4-door slick top?

[funcrew]

Did the USA ever get a non-sunroof (slick top) E30 4-door sedan? If so, which years/models? Anybody have an immaculate example they want to get rid of?

[dvmotorsports]

There are a few out there. The only ones I have seen, less than 5, have all been 318's. Just weld the roof shut. Worked for me.

[funcrew]

There are a few out there. The only ones I have seen, less than 5, have all been 318's. Just weld the roof shut. Worked for me.

Thanks for the suggestion - That's a possibility. There are good write-ups on other forums for removing all the motor, tracks, frames, etc., splitting the sunroof open, then welding just the exterior sheetmetal skin in place and filling the gap prior to paint. Then you have to deal with the headliner. Removes roughly 40 pounds from the top of the car, which is huge, and of course does not leak. A nasty job if you want to go for maximum weight reduction.

I don't weld, and need a clean shell anyway, so I thought it would be a lot easier to start with a slicktop and avoid all that.

By 318's, do you mean only the 1991 models, or did some of the older M10 cars come in slicktop?

[dwtaylorpdx]

Remove all the sunroof stuff and use solder to attach the filler panel, if you use a high grade structural solder its as strong as the sheet-metal. And you only heed a big plumbers iron to do it. When you done the solder has filled the gap. You do have to sand all the pieces to bare metal though...

Dave

[dvmotorsports]

Only '90 and '91. Not saying that early 318's don't have them. But I haven't noticed.

[Chalino]

How rare are sunroof-less E30s alotgether?

[dvmotorsports]

Fairly rare. There are plenty out there, but it was an option delete. There are some out there, but since most Americans are all about instant gratification, they'd buy off the showroom floor (which was 99.9% sunroof cars) rather than order one and wait for it.

[monty23psk]

My understanding on the 91 318is was that the sunroof was more of a dealer option. Mine does not have a sunroof. Of course with US culture, many I am sure were installed.

[Chalino]

My understanding on the 91 318is was that the sunroof was more of a dealer option. Mine does not have a sunroof. Of course with US culture, many I am sure were installed.

Mine is sunroof-less as well

[bimmerd00d]

Interesting, I just picked up a '91 318i sedan without a sunroof.  No idea how rare this was.  It needs work, but it starts and runs decently.  I need to eliminate the rat's nest underneath the intake ASAP.

[dvmotorsports]

Speaking of the slick tops, my wife found a sick E36 that she wants.

4dr
5spd
Slick top
Dakar Yellow
M3

I said i'd never go back to E36. But there are less than 250 of these ever. This has less than 100k and i'm getting hooked up for 8g's. Can't pass this up.

[superj]

yup.  four door and five speed in dakar sounds super rare.  a buddy has an m3/4 in five speed but his has a sun roof and is black.  very functional family car

[robrez]

They aren't that hard to find, but finding a low mileage, clean one is not easy. I got lucky and came across two during my search. The first one had both - low miles and was clean - but the red/beige combo didn't inspire me.

Then I found a diamond schwarz/black. It had super low miles, but the body and paint were pretty rough. So after sorting out the mechanicals, I got it re-sprayed.

Be patient and you'll find one with everything you're looking for.

[Mr Spliffy]

My south african 318i is a slick-top 4door, and they aren't rare at all over here! In fact lots of us want to add a sunroof including me. But after reading this I want to keep it the way it is; no extra weight (never thought of it like that)!

[Ryann]

I've got a brillantrot '91 318i w/o sunroof, and know of at least two other M42 clubbers with them also, one alpinweiss one brillantrot & both '91s. Slicktop M42 powered 318i's don't seem that rare to me.