What engine is in an '88 316...

Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:42 am

There's a tidy looking one near me. It has the facelift arches, plastic bumpers and projector (non smiley) headlights but is only a 316, not a 316i.

Am I right in thinking these are M10 1.6 carb engines?

If so, is it likely to be a mish mash of facelift and pre-facelift parts? It's a strange flat dark blue colour too.

Just want to know before I go look at it. I was considering gettin it as a runarround, then fitting all the 325i spares/engine/running gear I have from a facelift '88 325i. Will that pose any problems? If it's a carb engine now, are there likely to be problems with the fuel system? (ie no electric fuel pump, fuel return, differences in wiring etc).

Cheers.

Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:50 am

E30 facelift occurred in 09/87 but the 316(M10) soldiered on until 09/88 when replaced by the M40. The 318i got the M40 at the time of the facelift.

Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:57 pm

No mismatch of pre and post facelift parts.
Mines a March 88 316,well it was and ive had no problems.
Just rob the complete fuel tank/pipes/pump etc from injection.
Youll also need the loom that goes from under the back seat to the fuel pump and diff sensor.

Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:19 pm

the 88 model 316 is the best in my opinion facelift with the m10 engine

Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:24 pm

I have one, it has a fuel injected m10. It is labeled 316i. Don't know if this model made it to the UK market, but it did on the dutch and german.

Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:25 pm

Alex wrote:the 88 model 316 is the best in my opinion facelift with the m10 engine

Not if you have to buy your own petrol!

Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:26 pm

JMRe30 wrote:I have one, it has a fuel injected m10. It is labeled 316i. Don't know if this model made it to the UK market, but it did on the dutch and german.

Euro only - didn't make it to the UK. First UK E30 316i was M40 powered.

Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:28 pm

darkchild wrote:
Alex wrote:the 88 model 316 is the best in my opinion facelift with the m10 engine
Not if you have to buy your own petrol!

lol still its much better than an m40 and very tunable

Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:45 pm

jaistanley wrote:
Am I right in thinking these are M10 1.6 carb engines?

It's a 1.8 carb M10. Used to have one and it was great in some respects.

Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:03 pm

Alex wrote:
darkchild wrote:
Alex wrote:the 88 model 316 is the best in my opinion facelift with the m10 engine
Not if you have to buy your own petrol!
lol still its much better than an m40 and very tunable

To make a M10 316 as fast as a M40 318i will cost more than the price of the car , pointless and sad

Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:07 pm

pacerpete wrote:
Alex wrote:
darkchild wrote: Not if you have to buy your own petrol!
lol still its much better than an m40 and very tunable
To make a M10 316 as fast as a M40 318i will cost more than the price of the car , pointless and sad

im not talking about the 1.8i m40

Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:29 pm

Alex wrote:
pacerpete wrote:
Alex wrote: lol still its much better than an m40 and very tunable
To make a M10 316 as fast as a M40 318i will cost more than the price of the car , pointless and sad
im not talking about the 1.8i m40

Most saddos with M10s would give their pierburg 2BE for the 115BHP that a 318I M40 has as standard . When you only have 90 mangey lame shetlands to start with 115 is the stuff of dreams !

Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:06 pm

Now having a 325i, the 316 would probably feel terrible to me despite my complimentary words about it.

True that the pierburg 'electronic' carb is utter crap. A decent replacement carb will make it nice and snappy (like the one from the 2002 or apparently some Ford ones work with an adaptor plate) but it would be far cheaper and easier to buy a bigger engined car. Although it might be fun if you like tuning etc to have a go with a bigger carb - cheap upgrade with a secondhand carb - nightmare to get running right. Running a car with a carb is a very old fashioned headache though, especially in cold weather. Fuel costs would be awful too.

I had a 316 from brand new and the carb was knackered after 4 years. It was an absolute pain in the arse to drive sometimes. When the 316 runs well, it is a great and simple little car. It's slow but not that slow as it's really light, and really chuckable. I believe it's the lightest E30 as standard. It's never going to be fast but it could be fun.

Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:25 pm

pacerpete wrote:Most saddos with M10s would give their pierburg 2BE for the 115BHP that a 318I M40 has as standard . When you only have 90 mangey lame shetlands to start with 115 is the stuff of dreams !

Depends which M10 you're on about though doesn't it? Most 2 litre M10s produce upwards of 120bhp and the tii engine was closer to the power of an M42. These did use mechanical fuel injection though rather than carbs. BMW did produce a twin-webered 1.8 M10 that was good for 130bhp.

Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:36 pm

GrindCulture wrote:
pacerpete wrote:Most saddos with M10s would give their pierburg 2BE for the 115BHP that a 318I M40 has as standard . When you only have 90 mangey lame shetlands to start with 115 is the stuff of dreams !
Depends which M10 you're on about though doesn't it? Most 2 litre M10s produce upwards of 120bhp and the tii engine was closer to the power of an M42. These did use mechanical fuel injection though rather than carbs. BMW did produce a twin-webered 1.8 M10 that was good for 130bhp.

That was all a long time ago. How much power does your M10 have ?

Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:41 pm

More power than my S38 and M60 put together

Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:51 pm

Lads. Don't get me wrong. I have no intention of polishing an M10 shaped turd. Whether it be with the aid of bike carbs, blow through turbo setups, snake oil or any other toss (that said, I really wouldn't turn down a medium compression 2 litre M10 with megasquirt and a decent modern turbo setup but thats a complete waste of time when I have a half finished S50 swap in a really nice shell sat on my drive!!).

I was just wondering if slinging my M20 into it will be a one day job or if I'd have to faf around swapping fuel tanks, fuel lines, wiring for the fuel pump etc etc. Turns out I would so sod that for a giggle.

I'll just keep my eye out for a 320i or something. Or a 306 Dturbo, or a nissan micra. All of which would rip the skin off the 316's custard.

Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:51 pm

Lads. Don't get me wrong. I have no intention of polishing an M10 shaped turd. Whether it be with the aid of bike carbs, blow through turbo setups, snake oil or any other toss (that said, I really wouldn't turn down a medium compression 2 litre M10 with megasquirt and a decent modern turbo setup but thats a complete waste of time when I have a half finished S50 swap in a really nice shell sat on my drive!!).

I was just wondering if slinging my M20 into it will be a one day job or if I'd have to faf around swapping fuel tanks, fuel lines, wiring for the fuel pump etc etc. Turns out I would so sod that for a giggle.

I'll just keep my eye out for a 320i or something. Or a 306 Dturbo, or a nissan micra. All of which would rip the skin off the 316's custard.

Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:51 pm

pacerpete wrote:
Alex wrote:
pacerpete wrote: To make a M10 316 as fast as a M40 318i will cost more than the price of the car , pointless and sad
im not talking about the 1.8i m40
Most saddos with M10s would give their pierburg 2BE for the 115BHP that a 318I M40 has as standard . When you only have 90 mangey lame shetlands to start with 115 is the stuff of dreams !

but there bullet proof

Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:57 pm

2 litre M10 with megasquirt and a decent modern turbo setup

Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:43 pm

GrindCulture wrote:More power than my S38 and M60 put together

Tell us more Walter ?

Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:28 pm

I'm lying I don't have any of them. You think I'd be driving a rusty iS if I did?