This BMW 318is is the perfect candidate to see if we can make it just as fast as an M3 without breaking the bank.
Which is the better rad-era buy, a BMW E30 318is or VW Mk1 Rabbit GTI?
With our bottom end done, it was time to move into the valvetrain.
Think an E30 318is would be a fine addition to your collection? Here are a few things you should know first.
We take our BMW on an amazing tour.
We take the car back to VIR and then all the way home to Florida.
We take on an E30 M3 at VIR
But we'll still have some updates.
Never leave home without a proper tune.
This is a daily driver, after all.
Buttoning up the interior.
We finally clean the trunk.
We add a UUC strut bar to stiffen our front chassis even more.
Time for new wheels.
We put the finishing touches on the exterior of our BMW 318is.
To paint or not to paint? That is the question.
We decide to repair our Sport seats in Anthracite.
We investigate the seating situation in our 318is.
Our interior was filthy, but it's only original once. So, we set about cleaning it the best we could.
We choose Red Line Synthetic Oil lubricants for our fluids.
We install a quick shift kit from our friends over at BimmerWorld.
We upgrade our 318is' now-broken steering rack with one meant for a Z3.
We attempt to start the BMW for the first time.
We install our new-to-us dash pad from our friend Al Taylor.
We finish work on our chassis by installing a new gas tank and undercarriage shields.
We install a complete Supersprint exhaust system on the 318is.
We install all-new brake parts on our BMW 318is.
We install the last part of the suspension puzzle, bushings from Powerflex.
We button up both subframes and reinstall them along with the engine/transmission.
We install Ground Control camber plates on our '91 BMW 318is
We install a limited slip in our E30 318is.
We install Eibach's Pro-Plus Suspension Kit and Koni Sport Dampers.
The first step in upgrading our chassis is to tackle the rear subframe.
With our engine and clutch upgraded, it was time to develop a plan to start upgrading the chassis
We upgrade our fuel injectors and engine management, and update our flywheel and clutch.
While we had the engine out of our 318is, we decided to take the opportunity to rebuild it for more power and torque–because more is always better, right? And there’s …
Curious about four-cylinder E30 BMW engine codes? So were we.
Boxes start piling up for our 318is.
We save our original paint with the liberal application of a buffer.
Next up for our project BMW 318is is to find a source for parts.
With the engine out and partially apart we learned a bit more.
It was now painfully obvious that we would need to pull the engine from the car.
After removing the valve cover, we noticed something was missing, something important.
Our project 1991 E30 BMW 318is doesn't run. Here we figure out how original the car's paint and body is.
Our BMW gets a really good scrubbing.
Time to drag our 318is out of the pole barn and figure out what we had to work with.
This little E30 BMW was last registered in 2008 and was brought to the yard with some undisclosed engine problems.
