My project 84 318i

[Jean]

Ghey!

[Jand3rson]

Got any links on this ? Or what was the reason behind it, details ?

The spare tire well one of the major crush points at the rear of the E30, engineered to crumple inward before the rest of the rear of the car comes through the back seat, and if there's a spare tire IN it, it is intended to absorb impact from a rear-end collision. I would reccomend you leave it.

[Jean]

i remember hearing that the spare tire itself helps in accidents somehow

Got any links on this ? Or what was the reason behind it, details ?

[backtrail69]

On the late cars the back end is brought down with the rear valance to closer to rocker/lip height. ON the early cars they kinda look like a cat in heat. That is all I was referring to. I wouldn't cut out the spare tire hole unless there was a REAL reason.

[NC325iC]

i remember hearing that the spare tire itself helps in accidents somehow

[Mike325]

Not too sure about the structure of the trunk. If you decide to cut it out, just use good welds and strong metal to fill it back in.

[Jean]

Should I be concerned with structural regidity or does the spare tire well not have any effect on it ? I am thinking about shortening it by about 4-5" and making a shallow (1-2") well for tools and little extra parts). Also for some reason I am thinking strength of the trunk won't be effected if I don't cut the tire well out completely but shorten it instead.

Pics to follow.

[Mike325]

You can do that sure. I actually think it is a pretty good idea. A friend of mine did that to his e36 m3 so he could run the e46 m3 muffler. He just cut it off and put a flat piece of metal over the hole and welded it up.

[Jean]

No really its the fact that the whole back end doesn't link with the rockers and front lip.

I don't get it, back end / front lip ?

[backtrail69]

No really its the fact that the whole back end doesn't link with the rockers and front lip.

[Jean]

My plastic bumper swap thread

Took a quick picture to see how it will look once I get it installed, can't wait to get them cut /painted and get new euro trim.

Now here is where I thought of something, stop me before it's too late lol

I never ever use a spare tire, actually I don't even have one in this car so. My previous car didn't come with a spare tire at all, came with a compressor and a can of fix a flat and I did fine for 20k+ miles until I sold it. The biggest eye sore imho with not having a late rear valance is the spare tire well... so I am thinking about cutting it out and making the trunk flat.







Please ignore the pos muffler as I haven't replaced it yet...

So, thoughts on doing this ?

[Rocla]

Thanks Rocla!

2002maniac - you know I actually still have a complete 2.0 bottom end from a 2002 in my garage that I am trying to give away. Maybe I should take it to a machine shop and have them hot tank it and inspect it instead... the 2.0 block doesn't just drop in inplace of the 1.8 does it ? I heard one of the engine mounts need to be modified or something like that ? .

I can provide a photo of such mount.

[Il Duce]

looks great! i'll probably be doing the exact same things to a car exactly like yours. keep up the good work!

[Jean]

Thanks Rocla!

2002maniac - you know I actually still have a complete 2.0 bottom end from a 2002 in my garage that I am trying to give away. Maybe I should take it to a machine shop and have them hot tank it and inspect it instead... the 2.0 block doesn't just drop in inplace of the 1.8 does it ? I heard one of the engine mounts need to be modified or something like that ?

Got a link about the "sidedraughts and a schrick" , I am curious to see what kind of results one can expect from it.

[Rocla]

Ok, so I've been driving it now as a daily for the last few days and am pretty happy with the tires and suspension. Car is pretty flat even w/o the rear swaybar and really fun on the on/off ramps. I really can't wait to actually have more power in this thing, as right now it's only fun once you build up some speed in it...

My front brakes or pads are very loud though. New pads are some cheap pads from bma when I bought new rotors to get me by for now...do 318i and 325i cars use the same pads ?

All 2wd front pads are the same.

EDIT:all 2wd non M pads are the same.