318i touring

[Grim_Reaper]

that is extremly comfusing what about the tuning of the 318?? a set of cams, a proper manifold and sort something out with the inlet side of things, will it be worth it? :/

with the 318 M40 lump you're pretty much wasting money on tuning it other than the basic chip, exhaust & filter. Turbo is possible, but bang for buck, there's no substitute for cubic capacity

wont be getting turbo, i really doubt that...i can see where you come from by tuing the 318, i would be better of just getting the 325 then lol

[Grim_Reaper]

the structure of this thread has confused my pc.
edit - its better now, i think im being personally haunted.

its not my fault im a noob to bimmers, all i know is that e30's look awsome, and sound aswome and i want one

give me a little while, ill get the grasp of engines and stuff in the e30s etc

[E30BeemerLad]

I would get a 316 or 318 tourer, get to know the car, fix any issues that need addressing and get the old girl in general tip top order, good brakes, good bushes on the suspension etc, make it a good fresh car. If you still feel the E30 love then look at sticking the 2.5 lump in or as Brianmooore suggested, think about maybe the 24V 2.5 lump out of the E36 325. Would be a very nice car indeed with all that lot done.

The main thing is to start with the most rot-free car as bodywork is just an expensive pain in the arse, most of the other stuff can be driveway mechanicals/ a weekend with a few mates helping to get stuck in

[Grim_Reaper]

I would get a 316 or 318 tourer, get to know the car, fix any issues that need addressing and get the old girl in general tip top order, good brakes, good bushes on the suspension etc, make it a good fresh car. If you still feel the E30 love then look at sticking the 2.5 lump in or as Brianmooore suggested, think about maybe the 24V 2.5 lump out of the E36 325. Would be a very nice car indeed with all that lot done.

The main thing is to start with the most rot-free car as bodywork is just an expensive pain in the arse, most of the other stuff can be driveway mechanicals/ a weekend with a few mates helping to get stuck in

thats very good advice for me i already know my way around engines, helping to build my mates 1.6 16v f*rd engine, had to do alot of crap to my golf (bastid golf ) and ive had to do alot for my dads astra as he thought he bought a minter lol

[tailoutcharlie]

welcome to the world of e30's...i tried to leave but they sucked me right back in

[E30BeemerLad]

I'm being sucked as we speak, ooh steady luv

[Grim_Reaper]

welcome to the world of e30's...i tried to leave but they sucked me right back in

longest ive spent on a forum apart from migweb - been there since 2005 ...otherwise im off and only ever spend 1-2 days on it lol

[Brianmoooore]

that is extremly comfusing what about the tuning of the 318?? a set of cams, a proper manifold and sort something out with the inlet side of things, will it be worth it? :/

Starting point for tuning a 1.8 is to double up on the number of valves. I.E. fit a 318iS engine.
8 valve 1.8 M40 isn't really worth bothering with unless you go for a turbo.
Still no substitute for another 700cc or more though.

[Grim_Reaper]

pah f*** petrol and f*** insurance, im gonna be cool and get the 325i like my original plan

[AndyG]

Re Insurance. don't go the classic policy route, as they don't build the bonus's up like a std insurance policy.
I'd go with what ole beemerlad says.

a late 318 with the BBS's fitted and a good colour is a real nice car to have, fit some sport seats and the comfort is there to.

I'm getting about 34 mpg in mine at the moment and thats with a blown exhaust, normally I'm in the 36/38 area which is good for me!

I've been looking into doing engine work on our 1.6i but its not worth the input in what you get out of it. I spoke to Birds, but they will only do work on the 1.8is engine, but recommend having the 1.6 rebuilt into a 1.9 as the torque will be good, but at £3.5k, I'll pass at the moment.

We'll be looking for a 1.8is engine to fit in later this year I think.

[jmc330i]

316 and 318 tourings all have 325 type suspension

The first few 318i tourings (upto mid '89) dont have the 325 type suspension, they use the 45mm 4pot stuff.

It's also entirely possible that you may be able to insure a 316/318 fitted with a 325 engine for less than one that was born as a 325.

but i thought its more expensive to insure a car thats had an engine change

It is, but a 325 is more to insure than a 316/318.

As Brian said, my 318i touring fitted with a 325i engine/box etc was cheaper to insure than had I bought an actual 325i touring

[Grim_Reaper]

hmmm, so i should get a mint 316/318 and then at a later date throw a 325 at it works for me, this way i can use the touring while i build the 325 the way i want it and then spend another week or so swapping all the bits over =]

as long as insurance is also cheaper, gives me more money to throw at the car =]
many many beers to you guys, absolute legends

[Brianmoooore]

hmmm, so i should get a mint 316/318 and then at a later date throw a 325 at it

you'll end up with a better car doing it this way. All the 316/318 tourings I've bought have been close to mint as regards the shell. (Apart from the tailgate!)

[Kos]

hmmm, so i should get a mint 316/318 and then at a later date throw a 325 at it

you'll end up with a better car doing it this way. All the 316/318 tourings I've bought have been close to mint as regards the shell. (Apart from the tailgate!)

true, almost all that i've seen are infected with cancer

[Grim_Reaper]

hmmm, so i should get a mint 316/318 and then at a later date throw a 325 at it

you'll end up with a better car doing it this way. All the 316/318 tourings I've bought have been close to mint as regards the shell. (Apart from the tailgate!)

i suppose, as these are the ones that no body really rags :p

[E30BeemerLad]

they just tend to have stayed with mature owners for longer

[Gortour]

Paid £780 on Ebay for my L reg 318 Touring July last year, having been BMW-less for over 9 years.
Eventually gave up yearning for another.
No ball of fire, especially as mine's got the auto box, but quick enough to make me smile, keeps up with the rest, and at the Zone meets, I usually end up booting it and surprising the guys with the 2.5s with how well it does go.
Insurance for me is £183 fully comp, protected. (I'm 39 though...)

[Grim_Reaper]

ahh you see the insurance side of things are tempting me to get a 318

choises

[E30BeemerLad]

Gordon, a touring like yours is just the sort of thing I'm going to be looking out for when I return to the scene, before it gets raped for a transplant

[Gortour]

Aw, I hope it's not a Lexus lump going in, Lee

[E30BeemerLad]

close, Toyota

[Grim_Reaper]

close, Toyota

1.4 turbo lump from a yaris

[320Touring]

close, Toyota

1.4 turbo lump from a yaris

[Grim_Reaper]

close, Toyota

1.4 turbo lump from a yaris

give fuzzy a run for his money

[Gortour]

Is this 1.4 turbo the diesel one...
Awesome power beast then. Go for it Lee...

[Grim_Reaper]

Is this 1.4 turbo the diesel one...
Awesome power beast then. Go for it Lee...

bore it out to 1.5, then you will be laughing, dont forget to get the 20bhp resistor chip from ebay :p

[HairyScreech]

and an ecotek valve, that 5 brake there that is. put one on me ped and it gave me 100 horsepower. *burburysmily*


the 318 isnt much off the 320 look at the preduction bmw championship.

[Grim_Reaper]

cool, done a bit more reading and most of the people say 318 over 320 or just the 325...if luck goes my way then superclarkeys touring might be grims touring ;)

[Gortour]

Oh yes, avoid the 320 if you want go, it drinks like a 325 and goes like a 318. If you're after economy and cheaper insurance, get the 1.8, for performance you want the 2.5.
Though as you correctly state, you can always swap motors later. Only slight downside is the equipment levels on the 4's. You won't get the overhead fault panel or a few of the other exec toys. Most can be retrofitted, but the fault panel can't without rewiring the car.

[HairyScreech]

insurance for a 320 or 318 is the same.

main advantage of the 320 is it makes for a very easy and very stelth 2.5 swap.

[Gortour]

Touring has most of the stuff already though, makes very little difference really engine swap wise...
Gearbox is still different 320-325, as is the diff.
Wiring will be simple enough, think most of it is the same anyway, so doesn't really matter whether you go M20 or M40.

One benefit of 318 though is they made them up to '94 so you can get a newer one... The 325s stopped in 91/92.

[E30BeemerLad]

1.4 turbo lump from a yaris

give fuzzy a run for his money

You philastines

Proper toyota turbo power
One of these

But most likely one of these

[Grim_Reaper]

give fuzzy a run for his money

You philastines

Proper toyota turbo power
One of these

But most likely one of these

i didnt know yaris bonnets open sideways and they come with 1.6 turbos :p

only jokin mate, good luck with it

[jmc330i]

Wiring will be simple enough, think most of it is the same anyway, so doesn't really matter whether you go M20 or M40.

Plug and play between 1.8 M40 and 2.5 M20 on my touring.

Only wire I needed to fit was the large cable that runs from the battery to the M20 starter, as the 4pot cable is contained in the M40 engine loom which gets removed.

Converting a 320i will mean the AFM and header tank mounts are in the right place, but its no big problem to sort if converting a 318i.