318is toy - what are the best basic mods to start with?

[Aus_James]

Hi all from Australia,

I'm heading over to the UK early next year and I'll be looking at getting a 318is as a fun toy to drive. Main goals are the Nurburgring and maybe a track day or two.

What I want to know is, what are the best basic mods I should do to get the most out of the car? I'm sure I'd be happy with a stock car (if they still exist?!!? ), but what would be the best "bang for your buck", simple yet most effect mods to do?

ECU? Fuel injection? suspension?

My budget will be about 1200-1500 all up, so if I find a car for say a grand, I'll have a few hundred to play with.

What do you think?

cheers.

[Kos]

my old IS, have a read through it, lots of bits an peices done

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

also there's a thread going RE a JB racing allooy flywheel, thats a worth while mod imo

[Aus_James]

Thanks for that! By the list of mods it sounds like very cosmetic and by the pic in your signature, the car looks very good!

I'm not really interested in making the car look good. I'm really interested in making it go faster. I'm only going to have it for 6 months as a 2nd fun car, so don't really care what it looks like. I'm really interested in the "go faster" for minimum cost mods.

cheers.

[Kos]

read through the pages mate

it had lots of suspension work and some tuning work

it was putting down 162 bhp and 149 ft/lb torque, and it cornered like it was on train tracks mate !

[Loony]

Hi all from Australia,

I'm heading over to the UK early next year and I'll be looking at getting a 318is as a fun toy to drive. Main goals are the Nurburgring and maybe a track day or two.

What I want to know is, what are the best basic mods I should do to get the most out of the car? I'm sure I'd be happy with a stock car (if they still exist?!!? ), but what would be the best "bang for your buck", simple yet most effect mods to do?

ECU? Fuel injection? suspension?

My budget will be about 1200-1500 all up

If i were you with that budget i would forget about the mods to be honest.£1000 will get you a half decent car then spend the other £500 on servicing new tyres and brakes.Even if you get one for £800 you would still want some money for servicing and bits that may need replacing.I would not be looking at any mods with that amount of cash being honest as i dont think there is enough in your budget.The reason i say this is if its going on track etc then you want it to be up to scratch mechanicaly so that it does not let you down.So its all well and good spending a few hundred on a chip and filter etc but that will be no use when it blows up.Spend £1200 on the best model you can find give it a good service etc and enjoy the car is my advise.Im happy to be told im wrong on this though.

[Aus_James]

I'm sure I'd be happy to do that. Get some decent competition brake pads and a decent set of tires and I'm sure I'd be happy.

Can I expect more?

[RodentRacing]

If you can stretch to it try and lower it a bit for track work. I found the standard setup far too rolly. Second hand stuff is okay. Like others have said though your first port of call should be brake pads (standard discs are fine), replace the fluid, make sure its on 15 inch wheels, get some decent tyres, give it a service and away you go.

[Aus_James]

what's the easiest way to lower it? and how low should I go? I don't want to not be able to go over speed humps etc. this will be driven on the road.

As for wheels, what is standard on the 318is? 14"s? 15s?

[Pal318is]

iS's came with 14" bbs standard, 15" were an option iirc.

Check this out James

www.m42club.com

Plenty of tips and advice on there.

Pal