'Yard find' '91 318is

[shadowbethesda]

Envious...

[Eric Giles]

Please let me know if the O2 replacement fixes the issue!

I installed the new O2 sensor this morning, and....I do believe the problem is fixed. I started it after sitting overnight, and let it idle for 5 minutes. It never once stumbled during that time, even when applying the throttle at times.

A bit later I took it for a 15 mile drive. Never once did the check light come on, and the car is running the best it has since I purchased it.

Mike, this may not fix your issue, but if your O2 sensor hasn't been replaced, then I highly recommend replacing it. By this mileage and age, it's probably way past due. Mine was rattling inside the tip. Go to Amazon, and search for Bosch 15736. It's a universal sensor that you'll have to splice into your existing connector, but they supply high quality fittings that make the job easy, and the connections secure. Only costs $53 also!

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[Eric Giles]

Well I guess the car decided to teach me from getting too excited about fixing an issue. Later this afternoon the battery was drained completely dead. The car had a battery drain when I got it, but thought I had traced it to the previous aftermarket radio, and a bad SI board...both since replaced.

So I charge the battery fully, and now the starter doesn't engage. I can hear it click, and can sometimes hear it spin, but the gear won't engage to the flywheel.

Add another new part to the list.

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[Eric Giles]

Decided to take a look and see if I could pull the starter from above, and less than 45 minutes later I had it out. Sucks that I had to pull the intake manifold a second time in a week, but honestly it's a super easy and quick on the M42.

But in case anyone is wondering, yes the starter can easily be changed from above on a M42 318i/is. Now to get a replacement ASAP.


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[mike.bmw]

Mike, this may not fix your issue, but if your O2 sensor hasn't been replaced, then I highly recommend replacing it. By this mileage and age, it's probably way past due. Mine was rattling inside the tip. Go to Amazon, and search for Bosch 15736. It's a universal sensor that you'll have to splice into your existing connector, but they supply high quality fittings that make the job easy, and the connections secure. Only costs $53 also!

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I will check that out, thanks! Mine was likely replaced at some point as the wiring doesn't look 26 years old, but I don't have the history on that. I intend to do some minor maintenance in the coming weeks (fuel filter, O2 sensor, gas cap, etc).

Well I guess the car decided to teach me from getting too excited about fixing an issue...

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Decided to take a look and see if I could pull the starter from above, and less than 45 minutes later I had it out. Sucks that I had to pull the intake manifold a second time in a week, but honestly it's a super easy and quick on the M42....

I feel responsible. I asked for updates and now you've been tracking down issues one after another! Hopefully you'll have miles of trouble-free driving after you replace the starter!

[Eric Giles]

There's been a serious lack of updates on this, but I just got involved with my other E30's and this one didn't get much attention. Earlier this year, I did replace the driveshaft, shifter bushings, transmission mounts, and did a recharge of the A/C with R134a. I then replaced the old muffler with a new Ansa unit, with all new hangers and hardware.

But that's where the ownership of this 318is ends for me...even though the car was very clean, and by the end rode and drove perfectly...I never could really warm up to the M42. It is not a bad engine at all...but in the end i just prefer an M20. And the car was so original that I was not going to do a 24v swap...I definitely wanted to keep it as-is.

I actually listed it for sale a couple of times, but either people wanted to low ball on the price, or they wanted to buy the car and eventually do an engine swap, or other extreme modifications. I refused to sell it to anyone that was going to tear it apart and make it into something else...so I decided to hold onto it.

I finally found the right buyer a few months ago...and the funny thing is, he was one of the people that owned my '87 325is (Rommel) after I had sold it a few years ago. His username is 'glasig' on here, and because of him I was able to find the current owner of Rommel and eventually buy it back. So Glasig made the 9 hour drive up here this past weekend, and drove the 318is all the way back without any issue. Here it is as he left my house...a sad event, but glad it is going to someone that will actually drive it and take care of it as it should be.

Here's a picture of the 318is and Rommel together. As glasig stated, it was very odd for him to once again drive a car he had owned and sold that was once owned by me, while at the same time buying another E30 that I own.


And here is the 318is as it leaves my house for the final time:


Glasig plans to keep it as stock and original as possible, which I think this car definitely deserves.

Now, to turn my attention back to my other two E30's that I have threads for on here. One may have left, but I still have two more that need attention!

[richardb]

great story, nice job bringing that yard e30 back to live on for future owners!

[mike.bmw]

Glad you found a good home for it! Perhaps we'll see another update in 10 years that you've bought it back! ;D

[glasig]

Thanks again Eric for all your help making the transaction smooth and easy! And good luck with Rommel (87 325is). I hope we get to see updates