My newest BMW

[steve k.]

Last week i purchased my 4th BMW. 2 of those are no longer with me. But i am back to a daly driver and a race car.

The newest addition is a 1984 318. Slightly modified. Modifications include zender flares, e30 m3 suspension and breaks, 533 LSD, and an e36 m3 s50 engine and transmission.http://www.kgb-racing.com/images/318/318_M_left_front.jpg
http://www.kgb-racing.com/images/318/318_M_engine_top1.jpg

The things that i need to do is improve the suspension. The car has way to much roll and dives on breaking. The origins of the springs in the car is unknown. the fronts are black the rears are blue with no markings. The front shocks are Koni, and rears are besltien. Sway bars are stock.

I am looking for recomendations on suspension. Even though the car will be a daly driver, i don't mind a stiff ride. I am used to drivning my 2002 that has a full race suspension.

thanks,
steve k:buttrock
'84 318 (s50)
'70 2002 (autocrosser)
'00 Z3 Coupe (no more)
'80 320 (no more)

[Bry]

Slightly modified! :stickoutt

I'll leave this here in the E30 M3 section since your question pertains to E30 M3's.

I would suggest that you get a Ground Control suspension. It is expensive, but it is pretty much the best that money can buy. It has adjustable ride heights, and then you order what ever spring rates you want. It is tuned to whatever needs you have, and it can make a perfect suspension. You will probably also want to do swaybars so that you can match them to your suspension. IE swaybars are very big and very stiff. They would most likely be overkill if you are doing a stiff suspension.

Will you be tracking the car any? Or do you just want it to be a 'good performing' daily driver? Jay, the main guy at Ground Control can get you set up with whatever you want by talking to him. He really knows his stuff.

If you don't want to spend that kind of money, I would probably suggest you get some adjustable koni's for the rear (so you can have a complete set) and then get some H&R race springs. The sport springs are too soft, I wish I could have gotten the race.

Let me know what you are using the car for, and what you want, because there is a ton of different stuff out there!

I really like your 02! Do you have any more pictures?

[steve k.]

thanks, this is a third advice for ground controll. I think that is the way to go. The original intent was a daly driver, but people are trying to convince me to run it in Street Mod class at SCCA autocross. A very nice power to weight ratio.

I might avtually take that rout.

As for the 2002 you can see some pictures at http://www.kgb-racing.com/

and more at :

http://www.kgb-racing.com/images/mechanix/

steve

[Stylin]

holy crap.. nice new BMW :)

[steve k.]

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/store/ramflo_images/400_installed_2.jpg http://www.bmw2002faq.com/store/ramflo_images/400_installed_1.jpg
http://www.kgb-racing.com/images/mechanix/coilovers/coilovers1.jpg http://www.kgb-racing.com/images/mechanix/interior1.jpg http://www.kgb-racing.com/tour/images/020_17.jpg http://www.kgb-racing.com/tour/images/2002.jpg


E30:

http://www.kgb-racing.com/images/318/318_M_left_rear_view.jpg
http://www.kgb-racing.com/images/318/318_M_engine_bottom_exhaust_side.jpg

[Bimmerpimp]

Nice, clean lookin engine

How did the engine conversion go? How many hours did it take and who did the work? The most important question.......where did you get the motor and how much did it cost?

[steve k.]

actually i did not do the conversion. I bought the car in this condition. I beleive the conversion cost about $5000 in labor and misc. parts. This did not include the engine and tranny. This was done 5 yars ago. The conversion looked clean, that's why i decided to get the car.

steve k.

[Bry]

Please forgive my ignorance, but what kind of motor is that?

[Bav///Man]

Sweet cars, both of them. One question, the battery is in the front on a 318? Or is that a mod?

[lhoward]

the battery has always been in the front on a 318i. there is more room there with the 4cyl and the weight is no big deal i guess.

[lhoward]

that engine is a 95 BMW M3 3.0L engine.

[steve k.]

yap, the engine in the 318 is from a '95 m3. And so is the transmission. Both hae just ove 50k miles.

the battery is in the front. But i am going to move it to the trunk or undder the rear seat. Have not decided yet. I need to look at a 325 or am m3 and see how the battery is mounted.
any one have pictures? when 2002 people move the pattery to the rear they sometime use the cable and the post from e30s. So i think doing the same in a n e30 should do the trick. :)

steve k.

[Bry]

Oh, I meant to ask what was the motor in the 02. Is that a stock motor?

[steve k.]

2002 motor has 9.5:1 pistons, 292 can, ported head, dual 40DCOE carburetors. Should be about 160 to 170 HP. I still need to install an oxigen sencor and fully tune the carbs. They are close, but not there yet.

http://www.kgb-racing.com/head/images/P8030087.jpg

http://www.kgb-racing.com/head/images/P8030089.jpg

http://www.kgb-racing.com/head/images/P8030090.jpg

http://www.kgb-racing.com/head/images/P8030091.jpg

It's not bad for 2100lb car :)

suspension is more fun though. Shortened strut coilovers in the front with 400lb and 350lb springs in the rear. 22mm hollow sway bar in front and 22 solid in front.

steve k.

[Bry]

Awesome car! Thanks for sharing everything. How well does it drive?

[steve k.]

2002 is awsome. the safest car i've been in at 110 mph. It can keep up with an early m5 and m6 till about 100 mph. Don't ask me how i know :) It's light and quick. Feels like a go cart . Louder on the inside then on the outside. It has about 3" of clearence when or race tires. I am running 215/50 R13, so it drops it pretty low. It can do much more then what i am capable of, but i am learning. The e30 is supposed to be a daly driver.

steve k

[Oddjob]

Wow, what a great find for a daily driver. How did you find it? Where did that body kit come from? I think real E30 M3's will soon become extremely scarce and a lot of people will be turning to body kits on regular E30's. Since 99.9% of the population doesn't know what an E30 M3 is anyway most people won't notice the difference. Those who know won't mind because it's a daily driver, not a show car. Sweet!

[Kos-motate139]

Steve -- great to see you here on Bimmerforums, and nice new e30. I think when we'd last spoke you mentioned you were thinking about a new car, but that's definitely a nice find.

I'd fourth the vote for Ground Control, that's what I've had on my ti as well.

And of course you've got to race the e30 in SM! :devillook

[steve k.]

I bought the car with the body kit already installed. i believe it is made by Zender. The are some major differences between the e30 with the body kit and a real m3, but you are right, most of the people won't know. My badge in the rear only says "3" instead of m3 like it was when i bought it :) i will probably make it into 330 or 3.0 :evil2

I was looking for a 325is and this thing poped up. Couldn't let it go.

I do hear a lot of good things about ground controll. I will need to make a decision. I use Ireland Engineering set up in my 2002 and they have some great stuff for e30s. Springs, bars. I might get that stuff. Too many people are trying to convince me to race the e30 in SM, but that is supposed to me daly driver. We'll see.

steve k.