I will post some pics soon, and thanks for the heads up about the bleeding and the water/coolant ratio. :)
Cheers,
Dave
PS: Water Wetter makes your water wetter!
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Welcome aboad buddy.
How about some pics of your steed?
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Well, some pics from when I bought it back in August: http://imgur.com/a/RlVdJ#0
I have since, well, broken the sunroof XD, cleaned the engine bay with a rag and carb cleaner, cleaned out the air intake and throttle body, put on new tires...
I should really take her out on a mountaintop and take a few new piccies :)
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That's what these cars are meant for man.... some awesome driving roads and great scenery.