The rare BMW 31 i

"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish) 05/25/2016 at 15:46 • Filed to: Bmws

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This is the E30 my friend bought. We were totally off thinking it might be a stuck lifter. Turns out it was rod knock. How do we know? He was driving it back from his mechanics place, who told him in no uncertain terms “that engine is dead, don’t even bother trying to fix it”. And then it went bang on the way home. How bad? Half of one of be spark plugs is gone forever, and the other half was just chilling in the engine bay, after hitting the hood and leaving a mark on the insulation. So losing a piston on an engine with 418k kms means that it’s getting a new engine. Luckily the car was only like $1400, which is a pretty sweet deal for a Mauritius blue vert. More to come as it is slowly resurrected.....

Klaus Schmoll > gmctavish needs more space 05/25/2016 at 15:58

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Still bordering on NP for a manual E30 convertible which doesn’t show too much rust at first glance.

boredalways > gmctavish needs more space 05/25/2016 at 16:03

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LS swap?

S65 > gmctavish needs more space 05/25/2016 at 16:04

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Always An Option

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > gmctavish needs more space 05/25/2016 at 16:08

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Step 2: find a Ford Explorer....

gmctavish needs more space > Klaus Schmoll 05/25/2016 at 16:25

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The rust is contained to one fender if I remember correctly. With our friend with a shop helping with the engine swap, it should still end up being way cheaper than buying a really good one. The cleanest verts around here are starting to go for 10k+

gmctavish needs more space > boredalways 05/25/2016 at 16:26

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He wanted the 318i specifically, for fuel economy and chuck ability reasons, knowing this one probably needed an engine. He’s already got a V8 and an I6

duurtlang > gmctavish needs more space 05/25/2016 at 16:30

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Is he going to install an identical engine or a more modern/powerful/economical/light weight i4 BMW engine?

boredalways > gmctavish needs more space 05/25/2016 at 16:34

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understandable...so turbo 4 it is!

gmctavish needs more space > S65 05/25/2016 at 16:36

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Not in this case, but in general, yes

gmctavish needs more space > boredalways 05/25/2016 at 16:36

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Haha probably not turbo either...but my other friend keeps thinking about supercharging his 318is

Berang > gmctavish needs more space 05/25/2016 at 16:37

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Put a subaru motor in.

Klaus Schmoll > gmctavish needs more space 05/25/2016 at 16:46

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Not only around your parts. I was thinking German prices, where they might have been more common.

E30 prices have gone crazy. About 2 years ago I looked at, and took pictures of a one owner little old lady low mile 325ix manual wagon in white for another oppo member who was in contact with some guy from the FP who wanted to import a rare car.

Good from far, but far from good! Rust everywhere!!! Yet the seller was thinking he was selling pure gold.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > gmctavish needs more space 05/25/2016 at 17:21

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Looks like a good buy even with the dead engine. Keep us posted!

EmbraceTheRasp > gmctavish needs more space 05/25/2016 at 17:45

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Well if economy and chuckabilty are important, the stock 4banger with the added weight of a vert isn’t going to be very fun.

If he’s looking for fun, I’d think that dropping in the Straight6 plus some sport springs and 17x8” ET25s with sticky rubber would make that thing an absolute blast.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > gmctavish needs more space 05/25/2016 at 17:49

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M44 blew up? If the plugs werent tightened, they could have caused it to blow out. M62s can get a knock but turns out to be a loose plug.

gmctavish needs more space > Klaus Schmoll 05/25/2016 at 18:30

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Oh man that's disappointing....that would be a very cool car to have. Yeah my other friend with a flawless 325i vert is gonna use this bubble to sell his probably. Highest offer on it from a random passerby so far is $13,500....

gmctavish needs more space > duurtlang 05/25/2016 at 18:36

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Identical, it’s the easiest and cheapest thing to do. It’s still the best non-M 4 cylinder BMW has made imho. Anything OBD2 would be a pain to swap in, too.

gmctavish needs more space > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 05/25/2016 at 18:38

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M42, not M44. We just checked the plugs so they were good, it had a nasty knock and low oil pressure. Maybe 4lbs....it's also seized now, I forgot to mention that :p

gmctavish needs more space > Berang 05/25/2016 at 18:47

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That...would be an unusual swap, I don't think I've ever seen that done

Opposite Locksmith > gmctavish needs more space 05/25/2016 at 20:14

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F20c is best

gmctavish needs more space > EmbraceTheRasp 05/25/2016 at 20:34

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He’s already got a 325i vert, and likes the balance of this one a lot better. It’s no 318is, but it is a better balanced car than an M20'd E30. I think he’s going for fun at legal speeds, which the M42 is great for around here. You get to use most of the engine a lot, and it’s definitely better on gas than an M20. Still, there’s always the possibility he’ll say screw it and find an M60 for it or something.

gmctavish needs more space > Opposite Locksmith 05/25/2016 at 20:35

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None of us have any idea how to put a Honda engine in a BMW haha

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > gmctavish needs more space 05/25/2016 at 20:41

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Must have been a dramatic seize

gmctavish needs more space > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 05/25/2016 at 20:43

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I wasn’t there for it, but apparently it locked the wheels in a tunnel....

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > gmctavish needs more space 05/28/2016 at 22:19

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Damn that interior is in nice shape, loaded too. Mtechnic wheel and seat heaters!

What the hell are the door handles in the back seat for?

gmctavish needs more space > itranthelasttimeiparkedit 05/28/2016 at 22:21

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Yup! The handle is to pop the cover for the roof

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > gmctavish needs more space 05/28/2016 at 22:22

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That blue is great. I spent all day working on my e30, once I get it in good shape for dailying I want to paint it either that or leguna seca

gmctavish needs more space > itranthelasttimeiparkedit 05/28/2016 at 22:28

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The friend who bought it has been wanting to paint his in that colour, and bought this one instead. Even if it needs a fresh coat, he doesn't have to do sills or anything