318is update no 2

[tomstickland]

I bought a 318is about two months ago. It's my first experience of RWD and I love it. I've been gradually pushing it harder and harder on the corners and getting used to putting power down round the corners. It's very entertaining and also nicely intuitive. There's still more to come from it yet though.

As long as it's kept above 3.5K then it goes really well for a tiddly little 1.8.

On top of that, I've not managed to get anything worse than 30mpg from it ever.

I've just bought all the parts to sort the timing chain properly. The previous owner had a new chain fitted but kept the old sprockets. Bad move. It rattles like an old Diesel transit van at the moment. No problem - I spent the best part of Ԛ£450 on all of the parts - chain, sprockets, guides, idler, gaskets, water pump, thermostat.

Apart from that my only spending plans are to fit new std Mtech dampers to firm up the handling a bit more. The proper 15" wheels are going back on it as soon as I've had them resurfaced.

[Simon]

Nice one!

Thanks for the bootlid btw!

[tomstickland]

Oh yes! I'm still selling bits of 320.
Still got the engine to break up too.

[Jhonno]

Nice to have another little update Tom - was wondering where you had gone!

Glad your still enjoying the e30! I am loving mine again after sorting the suspension and brakes finally!

[Demlotcrew]

The chain is not so hard to do!

Good luck

A

[Simon13]

Just a thought but seeing as i owned this car 2 years ago. It had a nearly new waterpump and thermostat then. Do they die that quickly?

Secondly Pacerpete rebuilt that top end after i sold it and he is no slouch with a spanner.

Not having a dig but u seem to be replacing things that have already been done. Howabout the 14 year old suspension!

Also the car handles much better on 16's than it ever did with 14's or 15's in my experience

[tomstickland]

How about the loud rattling from the timing chain that's been getting worse with time? The chain was replaced but not the sprockets.
I assume for economic reasons.

Sure, if all those bits had been replaced and there was no noise then I'd be leaving it well alone; I don't choose to spend Ԛ£450 for fun. Having said that, it doesn't half go well, so something was done right.

The water pump and thermostat are being replaced because this is a "do it once" job.

The handling will be much nicer once the correct offset wheels are put back on. The current team compos are not good. I'm going for 15s because that's the recommended size in "modern engine tuning" and it's what I ran on my 1050KG Astra previously. I was very happy with the performance on 15s with the pressures quite high. Cheap tyres too.

I replaced the front wishbones two months ago. I've got new topmounts and will be fitting new MTech dampers soon.

[Demlotcrew]

The water pump does not need to come off to do the chain, do you know if you have a early engine or late? as the later engine have different sprokets which have a better design.

A

[Douzeper]

The water pump does not need to come off to do the chain

No but handy to do while yer stripped that far

[Simon13]

Andy the car was built mid 1991 so i guess it's a late one?!

[Demlotcrew]

Im sure he will find out soon enough.

A

[tomstickland]

Well I'm not doing this job by halves! I've got a local place to machine me a cam locking tool and a crank TDC locking too.
The Haynes manual is a bit random - some bits look different from my engine.
What was the M43 engine BTW?