Opinions on potential 318is purchase

[brianf408]

Hey, homie.

Is that a slicktop?

Nope, it has a sunroof. No leaks at least :)

Pleasantly surprised when I got under the car. Guibo looks almost new, and I found a receipt for the center support bearing in the glovebox. There's a couple things I can knock off my list to do!

Unfortunately the screws on the voltage regulator are pretty tight. I got the top one off but the bottom one just strips out. I'll try it again with the alternator out of the car before I order any parts. Ordering accessory belts today.

Ball joints are shot in the front, have tons of play. Already ordered shocks, springs, and control arms.

Would you guys recommend a skidplate? The oil pan has been replaced before, and the one on the car is pretty damn scraped up. Never realized how low they actually sit.

[jt223539]

Unfortunately the screws on the voltage regulator are pretty tight. I got the top one off but the bottom one just strips out. I'll try it again with the alternator out of the car before I order any parts. Ordering accessory belts today.

Once you get it out, throw some vice grips on the screw and call it a day.

[flying_violin]

Would you guys recommend a skidplate?

I didn't bother with one until I busted my second oil pan... I figured I'd just be careful, but that seems to only take you so far. Now I have the e30werks plate.

[Morfhieus]

I can't decide if I should just pick up an alternator tomorrow before I pick it up, or mess with it and just double check that I don't have a weird grounding issue or something before buying the part.

Why would you replace the alternator without checking the battery? if the car runs fine, I think I'd be looking at the battery first.

[brianf408]

Why would you replace the alternator without checking the battery? if the car runs fine, I think I'd be looking at the battery first.

Battery after charging on a tender held 12.6 volts. Car ran fine for about 10-15 minutes until the battery would die. Alternator was putting out next to nothing. Put a new alt. in yesterday, charging 13.8 volts at idle. Drove about half an hour no problems at all.

Did some work in the garage today. Took some pics along the way.

Here's why I'm ordering a skidplate


Inside the pan only 1 upper-pan bolt, no other pieces or sediment or anything. Other bolts were a little loose, torqued them all down properly.


Valve cover off, looks pretty good. Gasket was damn near brand new looking so just re-used it.


Timing sprocket teeth were getting sharp, but not nearly as bad as I expected.



From the little I could see up top the guides seemed pretty good. I'll still probably order a tensioner soon.



Gotta say, I'm pretty impressed at what I've seen so far on it for the mileage. Trans and diff fluids looked brand new. Brakes fair, rear pads on the way out but a little life still. Engine is strong, a little miss around 4,000 rpm when I really get on it but it's clearing up the more I drive it so I'm assuming bad gas from the car sitting a while. Can't wait until my control arms arrive so I can get those ball joints replaced. Really want to drive the car to work tomorrow but those ball joints are making me nervous.

Tonight I'm ordering a muffler since I was able to pull the old one right off, and I'll just have my neighbor weld the new one on. Rest of the exhaust has no leaks, cat seems to flow well and doesn't get too hot.

Once I get it more properly driveable I'll try to get out and get a lot more pics, need some good "before" pics before I start in on the body and interior.