We're always looking for our next project car. Even when we're working–Every vacation, business trip, or drive to a race has us scouting every overgrown field for that rare barn find.
We found just that in a towing yard just south of Highlands, North Carolina last year. Sitting in the corner, overgrown with weeds and covered in moss, was this …
Tim Suddard said:
So, what are we going to do with this car? We're not quite sure yet, but we do know what we're not going to do: Turn it into a six-cylinder monster. Compared to BMW's 325i, the 318i drops from six to four cylinders, and sports driveline components that are similarly smaller. The "s" at the end of our model's name makes it a sport model, meaning two doors and nicer wheels. Conventional wisdom says the four-cylinder cars are the runts of the litter, but we have a different opinion: This is among the lightest and most tossable BMWs ever built, and our goal is to improve and restore this car without ruining that unique character.
K20 swap? 
When you sell it put me on the list. I did a Bilstein spring/strut combo...lowered the car about 1 to 1.5 inches, improved handling and the ride. It took me a long time to find a slicktop so I could do a BMW HPD without hitting my helmet on the roof. I miss that car so much.......
FYI I couldn't keep up to the rest of the "racers" at the HPD school on the straights, but the corners and transitions were something else, only limited by my bravery
Have you seen the SEMA 318is on Bring a trailer?
You know, Highlands is the rainiest spot east of the Mississippi, right?
FCPEURO is awesome!
This should be an excellent build. I vote for s50 swap.
In reply to Flynlow :
Something like that. 
You guys have the VQ35 laying around. Just do that.
maschinenbau said:You guys have the VQ35 laying around. Just do that.
Nothing against a VQ35. I love Nissan; but, don't dare put anything in that engine bay but the m42. Metric mechanic builds a pretty awesome m42 that has ample power and loves to rev. That was a good buy Tim! As for the body, I would definitely tear into the left rear quarter. Too much rot already starting there. Clean that area up, blend into the drivers door & save the rest.
Hah, I actually sold the VQ35, so no worries there. It was just in the way and giving me too many bad ideas.
Clean! (if dirty)! In 97-98 or so went for a spirited ride in a tastefully modded E30 that had a wee 6 banger in it and it was everything I would ever want in a driving centric sedan still. Nice find.
I'm not generally very inclined to take time and laud a parts company, but FCP have always been really helpful organized and high value. They recently spent a fair amount of time and several emails getting me all the receipts I have with them for a 1995 Volvo 855 T5R I am going to sell. They had to poke around in digital dust bins to get info from 2004 or so and it was a very friendly process. Eager to help even. So there you go, FCP is alright.
I would love to see it kept 4-cylinder and NA... What about a Honda K-series swap? How cool would that be?
So when the time comes to find a forever home for this lovely little 318is, please be sure to contact me.
Cherie
HarrisonMotorsports said:So when the time comes to find a forever home for this lovely little 318is, please be sure to contact me.
Cherie
Funny---- there is already a line forming. Lots of love out there for the "baby" E30.
Great choice! I have the one-year-only-special sedan model myself, lovely little car. They were sort of the "bargain basement" BMW, but a lovely car nonetheless. The earlier cylinder heads are a little more resistant to warping, so the inevitable expansion tank seal rupture might not have killed your M42.
K24 swap or bust. Keep it light, keep it tight
I also owned a 1991 BMW 318is. Red with a black interior. "Tossable" for sure, and loads of fun...in the summer. After the snow flies, put it in storage as it will get stuck if the rear wheels were on a small banana peel.
Hope you keep the "improvements" incognito as the 318is is the much better, modern reincarnation of the original 2002, which I've also owned.
Keep it simple and classic, will you?
Scott Z.
The seller says he hasn't had a chance to diagnose it yet.............in 10 years??! And I thought I was slow at car projects!
Guys,
I am already well on my way. We have a very detailed engine build in the Oct. issue of GRM. We are keeping, but modifying the original engine and head with the help of Metric Mechanic. I am really pleased with how it is coming out.
And don't worry, I have been building these project cars for 35 years and will keep it reasonably priced, and sensitive to originality.
As for selling the car, I have wanted another E30 for many years and this one is a keeper.
I recently looked at a back issue of grm for the original mgb Miata swap stories, and came across the supercharged 318is.
Can you give us a comparison between the two project cars? (Maybe just reflections on the builds and character since the red one might be long gone)
I read that the white one should be an m3 contender, how did the red one compare to the m3?
The red one was faster than an M3 by a good bit. Not sure this one will be quite as fast, unless I dive into aftermarket fuel injection, but we shall see. Honestly, the chassis worked well on the last one and we will do some similar stuff that keeps it streetable.
Tim Suddard said:As for selling the car, I have wanted another E30 for many years and this one is a keeper.
We've heard that line before. Looking forward to seeing how the finished car turns out.
Hey all -- I'm loving driving my new-to-mw 318is, it's got all the things I like in a car and none of the things I don't. And the sound of that engine!
There's just one exception: the driver's door latch has started acting up.
When I bought it last year, the interior door handle pivot had broken, so I Googled how to get the door off, paid $11.75 for the new piece, and enjoyed an easy time getting out.
For about two months. Then the door started opening ON ITS OWN, which is kinda scary in a right-hand corner.
I've been messing about with it for weeks and have not yet sussed out what's going on. I acquired a used latch from eBay but have been stuck getting the old piece out (haven't got it disconnected from the key/lock yet).
Any advice? I have the universal kludge in place: a bungee cord tied around the seat leg, where both hook ends fit into spaces in the door. (The door card is currently in the back seat.)
Tips, suggestions, reference videos, etc. gratefully accepted.
Is it unlatching and opening or not completely latching in the first place?
In reply to iansane (Forum Supporter) :
I suspect it's not completely latching. I can get it to latch if I click it into place with (say) a screwdriver -- it won't release.
I've already adjusted the striker as far outward as I can get it, in the hopes it's just an alignment issue.
Thanks for writing!
Buggy Cord????
Sounds like the latch is either broken or not fully locking when closing.
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