'91 318 restoration advice

[WineCountryE30]

Hello everyone. I have been a lurker for a few years now, and I am overwhelmed by the knowledge that that this community has gathered about the E30. Growing up my family had a ‘86 M5, and I have always loved the classic BMW style. 12 years ago I bought a 1991 BMW 318i with 3,000 miles on it. (now 215,000) I bought a newer BMW 4 years ago and for the most part the e30 has been parked. PARKED?!? (The 8 year old me would scream!) Her suspension is shot, bushings worn, her engine is tired, and one of her doors is dented. (Damn you shopping cart!!!)

The car has been good to me, (it was my first car) and I decided today that I’m going to do a ground up restoration on it. Use it as a daily driver. The goal is not to build a track car. I want a reliable, decent gas mileage, smooth ride with some power.

First question: Engine Swap options I’m considering: M30, S38, M52, S52. I know I want a 6 cyl swap. A 4 cyl seems pointless and while those M62 swaps looks amazing… I would die in that car wrapped around a tree someday if I built it. The M54 just looks to damn complicated to swap in, due to the whole security keyed system BS. I know the power differences between the engines, but what about the other factors. The feel of the engines, the weight distribution, reliability, gas mileage, rebuild costs…

Second Question: Suspension. I was set to order a new set of bushings and bilstein sport shocks/struts from pelican parts, when it occurred to me that this might not be what I want given that this is not a track car. Would the touring shocks provide me with a smother ride? I’m also adding a sway bar, several sets of weld-in reinforcements, new control arms, and a Z3 steering rack.

I just finished doing the 2nd trunk light mod, and the HID headlight upgrade. And I’m eyeballing the shit out of that keyless entry system. You guys are geniuses!

Any advice or thoughts would be welcome.

[willworkfore30s]

Engine

-M52... Good power/reliability/availability/mileage

Suspension:

-Most people suggest H&R sport springs with billie sports if you want a smooth ride with a bit lower ride height.

-Stock sways should be fine for a DD

-Blunttech sells a complete suspension refresh kit with control arms and sway end links. Its all good OEM quality stuff. I would stick with OEM rubber bushings for a street car.

[jlevie]

There is really nothing wrong with the M42 engine the car came with for for a daily driver. But if you really must have a six cylinder, consider dropping in an M20B25. One in good condition and running right has plenty of power for daily driver, uses standard E30 parts, and is easier to maintain than other engine possibilities. As to suspension, the OE setup may not look wicked, but works well on the street. Replace the control arms, tie rods, all bushings, shocks, upper strut mounts, sway links & bushings, and spring pads with OE parts and call it done. Personally I'd use Koni SA shocks initially set 1/2 turn from full soft.

[frankie591]

m30b35. cheap as hell, easy to swap and torquey.

[WineCountryE30]

I was really hoping for some general agreement. Ha! You guys just wrote out the same damn argument i've been having in my head for the year i've been considering this.

I had planed on replacing all the bushings oem, using my original springs, welding in reinforcement plates (differential, strut towers, and trailing arms) and adding a swaybar. (Car doesn't have one) Bilstein sports, new control arms, OEM tie rods, OEM upper strut mounts, OEM pads. Rebuilt 97 BMW Z3 PS Rack, with AKG install kit. It has 14 inch bottle caps, going to swap for 15" basket weaves.

I added fog lights, did the HID upgrade, dual trunk light mod, and I just got a set of vaders from a 98 M3 that i need to get down to my interior guy to fix and recover a few spots. Ill do the brake upgrade when I choose an engine. cross drilled rotors, larger calipers.

Im going to have the m42 cleaned and machined. Then rebuild it and store it in my garage. Im more inclined to swap in the m52.

WillWorkfor30s- Thanks for the advice, and Ill check out those Blunttech bushings!

Frankie591 - where are you looking at cheap m30b35's? All I can find is expensive high mileage wrecks to use as a donor. M52's are all around here and I can source a comparatively low milage power train. I could get a high milage M30b and rebuild it, certainly looks cheaper then rebuilding a 24v m52...

[davem]

24v ftw, even the lowly m50 will haul ass in an e30 (it does in my heavier e36). Keeping the m42 isn't a bad idea though, the e30 feels even lighter, better balanced etc with a 4 pot.

[WineCountryE30]

To tell you he truth, I would like to put a N20 in it. 240 HP, 260 torque, only 317 lbs! Gets 20/30+ miles per gallon. But thats probably a few years off from reality.

[Simon S]

Good reading in my Zen thread if you're interested in pictures taken through the refreshing of a 318 car..

[Pantless Spency]

just stumbled across this!
make her road worthy! i am in the area if you ever need a hand.