318is LeMons Build

"It's a "Porch-uh"" (ikazuchi)
03/14/2014 at 10:39 • Filed to: LeMons

Joined a LeMons team and working on a build to run the June event at Buttonwillow. We scored a "decent-running" e30 318is that might need some engine work. "Potatoe-chipped" the doors to lose some weight and make room for the extended door bars. Stripped the dash and interior.

The amount of wiring in an E30 is staggering. The underside of the dash is a rat's nest that I'm not looking forward to taming. May leave that work to the professional mechanics on the team. Excited to put the cage in next week, but there's a lot left to do before then... like stripping out the sound deadening. Time to go buy some dry ice.

DISCUSSION (7)

Party-vi > It's a "Porch-uh"
03/14/2014 at 10:44

Where did you guys find a running 318is for $500!?

It's a "Porch-uh" > Party-vi
03/14/2014 at 10:49

One of the guys found it near San Diego. Might need new rod bearings and other minor bits, so the sale of the interior will need to net us enough for that.

Devlin Munion > Party-vi
03/14/2014 at 11:09

I am jealous too....lol

Will with a W8 races an E30 > It's a "Porch-uh"
03/14/2014 at 11:31

I just finished building an E30 325 for chump, so let me know if you need any advice on what can stay and what can go. But based on your post:

All of the interior wiring and the door harness can come out, with the exception of the tail lights and fuel pump wiring. Luckily, BMW was kind enough to put the important stuff on a separate harness from the useless stuff. If you look under the dash to the left of the steering wheel, there are two big white connectors in a black bracket. Remove everything from the connector on the left and throw it away. All that stuff should be connected to one harness you can just pull out, except for maybe 2 wires near the bottom of the driver door which you'll need to cut.

The turn signals won't work without the emergency flasher switch installed

The brake lights won't work without the brakelight control module installed (its on the left wheel well in the trunk)

Most of the sound deadening will come off without dry ice by simply hitting it really hard with a hammer. This is useful on vertical surfaces the dry ice won't sit on.

The windshield is removable if you are very careful to not touch the edges. Remove the trim ring and push it out from the inside while peeling the weatherstrip away from the outside. Don't touch the edge of the glass.

You guys planning to do any chumpcar races with that? They are very competitive cars.

It's a "Porch-uh" > Will with a W8 races an E30
03/14/2014 at 11:48

Thanks for the wiring advice! I'll try the hammer trick as well.

The windshield was already cracked, then we made it worse while trying to take out the dash, so it already got tossed in the bin.

After LeMons we plan on upgrading the suspension and using it for HPDEs and other track days. We might run the Chumpcar EC class since we're going to dump about $1000 in suspension.

Will with a W8 races an E30 > It's a "Porch-uh"
03/14/2014 at 11:57

Sweet. Have you looked at NASA SE30? The rules are very similar to chump/lemons, just with a spec suspension. You'll need a 2.5L motor, but since you're pulling the old one out anyway...

It's a "Porch-uh" > Will with a W8 races an E30
03/14/2014 at 12:05

We're over-building the cage to the point that it's not legal for Spec E30. SE30 rules don't allow for gusseting to the A & B pillars. They count that as "chassis stiffening."

Also, the car will become a marketing/development vehicle for the shop, so we don't want to be confined by spec rules. Maybe some custom parts... maybe a S62 swap... who knows?