My E30

[2 Wycked]

Right, before you all get wet over the thought of an immaculate M3 or an M52d Tech-II or something this is just an old 318i.

I bought the old girl back in January as a replacement for my long serving previous daily hack - which I still have, go figure - at the right price because the previous owner had advertised it as "runs well but the bodywork and interior are really bad" and I wasn't about to advise him otherwise.

There's next to no rust on the car, certainly not in the places you'd generally expect of an E30, and there are just a couple of little cracks on the dashboard and worn seats on the inside. Aside from a little spluttering when trying to pull away there was nothing wrong with the way the car drove whatsoever and when the auto box changed smoothly and responded well to kick down I was completely sold on it.

Anyway, since then I've basically just been driving about in it and fixing it as I go along. The first weekend I gave it an oil and air filter service and a few weeks later I got it lowered a bit on FK suspension. The fuel pump died on me last week so I've replaced that and the fuel filter this weekend which has resolved the spluttering whilst pulling away. I also have some 318iS anti-roll bars to go on when I have a spare few minutes to tidy up the handling a little further.

Pretty happy with her and I fully intend holding onto it for a couple of years assuming nothing goes horribly wrong.

As an aside, can anybody explain a possible reason as to why my car has rear disc brakes? My old E30 320i had drums on the back and I've not seen another 318 (or 316) with discs.

Pics:

The week I bought it.



Interior.


POWWEEEERRR.


With my old E36.


Some pictures taken this weekend.

[stewy68]

Always liked the E30's. Had an '83 4 door 318 and an '89 320. I can only think the discs were a retro fit. That's the first one I've seen without a passenger door mirror though. the mirrors always seemed to be fairly substantial compared with other cars. It benefits from the lowered suspension. Nice car.

Edited by stewy68 on Sunday 11th April 16:17

[2 Wycked]

stewy68 said:

That's the first one I've seen without a passenger door mirror though.

That's because it's broken off. I've covered over the holes with black tape until I can find it within myself to spend £15 on a second hand ebay jobbie, when in truth it doesn't bother me at all.

[Mr.Jimbo]

Has it got ABS? thats the usual reason for rear discs, unless like someone above says, they were retro-fitted at some point.

[declasm]

I've got a couple of faded-red E30 door mirrors that you are welcome to - £20 posted?

(also I've got 8 E30 bottlecap alloys some with good tyres £5 each collected??)

[Futuramic]

Mr.Jimbo said:

Has it got ABS? thats the usual reason for rear discs, unless like someone above says, they were retro-fitted at some point.

I once had a carb fed Orion with the "wrong" rear brakes on it. It had the big drums from the injection model; which made buying shoes interesting.

As far as I know that car was unique, the big drums were never offered as an optional extra. The car was owned by an old man and meticulously serviced - so they weren't retro fit either.

I'm of the opinion that they didn't have any "carb" drums in the factory that day so mine got "injection" brakes instead. The parts are fully interchangable; so the production line would have lost nothing. Perhaps the E30 in question had a similar fate?

[2 Wycked]

declasm said:

I've got a couple of faded-red E30 door mirrors that you are welcome to - £20 posted?

(also I've got 8 E30 bottlecap alloys some with good tyres £5 each collected??)

I might take you up on that but I'm trying to sell it at the moment as I've found something a little bit special that I really really want, will let you know.

Cheers.