Well, a lot of time, research, elbow grease, shop-time, (and of course $ -- complete rebuild of timing gear, etc.), here's what happens after 5

months of ownership...
(For reference, here's the
original post.)
And yes, for the money, I could have done an S50 swap, but I already have an S52 M coupe, which is why I sought out a 318is with its engine's character and the car's nimble abilities. I like the contrast between the two.
Accessories (OEM):
◦ 318is lip spoiler
◦ Euro grille
◦ Evo/DTM type hood and deck lid seals
◦ First Aid kit
◦ Oil-bag
◦ Rear head-rest kit
Aftermarket Accessories:
◦ Center console gauge pod
◦ Fire extinguisher
◦ Front splitter
Brakes:
◦ ATE SuperBlue
◦ Ferodo DS 2500 brake pads
◦ UUC slotted front and rear rotors (OEM size)
◦ UUC stainless steel brake lines
Drivetrain:
◦ 4.27 LSD
◦ AKG Motorsport DTM quick shifter
◦ RedLine MT90 in differential & MTL in transmission
◦ Rogue Engineering Transmission Mounts
Electrical:
◦ AKG Motorsport DTM mono-wiper
◦ Custom painted windshield washer reservoir
◦ Euro ellipsoid projector headlights w/ smoked urethane shields (and shields for fog lights)
◦ Hella H1 55W low-beam and H1 130W high-beam bulbs
◦ Smoked side-markers, turn-signals and taillights
◦ Stebel Nautilus full-size Italian air-horns
Engine:
◦ Alpina527 custom TB: 3mm larger main butterfly & rest of bore larger, w/gas flowed shape
◦ Bosch 0280155700-FVE Design III 19# injectors
◦ Clutch fan delete, replaced w/ OEM E36 318ti electric fan
◦ Coil-Over-Plug (COP) conversion w/ high-capacity plasma coils
◦ Custom cat-back exhaust
◦ Custom painted cam-cover, intake & throttle-body
◦ E.A.T. Ultrachip, 91 octane, 7100rpm limiter
◦ Elf Excellium 10W50
◦ K&N filter
◦ NGK BKR6EIX Iridium spark plugs
◦ OEM E24 engine mounts
◦ Redline Water Wetter
◦ OEM TB heater removal, hose bypass & OEM "tropic bolts" for intake manifold
◦ VDO gauges: oil-pressure, oil temp (with LeatherZ sender block) & voltmeter
Frame:
◦ Eric Jason design front steel skid / oil-sump protector plate
◦ Mason Engineering 1-piece TIG welded tubular steel strut brace
Steering:
◦ Momo Monte Carlo 350mm steering wheel w/correct hub and BMW horn button
◦ RedLine Power Steering Fluid
◦ ZF 2.7:1 short-ratio steering rack (OEM, for 1.9L Z3)
Suspension – Front:
◦ Bilstein Touring Struts
◦ Off-set lower-control arm bushings (OEM, E36 M3)
◦ Urethane sway-bar bushings
Suspension – Rear:
◦ AKG 70A urethane subframe bushings
◦ AKG adjustable camber/toe urethane trailing arm bushings
◦ Bilstein Touring Shocks
◦ Urethane sway-bar bushings
Tires & Wheel Accessories:
◦ Sumitomo 195/65HR-14 HTR H4s
Track Gear:
◦ Aluminum tow hook (front)
◦ CG-Lock
◦ D-Force 15” x 7” rims (STILL ON ORDER SINCE FEBRUARY! :mad:)
◦ Falken Azenis RT-615s: 205/50ZR15(F&R)
So, with all that, she handles great (firm, yet compliant for a DD) and the motor just hums and pulls hard from 3500-7100.
And the gratuitous pictures:
Old timing gear--

Old chains & gear out--

New parts--

Piston #1 @ TDC--

Shots of the Alpina527 BBTB--




UUC Brakes & Ferodo 2500DS pads--

Oilpan skid-plate--

The office--

Finished engine bay, intake side--

Finished engine bay, cam side--

Exterior shots--




You can get more specifics on the upgrades/timeline/blog via my website:
Nivola 368s #92Her first track days are slated for the end of August at Thunder Hill; it should be fun.

Ciao.