So i went to look at a 318is today, some q's

[ptownTSI]

first off the guy is asking $1000.

It is the charcoal color, it needs a new sunroof and the roof and trunk need to be repainted.

it needs a new blower motor

it has a small 6x6 dent on the 1/4 panel ahead of the drivers side rear tire, no scratches just a dent like someone threw a big heavy rubber ball at it.

wheels and tires are in good shape (weaves)

he will throw in front and rear strut braces and a new (used from parts car) charcoal trunk lid that doesnt need to be repainted.

it is missing the IS lip.

the tan vinyl sport seats are not in very good shape. drivers 5/10 and passengers 7/10, back seat seemed fine.

trunk is clean, no wrecks, clean title. carpeting on the inside is tan and not very clean.

i tried spraying starting fluid in the engine but it didnt really do anything, it did turn over and fire at least once (i think) sounded really rough. The fan spinned while I was cranking so I don't think its seized. the oil seemed fine, although it had no coolant in the tank from what i could tell and I put my screwdriver down about 10" and couldnt reach anything.

I'm guessing the fuel pump is bad or maybe its out of fuel, the tank sounded really hollow when i rapped my knuckles on it. that would be funny because the gas gauge shows 3/8 tank.

Tomorrow I will go and bring some fuel (since it might be out) and try giving it another shot.

How hard is the fuel pump to replace on the 318is? If the motor cranked and the fan spun could anything still be bad like torn up timing chain?

[PУCCKAЯ_e30ka]

1k is waaaayyyy too much for the condition you described... + you don't know what's wrong with engine... check head and block! specially around gasket!

[MikeE30325i]

hhmm in my e30 if you take the rear bottom seat cushion out, which can be accomplished by just putting your fingers under the bottom near the sides and pulling up, there are two plastic panels that allow access to the fuel pump i believe. not 100% sure, but i dont think it would be a HUGE hassle. and 1000 is a little high.

[ptownTSI]

Now that I think about it, this guy has a project 2002 he is swapping the drivetrain of another 318is out of and putting it in the 2002. He claims the second 318is (the one i looked at) just quit on him one day while driving. He had bought it because he missed the first one as it was being used for the 2002 swap and he could no longer drive it.

He also knows how to weld and has his own mig welder at the house. I'm guessing he's no idiot, so his story of, "It quit on me while driving home from work in July of 2006, I didn't have time to work on it so it has sat there since it was towed home, and the wife wants it gone now," is probably a bit of a stretch to believe.

then again he could really have just been busy, he's remodeling his house and seems like a nice stand up guy.

[turbo_negro69]

YOU SOB!!!:) i want that same 318is!!! thats the one in east sac right? and someone posted it up on baye30.net?!!!! if you don't get it someone will!

[Rigmaster]

Sounds like a ~$500 car- especially since it's not running and it sounds like it's more than something simple to get it running.


My 0.02



Bret

[turbo_negro69]

Sounds like a ~$500 car- especially since it's not running and it sounds like it's more than something simple to get it running.
My 0.02
Bret

thats what i was going to offer him and move up from there

[Turf1600]

sounds like a blown head gasket.

[ptownTSI]

If I was ready to commit to a full engine swap like an M50 swap, this would probably be a great car. But I was looking for something that I could get running quick because I'm tired of driving my jeep around all the time while I'm working on my 325is. Yes its the car in Sacramento, I don't know why he calls it "east sac" he lives near mid town. I live in East Sac!

It just smells FISHY. plus the dash is cracked in 3 spots, the seats are shitty, the sunroof is shot...

[ptownTSI]

Sounds like a ~$500 car- especially since it's not running and it sounds like it's more than something simple to get it running.


My 0.02



Bret

I agree, I might do just that tomorrow. For $500 i'd take it and just deal with WTF ever is wrong with it. I wish my 318is diagnostic skills were better or I could have spent more time with the car. it was getting dark and I went home after i could no longer get it to fire on the starting fluid.

[MikeE30325i]

If I was ready to commit to a full engine swap like an M50 swap, this would probably be a great car. But I was looking for something that I could get running quick because I'm tired of driving my jeep around all the time while I'm working on my 325is. Yes its the car in Sacramento, I don't know why he calls it "east sac" he lives near mid town. I live in East Sac!

It just smells FISHY. plus the dash is cracked in 3 spots, the seats are shitty, the sunroof is shot...

try to low ball him and see whats happens. maybe he will realize that it isnt owrth the 1000. and you will get the deal of a lifetime.
plus driving a jeep cant be that bad. ;)

[ptownTSI]

don't get me wrong I love my jeep, everything is perfect on it, no problems. most reliable car ever. luxurious and sporty, very fast, etc. But I want a little car to drive around or blast down to So-cal to visit my friends down there. Thats a 500 mile drive and it sucks when i get 17mpg.

[M42Technik]

I had the fuel pump replaced by a shop, but don't think that makes it not a DIY project:

http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/31....html#fuelpump

Also, look around that site, very handy when I have problems with my 318is, most problems I've come across are addressed on that site, very thorough.

[Jean]

Lol, I spoke with that guy also on the phone yesterday about the car. The fact that it needs paint, dash and seats turned me away more than the fact that it doesn't start otherwise I would have picked it up yesterday.

He did seem like an honest guy on the phone, but didn't tell me about the dent...

[CarsSuck]

no coolant? PASS. If you want a driver this isn't it. Sounds like a vicitim of the m42 profile gasket failure, or maybe a head gasket.