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1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:35 am
by Bigbenstrikes
Hey guys,

Im looking to just add some little bits and bobs to the E30.. styling wise and engine! Some nice subtle cheap cheerfull modifications... Any ideas welcone! :)

Cheers

Ben!

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Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:10 am
by Duke137
Post a couple of pics of your car in your 1st post of engine bay and car itself, otherwise you will just get stupid responses :)

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:24 am
by Jozi
Chip, bbtb and a free-er flowing panel filter (which is debatable) for the engine. Depending on the colour you could smoke your headlights. Some nice wheels and a small drop look good on iS' though.

As Duke say, post up some pics :thumb:

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:31 am
by E30Gheko
Get a Rieger kit on it....

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 12:13 pm
by Bigbenstrikes
It currently has a k&n panel filter and bilstien shocks with eibach springs.. if someone would be so kind to point me in the direction of the bbtbs as i like the sound of that! Im on my phone and shes a bit slow! Im wanting to stick to oem+.. no reiger kits please.. haha

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 12:20 pm
by E30Gheko
Now that I've seen the photos, that's a nice looking IS! It looks very clean. I'd just leave it as is and spend the money on all the bits you can't see.

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 12:25 pm
by Jozi
E30Gheko wrote:Now that I've seen the photos, that's a nice looking IS! It looks very clean. I'd just leave it as is and spend the money on all the bits you can't see.
I agree! Maybe a nice set of wheels but thats about it.

Get all the bushes sorted, quicker rack, keep on top of rust prevention and paint work.

You could look into removing the heater plate if you end up getting a bbtb. Not sure where to get them though! Their gain in performance is debatable as well! I dyno'd my m42 touring and got around 146hp with a viper chip, bbtb and k&n panel filter. Another guy got over 151 with just a evolve chip and no other mods.

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 1:21 pm
by Cypriotgeeza
These babies react very well to a chip and i bought mine from the states and its prob the best thing Ive bought for it! made a nice difference to the power delivery and revs all the way round to 7,000rpm now which is what you want in a rev happy engine

My advice just a good deal of maintenance and renewall of bushes etc and you'll be loving the feel of it!

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 1:22 pm
by Cypriotgeeza
E30Gheko wrote:Now that I've seen the photos, that's a nice looking IS! It looks very clean. I'd just leave it as is and spend the money on all the bits you can't see.
+1

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 10:55 pm
by Bigbenstrikes
Cheers guys! Yeah think I will look into getting a chip! Is there any forum vendors which sell them? m wanting some refurbed injectors too.. Know anyone with some.. had a look in the for sale bit but never saw any! Whats this heater panel your on about?

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:01 pm
by kolee
Cosmetically:

remove the spoiler from the back, clean boot looks sweet, or fit smaller tech 1. clear indicators and repeaters look good on royal blue cars.

Prefaclift rear lights look better too

Some chrome around the the side windows also look smart.

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:09 pm
by Cypriotgeeza
kolee wrote:Prefaclift rear lights look better too
true..but on a facelift car these arent a straight fit..will need a bit of wielding work on the rear panel

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:15 pm
by Jozi
You mean smaller iS spoiler (standard one), pretty sure thats a tec1 he has (or a alpina). Putting chrome one would be a step in the wrong direction for an iS, in my opinion :thumb:

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:57 pm
by cee
If you're considering silly after market air filtration systems read this first.
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:57 pm
by Bigbenstrikes
Yeah its a tech1 on it just now.. i got the iS one in the house but i think i prefer the tech1 one.. And the car is black.. ;) Oh lord.. no chrome please! hah Its got quite a bit dont to it really so i dont need to do much.. Ive decided i may get some wheels and fit the closer ratio diff i have and leave it be.. get her polished up and bask in E30 glory! :D

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:42 am
by daimlerman
Engine with the correct number of cylinders.... winkeye

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:23 pm
by magpie
that l@@ks ok for 24v's

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 7:17 pm
by bigmace2004
i have an evolve chip for a 318is for sale £50 posted

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 7:43 pm
by Barx325i
E30Gheko wrote:Get a Rieger kit on it....
winkeye
kolee wrote:remove the spoiler from the back
I disagree there, the mtec1 spoiler is perfect, however to complete the look it ideally wants se sideskirts, if they didn't involve drilling, or bonding them to the sills with something nasty...

Nice motor by the way..

I found a twin tube strut brace worked well on the iS, mine was hartge, but is pretty much identical to the sparco.. Also some cabby ARB's, but they're only decent if you press on.

LSD

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 7:55 pm
by Kedge
kolee wrote: Prefaclift rear lights look better too.
Only on a prefacelift car though. :mad:
kolee wrote:Some chrome around the the side windows also look smart.
Only on a prefacelift car with chrome bumpers, loosk right of place on a facelift car, plus the iS only came from the factory with dechrome.

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 7:59 pm
by Kedge
I'd get a lightened flywheel on there as well, transformed my old iS along with a Z3 rack.

First thing you want to be spending on though is general maintenance type things though. Get all the bushes replaced, thorough check of all the braking system and give the engine a good service once you've confirmed you've got no nasty brown crusty patches hiding. You need to get the carpet out really and also have a good look behind the dash at the bulkhead.

Re: 1991 E30 318is - Subtle modification ideas?

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:06 pm
by kolee
Kedge wrote:
kolee wrote: Prefaclift rear lights look better too.
Only on a prefacelift car though. :mad:
kolee wrote:Some chrome around the the side windows also look smart.
Only on a prefacelift car with chrome bumpers, loosk right of place on a facelift car, plus the iS only came from the factory with dechrome.
I think you might be getting the gist that i like chrome and preface cars in general!