Jump to content
  • When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

A Distraction of Sorts: My 1991 BMW 318is


CubbyChowder

Recommended Posts

I figured I would post this up here too since some of you will appreciate it. I'm copying it directly from another site, so it might seem a bit confusing since I'm cramming 5 or 6 separate updates into one post. Enjoy!

A part of me is saying that I should've never bought this 318is in the first place, strictly because it takes focus off my other BMW, a '73 2002 Roundie which is up at my dad's house completely disassembled, awaiting labor and love.

My other half tells me this was a great decision, for a few reasons. Not only does my 1998 Honda Civic (which I bought mainly as a commuter while I build the 2002) provide zero sense of pride in what I drive, it completely misrepresents me as a person. The faded forest green paint, accompanied by "altezza style" tail lights and "JDM style" headlights (which I can confidently assume were purchased off eBay categorized under "price+shipping=lowest"), as well as oversized tires and a CD player that was probably manufactured before I was even born just don't really mesh well with me. Don't get me wrong, it's been dead reliable since I bought it 6 months ago and is ultra efficient, but something is missing.

it's also a perfect candidate for me to gain some experience in automotive painting. I plan on repainting this e30 myself in preparation to paint my 2002 sometime in the near future. I will stick with the original DiamondSchwarz Metallic color, which happens to be one of my favorite BMW colors.

Anyways, here it is. Near mint black vinyl interior (minus a cracked dash) and a healthy engine/drivetrain. Since it will be my daily driver, I want it to drive comfortably. I plan on replacing all the suspension bushings, rebuilding the shifter, performing general/preventative maintenance and I want to eventually build a set of coilovers and get a nice set of wheels to finish it off. Enjoy!

img5906z.jpg

img5907c.jpg

img5916d.jpg

img5923qv.jpg

Shea Butta snuck in on the last shot

img5936i.jpg

.

.

.

I called my local paint supply shop and they have a pretty killer kit deal running right now, $225 for a gallon of base coat and a gallon of clear coat. I'm going to buy the "upgraded" clear which apparently yields better results, so it'll be about $260 total. This is about half of what I was expecting to spend, so I was pleasantly surprised by this. The guy said mixing the original DiamantSchwarz Metallic color will be no problem, and that the color will match nearly perfect. I'm stoked! I can't wait to repaint this thing.

I'm also awaiting my odometer gear repair kit, should be here within the next few days and I'll have a working odometer again. The odometer went out 3 months ago at 170k, so I want to get it fixed so it'll stay closely accurate. It's seen maybe 2k miles since it went out.

Yikes, I'm rambling.

Anyways, this is first real purchase I made for the car. A keyless entry system by German Engineering with the flip blade key fob's. I'm a former MKIV Volkswagen owner (which use the exact same flip blade design), so these fobs hit home. I had to have them. Can't wait to get this kit installed!

img6024v.jpg

.

.

.

My new odometer gears from Garagistic came in the mail:

img6096s.jpg

So I got to work, removed the instrument cluster:

img6091l.jpg

Took it apart:

img6092p.jpg

Removed the speedometer assembly:

img6094k.jpg

Those are the gears that are getting replaced:

img6095y.jpg

Gear cover off:

img6099p.jpg

Old soft gears removed (brass bushing hasn't been removed yet in this picture):

img6100da.jpg

New gears installed (the original bottom green one is ok to reuse apparently because a new one isn't included in the kit):

img6101zf.jpg

img6103wq.jpg

Gear cover back on:

img6104y.jpg

And all back together! Glad to have a working odometer:

img6106p.jpg

.

.

.

Scored these e38 16x8 Style 5's for cheap yesterday while I was down in Ventura. They are in really good shape, I'm pumped on them. Ordering 42draft designs adapters today and will try to find some tires for a reasonable price.

Also waiting on a few packages full of new suspension refresh goodies.

photozz.jpg

.

.

.

Small update. Nothing has really changed with the car yet, I'm just gathering everything I need while I have the money. I bought all new suspension bushings, control arms and swaybar linkages. Can't wait to install everything and feel the difference! I decided against polyurethane in favor of stock rubber.

img7167e.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 39
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

I don't normally run wheels before suspension, it just looks beyond goofy to me, but I want to sell my weaves as soon as I can to buy more parts and whatnot so I figured I'd just do it. It's only going to look like this temporarily, still waiting for GE kits to come back in stock. Then I made a terrible photoshop of how I basically want the car to look when it's finished, minus a few things that I don't have the skills to add. Check out my sweet ass crosshairs :D

e30beforeafter.jpg

I should also add that this build is going to be a bit different from my other builds. Instead of heavily documenting through photo's and posting them up, I decided I'm going to document every step through video as of today. When it's all done, I'm going to make an edit of the whole build from step 1 to when it's finished. Just thought it'd be kind of cool. I'll still post up photo's of progress but not as thoroughly as my other builds.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Alright so I started building a custom roof rack yesterday. I wanted one bike tray, and have the rest of the rack be a wooden platform to haul stuff around on considering the e30 isn't really the most spacious car, especially since the seats don't fold down.

So I went to my local metal supply shop, got 20ft. of 1"x1" metal tubing, had them cut it into four 5' pieces and headed up to my dads.

From there, I made some measurements, cut some stuff, welded stuff together, ground some welds down on the surface and ended up with this frame. It's kind of hard to tell in the pictures, but the legs are a bit longer on one side to make room for the bike tray:

img7618k.jpg

img7621v.jpg

So this is how it sits with the bike tray installed:

img7626i.jpg

img7633kt.jpg

img7652m.jpg

Made a Home Depot run:

img7661r.jpg

img7665z.jpg

Spent the next few hours making precise measurements so everything is proportional, drilling into the wood, and drilling into the metal on my kitchen floor with shitty drill bits. Drilling through the metal sucked and I'm so happy it's over...

img7673ie.jpg

And here's where I'm at right now. I'm staining the wood a dark walnut color and painting the metal frame and carriage bolt heads black so everything goes together nicely. I'm really happy with how it's turning out. I'll probably weld on a couple hooks throughout the frame to attach tie downs/bungee straps etc.

img7681rf.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • BMW Neue Klasse - a birth of a Sports Sedan

    BMW Neue Klasse - a birth of a Sports Sedan

    Unveiling of the Neue Klasse Unveiled in 1961, BMW 1500 sedan was a revolutionary concept at the outset of the '60s. No tail fins or chrome fountains. Instead, what you got was understated and elegant, in a modern sense, exciting to drive as nearly any sports car, and yet still comfortable for four.   The elegant little sedan was an instant sensation. In the 1500, BMW not only found the long-term solution to its dire business straits but, more importantly, created an entirely new
    History of the BMW 2002 and the 02 Series

    History of the BMW 2002 and the 02 Series

    In 1966, BMW was practically unknown in the US unless you were a touring motorcycle enthusiast or had seen an Isetta given away on a quiz show.  BMW’s sales in the US that year were just 1253 cars.  Then BMW 1600-2 came to America’s shores, tripling US sales to 4564 the following year, boosted by favorable articles in the Buff Books. Car and Driver called it “the best $2500 sedan anywhere.”  Road & Track’s road test was equally enthusiastic.  Then, BMW took a cue from American manufacturers,
    The BMW 2002 Production Run

    The BMW 2002 Production Run

    BMW 02 series are like the original Volkswagen Beetles in one way (besides both being German classic cars)—throughout their long production, they all essentially look alike—at least to the uninitiated:  small, boxy, rear-wheel drive, two-door sedan.  Aficionados know better.   Not only were there three other body styles—none, unfortunately, exported to the US—but there were some significant visual and mechanical changes over their eleven-year production run.   I’ve extracted t

  • Upcoming Events

  • Supporting Vendors

×
×
  • Create New...