My "new" 318is

[Subtle]

Hey all,

My name is Mike,

and I'm a BMW

I'm a Helicopter Mechanic/Crewchief for the Army National Guard. I also work full-time for Sikorsky as a Weight and Balance Tech (essentially a Corner Balancer). I'm big on correct maintenance and all about going fast around corners over fast in a straight line.

I just jumped ship from the Subaru Performance world to the BMW world. Here is a pic of it before I sold it.



Any who, I picked up a '91 318is from my friend's shop (JG Technik) with a M50 Motor swap.

Mod list as of 09AUG15:

Engine
-E34 M50TU
-KA Motors intake
-Samco black silicone intake boot
-New MAF (OCT 2014)
-New Bosch F7LDCR sparkplugs (July 2015)
-New valve cover gasket (July 2015)


Suspension
-BC BR Racing coilovers 6k/8k springs (Sept 2013)
-Tree house racing CABs (M3 offset) (Sept 2013)
-New Lemfordor Control arms (Sept 2013)
-New OEM endlinks (Sept 2013)
-AKG Rear diff bushing (poly) (Sept 2013)
-AKG Rear subframe bushing (Sept 2013)
-AKG Trailing arm bushing (Sept 2013)

Drivetrain
-Z3 1.9 short shifter
-Condor speed shop Transmission mounts (August 2014)
-3,73 LSD (May 2015)


Interior
-Rockford Fosgate speakers front and rear
-Kenwood Stereo
-knock off AC Shnitzer floor mats
-OEM Door cards removed (October 2014)
-Spyke's brushed alluminum door panels front and rear in (October 2014)
-Carpet Removed (getting cleaned and painted black)
-ZHP knob
-Alcantara tri color shift and e brake boot
-Flocked Crack free dash (June 2015)

Exterior
-16x7.5 and 16x9 ESM 002R's
-Wall trim front lip
-US ellipsoids
-Aerocatch hood latches V2
-Euro trim front and rear
-Euro plate filler (late model)
-E28 Mtech Wing
-Purple Chalkboard paint

and many more to come!



I'm still learning everything about the car, and what BMW are about so go easy on me with the not knowing shit about BMW's :P I've started reading all the stickies and DYI's.

It needs a front end (fenders, Bumper, hood [already got one]) and a respray of diamond shwartz and it should be good to go.

Hopefully in the near future i'll turbo it as i got a ride in Sharky's Alpina 325is and well lets say look out for a 318is with a mild snail attached to it in the next year or so :P



^instagram filters for the win.






So let me know what you guys think.

do's and don'ts etc.

[meppadua]

5-lugged?? i have 318is same color too.

[e30saam]

Love it man, Looks awesome,

[ScHpAnKy]

I love your car, here's from fredy, a few owners back -

[JOE BMW]

Nice, good to see another e30 in the tristate area.

I recently picked up a 318is as well.

Good luck with your car.

[ZekeTheSneak]

I also got served on a subaru. Honestly if you don't upgrade them properly then they just just fall apart. I hate when people use the term stages. That is also a good way to ruin a scoob. Legit tuning and not just using cobb bullshit makes them last longer. Good start on the e30. You will be much happier. Bmw knows how to make a bulletproof transmission!

[Subtle]

So big update.

I found a front bumper and grabbed some euro trim and smoked turn signals from guten parts

I replaced almost every piece of the suspension:
-BC BR Coilovers
-new control arms
-Tree house racing FCABs
-new outer tie rods




Replaced the worn out rear subframe, RTABs, and diff bushings with AKG bushings and a "newer" subframe.

Now that I have done it I would not like to do it again however I will be installing the toe and camber adjuster so once more I will have to drop he subframe :/ but atleast this time I know what I'm getting into.



Old subframe diff mount holes...


All ready to go back in



I got a recaro CT seat as the adjusters on my sport seat were worn out and I'd be leaning one way or the other.
I also just picked up a 370mm alcantara wrapped mtech II wheel that I'm in love with and it has tri color stitching along with my ebrake boot and shift boot :D

[Subtle]

My "new" 318is

So she went from rough shape to functional rough shape :)

Before with her hoodless as it was broken, high be smashed, headlight bracket broken, no front bumper, busted and old suspension on cut springs.


To a mediocre at best e30 but I love it and we already have had some ups and downs but it's been fun.



I also just installed some new tires to replace the shot 205/40/16 s drives with some 215/45/16 falken azenis the fitment is perfect and doesn't rub to bad a little in the front when I make sharp turns




I had a bit of fun with a paint marker :P



Needs more IS lip ASAP. And possibly some ix flares and skirts

[Larzzz]

Very cool! i love it!

[Link]

Those 215s look great! five lug or adapters? or fill and drill?

[Gropiks]

nice ! :)

can you take photo , of wheel adapter how much (mm wide )

[Gropiks]

nice ! :)

can you take photo , of wheel adapter how much (mm wide )

[Subtle]

Those 215s look great! five lug or adapters? or fill and drill?

nice ! :)

can you take photo , of wheel adapter how much (mm wide )

IIRC they are either 20 or 25mm adapters from 42 draft designs

(i'll double check with PO)

[Subtle]

few more updates back in Jan 2014 I smoked a dead deer in the road at about 75 mph and popped my oil pan/damaged my lower radiator support.



My buddy gave me a hand bringing it down to JG technik



after we got it apart


more of the damage

[Subtle]

after the lower rad support was straightened a little more...


new lower valance


immediately got a skid plate


finally got to driver here again around feb 2014


her on some snows and bottle caps


respect your elders


mmmm that new england salt


I some how managed to get my car out of that and drive it to work.