New to the scene: '91 318is

[mathais43]

After several months of deep consideration, I finally entered the e30 world in April when I purchased this beauty from a good friend and fellow board member (s/n PaladinReed). He bought it, made several modifications, and then re-sold it to me at a drastic mark-up ;)

This thread chronicles some of the work he did: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=164783

Here are a few pics of when I first got her.

[dude8383]

Looks lovely!!

Great platform to start with...man these red on black 318is' are rare! When I saw the red I immediately thought it would be ghey tan cloth!

WIN for you.

[mathais43]

Since April, the following modifications and repairs have been made:

US valance swapped for Euro valance
H&R Race springs/Bilstein Sport shocks
17x8 Apex ARC-8 wheels in Anthracite finish
Repaired/Resprayed driver's front fender
New grilles/black kidneys
Black spoiler


Euro valance and the new suspension. Need to lose the weaves


Weaves do look better when the car is lower, I'll give you that.


They can't compete with the ARC-8's though.


Finish the body work and phase one will be done.

[selturk]

Looks lovely!!

Great platform to start with...man these red on black 318is' are rare! When I saw the red I immediately thought it would be ghey tan cloth!

WIN for you.

additional to that it's a Slicktop...

very nice and I see that 318is's are getting more popular.

[dude8383]

LOL boy did I post too soon on that one...

[mathais43]

With help from my good buddy Tim in KC (s/n Philo), I got the fender repaired and the hood, valance, and fender all resprayed for HELLA cheap.

Here is how she stands today:

[grantlacey11]

i love those gunmetal wheels with the red!!

[mathais43]

Thanks for the positive responses, gentleman. There is much work to be done, but for now I LOVE the way she looks and drives. I owe much to both Paladin and Tim for all of their knowledge and labor.

The following mods will be made in the very near future:
Z3 Short Shift Kit
Momo Shift Knob
M-Tech I Steering Wheel
13-Button OBC
Map Light Rearview
Euro bumper trim
Replace the missing Fog Delete
Euro Rear Plate Filler
Mark D M42 Chip
Smoked Ellips
Performance Exhaust
GC Camber Plates

I may lose a coil up front eventually, but this is already the lowest car I've ever driven, and I'm still getting used to driving this close to the ground. I want to make sure I am good and damn ready to go lower before I do.

If anyone has advice on quick and (relatively) cheap M42 performance mods, I would greatly appreciate it. Happy viewing!

[mathais43]

LOL boy did I post too soon on that one...

How do you feel now? :-D

[Huff]

WOW.. A slick top, Brilliantrot.. I think I'm in love

[dude8383]

How do you feel now? :-D

IMPRESSED! Haha...looks friggin fantastic man. I would recommend pairing that MarkD chip with a lightened M20 flywheel :) It made a HUGE difference on my old red car!

[markseven]

Awesome little car :D

I'm starting to think the body style needs more sidewall. Low pros don't do the E30 justice, IMO.

[N2MYE30]

Looks nice. I think it would be better with chrome kindneys. Why did you swap the valence? Are you gonna get euro bumper trim too?

[mathais43]

Looks nice. I think it would be better with chrome kindneys. Why did you swap the valence? Are you gonna get euro bumper trim too?

I had the chrome kidneys originally, I swapped them primarily out of personal preference. There isn't a lick of chrome anywhere else on the car, and I really like the blacked-out look up front. I think it will look even better once I get a set of smoked headlights.

As far as the valence goes, I just had the opportunity to swap from US to Euro for no money (other than paint), and I figured that, paired with a slicktop car, it would add to the uniqueness of the car. I'll be doing Euro bumper trim eventually, too, I just forgot to add that to the list of future mods. I will adjust accordingly.

[brandondan1]

I prefer the US valance, but it's still a super clean car nonetheless.

Rims look dope.