320is replica cl find

[clarkson]

Straight after putting down the phone to the buyer of my henna m3, I start searching the local cl for a local replacement. And this popped up an hours drive from me:




Needless to say I went out and bought it. It's not running, got some issues with the engine and its in bits ATM so I have a project/puzzle to play with. Supposedly when he had it running it flew. He could not keep it in a straight line.

I hope to have it in my garage by this weekend.

I have always loved the 320is as it is a bit of a sleeper, and with a 2.3 in a 318i chassis it should go well.

[downforce22]

nice find! shouldn't it have the 2.0L s14, not the 2.3L version? Whats the interior like?

[george graves]

IIRC it was sold in Italy/France. And for tax/emission reasons they called it a 2.0. Someone else will be along shortly to correct me if I'm wrong.

[Court M3]

Italy/Portugal, but yeah every thing else is correct

[george graves]

Thanks courtm3 for the correction - you are correct sir!

[Coyote_ar]

Its not only called a 2.0, it really is a 2.0.

The 320is has a destroked version of the S14B23, thats why it like to rev SO much, way more than the B23. somehow they dropped 300cc, yet top power is only 8hp less than B23 (actually only 3hp less than the US version of the E30 M3), of course there's less area under the power curve and you need to rev it to 6900rpm.

A guy who runned in the local trackdays had one of those, it really sounds awesome for a 4cyl engine.

[clarkson]

nice find! shouldn't it have the 2.0L s14, not the 2.3L version? Whats the interior like?

Sorry forgot to mention it has had the engine swapped into it from an E30 M3. The vin says its a 1984 318i.

Interior is good, drivers seat a bit torn bit overall reasonably usable.

[aegul44]

320iS = S14b20 engine = 1990cc (192hp) @ 6900 rpm

M3 Evo = S14b23 engine = 2302cc (197hp) @6750 rpm

[ThatOneEuroE30]

I like how he got the mtech kit to work on the early model body. Thats not an easy task for the rear bumper and apron.

[bostonvert]

Cool find, looks like a lot of fun once running again

[SSE30]

KILLER. The 320is is such an underrated car. Do you know if he did any suspension/other work to mimic the real thing?

[clarkson]

With the 1/2 hour I had with the car before I wrote out a cheque I determined it had:

4.10 lsd
E30 M3 Km/h cluster
4 stud wheels :(
I don't know the springs and shocks yet, but the front strut tops look weird.
Airbag steering wheel !?!
Heated sports cloth seats
13 button OBC
Check Control
Sunroof :(

Thats all I got to see, and when I got home I typed in the VIN to the VIN checker and it none of that except

285 LT/ALY WHEELS BMW STYLING

400 SLIDING SUNROOF MANUAL

530 AIR CONDITIONING

[Nader393]

A real 320is is kind of a big deal in e30 land. Prices already approaching e30 M3. Like this example.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161932401836?rmvSB=true

[clarkson]

Looks like the car will be arriving Sunday, and thanks to r3v, I might have a camtray coming too.

First tasks will be to remove hood and remove head. I will try to stay focused on getting the engine repaired and running before I tackle anything else. I have found if you start pulling everything apart the task of finishing the car becomes daunting. That being said I am not a fan of the 16' TSW wheels and will be selling those and fitting either 15' basket weaves or my 16' Hartges.

[varg]

Cool find. You'll get all of the 320is performance, none of the bubble pricing, and it's lighter than the real thing to boot. While you have it off the road you should put the battery in the trunk where it belongs. Does it have a rear disc brake conversion or the standard 318i drums?

With some proper suspension under it, it doesn't have that already, you could have a blast of a track day car there.