It is with great regret that I am listing this project for sale, however, increasing family and work commitments, coupled with loss of storage facility, means that I have had to make a choice on which cars I choose to keep. I’ve decided that the E30 would be better served in the hands of someone who is better equipped to see the project to completion, and I believe that I’ve taken the project through the end of the first phase of restoration.
Below I have provided a comprehensive description of the project so far. Please contact me if you require further details:
• Background
• Restoration progress
• Car and engine specifications
• Purchase options and extras
Background:
The shell of the car has been used for racing in the Production BMW racing series in the early 2000s, competing as an M40 powered 318i. The owner of the vehicle through this time is a close family friend, and at the end of the 2008 season he embarked on an upgrade of the engine and electrical systems. During this time he was involved in a severe accident requiring an extended period of recovery and as a result, the car was left in storage, partially dismantled. The car was left in its current state until the owner eventually determined that the space in his garage was better served for other purposes and asked me if I knew anyone who would want to purchase the vehicle.
As a previous owner and restorer of an E30 318is I decided that I fancied taking on the challenge of bringing this race car back to its former glory and using it as a track day special. In April 2021 I collected the car and set about getting to work.
Restoration progress:
Chassis
• Removal of M40 engine and all ancillary components
• Over £3000 worth of welding and fabrication work completed by Jo Riley (of Jo’s Fab Lab – a very well regarded car builder) to make the car structurally solid. This includes:
o New sills
o Floor pan welded
o Door skins reinforced
o Rear firewall cut out and re-made
o Roll cage welded into rear of vehicle
o Smoothing of brackets and filling of holes in the engine bay and around the car
o Modification of prop shaft length
• Installation of E46 ‘purple tag’ steering rack with Condor Speed Shop power steering delete, custom steering linkage and track rod ends
• Installation of small diameter brake servo and modified pedal linkage
• Removal of racing car livery and stickers
• Installation of aerocatch bonnet pins
• Light refurbishment of headlights including brand new full beam lens glass
Engine and Gearbox
• M50 manifold and mapped ECU
• E34 M50 sump with correct baffle acquired
• E34 oil pickup tube and dipstick
• Condor Speed Shop 24v swap engine mounts
• Vapour blasting of gearbox and engine arms carried out
• New rocker cover gasket, water pump and 88 degree thermostat fitted
• Engine dry-fitted to chassis
Car and engine specification:
Shell: BMW 318i – G Registration. 130K miles. Originally Henna Rot, painted black.
The chassis has been straightened but some dents remain (it was a race car!)
The car is rolling on adjustable Gaz coilovers which were a control item for the race series.
Engine: M52B25 removed from an R registered E36 323i at approximately 130,000 miles. The donor engine was only taken to complete an M54 swap into the E36 and was in good health before being put into storage.
Purchase option:
Included:
• Logbook
• Full rolling shell with safety devices roll cage (rear welded, front bolt-in), all exterior glass, trim and lights present
• Gaz coilovers
• E46 ‘purple tag’ steering rack with custom steering linkage and Condor Power Steering Delete
• Installed small diameter Renault Clio brake servo
• 24v M52B25 with M50 manifold and modified E34 baffled sump with the correct oil pickup tube and dipstick
• Oil catch can
• Condor Speed Shop 24v swap engine mounts
• Getrag 240 gearbox with modified prop shaft
• Clutch and flywheel
• Full M52 engine wiring loom and mapped ECU to remove EWS and boost performance with M50 manifold
• Late-model (with expansion tank) M40/42 radiator and hoses, plus hose package from M52
• Spare M40 engine and engine wiring loom
• Car wiring loom with original clocks, gauges, etc.
• Fire suppression system
• Push start ignition system
• Dashboard and lower console
• MOMO Corse steering wheel
• Cobra adjustable seat mount
• M52 exhaust manifold and sensors
• Stainless exhaust backbox and mild steel centre section
Available separately:
• 2 x OMP fibreglass bucket seats re-trimmed in Alcantara and M-tech 2 ‘Uberkaro’ cloth material
• 2 x spare M40 engine wiring looms
• Full spares package of miscellaneous M40 engine parts
• Engine crane and stand
• 5 speed ZF gearbox
• Outdoor car cover
• Oil pressure, temperature and voltage Stack gauges
And for the boring bits:
• Obvious, but the car must be trailered away
• This advert is posted in multiple locations and may be removed at any time
• Serious enquiries only, please don’t waste my time or yours. Please don’t be offended if I ask for you to place a deposit on the vehicle before viewing. If you are seriously interested then I doubt you would!
