318i for me tomorrow...

[bmw327]

If all goes well, and I expect it will, I'll be the owner of a rather swizzy 318i tomorrow morning and I'm looking forward to it!  

It is aesthetically amazing, both inside and out; in most respects it looks like a well cared for 3-5 year old car.  It has low mileage (115K), an LSD, fogs, nice 15x8 wheels  & Yokos (new), fresh head and profile  gaskets (Nov '07), a 93 octane Mark D chip, and all service records since new. The engine is surprisingly strong for its size.  It won't win any drag races with my soon to be for sale E34 535i/5 spd, but it's zippy.   It drives quite well - nice and tight with no rattles or bangs - but there are a few things to be addressed.  

The car needs a clutch soon; engagement is a bit soft, but all else appears to work fine.  It also needs  brakes and there's a whine from some anciliary.  I think the PS pump may be the culprit - possibly just low fluid, possibly not. The fog light lenses are shot and a headlight or two might do well to be replaced.  They all work, they're just cracked. There's a small bullseye in the windshield which will be easily repaired as well.  

All in all, I think it's a car worth investing in.  I expect to be a bit upside down for a while, but I think the car should hold up well and be an economical and fun commuter-mobile.

I know there are a few Long Islanders here - does anyone know a good indy BMW shop on eastern - central LI for the clutch work?  I've not really found anyone I'm thrilled with yet.  The wrench I usually use for my wife's Sube is excellent and honest, but decidedly not into Euro cars.  He's offered assistance but I don't want anyone working on a car they don't like.

[christophbmw]

sweet! check out http://www.bmpd.com, they sell fog light lenses for like $40, the best and cheapest fix.

[bmw327]

It's a done deal!  Drove it about 75 miles home and it's a peach.  Not perfect, but a certainly a peach.  With a clutch, brakes, a RH highbeam, and foglight lenses it will be well nigh perfect.  Not as comfy or as fast as my E34 535i/5 spd, but a giggle to drive nonetheless and easy on the eyes.  What a cool little engine in an overall great package! The engine kinda reminds me of a Fiat twincam in character, actually.  

It's this one:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=905607

The seller is a great guy, btw.  Thanks TJ!

[batsbats]

It's a done deal!  Drove it about 75 miles home and it's a peach.  Not perfect, but a certainly a peach.  With a clutch, brakes, a RH highbeam, and foglight lenses it will be well nigh perfect.  Not as comfy or as fast as my E34 535i/5 spd, but a giggle to drive nonetheless and easy on the eyes.  What a cool little engine in an overall great package! The engine kinda reminds me of a Fiat twincam in character, actually.  

It's this one:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=905607

The seller is a great guy, btw.  Thanks TJ!

Oh wow, he finally sold it..I was contemplating checking out the car or not.  Just turned off by his initial offers.  Mind sharing what the final price was?

[bmw327]

I probably paid too much by most standards, but  it was a good clip off of the original price, the car is fully documented, in very good shape aside from previously metioned wear items, and it's the model I wanted in a nice color with some nice wheels.  I'll not reveal the precise sum, but it wasn't exactly a king's ransom for what I hope to be a nice, economical, and fun commuter.  The silly thing doesn't have ANY door dings at all and I have documetation for every oil change ever done on the car. I've seen very few unmolested e30s of any desciption that are in similar shape.  I'm sure that once the clutch and brake work are done, I'll be upside down from a financial standpoint, but it'll be a really well sorted car.

CJ