!!!

[Flirt318i]

So anyways, I've already talked to a few of you in my thread about having an e36, and some of you in the florida meet thread. I figured i'd go ahead and say a little bit more about myself.

I'm currently a senior in high school (class of '007 ftw!) and don't have much money to put into my car. I live in Panama City, Florida. You know, spring break capital of the world (lol). I know pretty much nothing about cars, and I'm interested more in the cosmetics of my car more than power, but definitely wouldn't mind learning about the car itself. From what I know, everything on the car is stock, but I havent asked my parents much about it. They bought the car from a friend for $1800 about 2 years ago, and it hasnt been driven much until recently. It's going to be my daily driver for years to come, atleast until I get out of college and can afford a new car, or my parents/family win big at the casinos/lottery, whichever happens first. And even then, I'd probably drop money into it, since its my first car and it means that much more to me :p

I was never really good at the whole "get to know me" thread things, but figured I'd give it a shot anyways.

I just took a few pictures of the car, but they were with my phone, so their resolution is only 1024x768. I'll take some more whenever I find our digital camera. I'll be uploading the camera pictures in the next few minutes.

[Update]: Here are the pictures I managed to grab before it started raining! Appearantly imageshack made the 1280x1024, so whatever :o

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/8927/pic0905061it6.jpg
driver side, and you can see the trailer hitch from the f150 I was driving until my parents were comfortable with me driving a stick to and from school!

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/9613/pic0905062fp0.jpg
Someone thought it would be cool to pick away at the paint on the BMW logo on the front :(

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/9106/pic0905063ao4.jpg
Ignore the dirt around the wheels, I havent washed her in a while >.>

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/9215/bmwbacknotagmf3.jpg
The guy 2 owners before my parents took off the 318i and put on 325 for some reason, so I need to get the stuff to make it say 318i again, its being sold on this site by some members, correct?

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/2937/pic0905068kq4.jpg
That Pine straw managed to fall the 2 minutes or so I had the hood open, damn trees :(


So yeah, thats my car. Needs a bit of work, but hey, I'm happy with it.

[haledj]

Hello! good luck with the car. I am not sure how much help we can be with the e36 bodystyle.
might I sugest a few things, new front roundel (easy as shit)
new 318is badge (believe the e36 one si different than the e30 one)
paint bumpers/mouldings
clear turnsignals
welcome!
doug

[dude8383]

318i badge! Not a 318is..its no 2 two door!

[FL318is]

It looks like a really good start. The color is sweet. There are a number of products out there that you can use on the paint and on the black area that will really make it pop.

My 17 y.o. son has an E36 4 door as well so if we can help let us know. If you are going to replace the 325 number with 318i you can have mine for free. BUT, I or you, will probably want to cut the S off of the 318iS. I used to have an old roundel (the BMW round thing on the hood). If I find it you can have it. It is not in perfect shape but better than your existing one.

Have fun with the car. I know my son is.

BTW The best and easiest way to remove the trunk numbers is with waxed dental floss. Never use anything that will scratch the paint. I saw the results of a guy who used a plastic putty knife. Not pretty!

[Flirt318i]

My main goal right now is getting all the pine sap off the car that got baked on when my parents werent letting me drive anywhere, and they werent driving the car either. Painting it right now isnt a huge concern, because thats what im asking my parents for as my graduation present :)

[FL318is]

Tough stuff especially if its baked on. Theres a site www.bimmerdiy.com
They may have something to consider. Just look in the E36 section. I know bug and tar remover will work on the wet stuff but I am clueless about what to do when its baked on.

BTW a toilet brush works pretty good on rims.

[Flirt318i]

I have a friend through the woods (hes on the next 3 streets over, but we can cut through a path in the woods to each other's houses) whos dad works on old mopars, He reccomended goo-gone for the pine sap, so I'll be looking into that.

[haledj]

318i badge! Not a 318is..its no 2 two door!
my bad slip of the mind

[Flirt318i]

BTW The best and easiest way to remove the trunk numbers is with waxed dental floss. Never use anything that will scratch the paint. I saw the results of a guy who used a plastic putty knife. Not pretty!

So just work around the lettering with the dental floss? It'll leave a mark where the adhesive was wont it? Atleast it'll show for while, right?

[M42boy]

I have a friend through the woods (hes on the next 3 streets over, but we can cut through a path in the woods to each other's houses) whos dad works on old mopars, He reccomended goo-gone for the pine sap, so I'll be looking into that.
If they are going to paint the car, don't worry about it. Big orbital sander, sanding blocks, etc will take quick work of the tree sap and old paint. :cool:

I'd have them sand and paint the lower rocker panels and bumpers (like the more expensive 325's) when you do that.

The E36's don't get much love, but it's cool to see someone who respects it and wants to take care of one. Kudos!!! You are welcome here as it's M42 specific, and most of the driving parts are the same.

[FL318is]

So just work around the lettering with the dental floss? It'll leave a mark where the adhesive was wont it? Atleast it'll show for while, right?

Yes, just take your time. Use the goo-gone there as well. I would let it soak and not scrub hard.

There will probably be a shadow where the old letters were. But, after a time the wax will help hide it.

[Flirt318i]

If they are going to paint the car, don't worry about it. Big orbital sander, sanding blocks, etc will take quick work of the tree sap and old paint. :cool:

I'd have them sand and paint the lower rocker panels and bumpers (like the more expensive 325's) when you do that.

The E36's don't get much love, but it's cool to see someone who respects it and wants to take care of one. Kudos!!! You are welcome here as it's M42 specific, and most of the driving parts are the same.

It wont be getting painted til sometime around May when I graduate. I think I might go with the same color it already is. But yeah, I dont want to drive a car covered in pine sap for another 7 months :p

[Flirt318i]

My 17 y.o. son has an E36 4 door as well so if we can help let us know. If you are going to replace the 325 number with 318i you can have mine for free. BUT, I or you, will probably want to cut the S off of the 318iS. I used to have an old roundel (the BMW round thing on the hood). If I find it you can have it. It is not in perfect shape but better than your existing one.


I think I might go with the pieces the guy is selling in one of the other threads on the Forum, and just have it say e36 on one side and m42 on the other.

[///Motorsport]

welcome again. leave it badgeless, buy some oem sideskirts, clear front corners (the right ones, try bavauto) and some ///M wheels from an e36 M should be fairly cheap with some good rubber. from there you can mod the styling to your liking, but i think everyone would agree on those things, wheels are up to you i guess..

[///Motorsport]

heat up the badge with a blow dryer. then use the floss, then goo gone. did it on my subie to delete the S U B A R U on the trunk and leave it wingless and badgeless, just wrx/impreza in the corner.

[Flirt318i]

welcome again. leave it badgeless, buy some oem sideskirts, clear front corners (the right ones, try bavauto) and some ///M wheels from an e36 M should be fairly cheap with some good rubber. from there you can mod the styling to your liking, but i think everyone would agree on those things, wheels are up to you i guess..


Yes! Wheels have jumped up to #1 priority since I almost died today. I was turning onto a highway from a side road, and my car lost traction going 25 in 2nd gear.(it had been raining, so the roads were wet) But, in the end, I ended up sitting sideways across the highway after fishtailing. I calmly pulled away after my display of "holy shit, did you see that" driving.

Man I wish I had caught that on tape.