Slowered318 Built

[Slowered318]

1991 - 318is
Sterling Silver Metallic on Anthracite Uberkaro Cloth
(Purchased Summer of 2002)

PERFORMANCE:
135 Hp @ 6500 rpm, 130 lb/ft @ 4000 rpm
Getrag 240 5 Speed Manual Transmission
2650 lb. Curb Weight
1/4 mile in 16.56 sec, @ 85 mph

MODIFICATIONS:
- Re-built M42 (Port & Polished, Forged Pistons, Valve Guides and Lifters)
- MarkD "91 Octane" Performance Chip
- Bosch 19# 4 Pintle Injectors (0280150943)
- HQ Autosport COP Kit
- Brullen Custom "Header Back" Performance Exhaust
- 16" 2 Speed Electric Fan and Aluminum Shroud (80/88 Thermo Switch)
- 325ix Washer Fluid Container
- MM Lightweight Flywheel & HD 228mm Clutch
- Autosolutions Shift System
- E28 Transmission Mounts
- MM Differential (3.91, 3 Disc VLS, 288 "Medium Case")
- Falken Ziex ZE329 Tires (195/65-14)
- Brembo Front & Rear Rotors
- PBR Ultimate Ceramic / Textar "OE" Brake Pads
- ECS Tuning SS Brake Lines
- Rebuilt Calipers (VHT Gloss Black)
- IE Stage 3 Springs
- H&R Anti-roll Bars (22mm front, 18mm Rear)
- Modified e38 Rear Anti-roll Bar Links
- Koni "Yellow" Adjustable Struts and Shocks
- Rogue Engineering Rear Shock Mounts
- E46 ZHP Steering Rack (3.2 Turns)
- M3 Control Arm Bushings
- Offset Front And Rear Bushings For Camber Correction
- Eibach Strut Tower Brace
- Moulded M-Tech II Fiberglass Body Kit
- Artic Silver Paint
- Full Black Italian Leather (New Image Interiors)
- E30 M3 Antenna
- Genuine Euro BMW Grills
- Hella Smoked Ellipsoid Headlights
- Lumens HID 4300K Xenon (Low)
- Lumens Ultra White (High)
- Hella Optilux Yellow (Fog)
- Canadian DRL Delete
- Bavarian Restoration Ground Wires
- Smoked Signal Lens
- MHW Smoked Tail Lights
- Blacked out 318is badge
- M-Sport Illuminated Shifter
- Check Panel Replaced with a 3rd Dome Light
- 13 Button OBC (Need a 318 Coding Plug)
- Alpine/DLS/Eclipse Audiophile Sound System

[Warsteiner]

Very nicely done!

How do you like the brakes now with the 25mm master?

And the Euro Antenna actually gives it a nice addition as well. I think I still have my M3 one lying around somewhere....hmmmm

Cheers,
~Ralph

[DesktopDave]

Nice choice of mods!  That body kit really looks good too, very tasteful.  Really matches the E30's lines.

How did the Valeo kit work out BTW?  I've been interested in that kit ever since I heard about them releasing it.  I figured it'd be the easiest option for a SMFW conversion.

[Slowered318]

Very nicely done!

How do you like the brakes now with the 25mm master?

And the Euro Antenna actually gives it a nice addition as well. I think I still have my M3 one lying around somewhere....hmmmm

Cheers,
~Ralph

Thank you!

To be honest, the 25mm MC is still waiting to go on the car. Pretty much on the fence about installing it. My original MC feels like a wet sponge but I don't want to screw up the brake balance resulting in a car accident. I've been reading that the trick is to install a restriction valve on the rear line and I'm trying to find out if the brake system or MC has any kind of proportioning first. I will be experimenting with it over the next few weeks, waiting for a few more parts.

It's actually a M3 antenna, thanks for correcting me. It really doesn't grab FM as well as I thought it would, I mainly listen to my iPod so that's not a big deal to me.

[Slowered318]

Nice choice of mods!  That body kit really looks good too, very tasteful.  Really matches the E30's lines.

How did the Valeo kit work out BTW?  I've been interested in that kit ever since I heard about them releasing it.  I figured it'd be the easiest option for a SMFW conversion.

The Valeo 52161203 conversion kit is great so far! It feels a lot more refined then I expected and pedal action is really smooth. Install was very strait forward except I couldn't remove the old pilot bearing.

I may order another complete kit and have the flywheel shaved down a few pounds. It has a lot of extra steel near the ring gear, I'm assuming this is to keep around the stock 25-27# weight. I bet It can be reduced to roughly 20#, I just gotta make sure the positioning slot and sensor pickups are not needed. I can't quite figure out why Valeo installed them as I thought the crank sensor was on the harmonic balancer at the front of the motor.

[Warsteiner]

[/quote]

Thank you!

To be honest, the 25mm MC is still waiting to go on the car. Pretty much on the fence about installing it. My original MC feels like a wet sponge but I don't want to screw up the brake balance resulting in a car accident. I've been reading that the trick is to install a restriction valve on the rear line and I'm trying to find out if the brake system or MC has any kind of proportioning first. I will be experimenting with it over the next few weeks, waiting for a few more parts.

It's actually a M3 antenna, thanks for correcting me. It really doesn't grab FM as well as I thought it would, I mainly listen to my iPod so that's not a big deal to me.
[/quote]

Ok... I just went through this so I have a little insight for you. The Stock master is biased 23/17. That is a pretty large difference. I was going to put the M3 one in but that would totally change the way the car stops. I could have gone with the 25mm too since that is what I did on my E30M3 track car but I got rid of the stock proportioning valve and put an adjustable one in.  There is a proportioning  valve on the firewall. These are all the same on E30's and a few others. The M3 also has larger brakes from the 5 series.

I would either leave the system stock or remove the valve and install an adjustable one. Just putting in a 25mm master might not work like anticipated hence the reason I didn't do it.

I would try bleeding the brakes really well with some good fluid to see if you could get a better feel before you do anything else. That is definitely the least expensive trial and error before replacing the master. It is a costly piece!!

Cheers,
~Ralph

[Slowered318]

Glad you have some experience with this and not from the school of "bigger is better"

I do have a spare 23/17 MC I could try out and thoroughly bleed the brakes. I have NO brake fluid loss by the way and the callipers seem to be working fine. Actually everything was fine with the brakes and acceleration until I started occasionally driving a '07 CLK350. Either way, last time I had the 318 out on the track the brake pedal was practically sunk to the floor after a few laps. I haven't been back and I'm not going out there till I resolve this "sponge" issue first. On the street it doesn't respond well to a panic brake situation either and my booster seems to be working correctly.

My 318 came with ABS so I don't see the brake proportioning valve on Real OEM, looks like the lines go strait from the MC to the ABS unit or are we talking about that little gizmo on the inner fender beside the brake booster? I wonder if the brake system has proportioning built in somewhere or is the brake bias totally determined by the primary and secondary on the MC? If both systems are totally independent then I could install the 25mm MC with a adjustable valve to dial in my rear brakes (street and track).

Thoughts?

[DesktopDave]

Nice choice of mods!  That body kit really looks good too, very tasteful.  Really matches the E30's lines.

How did the Valeo kit work out BTW?  I've been interested in that kit ever since I heard about them releasing it.  I figured it'd be the easiest option for a SMFW conversion.

The Valeo 52161203 conversion kit is great so far! It feels a lot more refined then I expected and pedal action is really smooth. Install was very strait forward except I couldn't remove the old pilot bearing.

I may order another complete kit and have the flywheel shaved down a few pounds. It has a lot of extra steel near the ring gear, I'm assuming this is to keep around the stock 25-27# weight. I bet It can be reduced to roughly 20#, I just gotta make sure the positioning slot and sensor pickups are not needed. I can't quite figure out why Valeo installed them as I thought the crank sensor was on the harmonic balancer at the front of the motor.

No thoughts on the brakes, but I'd bet the Valeo kit has the position sensor pin for the older Motronic 1.0 Basic and L-Jet Euro cars.  You are absolutely correct that our cars have no sensor on the flywheel or bell housing - it's on the crank snout (or 4th crank web) for all M4x motors.  Lighten away!  There are a huge array of choices as far as flywheel & clutch combos for the Getrag 'boxes.

Off the top of my head, BMWs that might use that same small flywheel (215mm?) but need the position pin are the M10 E30.  IIRC the only difference between the early M10 clutch setup and the later M42 setup is the pilot bearing.  I'd also bet there are a bunch of Volvos, Porsches, Alfas and maybe a SAAB that use a very similar clutch setup.

[Slowered318]

Great, thanks DesktopDave.

I think I will pull the flywheel this winter and have these universal features shaved off. I figured they were not needed, I just wanted to check with the pro's before I go do something stupid. BTW, I was wondering if you recall the diameter of the silicon hoses that came in your kit? I may order from HI Performance Store but I would rather go 'by the foot' as I would like to use the original ICV elbow and some barbed 90's. In the description it says the hose will stretch so i'm not sure if I should use 12 or 16mm vac lines. I have a new hose on my brake booster but I've been looking all over for the other ones.

[Slowered318]

Can't wait to try out these Bosch 0280150943's with BMW style pintle caps.

Installation was a breeze, no issues so far. Used a little mint lip balm on the seals and they snap right in. Don't see the need for washers but it would be nice to have something on the end to keep oil and dust out.

Main reason for doing this? Combustion was a little uneven across the board and high RPM performance hasn't been the greatest lately, trouble passing emissions test.

[monty23psk]

I thought you went with the 556 injectors? At least that was stated under the mustang injector thread. I just ordered the 556s and was wondering if you ever tired them.

Thanks

[Slowered318]

I thought you went with the 556 injectors? At least that was stated under the mustang injector thread. I just ordered the 556s and was wondering if you ever tired them.

Thanks

You're right, that's exactly what I specified on my order. The 943's are what came but it looks like they have identical specs.

[monty23psk]

I just received mine and will take a look at the Bosch PN I received. Was there a reason you added the BMW pintle caps on? My understanding is that they are not needed.

Thanks your project is moving along nicely.

[Slowered318]

I just received mine and will take a look at the Bosch PN I received. Was there a reason you added the BMW pintle caps on? My understanding is that they are not needed.

Thanks your project is moving along nicely.

I added the BMW pintle caps because they were only $0.50 each and I like to keep it somewhat OE, the Ford caps should be fine though.

New engine mounts and fuel hose are going in today (yes I waited for the mounts before I measure the lines)

Should be up and running this week but I'm having a difficult time with the power door locks. Too many little projects at the same time!

[Slowered318]

It's been a back breaking 4 days of work, getting too old for this. LOL

Replaced all check valves, coolant lines, fuel and vacuum hoses. Fully removed the mess under the intake including the heater core bypass.
New gaskets and new clamps.
4 pintle Bosch injectors are in.
Powder coated the manifolds, valve cover and oil filter cap.
New genuine BMW engine mounts and E21 transmission mounts.
Oil pressure switch, coolant temp sensor, and 1.4 bar rad cap.
Air filter (paper), coolant flush (50 BMW blue / 50 distilled), oil change (Castrol GTX 10/40)
Repaired and dyed my Mtech2 steering wheel.
Strut brace is off to get a good polishing.

Took way too many cranks before it finally turned over... It's running good now so maybe some air in the fuel lines?

Test drive time in a few days, I can't wait! Still have to wire the dash and reinstall my speakers, also need a solution for the rotten firewall insolation soon.