My Bangernomics BMW

[GTO Scott]

Last week I found myself in urgent need of a cheap motor to use every day. So, after hours spent scouring PH classifieds, Ebay, and Autotrader, as well as the local rag, I found this:





It's a 1995 BMW 318iS Coupe, with 2 months ticket and a couple of week's rent. Bought for £350, it has E46 16" alloy wheels, a stainless steel exhaust of unknown origins and a decent Sony head unit.

It also has a bit of rust:





But thats about it, which for the mileage (more on that later) seems rather good. Underneath is fairly solid, with only the N/S/R jacking point possibly requiring a patch for MoT. Even the torch is present and working!



First job as soon as I got it home was to fit this:



Interior is in fair condition:



And so far these are the parts waiting to go on:



And the mileage?





Plans are to tidy the exterior up, maybe fit some better suspension, and use it.

[sniff diesel]

Wow, that is the highest mileage E36 I've seen. Doing well considering it's only 2/3rds of an engine

[GTO Scott]

sniff diesel said:

Wow, that is the highest mileage E36 I've seen. Doing well considering it's only 2/3rds of an engine

I did have some reservations over the missing cylinders, but now i've got ideas involving Eaton M45 superchargers

[Ti-Tourist]

Downing Atlanta used to do a supercharger kit for these M42 engines. I believe they were indeed based on a Eaton unit. If my memory serves me well it's the Merc SLK's charger.

Otherwise DBilas or Metric Mechanic do nice ITB's...

[GTO Scott]

There was a feature in PPC around a year ago about a guy with an E30 318iS (same lump) who had supercharged it with an Eaton M45 from a BMW Mini Cooper S - I'm going to dig through my stack of mags and see if I can find the details

[sniff diesel]

looking at it, I'm not sure if the springs are any lower than you have already as here's how they looked on the 325i:


Which looks about as low as your 318 now:

[Mc lovin]

I can't believe your torch works! in every BMW i have ever owned, not one has worked!

You cant go wrong with that for £350!

[bazking69]

GTO Scott said:

sniff diesel said:

Wow, that is the highest mileage E36 I've seen. Doing well considering it's only 2/3rds of an engine

I did have some reservations over the missing cylinders, but now i've got ideas involving Eaton M45 superchargers

On a 300k £350 car? Don't bother.

[Carfiend]

It even has a full tank of fuel. Must of doubled the value of the whole thing

[stifler]

Mc lovin said:

I can't believe your torch works! in every BMW i have ever owned, not one has worked!

You cant go wrong with that for £350!

£350 for a torch. I thought mine was expensive at £45.

[TEKNOPUG]

300k on a 4-pot?!?!? Maybe it’s like Trigger’s broom……

[Mc lovin]

stifler said:

Mc lovin said:

I can't believe your torch works! in every BMW i have ever owned, not one has worked!

You cant go wrong with that for £350!

£350 for a torch. I thought mine was expensive at £45.

Such a child....

[PJR]

Definitely a shed and a half! Still, can't grumble for that money. And although its a bit rough here n there, considering the mileage is akin to having been to the moon and beyond, it really doesn't look in bad shape
I don't think i'd bother to modify a cheap car with that many miles on it though.. I think that would be pushing your luck somewhat.

P,

[shalmaneser]

GTO Scott said:

There was a feature in PPC around a year ago about a guy with an E30 318iS (same lump) who had supercharged it with an Eaton M45 from a BMW Mini Cooper S - I'm going to dig through my stack of mags and see if I can find the details

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=116275

[Kenny-Mack]

wow 300K miles ... thats impressive and to think i was slightly worring cause i clocked mine at 110K the other day.

Working torch ... Lucky git i've tried 2 and none have worked!

[bulletproofbob]

thats not a shed... people are so cruel!!! i'm running far worse ha ha

http://www.ppcmag.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5...

[GTO Scott]

bulletproofbob said:

thats not a shed... people are so cruel!!! i'm running far worse ha ha

http://www.ppcmag.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5...

Looks like a good project for the £999 challenge.

Just out of curiousity, have you still got the clear front indicators and side repeaters from the coupe, and if so would you be willing to part with them in exchange for a few beer tokens?

[sniff diesel]

Scott, if you need any bits try Chris Ransley BMW breakers in Yockleton:

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/CR-M-Tech-BMW-E36-an...

[bulletproofbob]

GTO Scott said:

bulletproofbob said:

thats not a shed... people are so cruel!!! i'm running far worse ha ha

http://www.ppcmag.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5...

Looks like a good project for the £999 challenge.

Just out of curiousity, have you still got the clear front indicators and side repeaters from the coupe, and if so would you be willing to part with them in exchange for a few beer tokens?

it goes well for the spend!!! i threw the indicators, all the location pins etc were screwed... they'd been siliconed in ha ha

[sniff diesel]

Think I saw you driving east bound on the Mount about 530 this evening.