318is owners help me out

[Jhinck1414]

i want to buy an 318is....are there any major machinical problems with them, anything major i should be looking for...any major downsides to them?

thanks
jeff

[LikeCDoos]

if this goes through i take credit for this e36 to e30 switch :D

wow i'm cool

[peteM3power]

Check out BP's BMW E30 318iS site. It's got a buying guide with lots of information on common problems, maintenance procedures, buying a 318iS, etc.

You can find it here:

https://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/

Hope this helps :D :D :D,

--Pete

[riverdale21]

Make sure they have the updated profile gasket as the early ones were prone to leakage. As always have it looked over by a mechanic. It could save you a couple of bucks down the road. I love my 318is.

[e9nine]

If the PO didn't replace coolant & vaccum lines, chances are you will be doing them if the car has gotten to that stage in its life. I have a 91 318iS and so far all the stuff I have done as maint. under the hood has been replacing coolant lines, vacuum lines and my AFM. Besides the profile gasket and head gasket as already mentioned, do a regular check up like you would for any used e30. Brendan's site is the best out there for M42s

[spud814]

Yup, check out the website peteM3 sent you. All your questions will be answered.

[riverdale21]

As far as this websites opinions about the 318is (http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/318isdriving.html) I cant agree with all of them.
"Noisy at speed". I have owned far noisier cars and quieter cars I would say this is up there with the quieter ones. The only noise that I can hear that is intrusive is some wind whistle from the sunroof. I can fix that with a new gasket. Other than that you can still hold a conversation with your passengers depending on what volume the stereo and exhaust is at.
"Lift off oversteer..." I can kind of agree with that. It may be partially due to my bald ass tires but I have gotten sideways at some unexpected times and its none too fun. However, it is very fun to get sideways when you are expecting it.

The 318is is a very fun car and can be made to be a even funner car. You can get awesome gas mileage even when ragging the thing. The modifications I would suggest and actually am going to complete soon are the following in order: 325i flywheel/clutch (having a 28lb stock flywheel robs acceleration), custom Borla exhaust, JimC chip, Bilstein/H&R suspension combo, BMP sways, 16" wheels with 225/45-16 Kumho tires, and finally a 4 pt roll cage. After seeing what happened to another forum members 325 and after what happened to my old Subaru you bet your ass I'm installing one of those. I'm getting a custom one done so I can still utilize my rear seat as I carry passengers quite frequently. I may get the rear 3 windows tinted before I go that last step just so it is harder for Johnny Law to spot the roll cage.

[e9nine]

Riverdale...do cops around GA hassle you about roll bars too or its only roll cages that they bother you about? Roll cages and street driven cars is not safe so that i understand...but roll bars...?

[riverdale21]

I would only have the rear section of my car with a 4 point roll cage not one that intrudes to the front of the cabin and it would be padded. I am not sure if they would hassel me more because if you see a roll cage in someones car you can expect that they are a reckless driver. Either way I am definately getting one for safety sake.

[e30Matt]

There's no way you're gonna have an effective roll cage with the conditions you've set.

[riverdale21]

A four point I would imagine would be effective enough. It wont have the X going across the center like racing cages or other bolt in cages. Just look at the original Mini rally cars. They had a single hoop going over just behind the front seats and then one bar that went straight to the rear of the car like a big T. Mine will have the main hoop just behind the front seats and it will go diagonally to the rear strut towers.

[demlotcrew]

As far as this websites opinions about the 318is (http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/318isdriving.html) I cant agree with all of them.
"Noisy at speed". I have owned far noisier cars and quieter cars I would say this is up there with the quieter ones. The only noise that I can hear that is intrusive is some wind whistle from the sunroof. I can fix that with a new gasket. Other than that you can still hold a conversation with your passengers depending on what volume the stereo and exhaust is at.
"Lift off oversteer..." I can kind of agree with that. It may be partially due to my bald ass tires but I have gotten sideways at some unexpected times and its none too fun. However, it is very fun to get sideways when you are expecting it.

The 318is is a very fun car and can be made to be a even funner car. You can get awesome gas mileage even when ragging the thing. The modifications I would suggest and actually am going to complete soon are the following in order: 325i flywheel/clutch (having a 28lb stock flywheel robs acceleration), custom Borla exhaust, JimC chip, Bilstein/H&R suspension combo, BMP sways, 16" wheels with 225/45-16 Kumho tires, and finally a 4 pt roll cage. After seeing what happened to another forum members 325 and after what happened to my old Subaru you bet your ass I'm installing one of those. I'm getting a custom one done so I can still utilize my rear seat as I carry passengers quite frequently. I may get the rear 3 windows tinted before I go that last step just so it is harder for Johnny Law to spot the roll cage.

Rubbish, stop telling people wrong information. The M42 (318is) is a niosy car. The engine is highly tuned and thus emits a low grumble.


"Then From analysing the BMW ETK, I have found out that '89 models were fitted with the M40 9.973kg flywheel but were changed to a 11.45kg (aircon) or 12.25kg (no aircon) from 1990! So there's about 2.5kg saving to be had at a fraction of the cost of a performance part ! BTW, M20 engines have a 8.5kg or 9.98kg flywheel but will not match the M42 starter motor teeth, nor pressure plate, nor gearbox input shaft...and, if you fitted a M20 pressure plate you would be ~0.5kg up again (M40/M42=1.26kg, M20=1.674kg). " Taken from brendans site!



:roll:

[riverdale21]

You have to remember Demlotcrew, Jhinck1414 and I are in America. The M40 was not offered here. The only DOHC 4 cylinders offered in E30's were the '91 318i, '91 318is, the '91-'92 318ic and the '88-'91 M3.

According to Stu the M20 flywheel will fit the M42 engine if you use a 323i pilot bearing and the M20's pinioin shaft from the starter motor. It's all right here: http://www.r3vlimited.com/Tech/318is.htm

As far as the motor being noisy it is not that bad. I've heard far worse. Don't try to scare the kid away from getting a 318is.

By the way Demlotcrew your car is nice.

[demlotcrew]

Thanks mate heres a quick pic of under the bonnet, not much to look at but its the insides that matter. Like the Flywheel and the rebuild gearbox. The car has only done 90k miles so its a sweet runner.



I like the low end grumble the M42 makes its great to drive and will out handle most six pots. Ive changed my flywheel to the M40 one and its made the Idle a little felt in the car but the stand still acceleration is still not the same as the M20 because we don’t have that initial torque. But i would never swap it for anything else!

[Jhinck1414]

well now its up to my dad... i had my machanic take a look at the 318is and he said its in great shape. its 1991 with 128200 miles, which is pretty darn good i think.

so let me just nad at my dad to buy that.