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

FAQ / REFERENCE => Member Profiles => Topic started by: Torque on August 03, 2009, 02:00:07 PM

Title: New to the world of m42.
Post by: Torque on August 03, 2009, 02:00:07 PM
Not new to the world of BMWs though by any means. My first car was a 1990 525ia, then I briefly left the world of BMWs and bought a Subaru Impreza. Then I bought another e34 (this time a 535i/5), and now a few months ago the 318i.

It's a 1995, 5 speed, and approaching 185k miles, but it's very nice.

Here's what it started out as when I got it:
(http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6659/startq.jpg)

Here are the pics as it sits right now:
(http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8362/1002580p.jpg)

(http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7154/1002579.jpg)

(http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2614/1002583.jpg)

(http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5766/1002577.jpg)

Mods/upgrades, as it sits at the moment:
- Staggered 17" DS2s
- M3 solid control arm bushings
- Smoked corners/side repeaters, clear tails
- Front license plate delete strip
- Yellow fog bulbs; pure white low beam bulbs (might eventually go HID, but I had so many headaches with HIDs on my e34, I decided to hold off).
- Clarion mp3 head unit with adjustable display color, perfectly matched to the stock amber lighting.

Only thing I eventually want to do to it is maybe lower it a little, although I'm alright with the way it sits right now.
Title: New to the world of m42.
Post by: DesktopDave on August 03, 2009, 05:36:39 PM
Looks good.  Welcome back to the fold.  I have an '89 e34 525i myself.  How'd you attempt the HIDs on that car, H4 re-based bulbs?
Title: New to the world of m42.
Post by: Torque on August 03, 2009, 08:06:33 PM
They were the 9005 base bulbs you can  buy anywhere now .. I didn't have to modify them at all.

The problem I had was startup though ... the right wouldn't fire sometimes. After replacing 2 ballasts and 2 sets of bulbs, and 2 LKMs, I realized the problem is in the cars wiring or something not letting power go to both sometimes ... and then I tossed the whole thing. I've seen other few people with the same issue; most don't have it though, so I dunno.
Title: New to the world of m42.
Post by: HATER-PROOF on August 04, 2009, 07:15:49 AM
Welcome home Torque, she looks good.
Title: New to the world of m42.
Post by: Sean_318is on August 05, 2009, 08:22:59 AM
Sweet. amazing what some TLC can do :)
Title: New to the world of m42.
Post by: Torque on August 06, 2009, 02:53:09 PM
Thanks for the warm welcome guys.

:)
Title: New to the world of m42.
Post by: iamcreepingdeath on August 09, 2009, 08:08:10 PM
very clean E36.  i say go for lowering it!  i recommend H&R sport springs.  Even H&R OE springs look good.  Here is a pic of my wife's E36 on H&R OE springs:
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_qHca2oE64Mc/R-rFH1yXUHI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/ZDj719f_Q_g/s800/03-21-2008%20024.jpg)
Title: New to the world of m42.
Post by: Torque on August 09, 2009, 11:09:43 PM
That looks excellent!

I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do suspension wise: keep it stock until I need to replace the shocks/struts and then buy springs as well, or change it all now.
Title: New to the world of m42.
Post by: Torque on August 11, 2009, 06:33:39 AM
Ok, update on my dilemma ... I ordered coilovers.

This is the stance I'm shooting for ... got the pic from a guy over on bimmerforums
(http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6366/stancef.jpg)

I can't wait. :)
Title: New to the world of m42.
Post by: Torque on August 22, 2009, 06:47:12 PM
Alright, some stuff went down this Friday ... if you get what I mean. Here are the pics.

(http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/1893/1002606x.jpg)

(http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/2959/1002611l.jpg)

(http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/1043/1002610d.jpg)

(http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/678/1002608.jpg)

(http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/5471/1002607n.jpg)

(http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8056/1002609small.jpg)

I would appreciate it if a mod could move this thread to the member profiles section.
Title: New to the world of m42.
Post by: iamcreepingdeath on October 01, 2009, 05:34:42 PM
that looks awesome!!  i love the stance!
Title: New to the world of m42.
Post by: Torque on October 04, 2009, 12:14:43 PM
Heh, bringing my thread back from the dead, huh? :D

Here's some better pics from last weekend (in case anyone cares):

1.
(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9459/1002665z.jpg)

2.
(http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/6344/1002656.jpg)

3.
(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/7940/1002664b.jpg)

4.
(http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/8840/1002663b.jpg)

5.
(http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/3608/1002667d.jpg)

6.
(http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/5691/1002666a.jpg)

7.
(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/9092/1002661e.jpg)

8.
(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5807/1002653ho.jpg)

9.
(http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/7844/1002670.jpg)


Sometime this week I'm putting a new thermostat in (been heating up very very slowly all this time and winter is near ... i think the old one is stuck open), and I'm supposed to be getting my hands on a steering wheel to replace mine which has ripped apart at the top of the rim.
Title: New to the world of m42.
Post by: 1991318is on October 04, 2009, 05:42:47 PM
Looks really good w/ the new stance. I've got a friend w/ an alpine e36 4 door that's almost identical but running K1's and has an s52, love the sleeper look of the grey bumpers. Moved thread for you.
Title: New to the world of m42.
Post by: Torque on October 04, 2009, 07:36:45 PM
Thanks for the move.

We all know m42 is far superior to the s52. :D