Meet Michaela, '91 318is

[car_gal_jenni]

What are you doing to refresh the smileys? Just the screws and the end part (the part the screw goes into)? I'm in the process of mine as well! Also what front valance is that?

Great looking car!

I've gotta get a couple new adjuster screws, and the clips that hold the headlights to the brackets. And I'll probably paint the trim bezel black to match the rest of my car.

As for the front valance? I have no idea, but I do know it needs to be replaced. lol

[MoreMayhem]

anybody that knows me or followed my last build can attest :)

Welcome, thanks for sharing. Looks like a great starting place you have. Care to share details of your last build? Link to another site perhaps? We like non e30 builds too.

[car_gal_jenni]

Welcome, thanks for sharing. Looks like a great starting place you have. Care to share details of your last build? Link to another site perhaps? We like non e30 builds too.

I had a full build thread up on a different forum, but thanks to some stupid crap that happened there, I pulled a lot of it down. But! Here's the mod list and a couple photos of my previous car.

2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS 5sp, was prepping for a turbo install







Interior:
Alpine 5channel amp
12” JL sub
Kenwood single din deck w/bluetooth
Focal 3 channel speakers
Custom trunk sub box w/spare tire delete
Battery relocation to trunk
Megan Racing short shifter
Blox neochrome shifter knob
"Big 3" upgrade
Python remote start, keyless entry, alarm system
Blue led swap on hvac, clock, & gauge cluster
Blue led needle rings
Custom-wrapped dash
NR-G quick release steering wheel setup


Exterior:
5% window tint
retrofitted projector 5000K HID hi/lo headlights w/LED halo
custom 03+ tails
custom reverse lights (thanks to jstewart)
Hella tones horns
Wings West full lip kit
Nautilus chameleon pearl plastidip


Engine/performance:
OBX-R headers & downpipe
Invidia N1 cat-back exhaust
Magnaflow hi-flow cat
K&N cold air intake
Polyurethane motor mounts & shifter bushings
ACT 2100 clutch
Walboro 255 fuel pump
Evo 9 fuel rail
AEM fuel pressure regulator


Suspension/wheels/brakes:
Ksport Kontrol Pro coilovers
custom subframe brace (thanks to Mochi Performance)
custom lower control arm braces (thanks to Mochi Performance)
custom tie bar braces (thanks to Mochi Performance)
custom twin v-brace rear strut bar (thanks to Mochi Performance)
DC Sports front strut bar
Brembo brake swap
Watercooled IND 3-piece forged wheels (225/35/18x9+45) [[summer/show wheels]]
Sparco wheels (225/45/R17x7.5+45) [[winter wheels]]
Blox neochrome lug nuts

Future mods: ((which regrettably never happened))
turbo (prior to swaps)
AWD swap
motor swap
full paint job
Sparco Evo2 driver seat, custom upholstered
Sparco passenger seat, custom upholstered
half cage
fog light retrofit w/3000K HIDs & LED halo

[RCtheRed]

Cool car, can't wait for more progress! I'd suggest just going for the iS look which would be the iS lip in the front with the right valence and then the iS spoiler which gives a nice touch to the trunk without being overly flashy. Side skirts are a must, hoping to get mine in before winter!

Maintence wise, I find the M42 really enjoyable to work on. I just replaced the water pump, thermostat, valve cover gasket, cleaned up my fuel injectors, took years of grime off the engine, put on new belts, and the most annoying thing was just bleeding the system.

[car_gal_jenni]

Cool car, can't wait for more progress! I'd suggest just going for the iS look which would be the iS lip in the front with the right valence and then the iS spoiler which gives a nice touch to the trunk without being overly flashy. Side skirts are a must, hoping to get mine in before winter!

Maintence wise, I find the M42 really enjoyable to work on. I just replaced the water pump, thermostat, valve cover gasket, cleaned up my fuel injectors, took years of grime off the engine, put on new belts, and the most annoying thing was just bleeding the system.

Thanks! I love this lil' car. I plan on tracking down the correct valance and IS lip and side skirts to finish off the look. And of course, the correct fog lights as well. Going for that OEM+ look :)

[car_gal_jenni]

What are you doing to refresh the smileys? Just the screws and the end part (the part the screw goes into)? I'm in the process of mine as well! Also what front valance is that?

Great looking car!

I've spent way too much time lately trying to track down a different front valence, and have, as a result, researched a bunch of different kinds. With the new knowledge in hand, I discovered that my current valence looks to be a Hartge valence. I don't know for 100% certain, but it sure looked like it to me. I'll know more when I take this one off to do a repair on it and give it fresh life. If it is a Hartge one, I am stoked and definitely will be keeping it :D

[car_gal_jenni]

Here's a few more photos of my lil' lady

[CaliDazze]

Here's a few more photos of my lil' lady

Purdy Girl. M42 Powa!

[HennaE30]

1 Never buy ebay or URO parts. you'll end up with a broken car.

This is truth. bought a "sachs" clutch kit from ebay. maybe 1000 miles later and I need to replace it.

[DesktopDave]

It's so nice to see an M42 get some love. The 318iS is a modern classic, and your car improves the breed. Keep up the great work!

[car_gal_jenni]

It's so nice to see an M42 get some love. The 318iS is a modern classic, and your car improves the breed. Keep up the great work!

Thank you!! I'm doing everything I can to give her the ultimate premium treatment and to give her only the best. I plan on having this car for a very long time, so obviously the higher quality stuff will last longer.

[car_gal_jenni]

So, thanks to a fellow forum-er (from a different forum), I have some lovely new interior pieces. Makes me blatantly aware that I need to do something with the seats... haha.

Fronts before::



Fronts after:: (yes, I know.. I'm still missing the window crank covers...)




Rears before::



Rears after::



I also discovered, by a purely accidental split second of my evening last night, that I have THIS::



All this time, I've been getting asked what front valence I have, and now I know that I've got a real Hartge front valence!! I was super excited last night.

I also have this::



I don't know what strut bar I have; can anybody shed some light? Sorry for a relatively low-quality photo; I was in the middle of a project yesterday. I could take some better photos of it this afternoon when I get home if need be. I'm just curious if it's a well-known one, or a custom-made one.

[F34R]

Looks to be a run of the mill ebay strut brace, and I have no idea why people put removable wheels on stock cars. Those are designed for fixed race bolster seats and cages that stick half way up the door entrance.

Please don't stick a bunch of crap on it and rice out. H&R race springs, and some nice 16" wheels with clean black interior would make this amazing. Welcome to r3v

[car_gal_jenni]

Looks to be a run of the mill ebay strut brace, and I have no idea why people put removable wheels on stock cars. Those are designed for fixed race bolster seats and cages that stick half way up the door entrance.

Please don't stick a bunch of crap on it and rice out. H&R race springs, and some nice 16" wheels with clean black interior would make this amazing. Welcome to r3v

She's already sitting on H&R/Bilstein shocks/springs, so I think she's ok on that front. I love my houndstooth interior, so plain black is out the window. I love the quick release steering wheels; plus, they come in handy for anti-theft if you live in a sketchy neighborhood like I used to.

Thanks for the feedback though!

[iPee]

so that was you, when I was on my way to Shelton earlier this month lol