Red 318is - Adelaide SA. Round 2!

[JC-E30]

Hey guys!

Well last night i purchased my second E30. It has been an 8 year gap, with my last one being a 325i 4 door with M spec everything... also red.

Now I have a 90 318is! Slower... but the smile it puts on your face makes you forget about the sort of speed i am used to (push you back in your seat kinda stuff).

It done 228,000 k's, and is pretty well looked after. Just has a few visual things i would like to fix up.

Standard motor etc, but had an M3 Gearbox (score!) it shifts sweet as a nut too!

I picked her up for $3850 - which I'm pretty happy with too. Been waiting 3 months and seen a few way over priced.

Now I have taken a couple of non artistic pics... but will take more once i have given her a cut n polish.

I want to get some black impact strips, as a previous owner painted over them (not sol keen on that look... especially since it isn't a good paint job)

I also need to sort out some paint run marks... which made me laugh when i saw them!

Wheels are ok for now, but will be getting something with some dish

Will get some front and rear strut braces pretty soon.

Plans for the future are either to turbo it, or engine swap for S52 or M52 depending on what is more cost efficient. This is a few years away. In the meantime i am restoring it to be a reliable daily :-)

[JC-E30]

It appears my pics are not uploading... So I may have to do that later! Sorry!

[Simon S]

Nice.. but bloody hell, 18is cars are getting swapped faster than me groping girl booty..

[Hooffenstein HD]

You sure it has an M3 box? To the best of my knowledge; M42 has the M50/S50 bolt pattern whereas S14 have the M10/M30 bolt pattern.

[JC-E30]

Yes, I may still consider turboing the m42 though.

I'll have to get under and have a look to confirm the gearbox then. I'm getting a bmw mechanic to do tue first service and fix a slow power steering leak, so might get them to check.

[e30Chris]

Nice.. but bloody hell, 18is cars are getting swapped faster than me groping girl booty..

And it makes me sad. There's a lot to be said for the fun balance of 18is cars. Not fast, but doesn't FEEL slow.

Yes, I may still consider turboing the m42 though.

I'll have to get under and have a look to confirm the gearbox then. I'm getting a bmw mechanic to do tue first service and fix a slow power steering leak, so might get them to check.

You should turbo the M42, that's pretty rad. Power steering leak is more than likely the rack. Time to switch to an e36 rack!

[REAL]

nice another Adelaide member ! i just picked my e30 a few months ago, might have to go for a drive some time

[JC-E30]

And it makes me sad. There's a lot to be said for the fun balance of 18is cars. Not fast, but doesn't FEEL slow.



You should turbo the M42, that's pretty rad. Power steering leak is more than likely the rack. Time to switch to an e36 rack!

I have to say, it doesn't feeel slow. I agree! Would be cool to get some extra pep out of the M42 though.

How much is an E36 rack likely to cost...

Also looks like I could be after some wheels. The tyres have a lower load rating than they should (500kg) and they are near new..

And yeah REAL, keen to go to some meets. Tried joining the sa bmw club but they haven't accepted me!

[Massimo]

Should come for a ride in mine it seems fast to me for a 318is, and most of the people who I take for a spin recon it is faster then it should be.

Try to learn how to fix stuff you self, paying a mechanic will cost you are fortune I have been there and done that. My power steering leak cost me 2k at a mechanic.

Also the BMW club is meeting at shannons insurance on south road this friday the 11th at 7:30. They are having a meeting then a cruise you guys should come along.

Unlikely you have a M3 gearbox if it is a E30 M3 gearbox 1st gear is left and down, if it isn't then it isn't a M3 gearbox.

[CrusherCurtis]

DASC it! I don't think I've seen 1 e30 with one.

[JC-E30]

Nice one. Yeah upon doing further research, it appears the only m3 gearbox that it could be, is an e36 6 speed (which it isn't). I just saw that written on the sale docs from when the previous guy bought iy. Probably just meant gear knob hehe!!

I can do a few things myself, and that is why I jumped back into an e30. My last one was pretty easy/logical to work on. Didn't have to use the c word very often!

I'm no mechanic though, but i do have enough mechanic friends!

A night meet sounds cool, will have to see if I can make it..not sure!

[JC-E30]

I notice the classifieds section on this site aren't really monitored too well... no one says what country and state they are in...

[JC-E30]

Here is a pic of the work I have done all weekend! Meguiars Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner > Meguiars Colour X > Meguiars Gold Class polish... also Meguiars Ultimate Protection for the black trim bits... Knackering... but worth it!!

As you can see, colour painted impact strips. Not really my taste. With these bumpers I prefer them black. Otherwise MTech bodykit. Thankfully it looks like the guy who painted them, didn't sand them first... parts are peeling off. So I am thinking of spending a weekend peeling the paint off and then redetailing the black underneath. May aswell... worse comes to worst I can get the black sprayed on.

Also in need of some new rims... these ones don't have the load rating required or the correct offset. Looks like they are meant for a front wheel drive hatch. I can't fit my finger between the front rim and the suspension.

[bmwandhonda]

Paint looks like it is in great shape, looks super clean :)

[JC-E30]

Up close you can tell it wasn't done by a pro. There a couple of "run marks". But looking at the car "normally" you can't tell... and the polish work today has made it come up a treat!