M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

FAQ / REFERENCE => Member Profiles => Topic started by: beta14ok on June 08, 2009, 08:46:20 PM

Title: beta14ok
Post by: beta14ok on June 08, 2009, 08:46:20 PM
I’ve been lurking on this site for a while.
I find it to be a nice community with a very non-confrontational style and lots of sharing of ideas, methods, and information….. thanks for that!        So, here’s my little e30 – M42:

I picked up the ever popular (‘specially on this site!) 1991 BMW 318is in Brillantrot as a daily driver and I’ve been slowly bringing it back since 2007. I’ve been going for a basically stock platform with a few “sensible” upgrades to looks and function. Cheap entry fee, good gas mileage, nice looks and excellent handling!

 -   universal joint, drive shaft, gaskets and timing chain, power steering hoses, water pump, shocks, steering wheel bearings, and fuel pump:                 Stock – replaced new/replaced by previous owner

 -   Brakes & Rotors:
Stock – replaced new/replaced 2007

 -   Steering:
Stock – replaced new rack 2008

 -   Engine:
Stock – original or as indicated above
Replaced all those stupid, rotten hoses under the intake
Replaced the ingnition spaghetti with Coil-over-Plug ignition (thanks rob_e30 from M42 Club), 2009
Replaced clutch (OEM - dual mass) & bearings & machined flywheel, 2009

 -   Exhaust:
Stock – w/ new Chrome tip 2009

 -   ECU:
Mark-D chip 2009………..very nice upgrade! (thanks 1988E30M3 from
 M42 Club)

 -   Body:
New roundels, 2009
Replaced rear bumper (ebay), 2009
New front lip-spoiler (Bav'Auto), 2009
Lip splitter (thanks thereisnoyun from R3V Limited),. 2009
Replaced rear bumper pistons, 2009

I had visions of full paint…..(note: the car looked “pinkish-orange” before restoration), and I was missing the front “is” lip, and the rear bumper was damaged from a fender bender with my neighbors Crown Victoria….the “Vicky” won without a scratch!....its a physics thing.

Anyway…I wasn’t happy with the exterior. I had my friends at Peak Auto, Apex, NC [ http://www.peakautomotive.com/ ] checked it out and we opted for a wet-sand and power buffing to thoroughly remove the oxidation. Darren explained that these single-stage German paints are really robust and would be fine underneath all of that surface oxidation. Wow what a difference….it’s “RED” again!....and no need to spend all that time & money on paint. We did end up shooting a little bit of new paint on the mirrors, bumpers, front valence & lip-spoiler, and trunk & spoiler…those areas where color was not as recoverable. I sorta wish I had opted to shoot the hood as well because there are a few defects/dents from a hail storm…..(updated late summer 2009 fixed the hood also!!) These guys at Peak Auto are very detail oriented and run a full restoration shop as well as being one of the better independent mechanical garages in the area…….and they appreciate old sports cars! Checkout the full frame-off restoration in progress of a 1972 BMW 3.0…..[ http://www.peakautomotive.com/Restoration/RestoWorkinProgress/tabid/107/Default.aspx ]......this will be awesome when complete.

 -  Shoes:   Konig Remember 16x7 +20mm offset w/ stock BMW roundels modified-to-fit. The stock 14” basket weaves are in good shape, but tire selection isn’t very good, so I upsized and am now running 205/50R-16 Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec on the Konigs. Can you say: “stick like glue”. I’ll prolly keep the stock ‘weaves for cold weather and run BFGoodrich all-seasons or something.

 -  Lights:   Installed used OEM ellipsoid Fog lights w/ new lenses from [http://www.bmwlight.com/bmw_e30.htm ]
Installed new Bav’Auto Ellipsoid headlights w/ angel-eye (repackaged Depo) & brow (duh….I like the way it looks!!)

 -  Interior:
Contrasting black door handles and pockets on beige door cards
Driver-side cup holder (modified Bav’Auto door pocket holder)
Wood grain, BMW badged, Momo steering wheel (thanks ejnight from R3V Limited)
Wood grain shift & brake knobs
New Odometer gears (http://www.odometergears.com)
New dash lights

Future projects may include:
•   Fix or replace tranny – 4th gear pops-out ocasionally during shifting
•   Drop & firm the suspension - not too low......I like my oil pan!
•   Leather seat re-upholster
•   Clutch fan delete – swap to electric fan
•   Muffler – not sure which yet.
•   Would enjoy some sorta forced induction, but it would need to be in kit form, off the shelf and very robust for a DD….too bad about the availability of DASC

Anyway……What a fun little car!    And a good DD.

(http://www.m42club.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=63&pictureid=353)
(http://www.m42club.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=63&pictureid=355)
(http://www.m42club.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=63&pictureid=362)
(http://www.m42club.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=63&pictureid=361)
(http://www.m42club.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=63&pictureid=360)
(http://www.m42club.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=63&pictureid=356)
Title: beta14ok
Post by: beta14ok on June 08, 2009, 09:12:26 PM
Guess need some brighter pictures!

Soon.........
Title: beta14ok
Post by: TRUSL33PR on June 08, 2009, 09:27:02 PM
that thing is clean!
Title: beta14ok
Post by: bmw_bashar on June 09, 2009, 12:01:21 AM
sweet IS
Title: beta14ok
Post by: beta14ok on September 11, 2009, 11:57:56 AM
late summer 2009 update:

- new clutch & bearings
- fixed the dents & shot paint on the hood.
Title: beta14ok
Post by: Ramblin MAn on September 12, 2009, 06:25:36 PM
What front spoiler do you have?
Title: beta14ok
Post by: beta14ok on September 14, 2009, 08:20:03 AM
Quote from: Ramblin MAn;78351
What front spoiler do you have?


The spoiler is standard BMW from BavAuto (http://www.bavauto.com/shop.asp) (Part # : 51 71 1 968 488)

The splitter is from  thereisnoyun's thread (http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=138827) on r3vlimited

Cheers,
dmm
Title: beta14ok
Post by: beta14ok on May 21, 2010, 10:49:07 AM
Ready for summer now - 2010 update:
 
Title: beta14ok
Post by: beta14ok on June 09, 2011, 12:22:45 PM
Summer 2011 Update

*  New Steering Rack (!@#$ :mad: !!!!!!)
*  Replaced all Belts
*  New Radiator
*  New water pump
*  polish & wax

Revise pic's soon.
Title: beta14ok
Post by: beta14ok on July 17, 2011, 06:44:39 AM
2011 Summer Update:

Pump

....new shoes need this winter. Gonna run 14" basket weaves and save the 16ers for summer tread.