Toddnos

[toddnos]

Hello,
Im a new member, been lurking around several bmw forums since i became the owner of a 1991 318is, and decided to join.

Here are some pictures:






I am the second owner, it belonged to my friends mother inlaw. It overheated, and she was just going to park it indefinately. My friend pursuaded her to sign it over to me as i would give it the love it needed.
She agreed, and it became mine for free.
The car runs, but the i believe the headgasket or perhaps the head is bad.
It was overheated and driven for some time. Initial plans are to pull the head, and have it milled and a valve job performed. New gaskets throughout, and whatever else needs replacing while the head is off. I would like this to be a car i can drive to the track and home again after. focus at first will be on suspension and brakes.
This is my project car, and has no deadline for completion.
My daily driver is a 2003 infinfiti g35 sedan with a few mods.

Anyways, thanks for viewing.:cool:

[Jorgeconrico]

Damn a free e30...I'm jealous. Good luck with the project. Keep us updated.

[toddnos]

Damn a free e30...I'm jealous. Good luck with the project. Keep us updated.

Yea, i was very happy about the price..lol.
I havnt spent a penny yet, just pulled the interior, and shampoo the carpets, and detail the seats and center consol. The seats have been covered since 1991, so they are in perfect condition:D.
 I am pulling the head this weekend.

[JP 91iS]

Score! Since it is a project car you might want to consider sourcing a decent used M42 and rebuilding that up (2.0L ?) rather than starting with a motor that needs head work.  You've already got a great head-start on the budget with a Free platform!

Are those wheels gold? Or is that just some serious brake dust?

[toddnos]

Score! Since it is a project car you might want to consider sourcing a decent used M42 and rebuilding that up (2.0L ?) rather than starting with a motor that needs head work.  You've already got a great head-start on the budget with a Free platform!

Are those wheels gold? Or is that just some serious brake dust?

that is some serious brake dust on those wheels. i havnt touched them yet, because two of the rims leak at the bead, so i will be replacing them.

what is the going rate for a used m42?

[JP 91iS]

what is the going rate for a used m42?

Hard to say, there is one up for sale right now at $450, but I've seen them listed as cheap as $150 and even free.  If I was looking for a spare I wouldn't want to pay more than $250, depending on condition and location of course.

[toddnos]

i will look in the local junkyards and see if i can find one.

but the plan is to start removing the head this weekend and inspecting the cylinders, and HG.

[xwill112x]

haha good luck finding one in a jy! you may be able to find a m20, but the m42 is much more scarse

[toddnos]

haha good luck finding one in a jy! you may be able to find a m20, but the m42 is much more scarse

i live in the inland empire of southern california, and have about 20 junkyards to choose from in my area..i have found lots of unique automotive goodies at them.

but if i find a m20 i will take the flywheel...:cool:

but the real plan is to repair the m42 i have.
If the head is unrepairable i will go to a plan B.

[toddnos]

Damn a free e30...I'm jealous. Good luck with the project. Keep us updated.

Updates:

Intake and exhaust manifolds removed.
Valve cover and upper timing cover also removed:

[Ramblin MAn]

Free has me beat.

What color is that anyway? Is the graphite?

[toddnos]

did some more work on the M42 this morning before it got too hot.
Removed the cams:

[toddnos]

Worked on the e30 this weekend. pulled the head to see if the HG had failed.

[toddnos]

i like the stock exhaust manifold. i dont see myself buying a header because the oem unit seems more than ok.

[toddnos]

it looks like a profile gasket failure.

i may just replace the gaskets, and slap it back together.
i may still send the head out for refurbishing.

i dunno yet.