Bmw 318is / 320i !! any advice appreciatted - Drifting forum

royal · 10-10-2007, 13:26

Ok, this would be a good time to start a project thread!

I got this recently as many know:

Front bumper dent is from some LSD testing on the way home

Its a 318is, so a bit special and quite rare. Obviously I thrashed the tits off it learning to drift. I got it as I'd blown the engine on my rex and thought it better to delay fixing it and learn to drift in a cheapo car.

I bought a load of new suspension bits and other stuff that I thought might need replacing. Nothing much wrong with the old ones apart from perhaps some bushes but I wanted it lower and stiffer for drifting.

Changed the engine and diff oil

Changed fuel and air filter

Scrounged some tyres

Didn't have time to fit any of the new suspension due to work and lots of practice days

Needed to get some spare wheels and ended up buying this becuase it had two sets and I thought (wrongly) it would make a handy backup engine/gearbox or whatever. A week later the engine started smoking so probably duff. Suspension on it was terrible, shocks probably gone, new road springs making it handle like a monster truck.

Then did this yesterday:!!

oops.

royal · 10-10-2007, 13:32

So now it looks like the 320 will be of use. I want to pull everything out of the 318is and stick it into the 320 shell. Also I want to use all the new 318is suspension goodies I've bought. It seems straightforward but if anyone has any tips it would be more than welcome. From what I can gather I need to use some of the 318 suspension arms (? not sure ) as they are diff sizes but otherwise everything should be fine?? The 320 has drum brake rears by the way, and no ABS.

MJG · 10-10-2007, 16:46

Everything will swap over perfectly. The different front suspension is the strut housings that are 45mm on the 318is, and MAY be 51mm on the 320i. But the chances are the 320i will also have the thinner 45mm strut housings. Comparing by feel/looks will be accurate enough as the 51mm does look physically beefier.

Sorry I'm not nearer or I'd gladly give you a hand.

topi · 10-10-2007, 16:56

I think most 320s have the 45mm struts. My 2 door did, same year as yours.

Like Mike said, everything should be straight forward. It'll handle lovely with all that on it!

MJG · 10-10-2007, 19:08

Aha, didn't see they were coilovers. In that case they will just bolt straight up. Have fun in a mint handling e30

royal · 10-10-2007, 19:34

Cool, thanks guys. Getting quite excited about all the new bits now! glad I didn't fit them to the 318is and crash it!!

initial_j · 10-10-2007, 19:56

if you need any help bud, let me know when, got a decent set of tools! j

royal · 10-10-2007, 20:01

Sounds good, about time you came over for a cuppa. Gonna be at it from tomorrow on as long as my neck doesn't feel like its hit a telegraph pole! Pop over anytime you fancy mate, weekend is when the action should be happening as I'm waiting on replacement coilovers. In the meantime I'm going to take off the subframes and try and get the bushes out.

royal · 15-10-2007, 01:04

Righto, been busy over the last day or two. Please bear in mind I'm a complete novice! I've rebuilt a 300zxtt engine before and done various jobs but never anything this big.

Stripped the 318is ready to remove the engine, exhaust, ancils, loom etc are mostly off. Note the Haynes manual which generally just confuses me with its over complications! Its sometimes handy when I'm really stuck though.

Had a mission getting the 17yr old exhaust off and had to grind one of the bolts off. It was the top bolt and I couldn't get a proper grinder up there. Luckily I had a little rotary grinder that has been lying around for years.Took bloody ages.

After a right mission I finally got the 320 engine and gearbox out. Initially I was hoping to get the engine and box in one piece but it wasn't happening. It took ages un doing all the bell housing bolts. In hind sight it probably would have come out in one?? I'm hoping the 318is 4 pot and box will come out in one go tomorrow??

Stashed out of the way. Not sure what I'll do with them. I thought the engine was buggered as it was smoking when I started it after standing for a week. I was driving it around yesterday and it seemed fine. It did have a check light on but there was no running problems.

Pretty chuffed with my new garage! I've been dragging loads of tools around for years and never had anywhere to use them. This is costing me but Its outside the flat and can fit 4 cars in. Seeing as I've got two beemers and a rex that need work its worth my while.

Tomorrow I'll be doing the powerflex bushes and e36 steering rack. Then the new suspension will go in. Once thats sorted the LSD from the 318is will be changed over, and then the engine.

10-10-2007, 13:26	#1 (permalink)
royal S1- F.T break! Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4,743	Bmw 318is / transplant to 4dr bmw 320 shell Ok, this would be a good time to start a project thread! I got this recently as many know: Front bumper dent is from some LSD testing on the way home Its a 318is, so a bit special and quite rare. Obviously I thrashed the tits off it learning to drift. I got it as I'd blown the engine on my rex and thought it better to delay fixing it and learn to drift in a cheapo car. I bought a load of new suspension bits and other stuff that I thought might need replacing. Nothing much wrong with the old ones apart from perhaps some bushes but I wanted it lower and stiffer for drifting. Changed the engine and diff oil Changed fuel and air filter Scrounged some tyres Didn't have time to fit any of the new suspension due to work and lots of practice days Needed to get some spare wheels and ended up buying this becuase it had two sets and I thought (wrongly) it would make a handy backup engine/gearbox or whatever. A week later the engine started smoking so probably duff. Suspension on it was terrible, shocks probably gone, new road springs making it handle like a monster truck. Then did this yesterday:!! oops. Last edited by royal : 15-10-2007 at 08:47.

15-10-2007, 01:04	#9 (permalink)
royal S1- F.T break! Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4,743	Righto, been busy over the last day or two. Please bear in mind I'm a complete novice! I've rebuilt a 300zxtt engine before and done various jobs but never anything this big. Stripped the 318is ready to remove the engine, exhaust, ancils, loom etc are mostly off. Note the Haynes manual which generally just confuses me with its over complications! Its sometimes handy when I'm really stuck though. Had a mission getting the 17yr old exhaust off and had to grind one of the bolts off. It was the top bolt and I couldn't get a proper grinder up there. Luckily I had a little rotary grinder that has been lying around for years.Took bloody ages. After a right mission I finally got the 320 engine and gearbox out. Initially I was hoping to get the engine and box in one piece but it wasn't happening. It took ages un doing all the bell housing bolts. In hind sight it probably would have come out in one?? I'm hoping the 318is 4 pot and box will come out in one go tomorrow?? Stashed out of the way. Not sure what I'll do with them. I thought the engine was buggered as it was smoking when I started it after standing for a week. I was driving it around yesterday and it seemed fine. It did have a check light on but there was no running problems. Pretty chuffed with my new garage! I've been dragging loads of tools around for years and never had anywhere to use them. This is costing me but Its outside the flat and can fit 4 cars in. Seeing as I've got two beemers and a rex that need work its worth my while. Tomorrow I'll be doing the powerflex bushes and e36 steering rack. Then the new suspension will go in. Once thats sorted the LSD from the 318is will be changed over, and then the engine. Last edited by royal : 15-10-2007 at 01:10.

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10-10-2007, 13:32	#2 (permalink)
royal S1- F.T break! Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4,743	So now it looks like the 320 will be of use. I want to pull everything out of the 318is and stick it into the 320 shell. Also I want to use all the new 318is suspension goodies I've bought. It seems straightforward but if anyone has any tips it would be more than welcome. From what I can gather I need to use some of the 318 suspension arms (? not sure ) as they are diff sizes but otherwise everything should be fine?? The 320 has drum brake rears by the way, and no ABS.

10-10-2007, 16:46	#3 (permalink)
MJG e30 of Death Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Derby, England Posts: 11,863	Everything will swap over perfectly. The different front suspension is the strut housings that are 45mm on the 318is, and MAY be 51mm on the 320i. But the chances are the 320i will also have the thinner 45mm strut housings. Comparing by feel/looks will be accurate enough as the 51mm does look physically beefier. Sorry I'm not nearer or I'd gladly give you a hand.

10-10-2007, 16:56	#4 (permalink)
topi KlutchKickKidz Join Date: May 2005 Location: Leicestershire/Derby Posts: 4,619	I think most 320s have the 45mm struts. My 2 door did, same year as yours. Like Mike said, everything should be straight forward. It'll handle lovely with all that on it!

10-10-2007, 19:08	#5 (permalink)
MJG e30 of Death Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Derby, England Posts: 11,863	Aha, didn't see they were coilovers. In that case they will just bolt straight up. Have fun in a mint handling e30

10-10-2007, 19:34	#6 (permalink)
royal S1- F.T break! Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4,743	Cool, thanks guys. Getting quite excited about all the new bits now! glad I didn't fit them to the 318is and crash it!!

10-10-2007, 19:56	#7 (permalink)
initial_j has issues.. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canterbury yo! Posts: 5,381	if you need any help bud, let me know when, got a decent set of tools! j

10-10-2007, 20:01	#8 (permalink)
royal S1- F.T break! Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4,743	Sounds good, about time you came over for a cuppa. Gonna be at it from tomorrow on as long as my neck doesn't feel like its hit a telegraph pole! Pop over anytime you fancy mate, weekend is when the action should be happening as I'm waiting on replacement coilovers. In the meantime I'm going to take off the subframes and try and get the bushes out.