BMW 318is...worth it?

I'm a poor college student who is in his last year of college. A friend of mine got me into autocrossing this last summer and I'd like to have a car of my own to get into it when I'm done with school this next summer. I found a 1990 BMW 318is listed for $2k and 180,000 miles. I know that's high miles, the question is will it be worth it to rebuild and how costly will it be to get it worthy to autocross again? Also how soon would I have to rebuild it? I'd like to have it run fine without much repair till next summer. Thanks!

They're good little cars. Don't have the oomph of the six-cylinders, but are probably more tossable. We had a much-loved 318is project car that was supercharged: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/project-cars/1991-bmw-318is/

They are good cars but do you have the facilities and the time to work on it? My Ti was in decent shape when I bought it but I have still had to put in a good deal of time and money to keep it autocross worthy. New cooling system, front control arms and bushings, rear subframe and trailing arm bushings, dampers....the list goes on, and this is my first year of ownership. For the money and the work I now have a car that is superior in most ways to most cars in the same category, but do not underestimate the investment in time, money, and sweat that these cars often require.

Miata

In reply to Entropyman:

So to expensive you think to keep up and running in its first year?

The thing is, you get to choose when you do the work (spend the money) and when you don't. You can autox most anything, as long as it isn't dangerous, and do the improvements as you go. Probably, not having an optimized ride will help you learn to drive a bit better.

At that age and mileage I would say yes. It would be a worthwhile project but I would estimate necessary repairs and upgrades at least equal to purchase price to start.

I'd say yes. I have a 91 vert. The car is very tossable, a hell of a lot of fun. It can get 35 if you are gentle on the highway. I am actually kind of looking for one right now, but the cream puff garage queen one.

I thought the 318is was a '91 only model....

Its a general rule of any car of that era in that price range that it will require half again or whole again the price in maintenance to be in great running shape.

for instance.. my 1986 325e ($600 purchase price)

front wheel bearing, transfer pump, plugs/wires, fuel filter, T-belt & water pump, Valve adjustment, new O2 sensor, FCA bushings, brake lines, and I still need to check and likely replace the rear bushings and the guibo (driveshaft rubber piece).

I have yet to auto-x it (have a mustang for that). Thats just catching it up on maintenance.

that said, dont be too afraid of 180k on a BMW of that era, they are MUCH more solidly built then most other cars you will see. (i know of ones with over 300k with non-rebuilt motors)

to answer you question of worth it.. is that car competitive anywhere in autocross? Is that your primary goal? if you want a competitive autocross car start looking for an 89 civic SI... (SCCA can stink in regards to needing the "right car" if you want to be competitive.) Although IIRC vorschlag was doing one for STS the other year.

they are fun cars and I find mine rewarding to work on. It shouldnt be too bad as long as your doing your own work (and stay AWAY from the BMW dealer, remember, Pelican Parts and Rock Auto) You can still get parts for older BMW's as they dont obsolete like other manufacturers do.

We just turbo'd & megasquirted my friends 91 318is.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun!

when I bought my Ti had been badly abused (and wrecked, totalled, and repaired) by the previous owners. It's suspension was compleatly worn out, it needed new brakes, the headliner was falling down, the door panals falling off, the stereo and OBC were dead. The Driver's side window fell down into the door the first time I drove the car (and I had a 6 hour drive home with it that way) and the exhaust was shot.

I did the cooling system, door glass, and stereo in short order and tackled the rest as time allowed. The front suspension was SO bad the bushings crumbled in my hands when I pulled them out.. but in the 50,000 miles I have put on the car.. I only had one break down.. the fuel pump went at 120,000.. and I was STILL able to limp the car home.

the E30 is built better than the E36. As long as it is not rusty.. I would go for it

There's an e30 318IS listed around here for $2500, given these reviews, I may have to check it out

My 318is has 197K miles and still going strong. It may take some cash to get things right but after you do there's not much maintenance.

I've had a 91 318is as my daily driver for about two years now. I really haven't maintained it as well as I should. It has its annoyances, but it just keeps going. It did a 1,000 mile trip a couple of weeks ago and it did great.

The timing chain tensioners wear out and so will the cam gears, timing chain, etc., although they will likely last a lot longer with proper maintenance. On a car with 180,000 miles, it's probably 50/50 that it's had this work at some point.

IMO I think $2k is a bit much for a 318 with almost 200k miles. Heck, you can find E36 cars for about that price. It better be in excellent condition for that price.

In reply to amg_rx7:

Yeah if I go for it, I was going to low ball 'em anyways.

In reply to z31maniac:

"... creating the 318is in 1989 ..." -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series_(E30)

But overall you think I could get away with having it running for the next 8 months off of like $500 in repairs?

wdibbern wrote: But overall you think I could get away with having it running for the next 8 months off of like $500 in repairs?

Easily

I think the 6 cyl models last longer. The 4 cyl has a timing chain that should be done around 120 k but since one has to pull the front of the engine off it doenst happen. So you may have a car that needs the chain redone. When they break its not pretty. RE bent valves etc. 6 cyls have a timing belt. Needs to be relaced at 90k. but at least you can take a cover off with 4 bolts and look at it. And it is easier to replace. Plus I have owned the 325 e cars with over 300k miles on the original engine. IMHO the 6 cyl engine is a better way to go.

So if the car has maintence records showing its been cared for and has had the timing chain done then Ok. If not I woul avoid it unless you have another 500 + to spend to make sure proper maintence has been done.

amg_rx7 wrote: IMO I think $2k is a bit much for a 318 with almost 200k miles. Heck, you can find E36 cars for about that price. It better be in excellent condition for that price.

Err - a 318is is a little different from your regular 318, like.

Looks like I remembered wrong, its a 1991 does that make a big difference?

Also, what should I be looking at if/when I take a look at the car?

wdibbern wrote: "... creating the 318is in 1989 ..." -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series_(E30) But overall you think I could get away with having it running for the next 8 months off of like $500 in repairs?

I do believe 1991 is the only year the USA got the e30 318is.

wdibbern wrote: Looks like I remembered wrong, its a 1991 does that make a big difference? Also, what should I be looking at if/when I take a look at the car?

condition of coolant, condition of oil. peek inside the oil fill cap.

listen for bad wheel bearings, noisy rear diff. bad center support bearing.

jack it up and tug at the wheels looking for loose ball joints/lower control arms.

the thing that makes me love these cars is, you can almost always do the work yourself. they're not hard. they're not complicated. prices for parts are higher than you might buy for, say, a neon. but they tend to be good quality. where you may be choosing between the cheap water pump and the quality one on a Ford Escort, for example, with the e30 the only one available is the good one. taken that into account, parts are very fair. I'm sure someone will think of an exception, but this has been my experience (5 x e30's)

m4ff3w wrote: I do believe 1991 is the only year the USA got the e30 318is.

I think you're right. Regardless, the 91-ish 318is is an altogether different (and much better) beast than the regular E30 318 from the 80s.

Now take that M42 and add an M47 crank and S52 pistons along with some hot cams.....

Ludicrous comes to mind.