1990 318is

[MrHines]

Hi all, I'm new to the e30s. I bought this Monday for what I'd say was a bargain going by the prices of them on eBay.
It needs minor things like the drivers seat had a rip, dash is cracked and the front wings are scabby at the bottom but underneath I'm amazed. Not a bit of rot on it! Absolutely solid. And also it pulls like a train really impressed by the little 4 pot
Not sure what I want to do with it yet. I'm picking up a bilstein lowering kit Sunday and I want to get the 15'' wheels for now. Going to make an exhaust for it so it doesn't blow but I want it to be raspy. I've also just bought disks and pads all round and polybushs just to stiffen it up.







Anyone from the Reading area on here? Always useful to have local knowledge

[Speedtouch]

Welcome to the Zone! Nice looking example.

[jonny323i]

Contact jonnyfartpants on here he has a matching interior and fully poly bushed rear beam he will be selling and I have some 15" bbs
PS welcome to the zone

[jimbom30cab]

Nice car I didn't see that on the bay, good buy

[MrHines]

Jonny I wrote on your wheel ad
And i saved it from the bay, it was taken in at Toyota for a px and my mate who works there has had it for 6 months and asked me what it was worth before I put it up for sale and I thought id snap it up before hand, I paid £1250 for it but I worked at a bm specialist a while back and looked after the car then the customer took it there. It's had all breathers, all gaskets, a diff, brand new sunroof,heater fan, respray, endless servicing history, there is thousands of pounds worth of receipts, the list goes on forever. All in all I don't think that's a bad price for a rot free road worthy IS?

[jimbom30cab]

You got a great deal there, what a result !

[TPS]

I saw this car in GSf Reading earlier, it was parked next to mine, looked very Nice! Mine looks like it needs a clean now

[MrHines]

I did have a butchers over yours! I noticed it's a very late one! What engine? I was picking up the disks and pads for it and let the mrs drive it today :/

[polsta]

Lovely looking car mate, had one myself same color, rear head rests,37ml tech 2 steering wheel,z3 quick shift, and a strut brace, are very nice additions you could do , the 3 latter make a super super upgrade to the way an IS feels to drive

[Blitz]

Don't poly bush the car. It ruins the ride.

[bmandy68]

Nice car chap and welcome.

[MrHines]

How do I find out what colour mine is?

[jonny323i]

http://www.etk.cc enter last 7 digits of your vin then click on decode vin you will get all the info

[MrHines]

Ok mate, thank you for that. I'm trying to find centre caps atm! If I do you shall be getting a mail

[TPS]

I did have a butchers over yours! I noticed it's a very late one! What engine? I was picking up the disks and pads for it and let the mrs drive it today :/

Its got the same engine as yours Tom, an M42, lovely engine it is as well.

Your car is Diamond Schwarz. You have 14" Cross spokes on it.

[djyo]

Very nice mate

[jonny323i]

Sweep has a set on ebay

[magpie]

i've got a set of 5 15" bbs if interested

[MrHines]

Don't think I'll be buying wheels atm, loosing coolant and not visibly

[hennared323i]

Don't think I'll be buying wheels atm, loosing coolant and not visibly

Don't worry, it's an e30

And a galvaniser at that

Check the hoses and water pump very carefully.

Is there any mayo in the oil filler cap?

[Speedtouch]

Also check the exhaust for excess steam after start-up.

You could whip the spark plugs out - very clean plugs may indicate water getting into the combustion chamber(s).

[MrHines]

Nothing showing head gasket signs apart from it very stinky from the exhaust, no emulsification, oils clean it's just loosing coolant and it's been getting hot on the dash but the engines not an oil leak on it so I'd of thought if there was to be a coolant leak it would be very visable. I need to do a pressure test and sniff test to confirm it but it's an old car at the end of the day so if it is head gasket it's not the end of the world, just means the goodies will have to wait

[jonny323i]

Are the carpets wet on the passenger side

[TPS]

If you get stuck I have 2 good M42 heads, in my garage, I'm local to Reading, as well

[MrHines]

Well I've thrown a k seal in it and it seems to have stopped leaking for now, I've sourced another engine that in going to tart up.
Today I tryed some poorboys black hole which is for dark paintwork, removes some swirls and gives an awesome shine!
Here's some snaps!





Had a little helper aswell, my 63 plate son!


Also found these which I removed from my old e34, the noise they produce with the sub set up I have is very impressive for a budget system!


I have an exhaust to fit as mine is blowing due to a large hole. I shall post some more snaps soon!
That's all my progress so far

[jimbom30cab]

great pics, it's hard getting time to work on cars with little children, so top job

i use the PBBH polish also, it's brill for swirl marks and leaves a glass like finish

looking good

[MrHines]

Cheers mate, yer kids n cars don't mix too well but when I get a chance I snap it up! I've never used it before but I got some vouchers for my birthday for a local motor shop and I don't fancy attacking it with shiny dust caps and rip speed bits so thought I'd try it out

[BHadley]

Smart looking and sounds like a good one..... All at a bargain price too!

[MrHines]

I bought a set of nakered clocks off a guy this evening and built them into my clocks and also added White LEDs in there

At the same time I gained a pair of non corroded mirrors in the correct colour. Fully working and with glass all for the sum of a tenner

Also at the weekend I installed half the sound system with focal components and twin 12'' directed competition subs and oof me it's loud. Next is to amp the speakers for more noise!
These turned up in the post also

Pictures will be up soon of them fitted

[MrHines]

Well today I drove from Reading to Worcester to collect new seats for the thirty, quite a drive. Nice chap and at a bargain considering the condition they are in


Returned home and thought I'd fit the suspension and get it a bit lower

Here's the out come, in happy and it handles so much better! Just need better wheels!




Also I raised the engine so the sumps above the crossmember.
Last night I fitted this, modified by myself from ford Sierra Ashley system
Here's where the annoying fart noise was


And here's how the new one looks, sounds pukka. Not to noisy but a bit of grunt when you nail it


More to come!

[davelarge]

Looking good! How did you raise the engine, just stick some washers on the engine mounts? Considering doing mine.

[MrHines]

Looking good! How did you raise the engine, just stick some washers on the engine mounts? Considering doing mine.

Yes mate, I'd estimate 2x 5mm on the bottom of the mount and 2x 5mm washers on the top of the mount, I shall still be very carefull as sumps frighten me

[skezy]

Nice to see some e30's in the Reading area! You've probably spotted my pushing past in my G reg 318i lol. Great buy for the price.

[MrHines]

Nice to see some e30's in the Reading area! You've probably spotted my pushing past in my G reg 318i lol. Great buy for the price.

Where you from dude? Don't really know anyone in the area with them

[Todd130490]

I recently bought a silver 18IS im looking for a black one ;) nice example!