Looking at getting an E30 318is - a few questions

[Migraine]

Hi lads.

Have a few questions in no particular order:

Are there any special edition ones? Was anything on these cars not standard ie alloys, leather..

Can you run them on normal unleaded or do they need 'super'?

And the anal question... what sort of revs are they doing in 5th at 70?

Thanks

[SwirlyE30]

Well the 318is didnt come in a speical edition model. But it has a lot of what youd want anyway. Recaro sports interior, mtech steering wheel and knob, mtech susspension.



They cna be run on normal unleaded mate, although its your choice if you want 95, 97 etc



And i think at that sort of motory speed their doing about 3.5k

[Simon13]

i think it's more like 3k at 70.

Check that cylinder head is ok and it's not over heating, biggest problem with these, few seem to rust which is strange.

325i sport brakes,suspension.

Leather rare on these cars. only 5 colours too red,white,black,silver,blue if not it ain't genuine.

[David318is]

Check that the exhaust manifold isn't cracked near the head ,mainly on no1 cyl. If you hear a ticking it's cracked .Mine has only just started to get worse after 2 years. Main stealer price for a manifold isԚ£340 inc vat.
I am going to try to get mine welded but as it is stainless steel you need someone who's very good.any one know somebody?

[Migraine]

Brilliant, thanks lads thats very useful info.

I didn't know it was just 5 colours - doesn't bother me though I think I want white red or black

Someone told me that they don't come with alloys as standard (although I think the chance of finding a completely standard one is slim its worth knowing).

[billgatese30]

i think all 318is came with alloys as standard

[Migraine]

Thanks BG.

Do they come with a little 'M' on the front or is that a "bad-boy" mod??

(Trying to figure out which ones to avoid)

[billgatese30]

not sure to be honest, i think that they night have, but i'm not too sure.

i don't think that its that important so long as the rest of the car is well looked after and isn't butchured.

[6potWil6pot]

318iS had hubcaps as standard! I had a picture of mine before the previous owners got the bottle caps for it!

[billgatese30]

htought they all came with at least 14"bbs, then had 15"bbs as an option....oh well, you learn something new everyday.

[6potWil6pot]

They were pretty bare as standard. Like just electric windows/mirrors, pas, central locking. I have a brochure sumwhere that shows what they came with.
Altho the windy sunroof wasnt standard, practically every e30 in existance has them, pretty weird (Mine doesnt tho )

[Simon13]

they came with their own special hub caps!

My 318iswas cracked on the manifold on no1 and 4 and on the flange which connects to the downpipes. Although it never ticked it was blowing a touch. My uncle welded mine

They weren't basic, free metallic paint was an option (not many took it!)

E/w E/s E/m, m-tech s wheel + nob, cloth sports seats, m-tech suspension + brakes from 325i sport. Se rear spoiler. colour coded mirrors and bumpers, plus the all important M42 16v screamer! Some have catalytic converters like mine did

options included M-tech 2 kit,obc's, lsd 4.10, abs, bbs 14+15, iS lip spoiler front , head lamp wash wipe, leather, rear blind, front fogs etc

TBH not many came with alot more than alloys most are red and white

HTH no car came with M badges these are added by people afterwards like ME!

[Demlotcrew]

Check that the exhaust manifold isn't cracked near the head ,mainly on no1 cyl. If you hear a ticking it's cracked .Mine has only just started to get worse after 2 years. Main stealer price for a manifold isԚ£340 inc vat.
I am going to try to get mine welded but as it is stainless steel you need someone who's very good.any one know somebody?

Got mines welded for Ԛ£25, guy in cambridge.

Andrew

[moonraker]

Hi, I have a white 318is on which I am currently thinking of spending far too much soon! Does not come with badge on grill but - nice touch - you get the M colour (red/purple stripes) on the steering wheel and gear knob. Makes you feel you are driving a junior M3 ... (OK OK maybe not always) I also have the 14" BBS, they look far too small by modern standards (even the Megane or Mini comes in 16" these days). I would like to upgrade to BBS 15" at least or even 16" Alpina later ... Apart from good bodywork, this car does not need much more IMHO! I confirm 70mph just above 3,000 RPM. Great economy too - max I got once from one tank is ... 41 mpg average by avoiding traffic and being gentle. Usually high 30's.