To modify using stock parts or leave as is?

[Lachssilber_Senior]

Hey, I'm looking for some advice on what to do with my e30.

I've owned an immaculate lachssilber 316 auto for around a year now with really low mileage and a comprehensive service history.

The car is a super clean example and appears to have been dry stored for it's existence as it is entirely rust free and the interior is 100% free from wear and damage and even comes with the original brochure as well as a stack of E30 pamphlets from the original dealership.

The car is equipped with a range of extras such as;

- x5 15" BBS alloys with pristine centre caps and BBS locking tool, genuine 'is' front lip spoiler, front valance fog lamps, colour coded bumper bar and wing mirrors, BMW mud flaps, full tool kit, BMW Jack, hyco wheel brace and towing eye, original BMW medi-kit, BMW glove box torch and even has a genuine unused BMW fire extinguisher bolted under the drivers seat.

The car came with power steering, manual sunroof, green tinted glass and an additional fuel tank fitted from factory.

I bought the car with the intention of building my own E30 using stock parts with the addition of what would have been factory fitted optional extras.

I've currently sourced a rare 4 door black leather recaro sports interior as well as an M-tech 1 steering wheel and intended to dye the carpets black and fit a 13 button OBC.

The car is unbadged so already appears to look like a 325i/is from the exterior. However, my intentions for the mechanics were to fit a low mileage M42 from an e36 with a 240 Getrag and Bilstien B12 suspension set up so the car would have the mechanical functions and performance of a 318is and still remain a 1.8 4 cylinder.

Any modifications made to the car would be done in a tasteful period correct manner to resemble a factory finish as I still want it to look stock but just appear as a highly specced e30.

My only concern is as the car has survived for 29 years in such impeccable condition I almost feel guilty altering it at all..?

I know it's a four door which isn't to everybody's taste and I'm aware that it is an automatic M10 but the price range in the e30 market has over doubled in the past year (for this model) and I'm also concerned that if I make these alterations I won't be able to sell it down the line..

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

[tha881]

What year is the car? You mention colour coded bumpers and an IS lip but then say it has an m10 engine?

It may be worth more to keep standard but it's your car and even with the m42 fitted if it's really clean it will still be worth a good amount.

I would definitely look for sport seats of the originals before changing the whole interior.

[Lachssilber_Senior]

Thanks for the reply!

It's a 1988. I believe it was the first generation of the facelift which ran the M10 in some of the lower spec models until the end of 88.

That's a fair point I never considered that, although the only issue with the interior is the fact that it's indigo/charcoal which I'm not sure they made sport seats for and I prefer the black leather over all, so I guess it would be all or nothing.

The IS lip is something I purchased myself from the dealership.

[sprog]

Had a similar issue having the same mindset about my car (89 Se 325i 2 door) I think unless its a stupidly low miler then as long as your tasteful with your modifications you will be ok. As for the M42 swap, one its you driving and you will appreciate it fully and two lets put it this way i cant see anyone buying it wanting to convert it back to an M10 auto. I really wanted to keep my interior stock and swap the fronts for sports of the same finnish its a nightmare finding a pair though :/ good luck.

[ajay]

As a rule of thumb i agree with the above a‘†aa», but would you enjoy the car more if it had more power? Whats more important to you, the value of your car or how pleasing it is to drive? I have a 318i cab that i converted to 318is, it all looks original & i enjoy the turd, i'm not bothered what its final value will be once i'm done with it but i recon it won't affect the value at all & the 16v engine probably have more appeal to its next owner. If you do go ahead with an engine conversion make sure its a well executed job.

[Lachssilber_Senior]

I think if it's something I've done myself I'll obviously take great pride in the level of work gone into the car.

If it does go ahead it will only be done using BMW parts.

I already own a tech 1 steering wheel and black leather sports interior and in comparison to a 4 spoke and a grey/indigo comfort interior they obviously will look a hell of a lot better.

It's just I'm a purist at heart and it's the guilt of altering something that's original.

But then I often weigh up how long I would have to wait for a low mileage lachssilber 325is or 318is with the right condition, extras and mileage that wasn't gunna cost me between 10 and 20k as that's what the market is dictating at the moment.

I paid 1200 for mine last year and have saw the same model same colour on carandclassic for 5700 as well as seeing the odd ones on eBay for between 3/4grand and if that's what sort of money bottom of the barrel models are bringing in in good condition mine is definitely up there with the best of them.