My turn to share my story!
Like all of us, one particular car i have always wanted to tick off the bucket list since early childhood is the timeless shape E30.
After having several local aus market vehicles, either powered by supercharged 6 cylinder, a nitrous snorting v8, subarus awd turbo, the ever reliable corolla with a sniff at the gas also, the time was finally ready to invest the hard earned money into the euro market.
Being down in the little island of Tas, it's slightly more challenging to find such vehicle thats not either flogged past death, or posessing too much of the E30 sales tax, so when i stumbled across this particular one on the good old internet, my eyes lit up like a 15 year olds first time at sex!
Turned out the PO listed it for sale almost 2 years ago, honest price, stated that engine required attention etc.. After several phone conversations, the hire trailer was aquired and the 7 hour return trip began.
Arrived, car was as expected, the deal was done, car was strapped to the trailer, and away we headed back north! 3.30am the car was rolled off the car trailer and much sleep was required before work 8am that morning.
After work, quick wash, wheel scrub and this is was what was underneath, a good platform to begin with.
As mentioned, it was was said that engine needed attention, POP said it got hot one day, and he just left it at that. I squirted some fuel in the tank, rounded up a battery from the garage, and hit the key, vroom! switched off, checked the dipstick, oil cap etc.. typical signs of headgasket failure.
Engine was then torn down to discover the usual issues with the M42, cracked head, beyond repair..
Original ideas were, and still are in some ways to keep this vehicle period correct, however being one for a lover of power, it's just not fesable in my mind to invest oin into the M42 due to shortage of parts here in AUS, so the choice has been made, the ever popular M50xx conversion.
Tracked down a suitable donor vehicle, a rolled E39 523i, which should donate it's powertrain nicely, fortunately for me, the 318is has the correct matching gearbox etc..
So this is where im up to now, i have my childhood dream car, and have located a donor vehicle, time to get it done. Keep you all posted.
Adam.
Like all of us, one particular car i have always wanted to tick off the bucket list since early childhood is the timeless shape E30.
After having several local aus market vehicles, either powered by supercharged 6 cylinder, a nitrous snorting v8, subarus awd turbo, the ever reliable corolla with a sniff at the gas also, the time was finally ready to invest the hard earned money into the euro market.
Being down in the little island of Tas, it's slightly more challenging to find such vehicle thats not either flogged past death, or posessing too much of the E30 sales tax, so when i stumbled across this particular one on the good old internet, my eyes lit up like a 15 year olds first time at sex!
Turned out the PO listed it for sale almost 2 years ago, honest price, stated that engine required attention etc.. After several phone conversations, the hire trailer was aquired and the 7 hour return trip began.
Arrived, car was as expected, the deal was done, car was strapped to the trailer, and away we headed back north! 3.30am the car was rolled off the car trailer and much sleep was required before work 8am that morning.
After work, quick wash, wheel scrub and this is was what was underneath, a good platform to begin with.
As mentioned, it was was said that engine needed attention, POP said it got hot one day, and he just left it at that. I squirted some fuel in the tank, rounded up a battery from the garage, and hit the key, vroom! switched off, checked the dipstick, oil cap etc.. typical signs of headgasket failure.
Engine was then torn down to discover the usual issues with the M42, cracked head, beyond repair..
Original ideas were, and still are in some ways to keep this vehicle period correct, however being one for a lover of power, it's just not fesable in my mind to invest oin into the M42 due to shortage of parts here in AUS, so the choice has been made, the ever popular M50xx conversion.
Tracked down a suitable donor vehicle, a rolled E39 523i, which should donate it's powertrain nicely, fortunately for me, the 318is has the correct matching gearbox etc..
So this is where im up to now, i have my childhood dream car, and have located a donor vehicle, time to get it done. Keep you all posted.
Adam.
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