First Post..Should I keep it or move on?

[campbellj25]

Hey everyone, great forum. I have done alot of searching here over the last few months, just never posted anything. Here's my question..

I got a 1991 318is, diamond schwartz, was a daily driver, now parked at work due to a bad driveshaft. I am considering either getting rid of the car and getting another, or keeping it. For some reason when I bought it a little over a year ago I had to have a 1991 318is, so there it is, and I have forgot the reason I wanted a 318is. I know it wasn't fuel consumption, because I could give a rats ass about that.

Along with the drive shaft, it needs a throwout bearing (squeaking), some oil leaks fixed which is the profile gaskets, and oil filter housing gasket. The left rear axle needs replaced, and there is some weird pulsating issue with the abs pump when I step on the brakes the first time every other day or so, the it won't do it again until after it sits and I get in it again.

It needs some body work, has a couple dents in the rear quarters, one in the top of the hood, the valance is pushed in about 1/2 inch on the drivers side, the IS spoiler has been taken off and left holes in the deck lid, it has rubber plugs in it, a small ding in the hood, and some minor door dings. No Rust anywhere, besides the sunroof panel, and the frame is straight, Everything is repairable, but it needs all that fixed and painted.

On the good side, the interior is clean as hell, only the drivers seat bolster has a tear in it, great dash, carpet, headliner, door cards, everything works. The engine runs great, trans shifts good, clutch feels fine, engine oil is always clean, no sludge buildup at all. The odo stopped at 122,000 miles, but in BMW history it got a rebuild at 50,000 miles for some reason.

Now that I am not driving it, I am wondering if I should just repair it or sell it cheap and get another. After having it, I have really started liking white and red better, due to the fact that the front end looks killer with blacked out headlamps and grill. Doing the work is no issue for me, I am a BMW tech and have been for 10 years, so for parts I can't find anywhere else I can get them cheaper at the dealer. I am just lazy....

I guess also I am stuck in a 318is vs. 325is thing right now. I used to autocross and track my cars all the time when I lived in TX, so that's my style of driving, I keep reading that the 318 is possible better for AutoX, so maybe I have the right car, I dunno.. Is it worth it for me to spend the money on this, and make it exactly the way I want or sell it for a clean body, smooth running 325 or 318 to start off with (again)? Maybe I can find a white or red one. One thing is I know what I am starting off with now, it can be hard sometimes to know exactly how a car is going to be until you spend the money and drive it for a while. Could end up with another POS.. What's you all's opinion?

[JUMPNYC]

FIX the driveshaft, DONT WORRY about the oil, just keep adding it as u need it, check every 2nd fillup. FIND a axle used at a pick and pull. JUST DRIVE IT TILL IT DIES! And sell us your parts when you are done! :)

[VacMan]

I've owned both, and I'd buy another 318 in a heartbeat. They may be down on power but they're a lot more fun to drive, IMO. Ever heard the expression "it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow?" That's the 318. You can wring it out over and over and it never stops being fun. It also handles better than a comparably set up 325 thanks to less weight, especially on the nose. There's a reason it was called the poor man's M3.

[Need4Speed1299]

.."it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow."..

Ive never heard this, but so true.

[Simon S]

spend the money on this, and make it exactly the way I want

this
high satisfaction will result

[TexasTerp]

for the amount you'll need to spend on getting a new one, I would just drop 2k and get the whole thing fixed (including body work) and really enjoy your money and hard work.

[campbellj25]

for the amount you'll need to spend on getting a new one, I would just drop 2k and get the whole thing fixed (including body work) and really enjoy your money and hard work.

I have pretty much decided to do just that and keep it. Thanks for all the responses.

I don't know exactly how much, but I was almost expecting to pay approx. 2k on parts alone including upgrading the suspension. I was wondering though, not including coilovers, which springs will lower the most? IE3's? I really don't want to go with cheap no name springs that will drop it 3 inches or anything, I want something track worthy, but want a nice low stance.

Around here in my area, seems to be if you want a really nice paint job, (nothing show quality, or no Maaco shit) that could cost in the range of 2k also.

Then at that point, I would have a little over 5k tied up in the car, which is probably what I would pay for one that's already restored.

I had it on the lift saturday at work, only to get pissed at finding out I had an open diff and not a LSD, it has a used diff in it, so I thought someone took it out and installed something else, but then I found out it was an option on my veh. So I logged into the dealer website, pulled the DCS and seen that option was not bought on my car, so that made me feel better. It was also sold new in California and maintained at a Cali dealer most of it's life, and some how migrated over to Florida. It's kinda cool seeing some of the history on it.

[xwill112x]

IE3's and bilstein sports, and your golden!

[campbellj25]

IE3's and bilstein sports, and your golden!

That's the setup I was leaning towards.