Author Topic: We ♥ e30 318is (Read 6866 times)

autox320 · « **on:** August 15, 2010, 06:14:17 AM »

Bought from CA and had shipped to east coast. Was a worthy platform to replace just about everything and make a fun car out of. We already have a 91 318i, but wanted another one. I owned a 318is back in 96, so I started looking for another to add to the stable.
Honestly my girl did most of the work. I'd say about 80% was her. I'll brag a little as most of the pics are of her work not mine, and thats why she's my lady. She did the complete interior herself which meant replacing the entire dash, kick panels, gauge cluster components (trial and error), and evoM steering wheel.
I pulled the transmission to put the flywheel/clutch kit in from dynotech, but she cleaned and prepped the trans with the shorter z3 shifter and new linkage. We both put together the rear subframe assembly but shes the one that removed+cleaned+painted it. Same for the exhaust and drivetrain.

The car had a nasty rear main leak. Underside is still coated in the pic of the trans installed. Come to find out the rear main housing didn't have a gasket so fixed that up before the clutch kit.
The previous ownership was a shop that got the car on trade in. The profile gasket was leaking (approx 140,000mi), and now the car has a fresh head. We own a few e30s and couple e21s, so nothing new.

Lots of new parts, but highlights are
Yellow Ford 19lb gen3 bosch injectors
cleared mess under intake
tapped and plugged coolant bypass (7/16" on head, 3/8" on coolant tube)
delta cams 252 deg intake and exhaust
MarkD 93 octane chip
Dynotech (Todd) 12lb 325i flywheel and clutch kit ( http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5696&page=3 )
COP kit from Rob Henretta
13" high performance spal electric fan (inside stock shroud, removed both factory fans)

All new suspension parts. Highlights are HR sports, Bilstein sports, delrin trail arm bushes and diff, 75D subframe race bushings from AKG. Control arm bushings are Bimmerworlds version of eyeballs.

street combo TR motorsport wheels with 205/50/15 fuzion zri
track combo will be TR 15x8 with 225/45/15 ventus

autox320 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 15, 2010, 06:15:57 AM »

No thats not my girl in the pic, thats mom lol......enjoy!

jscribble · « **Reply #2 on:** August 15, 2010, 07:12:05 AM »

That is really starting to look good! Nice car!

nicknikolovski · « **Reply #3 on:** August 15, 2010, 08:05:18 AM »

Nice set-up, alot of hard work and effort. Well done!

persianbmw · « **Reply #4 on:** August 15, 2010, 09:05:26 AM »

man its so clean. looks great.

xwill112x · « **Reply #5 on:** August 15, 2010, 08:42:26 PM »

where at in NC are you?

monko141 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 15, 2010, 10:06:11 PM »

I can see whomever replaced the head didn't put the upper chain cover on correctly. It is supposed to be flush with the head. Wont take to long and you will see oil running down the lower chain case from the outer profile gasket.

colin86325 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 15, 2010, 10:45:53 PM »

Autox, sounds like you've got a keeper. The girl, I mean

Quote from: monko141;95537

I can see whomever replaced the head didn't put the upper chain cover on correctly. It is supposed to be flush with the head. Wont take to long and you will see oil running down the lower chain case from the outer profile gasket.

You must have one hell of an eye!
Actually, the front cover should be machined along with the head so that they are both decked the same amount.

YetiX · « **Reply #8 on:** August 16, 2010, 11:16:17 AM »

What did you use for the hood lining? It looks great.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #9 on:** August 16, 2010, 12:08:27 PM »

That's an awesome job.

How do you like the updated components? I was thinking of the BW CAB eyeballs, but worried they would be far too harsh for an everyday DD sedan. Especially with the H&R/Bilstien Sport/urethane combo...I'll bet it's SOLID but is it noisy?

autox320 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 16, 2010, 11:52:51 PM »

Thanks for the comments. It has some hours in it.

Quote from: DesktopDave;95560

That's an awesome job.

How do you like the updated components? I was thinking of the BW CAB eyeballs, but worried they would be far too harsh for an everyday DD sedan. Especially with the H&R/Bilstien Sport/urethane combo...I'll bet it's SOLID but is it noisy?

I run eyeball arms on all our e30 cars. Honestly not that bad on the street. Very easy replacement of control arms or if ever needed $10 of new nylon inserts for the eyeball.
The car feels better than new. There is the diff noise associated with running a stiff rear setup like this mainly where you connect the subframe. It makes you hear how bad your diff bearings are if they are worn. New halfshafts and wheel bearings reduces the amount of noise but it's up to the condition of the diff. This car isn't too bad and we put down one layer of sound deadener from rear foot well to the rear deck lid. I did the same on my car running aluminum rear setup and its not noticeable with a new diff.

Quote from: YetiX;95558

What did you use for the hood lining? It looks great.

It's the double foil backed bubble wrap home insulation from Lowes. Used it before and works great for years. Just glued on with 3M M90 adhesive.

Quote from: monko141;95537

I can see whomever replaced the head didn't put the upper chain cover on correctly. It is supposed to be flush with the head. Wont take to long and you will see oil running down the lower chain case from the outer profile gasket.

It's hard to tell from pics, but it looked even to me in person. The covers are darker since they weren't cleaned as good as the head. I guess time will tell for leaks. We've not seen any yet since the work performed. My girl has a pretty good eye and lays cardboard under a car if she suspects a leak, then ID's where it comes from if she can.

Quote from: xwill112x;95536

where at in NC are you?

We're outside of Hendersonville NC. Used to live in Raleigh/Cary area.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #11 on:** August 17, 2010, 09:06:03 AM »

I think I'm sold on the eyeballs. They're expensive up front, but $10 for replacements down the road really makes sense.

Did you see that BW has M3 spindles for $40 on closeout? That'd really help for a 5-lug swap, but the cost adds up quickly for new parts even with a bargain like that.

The Bilstein Sports were too jiggly & harsh on my e34, but I might give them another try for the e30.

Perhaps I'll stick with the OEM rubber for the rear subframe. Thanks for the review of your parts.

YetiX · « **Reply #12 on:** August 17, 2010, 11:31:26 AM »

Quote from: autox320;95577

It's the double foil backed bubble wrap home insulation from Lowes. Used it before and works great for years. Just glued on with 3M M90 adhesive.

It looks like you edged it or something. Or is that just from the picture?

autox320 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 17, 2010, 01:36:57 PM »

Quote from: YetiX;95591

It looks like you edged it or something. Or is that just from the picture?

The edges are tucked in the 1/4" or so space in each area around. Traced the openings by taping paper over them, then cut the sheeting, then held in place and glued. Trimmed as needed as it was tucked around. Was easier with two people.

longtallsally · « **Reply #14 on:** August 21, 2010, 05:30:07 AM »

Nice work! There are a couple threads going around now motivating me to keep rolling on mine...