m3 shell or not?

[320ise]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/bmw-e30-1990-318i ... dZViewItem

looks to me with the back window pillars that it could be the real deal? but with is running stuff, as the m3 reps i have seen don't supply the rear pillar bits witch is why i thought they look a bit shitty!

[HairyScreech]

its been on here before, its either a very good kit or its a ringer.

either way its one hell of an is, go buy it maxfield.

[320ise]

does seem very cheap i know mc rallying do one but its no where near as good as that, must be an m3 shell? if i had funds i would get that and sell my 320i!

[Brianmoooore]

Would be interesting to check the VIN on the scuttle, and get a dealer print out on it.
If it comes up as an M3 it's worth the money, but as an iS it's just chavved up tat.

[Sanchez]

its been on ebay before but never made the reserve.

looks like a 'is' with M3 body kit, but could be wrong.


Details for VRM :
H109JCS
Make BMW
Model 318 IS
Engine Size 1796
Colour RED
Fuel PETROL
BodyStyle 2 DOOR SALOON
Transmission NOT AVAILABLE
Gears NOT AVAILABLE

Previous Keepers 9
Date of registration 22.11.1990
Last keeper change 03.02.2006

[Brianmoooore]

its been on ebay before but never made the reserve.

looks like a 'is' with M3 body kit, but could be wrong.


Details for VRM :
H109JCS
Make BMW
Model 318 IS
Engine Size 1796
Colour RED
Fuel PETROL
BodyStyle 2 DOOR SALOON
Transmission NOT AVAILABLE
Gears NOT AVAILABLE

Previous Keepers 9
Date of registration 22.11.1990
Last keeper change 03.02.2006

That assumes it's not a ringer, which is why I'd like to examine the scuttle myself, along with the rest of the shell.

[320ise]

is there a kit available with a rear bootlid and rear screen/pillars?

[Dave_M3]

Is that filler underneath the rear light on the RHS... indicating a Pre-facelift tail light conversion?


Still, even if it is an iS, it would be worth up to the price he wants for it.
Could drop an S50 into it then
Have an S50 E30 M3 without sacrificing an original


I'd have to lose the chrome Filler cap and Alpinas though

[march109]

Last 4 digits of the VIN assuming its not a ringer is 7916, and its had 10 owners so far.

Not stolen, not scrapped (officially) see the note after, and no colour changes on file with the DVLA.

However it was declared a Cat C write off on 23-02-2007, insurers decided not to repair it, but was not subsequently registered scrapped. There is no record of VIC inspection being carried out after the Cat C therefore presumably it is a ringer or it is on the road illigally.

I'd stay away, if any one wants to confirm these details themselves text "check " and the number plate to checkit car checking services on 88600. costs £6.

[HairyScreech]

Is that filler underneath the rear light on the RHS... indicating a Pre-facelift tail light conversion?

how can you tell that from those photos?

[HairyScreech]

does an m3 shell have the maf bracket like that?

[Dave_M3]

I dunno. But it looks a small bit bubbly...

Probably just my imagination

[march109]

Don't know about an M3 having a maf but a 318 doesn't have a MAF, the clocks are right for an M3. The parts are all right and as for the filler, I can't see anything, but nothing strange with a car that age having a few repairs.

But as I allready said the car reg is registered as Cat C write off and it has not been VIC checked, so chances are it hasn't been VIC checked because it is a ringer, and if you buy it your chance of getting it back on the road if it is a ringer is slim to none. VOSA/DVLA may let you put it back on the road, provided you put it on a Q plate, and can prove where the shell has been sourced from and that its not stolen.

[march109]

As for myself I wouldn't be surprised if it is an M3 shell, but theres something wrong with it as a package.

[Colonel Sanders]

its def not an m3, its an IS, its got 4 lug wheels, its right hand drive and the vin says its an is,
the owner eventually admitted it was just an IS last time i hassled him

[kuntz_de]

i think it could be an e30 m3 shell but with the IS's vin

key M3 give aways

bonded front and rear screnes
early spec rear pannel
the headlining looks like its black fabric, like an m3, sports and some IS's had black vynal
the clocks, and gear nop are e30 m3, but these can be added to any car easily
the aerial is in the correct place for an M3

the car does not look like a replica, C pillar looks genuine enough, this one area on areplical that always looks wrong.

i think it could be an e30 m3 but with the IS's vin

[Simon]

Couple of small tell tale signs of the cars past...

It has the M3/320is bonnet sound deadning, there's no grab handle above the passenger seat (originally LHD).

If anyone else is going to see the car, look at which visor has the mirror fitted, and check if it has LHD or RHD mirrors.

There's been a few threads on this car in the last few months.

[kuntz_de]

i spotted the bonnet lining as well, didnt spot the grab handle though.

the question is, whats an e30 M3 shell worth with no ID ?
so technically its a ringer so to speak, and it depands how the ID's been changed, complete scuttle or just the section the vin numbers cut and changed . get your hands under there and have a feel about for the welds !

[march109]

Its worth nothing in this country, because you can't prove the 'real' id they won't let you put it back on the road.

Don't know about other countries, you could expot it register it abroud then import it again, but thats alot of hassle.

As I've already said the car that owns the original VIN and Number plate is Cat C write off 318IS and has not yet been VIC checked so I doubt this car is on the road, it is deffo a M3 shell, the reason it has the IS suspension and engine is probably because whoever was trying to register it for use on the road was using the ID of the IS. Wether thats because the M3 shell has been Cat B, Cat C, or stolen or scraped before it got to this point is anyones guess.

[Dave_M3]

its def not an m3, its an IS, its got 4 lug wheels, its right hand drive and the vin says its an is,
the owner eventually admitted it was just an IS last time i hassled him

Did you see it with the Center caps off???

Genunie Alpina 17" wheels come in 5 stud if I am not mistaken.
Most 4 stud Alpinas are replicas unless they are 16"


As the kuntz_de and Simon have noted it definitely was once an M3.

Spotted the gearknob, cluster and Check control panel, Map-light mirror(Very rare on an iS) but these could all be put in to make it look like an M3 but the gear-knob with the dog-leg pateren is just stupid and annoying, I presume there would be a nice bit of work in getting the check-control and oil pressure guage to work in an iS...

Would love to fit the check-control in my own car if the M42 would take to the few senors

[Brianmoooore]

Would love to fit the check-control in my own car if the M42 would take to the few senors

Only one that can't be easily fitted (if you call changing the complete car loom easy!) is the oil level warning.

[Dave_M3]

And thats the one that would be most useful, lol

Ah, the good old dip-stick will do the job fine for me.

[Colonel Sanders]

its def not an m3, its an IS, its got 4 lug wheels, its right hand drive and the vin says its an is,
the owner eventually admitted it was just an IS last time i hassled him

Did you see it with the Center caps off???

Genunie Alpina 17" wheels come in 5 stud if I am not mistaken.
Most 4 stud Alpinas are replicas unless they are 16"


As the kuntz_de and Simon have noted it definitely was once an M3.

Spotted the gearknob, cluster and Check control panel, Map-light mirror(Very rare on an iS) but these could all be put in to make it look like an M3 but the gear-knob with the dog-leg pateren is just stupid and annoying, I presume there would be a nice bit of work in getting the check-control and oil pressure guage to work in an iS...

Would love to fit the check-control in my own car if the M42 would take to the few senors

as i said, he spoke to me and addmitted it wasnt an m3, he told me its 4 stud, its all been checked out before if you search......

[Steve-E30]

Got a message back off ebay that he has now sold it

[Dave_M3]

as i said, he spoke to me and addmitted it wasnt an m3, he told me its 4 stud, its all been checked out before if you search...... [/quote]

Ah, no bother. I didn't know he told you it had 4 stud wheels. I just thought he said it was an iS etc.

My apologies


Wonder what he eventually got for it. Be interesting to see if it will be up for sale again

[Brianmoooore]

No one was disputing it's got iS mechanicals. It's the origins of the shell that's being queried, and the seller might not have a clue.

[Colonel Sanders]

no worrys dont want to get anyones back up, just i spoke to him and thats what he told me, the shell might well be original, but i just cant see someone goin to the much trouble of makin an m3 into a IS, only if it was a bare bare shell and he had a written off IS to play with,
last time i spoke to him he wanted 3600 for it and i was interested but im just not convinced its the real deal, or i would have had it to drop my m20 turbo in...

[Dave_M3]

It would be very strange to put all the running gear like the the front and rear axle of an iS onto an M3 shell.

One reason I could think of is that the original M3 was scrapped. Obviously the axles would be very valuable along with the S14(If it was running) and it would only take 6 bolts or so to drop the whole front suspension and the same at the back.

Then who-ever made this iS up came along and either robbed the shell or bought it (innocent until proven guilty )

Then went home and put all the stuff it was missing from their wrote off iS onto it.
Done the RHD conversion while they were at it and since they only had a right hand drive rack to use in any case.

[march109]

It would be very strange to put all the running gear like the the front and rear axle of an iS onto an M3 shell.

One reason I could think of is that the original M3 was scrapped. Obviously the axles would be very valuable along with the S14(If it was running) and it would only take 6 bolts or so to drop the whole front suspension and the same at the back.

Then who-ever made this iS up came along and either robbed the shell or bought it (innocent until proven guilty )

Then went home and put all the stuff it was missing from their wrote off iS onto it.
Done the RHD conversion while they were at it and since they only had a right hand drive rack to use in any case.

Bingo, and believe it or not this happens everyday with other types of cars too, however its probably more sinister than the old M3 shell being scrapped else it would ouly take proof of purchase of that M3 shell to get the car registered on the road.

The facts are that the car has an M3 shell and IS engine and running gear.

Please note the original IS was written off in Feb of 2007, this guy is now selling it as an M3 shelled IS however as the car has not yet been VIC tested by VOSA (DVLA informed me the car is not regstered!) Then how on gods green earth is the owner using it on the road? If he is its very illegal and only a matter of time before hes stopped.

You can bet if you buy it too when you send off for the V5 DVLA will refuse until you get it to a testing station and withought proof of a legal purchase of the M3 shell they will never register it. If your lucky they may let you keep it long enough to strip the legal parts off but I doubt it.

[appletree]

The adverts also used the pictures from the ebay add from ages ago which is ab it odd, you would have thought you could get some new ones up in over a year!

[Jon_Bmw]

Ringy ringy ringy.