318is 'M3'

[abelai]

Cut and shut would be the easiest way to make this rear end m3 front end 318is new wings and bumper and your away. Would also retain the chassis no. of the 318is on the scuttle that way and pretty easy to do.

[abelai]

Just noticed also has m3 bonnet insulation. Too much detail for a straight forward replica and did the 318is ever have abs?

[curryp]

Yes a relatively simple explanation. But a completely illegal one.

The car 'has' to be a ringer. I'm not saying it's neccessarily been stolen, but it has the wrong identity for the type of shell. There can be no other answer. Conseqently it's got little value as a car. It'd be interesting to see what they've done to the vintag on the scuttle.


The shell's value is probably highest to someone who want's to build a non road legal track car. As a road car, there is potential that it'd get impounded (and crushed) if the 'irregularities' are noticed by the DVLA.

FWIW The shell looks spot on for an m3 shell. The boot hinges, the rear wondw bits, all the panels look right, and line up. if it's a panelled up normal e30, then they've done a better job than anyone else has

certainly looks dodgy,but its down on the dvla database as a 318is.can it be legal?

surely they would of noticed when applying for the engine change (if its had one) that the number plate was a m3 model and raised a few eyebrows then!

orrrr maybe not

[touringandy]

sounds mad but has anyone whos local ever thought of goin down with a mechanic or has knowledge of wat there looking for and checkin this out ?

[jonny320is]

Please someone go have a look at this! I would if I lived closer.

I sent him some question about the history of the car but as of yet, no reply.

[jonny320is]

Weren't the batteries located in the engine bays in 318is's. This one has it in the boot.
What a conversion, hes fully rewired it as well!

[jpboost]

He's not rewired it all. The engine loom is separate from the car loom (and battery etc)

So he's taken an m3 shell (from somewhere!) and put the 318is engine in, along with the engine loom.

The lhd to rhd dash stuff is also pretty stright forward. Most of the required parts of the loom are simple plug and play. A mate of mine converted a lhd convertible a couple of years ago... not a 'fun' job, but not that bad.

The main question is wether the vin tag in the scuttle has had the 318is tag welded in, or if it's still got the details of the m3 that it originally was.

If someone goes to see it, get the numbers off the scuttle, (and id tad on the innet wing- if it's there). If it's not been changed/made illegible, you'd be able to find the id of the m3 that it once was. Of course there could be legal implications of this...depending on where the shell came from/what it's history is.

The pic shows the dogleg pattern on the gearlever, but if it runs the full 318is 4 stud suspension, and engine, it's probably got the is 'box, and small diff etc.

for whoever asked, ABS was available on the 318is as an option.

[bodger]

could be m3 shell with is engine and reg plates and chassis number lol

[ShepsEvo3]

Looking at the engine bay, the VIN plate is still attached, but the rivets (or screws) which secure it to the froont panel look very shiny. The scuttle panel's paint looks original though with fading to the paint.

Maybe, just maybe, BMW made a special order 318is in an M3 shell?

[Colonel Sanders]

he has already admitted to me this wasnt an m3 last time he listed it! its a fake, a good one but still a fake...

[aauser]

That's probably why he used such poor quality photos