what would you do

[johnnyg]

standard 318is

Mission - to improve fuel econmoy and driveability

Budget £1000

How would you do it

[toby]

I'd just upgrade engine management and retune since the 318is was 'de-tuned' from the factory. Megasquirt standalone ECU supplied and fitted by Ant at A-Tech. This allows you to swap airflow meter for a less restrictive MAF and/or MAP sensor. Gives sharper throttle response and better economy. The 318is already has coil pack ignition so you're some of the way there.

Then change the power delivery by mapping the megasquirt to give more low down torque than stock.

(This can be altered later when you have more to spend. Perhaps save up for a supercharger. Megasquirt can quite easily adapt to a supercharger/turbo charger/higher lift cams or other upgrades.)

[itec]

this is my route which i am working on

Use a mild chip which will help with the power and improve mpg in town.

Change the exhaust manifold which will give a bit more power

Use a lower diff I am aiming for 3.45 as i use the motorway this will result higher speed at lower revs.

[johnnyg]

Superb and what about using an air induction kit and if so what one would you use

[capri_rob]

Most people seem to think that induction filters are a bit of a waste of money - they usually give negligible if any power gain and allow more crap to get sucked into your engine - in fact if you set them up without a heatshield and cold air ducting to the filter they will actually make your car perform worse than standard. The best filters are the OEM ones changed regularly.

Have you bought an E30 yet johnny or are you still hunting for the right one ?

[johnnyg]

nearly there rob

Might just seal the deal on sat with a bit of luck -a 318is - not too sure about it though - it was a cat d and its not in great condition

thanks for the info rob

[GrindCulture]

If you want a good car, wait for it, a shoddy E30 will be such a headache, unless that's what you're looking for as a bit of a resto project, but beware, there's often a lot more wrong with bad cars that you first think.

[capri_rob]

sorry mate but If its cat D and needs work unless its cheap as chips I would keep looking - if you buy it and can't get to grips with whatever needs doing you will almost certainly regret it - far better to buy a car with the straightest and rust free bodywork you can find and then worry about the mechanicals.

[johnnyg]

Thanks boys

its owned by a young lad who says his uncle owned it before him and that it was just a minor shunt from behind - the bumper is out on the passenger side.

Its a 318is and he says he will accept 1200

probably a bad move eh boys - not too sure

there is a small bit of rust under arch if i can remember rightly

johnny

[Alex]

megasquirt, BBTB, z3 steering rack and z3 short shifter, and decent exhaust manifold


might be a tad over a grand for all that,

[Bob_S]

alex, whats wrong with BMW's std manifold?

If you want economy buy a small diesel

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Most people seem to think that induction filters are a bit of a waste of money - they usually give negligible if any power gain and allow more crap to get sucked into your engine - in fact if you set them up without a heatshield and cold air ducting to the filter they will actually make your car perform worse than standard. The best filters are the OEM ones changed regularly.

Have you bought an E30 yet johnny or are you still hunting for the right one ?

When under motion, the ambient temperature in the engine bay is a couple degrees warmer than outside.

[capri_rob]

Johnny if you've got £1200 to play with check out this 318is - looks like a good one.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=103850

[djk]

£1200 is strong for a tatty 318is IMO - might be good mechanically but if it's been in a prang there's every chance that there is rot in a non-obvious place, and a good shell is the most important thing in an e30 - you can't exactly 'fix' a bad one for anything like reasonable outlay.

The one capri_rob mentions above is probably a far better bet, looks to have had a lot of the right sort of work done already.

[Morat]

since the 318is was 'de-tuned' from the factory.

I'd love to see some proof of this. I've seen it posted here twice now but there's no evidence to support it so far.

[toby]

I mean 'de-tuned' (as a manner of speaking - hence the inverted commas - in the sense that they run relatively conservatively) and can be re-mapped to produce a wee bit more than standard. I don't think there's every going to be 'proof' of what the original intention of mapping was. The only evidence is that some remapped 318is can improve torque and power.

[capri_rob]

Maybe the de-tuning was done at the same time as the galvanising...........

[e30bmlover]

Maybe the de-tuning was done at the same time as the galvanising...........

[Scruffymurphy]

this is my route which i am working on

Use a mild chip which will help with the power and improve mpg in town.

Change the exhaust manifold which will give a bit more power

Use a lower diff I am aiming for 3.45 as i use the motorway this will result higher speed at lower revs.

No.

Get a zone chip, yes. They are just to dull on a standard chip.

The M42 exhaust manifold is excellent. Don't change it.

The M42 will not be able to run on a 3.45 diff, you will have no power. Keep the 4.1 standard diff and if you drive it sensibly you'll get a very respectable MPG. Once you start driving them though, it's so hard not to rev them over 5000rpm before you change gear.