'91 318is in VA / NC, anyone?

[Den]

I'm thinking about going to look at a '91 318i, 2d, 5-sp.
Lady says she's moving & will dump it with a dealer if nobody buys it soon.

[MR 325]

If it's a 91, it HAS to be a 318is, no question about it.

[Den]

Well, maybe it's a '90, but she says it's a '91. The ad says "91 318."
You know how it is when you try to ask women questions about cars. I asked her whether it was an 'i' or an 'iS,' and she said it was *not* an 'iS.'

Are you saying that all '91 318's sold in the US were 'iS' ?

[e9nine]

Are you saying that all '91 318's sold in the US were 'iS' ?

Yup. Any 90-91 e30 318 2 door is an iS. There were 4 door's which were i's and cabrios which are of course iC's

[Mike 91 318ic]

not all 1991 318i were "iS" but they all have the M42 motor which is good... Most have a 4.10 diff, the 318ic has a 4.27.

M

[hamann318is]

I know most got the 4.10. If it's a limited slip, then it's a 4.10. That's all I can say about the 318is.

[Mike 91 318ic]

Some 318ic's have a 4.27lsd too, but they super rare... I asked my dealer what a new one would cost and they said it would be $2900.00 cdn or 2200 u$ OUCH!!!

M

[hamann318is]

Some 318ic's have a 4.27lsd too, but they super rare... I asked my dealer what a new one would cost and they said it would be $2900.00 cdn or 2200 u$ OUCH!!!

M

Wow, that would be nice to have. :shock:

[Den]

If it's a 91, it HAS to be a 318is, no question about it.

Are you saying that all '91 318's sold in the US were 'iS' ?

Yup. Any 90-91 e30 318 2 door is an iS. There were 4 door's which were i's and cabrios which are of course iC's

I think y'all may be applying the E36 nomenclature rules to the E30.

on E36, 'i' = 4-door, 'iS' = 2-door(with or without sport package.)
on E30, 'i' = 2-door or 4-door. 'iS' = sport package applied to a 2-door coupe.

ex: My E30 325i is a 2-door coupe. If it were an E36, '325i' would = 4 doors.

[MR 325]

No, it's just that the 91 2 door was only sold in the 318is form. don't care what anyone says...

[Bhadole]

No, it's just that the 91 2 door was only sold in the 318is form. don't care what anyone says...

You are correct sir.

[Den]

Okay, I checked it out today. You guys were on the money.

It *is* an 'iS,' and it has some body damage, both contrary to what the lady told me.
I have to go back up to DC tomorrow, and I don't have any more time to deal with her.
Here's the scoop if anyone else wants it:

1991 318is
~96k
Build date: 01/91
VIN: WBAAF9317MEE73009
Brilliant red on tan vinyl
Paint oxidized a bit, but clearcoat appears to be intact - no peeling.
No visible rust.
Basketweaves look okay. Spare looks unused.
Sport seats in good shape.
Cig burn in the back seat.
Air dam, valance, + fog lights smashed. Front bumper slightly cracked on 1 end.
LF fender crumpled a bit. RF too. I'd probably replace both.
Dent/swipe in RR rocker panel . . . seems to have caused RR fender to buckle near the gas filler door.
She says she had brakes, hoses, + belts done last year. No records of anything. Her story is that her son split to PA & left the car.
AC needs charging(she says.)
Motor sounds good, but the bitch wouldn't let me drive it.
She wants $2k; says she's going to trade it in on a truck Monday otherwise.
757-333-7260 VA Beach.
Let it ring 10+ times.

[riverdale21]

Sounds like its been beat the hell up. I wouldn't trust it. Especially without service records. A ton of shit can go wrong on that car. Well, any car for that matter.

If there is no record of the profile gasket being updated, waterpump being replaced, or thermostat being replaced I would pass. And unless you know a friend who does body work or you have a 89+ front end to replace it laying around I wouldn't get it.

You didn't mention if all the accesories worked, how the belts looked, fluids, bushings, coolant hoses, etc looked. That is also another major factor.

[Den]

It doesn't really have that ragged out 'beat to hell' look. Looks like it had an accident, hit something low with the front, crunched air dam back into the fenders. Front fenders are easy to replace + plenty of guys with perfectly good 84-88's do the 89+ bumper swap, but I decided to pass on the deal when she refused to let me drive it . . . refused to even take me for a ride; so I stopped checking stuff on it. I just posted this info in case someone else is interested. Oil + coolant looked okay. Exhaust showed no signs of buring oil or coolant.