End of project E30?

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NIX
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Post Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:56 pm

Hi guys,

Have recently been having real thoughts towards calling it a day with the E30. I have an F reg 318i black 2 dr, done 125,000 m. She looks pretty sweet and have spent some dollar on her but at the end of the day its still only a 318i and still requires more cash to be spent on it.

Did think about just gettin her mint ready for a 325i transplant (or something else that is quite feasable) eventually but for the money I'd be spending I could just buy a 325i.

However there's already a sort of emotional attachment there. She's the first car after a series of shitters I've owned that has even had a rev counter not to mention the money I've already spent I know I would get hardly any of it back if I were to sell it.

Was thinkin I might just make up for lack of speed by getting the handlin sweet and get my fun from drifting rather than speed. But I reckon the engine is gonna need sorting sooner or later.

Someone convince me to keep her as really I just want the excuse to carry on spending on her. winkeye
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stevetigger
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Post Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:59 pm

If you can name another car within yourself that you would prefer to an e30, within reason..........I would love a Ferrari! You get the picture.
I bet the e30 wins everytime! Best car in the world
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agent006
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:09 am

NIX wrote:just buy a 325i.
That's what i'd do (did).
kam-325i
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:11 am

And me !
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:17 am

kam-325i wrote:And me !
Oy you, have you noticed how many e30's there are around Telford
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:26 am

stevetigger wrote:
kam-325i wrote:And me !
Oy you, have you noticed how many e30's there are around Telford
Fecking Shed loads mate.......aint many in the scrap yard thou....
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NIX
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:37 am

Thanks for the replies but the thing is, I'm not in the situation at the moment to trade up for a 325i yet, and probably won't be a for atleast a few months. However I can afford to do bits to my current E30. Can definitely see the sence in waiting but I'm not a patient guy when it comes to car stuff plus like I said for all the grief my cars given me I still love it.

Any other ideas for possible engine transplants? Of which don't require the running gear to be changed and would have a similar cost to that of a 325i conversion but perhaps be a little bit different??

Cheers!
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:50 am

You could look into droping the 16V engine in....
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:57 am

Which 16V engine?
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:58 am

I thinks its the M42, as used in the 318is. Its a bit of a screamer... well rev happy
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:10 am

Funny you should mention that coz a mates gonna eventually swap his 318is engine for something else. He's already changed his running gear to M3 but is still deciding what to go for, not to mention save up the cash.

What do you think is a good price for an iS engine then, whether its been ragged or relatively decent?

I take it I'd have to change the gearbox and diff too?
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:17 am

I dont think you would have to change gearbox/diff. I have no idea how much the engine is worth, get it as cheap as possible.
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:41 pm

is engine would be nice but a 325 would be quicker.
You can pick up a 325i in the autotrader for few hundred quid! ripe for either stripping or running
Bollocks to this 24v scrap!
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:44 pm

a 325i is marginaly quicker. but then you gain a lot of weight over the front axles

true the m42 is probably harder to get a hold of and has a little bit less power, but for sheer fun its a blinder. also you have chain driven rightness meaning no camblet replacement needed. also, there becoming rarer and rarer so for a long term investemtn an m42 is probably a better option. as long as u odnt rag it from cold

but dont end your project dude whatever you do!
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:54 pm

S14 engine
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:55 pm

maxfield wrote:S14 engine
we all dream of s14 rightness.

expensive tho
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:58 pm

Seen them on ebay for about Ԛ£2000 2.3l
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 6:02 pm

lol precisly

u can do an m30 conversion for nearly that! cos its not just the engine u need, u need new box mounts i think and diff
NIX
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Post Wed Nov 30, 2005 6:48 pm

Well I think that project E30 will carry on for atleast a while now since Kos has agreed to swap me some 15" BBS for a set of wheels I'm no longer using and replace my 14" BBS, almost got enough cash to order some poly bushes for the front and rear, got my mates rear disc setup from his iS to put on (he's changed his running gear for M3) plus a master cylinder to replace my shagged one (thanks 318-is), plus I've got some new brake pads I bought a while ago.

So I'm thinkin with all that available by next week I'm hoping I could turn my little 318i in to a tidy little drifter maybe within a couple of days work? Ok the engine and some other things still need some attention but with a few more of your suggestions I can always come back to that or atleast have something to aim for and justify keeping the E30 winkeye

Whatdya reckon?