Hello All –
New to R3vlimited, but I’ve been lurking for a couple of months.
I’ve owned numerous BMW’s over the past decade…. a 1998 528i, a 2003 z4 2.5, a 1999 740il, and currently a 2002 325xi as well as my latest acquisition a 1984 Hennarot 318i….with somewhere just north of 90,000 miles on it (although the odometer has stopped working).
I’d wanted an e30 since high school, when a good friend had one as a daily driver. At the time I was pushing a 1987 Hyundai Excel, so obviously I could not afford one. Fast forward 13 years and the world has been kind enough to allow me to drive some nicer cars and now a big enough garage to store/work on “projects” in.
Anyway, on to the questions/description:
1) My 318i is in poor shape….I’ve qualified it as a “restoration” candidate (paint is very faded and the cars functional values are questionable). It does run, but very rough on start-up….but smoothens out after 5 minutes or so. My assumption is that it at least needs a “new” idle control valve and idle control module (I have two sets of valves and module off of ebay that I will test).
2) The previous owner told me that the car needs a new catalytic converter as well. I’m thinking I will replace the oxygen sensor(s) a well, since those may have caused the cat failure. Actually I might as well replace the entire exhaust system. Does anyone make an inexpensive header for the e30 variant of the m10 motor?
3) I’m also thinking the ignition system needs to be revamped. I may just change out the plugs, wires, distributor and rotor, but does anyone have any advice concerning this system? Can I replace it with something better?
4) The cooling system needs to be entirely overhauled as it does currently overheat after about 10 minutes of running. I’m contemplating ordering an OEM spec radiator, but I wonder if there are any universal-style aluminum designs out there that would fit the opening? I’ll likely measure the stock radiator and see if I can find something suitable. Also, what is the difference between automatic and manual spec radiators? I will be replacing the clutch driven fan with a SPAL type electric fan as well. I received a new waterpump for it yesterday and it apparently received a new thermostat recently.
5) It is…unfortunately… an automatic transmission car. I must swap this thing with a manual tranny. Does anyone have a parts list for this conversion on an early 318i? I know this stuff has been discussed ad-nauseum before, but I’m just not sure how to go about researching exactly what I need for this conversion.
I do intend on keeping the car an M10, but I might entertain the idea of some day turbocharging it.
Thankfully I do not need to press the car into service, but I will begin working on the car in the coming weeks (hopefully with a build-up thread…to chronicle the process). For the time being, I will be focusing on completing some upgrades on me e46…J
Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Albo
New to R3vlimited, but I’ve been lurking for a couple of months.
I’ve owned numerous BMW’s over the past decade…. a 1998 528i, a 2003 z4 2.5, a 1999 740il, and currently a 2002 325xi as well as my latest acquisition a 1984 Hennarot 318i….with somewhere just north of 90,000 miles on it (although the odometer has stopped working).
I’d wanted an e30 since high school, when a good friend had one as a daily driver. At the time I was pushing a 1987 Hyundai Excel, so obviously I could not afford one. Fast forward 13 years and the world has been kind enough to allow me to drive some nicer cars and now a big enough garage to store/work on “projects” in.
Anyway, on to the questions/description:
1) My 318i is in poor shape….I’ve qualified it as a “restoration” candidate (paint is very faded and the cars functional values are questionable). It does run, but very rough on start-up….but smoothens out after 5 minutes or so. My assumption is that it at least needs a “new” idle control valve and idle control module (I have two sets of valves and module off of ebay that I will test).
2) The previous owner told me that the car needs a new catalytic converter as well. I’m thinking I will replace the oxygen sensor(s) a well, since those may have caused the cat failure. Actually I might as well replace the entire exhaust system. Does anyone make an inexpensive header for the e30 variant of the m10 motor?
3) I’m also thinking the ignition system needs to be revamped. I may just change out the plugs, wires, distributor and rotor, but does anyone have any advice concerning this system? Can I replace it with something better?
4) The cooling system needs to be entirely overhauled as it does currently overheat after about 10 minutes of running. I’m contemplating ordering an OEM spec radiator, but I wonder if there are any universal-style aluminum designs out there that would fit the opening? I’ll likely measure the stock radiator and see if I can find something suitable. Also, what is the difference between automatic and manual spec radiators? I will be replacing the clutch driven fan with a SPAL type electric fan as well. I received a new waterpump for it yesterday and it apparently received a new thermostat recently.
5) It is…unfortunately… an automatic transmission car. I must swap this thing with a manual tranny. Does anyone have a parts list for this conversion on an early 318i? I know this stuff has been discussed ad-nauseum before, but I’m just not sure how to go about researching exactly what I need for this conversion.
I do intend on keeping the car an M10, but I might entertain the idea of some day turbocharging it.
Thankfully I do not need to press the car into service, but I will begin working on the car in the coming weeks (hopefully with a build-up thread…to chronicle the process). For the time being, I will be focusing on completing some upgrades on me e46…J
Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Albo
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