Das Beater 318is

[Choking Hazard]

I finally got the car and the camera out at the same time.
Mine is certainly nothing special, but it drives great!
I got no records with the car at all, but by appearances it looks like until I got it there was no maintenance at all. :mad:
But aparently when something broke (like the profile gasket .... I hope), it was taken to the stealer for repair.  I'm pretty sure whoever had it gave up when the BMW place priced out replacing the  2 busted foglamps and missing 'is' front air dam and the missing blacked out trim and the blown shocks and the shot exhaust and the crazy temp guage and the brake pad light and....:eek:
So that is just about everything I've replaced on the car so far-
besides the wheels (mille miglia) and tires (sumitoma).  Replaced the timing chain tensioner and oil pressure sender too.  Repco Brake pads and drilled rotors and wear sensors took care of that brake light, and there were those "differential mount bushing and leaky axle bearings and leaky power steering hoses and thermostat and fan clutch" issues.  I've only had the car 5 months.   So thats why there ain't no smiley headlights or euro grills or whatever on there.
But I did at least get the good euro hellas.
I have a feeling all us 318 owners are a bit more compelled to, uh, economize than your basic M3 owner.  So I gotta stop tinkering and start driving it more.
Here is a little info about me-
I'm in Alabama.  I work for the Army as an Environmental Engineer.  I spend most of my time either messing with cars, going to automobile related events, riding my road bikes, or doing something with my kids- 2 teen aged boys.  I'm probably older than most of you (45).  I'm left handed.  I play bongo drums (both hands).  My wife says I'll never grow up, and I agree.

[Febi Guibo]

hey man, looks hot... i'm glad your car finally found a good home.

 i really dig the rims... what are you running for shocks and springs?

[Choking Hazard]

Suspension is now Bilstein HD shocks/struts & springs.  Came as a package even.  It really works well together.

[///Motorsport]

looks very nice! what rims are those? keep it up!

[M42boy]

Holy bimmer... Nice beater batman!

[Choking Hazard]

I've got it pretty deep.  As soon as I started letting my son (asbradley21) start autocrossing my d-schwarz car, he wouldn't drive anything else.  Puckup trucks have their place, but driving enjoyment isn't usually in the equation...
After a few months of looking, I found this alpinewiess Jewel in Memphis.  Its got a heaping pile 'o miles (255K), but is totally tight and a great driver.  It came with a perfect interior, and these ACS (or whatever) wheels.  I had a dark windo tint put on.  I installed a euro plate filler and (gasp) taurus skirts that I think look great- very subtle unless you know e30s.  Like the DS one, I slapped on the Bilstien spring/ shocks, new rotors and pads, put in a z3 shifter, timing chain tensioner, fluids replacement, a little exhaust work, a couple of rattle cans, and mounted some Bridgestone S-03 205/55s on the Mille Miglias then swapped the wheels between the two cars.  It took a little modification inside the front wheel well, but nothing else, and I really like the way the tires fill the openeing.  The ride is a bit smoother than the 50 series tires, and ground clearance is about 1/2 inch more, too.
The only problem with the car is that it is too nice to do beater duty.  I still have to cajole the other one away from my son.