Author Topic: DeanSweet: My 1991 318is (Read 7799 times)

deansweet · « **on:** July 09, 2011, 08:42:10 PM »

Picked this car up a couple Fridays ago from a numerous BMW Auto owner. Rear brake line had failed underneath drivers seat and has sat under a pine tree ever since. He was very meticulous about maintaining it as all fluids are near new, new rear seals, new bearings, new struts, new timing belt and tensioners, all new hoses for coolant/vacuum lines. New Bosal exhaust which I know isn't the best but it works. It had been tagged by the hail storm that rolled thru a month or so ago so it needs a new windshield and has a few dents all over it but for $500. Who cares. I trailer'ed it home and got to work on replacing brake line. That was a task but I got it completed in one evening. Then the washing, then removing all the tree sap and debris, then cleaning, polishing and waxing. It's truly amazing to me that everything works?! Radio, ac, heat, fan, status,windows, sunroof, car rides and handles very well. and no check engine light!

Appointment to get windshield replaced next Saturday. $164 at Glass Masters in Cincy.

Oh well. That's enough I am sure.
Pics are here as picasa won't let me link them for some reason?

https://picasaweb.google.com/100761544388013696333/1991BMW318is

I have the side moulding. It was only being held on by one when I picked it up. Just need to buy two clips from bmw dealer. It has some rust and I will try to take care of that as time permits.

Let me know what you think?

e30boarder · « **Reply #1 on:** July 09, 2011, 10:31:15 PM »

Nice car bro. That's a steal for 500. What else you got planned for it?

deansweet · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2011, 02:53:07 PM »

As of right now, get it legal. earliest I can get the car inspected is July 23rd...
Then pull and repaint the lower front valence and rear wing.
Fix the rust.
I need a decent 'window relay' button on center console as the one that's in this is completely faded. Almost looks 'moldy'?
Fix the sunroof knob.
I'd like to replace the seats with a late model M or aftermarket. The current ones are nice but the plastic is start to split like crazy in drivers seat.
Get some 3M masking to protect the fog lights.
Get clips for side molding.
Tint the windows?

All easy stuff just a matter of finding time.

deansweet · « **Reply #3 on:** July 12, 2011, 07:43:17 PM »

got bored tonight.
Spent 30 minutes with pneumatic grinder with 3M pad , some flat black engine paint and some cardboard... Personally, I am impressed how well the little BMW logo right after throttle body came out. It was hard to see beforehand.
Results:

deansweet · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2011, 01:42:54 PM »

Finally get it on the road legally tomorrow. It's maiden voyage under my ownership is a 40+ mile trip to Troy to get it inspected.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2011, 09:52:44 PM »

Welcome to the 'club. Looks like a good car for an excellent price! Sounds like you're really enjoying yourself too.

Wizard · « **Reply #6 on:** July 23, 2011, 07:56:52 AM »

Welcome...Looks like you got a great deal on the car..How many miles on her?

deansweet · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2011, 08:16:20 AM »

~341,500... See if I can get it to hit over half million?!
Yep, I am enjoying it. Way easier to work on than the nightmare Audi...

DesktopDave · « **Reply #8 on:** July 23, 2011, 09:32:45 AM »

You're way ahead of my ~282K. You have the highest mileage M42 I'm aware of offhand - even if not you're certainly close to the top!

I've never had the pleasure of working on Audis...I'm a bit afraid of them, to be honest. All those parts + not much space + surprisingly expensive spares = not a lot of fun.

deansweet · « **Reply #9 on:** July 23, 2011, 02:36:15 PM »

Well, it passed with flying colors. Round trip to inspection center was 98 miles with absolutely no issues.

As for Audi's, I will never own another one. It's a '97 A4 1.8T QUATTRO with just under 180k miles. It's just one dumb thing after another. The Audi engineers were experts in over-engineering the simple things and complete slackers on the major mechanicals.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #10 on:** July 23, 2011, 05:56:52 PM »

I'd only trust very few cars with this kind of mileage. Maybe M-B, Volvo or Peugeot. All of them are RWD with a manual gearbox, but none are as fun as BMW's...and they all cost a lot more to maintain.

My wife thinks I'm crazy trusting high-mileage cars...but the BMW has been more reliable than a lot of lower mileage cars I've had.

deansweet · « **Reply #11 on:** July 29, 2011, 12:20:40 PM »

replaced the blower resistor last night. that's a crazy fun job compared to my mazda mpv...

been legal for 5 days now and already racked up 250miles on it.

rjcaptsean · « **Reply #12 on:** July 29, 2011, 08:38:40 PM »

So I was trying to admire your car, but couldn't get over the WIDE OPEN neighborhood you live in. You must have an acre of grass just in the front lawn. My front lawn is about 20x20. /sigh. What part of the country are you in?

Nice buy by the way!

deansweet · « **Reply #13 on:** July 30, 2011, 02:02:53 PM »

I live between Cincinnati and Dayton Ohio. The property works out to just a bit under 3acres. Takes 4hrs to mow with our lawn tractor with 6' deck and $20 worth of gas?! We were just talking about the difference in property values from here and what we have seen in Ca. My ~3100 sq ft house on 3acres cost me $252k. Comparable house in Ca was 3x/4x that?!

ZaNDeR · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2011, 11:19:03 PM »

Exactly how I want my engine to look!