Please take a look and let me know. PICS

[new2bmw]

Hey guys I saw this car and although it looks rough I was considering getting it and transferring everything good that i have from the other bmw to this one. I just want your opinions and keen eyes to spot anything i may not be able to pick out that may be "off" about the car. It is a 1991 318i with 300,000 km on body and supposedly 60,000km on the engine since rebuild. other then that dont know much else yet. I wasnt to sure about trim as i thought alll the M42 came with shadowline trim around windows but could be wrong. Was just wondering if this might be a good starting point instead of flogging that dead horse that is my 84 318i. Also heard that with some red that is faded may be able to polish it up a bit until I can get it painted. ty guys, take care

[evandael]

check that rear right valance for battery tray rust.. actually, check the whole car. i'd get some kind of receipts to verify the engine rebuild, or else it's a moot selling point. the seats look clean, so does the dash. verify all the switches, bulbs, indicators are good. it seems to have heated seats, so check if those work too!

looks like the passenger fog glass is broken, and some foam is making an escape from the driver's grill.

i'm not sure about the shadowline, but since it's not a 318is, chrome may be normal. as far as the paint goes, if it's all oxidized like that it may be single stage (no clearcoat from factory). i don't know when BMW switched to base/clear.. regardless, if it's single stage, a cut and buff will absolutely restore the shine!

i'd pay up to $2500 if it totally checks out, ie, clean title, maintenance records, it drives well, the windshield is uncracked, brakes work, tires have tread, etc. that car doesn't look rough at all.

[new2bmw]

318i

The good thing is that i have many boxes of parts, extra plastic bumpers headlights everything so i can swap over what i need. since they are both e30's i am hoping that everything body wise is the same. I have the 84 which ghas new shocks springs gas tank suspension etc that i could swap over if it will fit. as for the springs and shocks even if the weight of the 84 318i and 91 318i is different i could probably still use the new H&R's and bilsteins in the 91. Anybody else please chime in with opinions please. ty

[mr ilia]

Car looks good in the pics.
Main thing is rust, it must have very little of it, otherwise it may be very costly to reair it all.
Reat shoks will fit, but the frints will not, sinse the shock diameter is different between 84 and 91 models. I'd think gas tank will fit as well.

Edit: 318s had chromed window trim.

[new2bmw]

color?

was just wondering about fading? have all the parts that are not faded newer or does the red fade like this? was just trying to figure out if it has been in an accident or thats just natural aging

[mr ilia]

try a bit of wax/polish and see if it will bring the color back.
I would worry about rust before worring about discoloration.

[BacDoc]

The red oxidizes bad, my '91 was nearly pink and buffed out very well. IMO $2500 is steep for a car like that. A well conditioned IS is probably in that $2500-$3k range IMO.

I'm curious about the buttons around the shifter, I have power window buttons but I see an extra set and two but the parking break.

[mr ilia]

The red oxidizes bad, my '91 was nearly pink and buffed out very well. IMO $2500 is steep for a car like that. A well conditioned IS is probably in that $2500-$3k range IMO.

I'm curious about the buttons around the shifter, I have power window buttons but I see an extra set and two but the parking break.

Well it is a 4 door, so it will have 4 buttons for windowns. The other two near the parking brake are for heated seats.

[Mr. Burns]

where you located in Ontario?

also drivers side fender is not same color as rest of car...check for front end damage that might be hiding somewhere...

ie: rad support, if all panels line up etc

[evandael]

IMO $2500 is steep for a car like that. A well conditioned IS is probably in that $2500-$3k range IMO.

you have to keep in mind his location.. if the car has ZERO RUST, that may be what it goes for.

[BacDoc]

Well it is a 4 door, so it will have 4 buttons for windowns. The other two near the parking brake are for heated seats.

Ah, I didn't even think about the 4 doors. Thanks.

you have to keep in mind his location.. if the car has ZERO RUST, that may be what it goes for.

Well to be honest, rust free is a premium anywhere on these old BMW's. ;)

[new2bmw]

318i

just talked with owner and he says the roof has a hole in it right near the sunroof, just wondering if this should be a deal breaker and run or is that something that is repairable in most cases? really want the car but don't want to buy a moneypit off the bat. also said that there were no other holes in the car but has some surface rust.

[TurboJake]

Too much money for too many problems.

[TrentW]

That's a $1500 car.

[Wschnitz]

Definitely not 2500. I paid 1700 for my near premium condition car.