Author Topic: New guy with a $900 318is  (Read 7216 times)

BimmerTech

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New guy with a $900 318is
« on: December 05, 2011, 12:17:52 PM »
Hey guys, I'm Evan.  I recently got a 318is from a friend of mine to fix up and use as a daily driver.  I'm not new to BMW's as I used to have an E28 535is, and as you might have guessed from my username, I am a BMW technician ;)

The very rumored story behind this e30 is as this.  Original owner (extremely possible he is not the actual original owner, but for the story, he is, haha) had this 318is sitting around and decided to rally race it.  Apparently he had the engine rebuilt, and the diff. upgraded (pretty sure it's just welded :rolleyes:).  The car also has a Z3 rack installed, along with H&R sports and bilstein sports. Came with some 16" Borbet type C's as well.  So on with the story....  The original owner apparently does well enough racing that he gets sponsored with a car and everything.  Fuel pump in the e30 dies.  Enter my friend who finds the dead e30 on CL.  He picks it up and fixes it. Then the ignition housing breaks and the car is parked for a while.  My friend buys another e30 that needs interior.  He then takes out all the interior from the 318is for his new car (thank god he left the headliner and dash!).  My friend then goes in the steering column and removes the ignition switch so you can start the car with a screwdriver, installs an extra passenger side comfort seat in the drivers side and a 3 point harness and lends it to a friend in need...and she looses the key so you can't lock it anymore :mad:

Enter me!  I see the car sitting at my friends house, and decide I have to have the car!  I have been daily driving a '98 Jeep grand cherokee 5.9l on 35's (10mpg on a downhill with a tailwind!) so the MPG of the e30 was my biggest turn on!  Work out a deal and the car is mine!  I start daily driving it immediately.  I got a key cut along the next day so I could lock it and had a new factory lighted master key ordered from Germany (LOL!) along with replacing the ignition housing.  I ordered and installed an IS front lip last week, and got super lucky and found a rear parcel shelf minus premium speaker setup and a black leather rear seat and door cards and all seatbelts and things I was missing.  now all I need are some front seats and a carpet kit for the interior!  Ill get some more pics up of it later today showing the interior and IS lip :)

Here is a pic from when it was delivered to me :D


Here is a pic of my old e28.....I like my BMW's old, clean, and low


And I might as well show off my other vehicle since I am whoring it up, lol (This pic was taken yesterday up tinkham road getting my xmas tree)
« Last Edit: December 05, 2011, 10:23:31 PM by BimmerTech »

DesktopDave

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New guy with a $900 318is
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2011, 07:41:24 PM »
Welcome to the 'Club!  Your post was moderated, I had to approve it...

We skipped the e28 in my family...the e12 lasted long enough for an e34!

Glad to see you rescued another one.  They're great cars, ahead of their time, under-appreciated currently...that'll change if/when the economy gets back.
'08 Karmesinrot 128i 6MT
'86 Zinnoberrot 635CSi (M30B32/G265/3.46 torsen LSD)

Sold: '97 Montrealblau 318iS, '91 Brilliantrot 318i, '91 Brilliantrot 318iS

BimmerTech

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New guy with a $900 318is
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2011, 10:00:35 PM »
Thanks for approving it, Dave!  I am very glad this little car found it's way to me.....I don't like using the term restore, but I plan on making this an e30 that will last a long long time :)  I will update my profile info shortly, but I am in Seattle so if there are any locals, let me know!

DesktopDave

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New guy with a $900 318is
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2011, 10:21:25 PM »
Your whore has vanished!  :p

Nope, they just popped back in...nevermind!  Those are euro bumpers on the e28, right?  Is that front facia original?  Just wondering, I'm picking up an e24/1 this week most likely and the euro treatment would be a huge improvement.

I don't use the term restore either...I call it a temporary improvement of a permanent condition...

BTW, drop that lower pan at the earliest opportunity and loctite the upper pan bolts...they tend to walk out on their own...critical problem with the early M42's!  I know it's likely already been done, and I'm sure you've heard about it in your line of work, but it definitely bears repeating...
« Last Edit: December 05, 2011, 10:23:48 PM by DesktopDave »
'08 Karmesinrot 128i 6MT
'86 Zinnoberrot 635CSi (M30B32/G265/3.46 torsen LSD)

Sold: '97 Montrealblau 318iS, '91 Brilliantrot 318i, '91 Brilliantrot 318iS

BimmerTech

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New guy with a $900 318is
« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2011, 10:33:36 PM »
Oops, I was cleaning house on photobucket and moved those pics around....fixed now though!  I plan on checking the oil pan bolts soon, I was just reading the post on it yesterday.  What a dumb design flaw from the factory!

Gerta318is

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New guy with a $900 318is
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2011, 12:06:50 AM »
Bimmer - What we have here is an old fashion trade offer ... You need a carpet kit.  I have a 318is with a decent but worn carpet.  I have a new carpet to install ... now comes the part that you may be interested in.  You help me swap the carpets and you can have the old one.  If that seems like a plan ... hit me up via PM.

Oh and welcome to the club.  Save that car like I know a BimmerTech can ...

Gerta318is

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New guy with a $900 318is
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2011, 12:08:20 AM »
By the way are a Seattle tech?  If so, do you guys still have any of the PRO3 calendars?

BimmerTech

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New guy with a $900 318is
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2011, 11:09:51 AM »
Gerta - I am interested in at least helping do your carpet...and I am interested in your old carpet for sure, but I am quite picky on the carpet so we will worry about that when I see it.  Let me know when you re going to tackle the project and I will hopefully be able I help!  And I have 3 pro 3 calendars left in my personal stash ;)

Gerta318is

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New guy with a $900 318is
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2011, 11:51:58 PM »
Ok.  PM me.  I might have a window of opportunity this weekend.

BimmerTech

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New guy with a $900 318is
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2011, 01:40:12 AM »
Just wanted to post a couple more pics to show the progress of this project.




Not a bad back seat for a junkyard find!

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New guy with a $900 318is
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2011, 02:19:43 PM »
when your done and want to sell it, let me know :)

BimmerTech

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New guy with a $900 318is
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2011, 10:28:00 PM »
I will take that as a compliment :)  But, I wouldn't go holding your breath, I see myself driving this car for a long long time.  Its too damn fun and economical not to keep!

-eur04lif3-

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New guy with a $900 318is
« Reply #12 on: December 09, 2011, 03:55:49 PM »
Quote from: BimmerTech;108730
I will take that as a compliment :)  But, I wouldn't go holding your breath, I see myself driving this car for a long long time.  Its too damn fun and economical not to keep!


i hear ya, my brother has one just like yours. 150K on the m42 with moonroof :) he always makes me jelly lol

BimmerTech

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New guy with a $900 318is
« Reply #13 on: December 13, 2011, 08:18:48 PM »
Ooh, a moonroof.....I always wanted to put one of those in my old e28.  Funny how I actually have one in my jeep and I usually leave the sunshade closed, lol!

318is1506

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factory speakers
« Reply #14 on: February 29, 2012, 08:59:38 PM »
i have a set of alpine rears with the factory tweeters that came out of my IS if you need them let me know .