New to E30s - M20 swapped 318

[Old-Skool-Kid]

Hi all Im new to this whole E30 stuff. Ive been wanting one for awhile, and just had this piece-of-a-car dropped on me. Might have been a stupid buy, idk, but it was cheap. anyways here is my 85 318i. I dont really know much about it, but its had an M20 swap. It has headers w/dual exhaust all the way, and I was told something about an "upgraded MAF"? thats been done to it. I have no idea which M20 it is or what year it came out of. Not sure how to post pics, so I attached them.

The Good:
NO rust, what so ever
supposed re-built engine with ~50k on it (im doing timing belt this week)
runs okay, itll get up and go. a little idle fluctuation tho
I think its been lowered?
new tires

The Bad:
Smoked taillights, those are going away
you have to SHOVE it into 2nd, all other gears are fine (new shifter?)
unknown milage, odo stopped working @ 221k

Im sure I'll be floating around the forums, looking for the answers to my many questions. I really appreciate any info and advice on this car, and I look forward to it!

[warmseth]

The MAF will give you better throttle response and if it's coupled with an aftermarket airbox may give you more top end power at the expense of some low end.

The tranny could be be a bad synchro or throw out bearing. They're so cheap it's best to just swap a used one in rather than try to fix yours. In the mean time try double clutching to shift in that particular gear.

Welcome, I'm new too. Folks have a TON of knowledge on here but are a bit prickly now and again. ;)

[Peterkaczynski]

welcome to your new addiction.
you might aswell burn all of the money you have
have fun.

[Vtec?lol]

Looks like they swapped the interior and gave you a plastic bumper conversion too. not bad!

So far I like you. Timing belt is no.1 priority so that means you know how to do your own research.

That car will look sexy with some stagger in it's life.

[Jaxx_]

what color is that? is it safari beige??? <3

[Jafxod]

what color is that? is it safari beige??? <3

Safarie Biege Non-Metalic

[Old-Skool-Kid]

Actually I think its called "gazellenbeige" from what I can find on it its not a very popular color. I thought it was just dirty! I need to find some interior pieces and then im going to have it detailed. Really dirty inside. and I really need to get a new shifter anyways, someone put an "M" shifter knob on it and its really sloppy. any ideas on a ssk?

[Zacm829]

Good start with a unique color.

As for shifters look below.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=41971

[Jhonno]

Unusual colour E30's rock.. Do well.

Do the colour/uniqueness justice!

[Jaxx_]

Actually I think its called "gazellenbeige" from what I can find on it its not a very popular color. I thought it was just dirty!

lol werd. I brought mine home and I was wondering if it was just really dirty white or faded or something... nope, beige. I've never seen gazellenbeige, and only a few safari beige.

[Old-Skool-Kid]

Thanks for the info guys
and
Behold! (see attachment)

I need this car to be a good dd in about a week. I still need to sort out some electrical issues too. I regularly put ~300mi on my vehicle every weekend, most of it highway

[quikveedb2]

That color kicks ass. So much potential!

[Nick_S]

Little rough around the edges but that's got some great potential! Love the color too.

[Old-Skool-Kid]

a little cleaning and she'll be good lol

btw, how do you lock/unlock one of these cars?

[warmseth]

I liked unlocking using the trunk as a master lock....seemed to put less pressure on the key. Then I got a keyfob and now I just unlock the whole car with the press of a magic button. :)