BMW followers maintain the ’80s E30 in extraordinarily excessive regard. At this time’s Good Value or No Cube 318i has been upgraded with a supercharged S52 straight six, changing its puny 4. Let’s see if that warrants a supercharged price ticket.
I needed to sit out the voting on yesterday’s Ford-powered 1975 Jensen Healey as a result of I’ve a ’74 Jensen mission automotive sitting in my storage, an element which may sway my opinion on such issues. Happily, few of you had such qualms, so we have been in a position to get on with the voting. The outcome? The Healey’s $7,900 asking worth couldn’t sway sufficient of you to be enraptured by the automotive’s charms, inflicting it to fall in a 67 % No Cube loss.
Since yesterday’s candidate was a automotive that had seen its four-cylinder engine pulled in choice for a six, let’s roll these an identical cube with this 1991 BMW 318i. It has had its 1.8-liter 4 banished to the cornfield in choice for a 3152cc S52 straight six. That honored mill has additionally been given an RMS supercharger by Vortech, that means its factory-rated 240 horses have a herd of extra mates to play with.
Per the photographs within the advert, the S52 set up, whereas showing tighter than a vacation haggis, appears professionally carried out. The automotive has 189,000 miles on it, however the vendor claims the engine has solely carried out 80K pre-move. The automotive’s commonplace five-speed Getrag backs up the S52. Plenty of extra work has gone into the automotive, together with refreshing numerous bearings and bushings, gaskets, and seals. No phrase is given on whether or not the automotive nonetheless rocks its authentic 318is LSD differential, but when it does, the S52 may be a bit greater than it will probably deal with over the long run.
One different pretty noticeable bit of labor carried out on the automotive is the paint. In accordance with the vendor, the latest respray is the manufacturing facility hue. Additionally, the vendor assures us that the bits of trim seemingly AWOL within the photos are current however want putting in. The ESM wheels proven in a number of photos are NOT included within the sale; the client should make do with the manufacturing facility BBSs.
Extra make-do may be discovered within the cabin. The automotive has cloth-trimmed upholstery, and whereas most of it appears to be in first rate form, the middle squab on the driving force’s perch appears to be like prefer it has gone ten rounds with Gaseous Clay. The vendor says the material vital to repair the seat will probably be included within the sale.
Different points within the cabin embody some cracks within the sprint, an out-of-place silver-faced Kenwood stereo, and a carbon fiber steering wheel that’s a bit garish. It additionally ought to be famous that whereas the local weather controls nonetheless have an A/C button, the automotive not has the products to make pushing that worthwhile.
Different updates and issues to think about: the automotive has an up to date Z3 steering rack, a “Observe” exhaust, and a few extra kibbles and bits that can come alongside for the trip within the sale. The title is famous to be clear, however I’m all types of curious how, with all of the mods, this Bimmer can get by the smog police. It’s supplied in California and wears California plates, however the tag proven on the plate is three years outdated. Until the client is out-of-state, the automotive’s smog standing will must be made clear to any potential new proprietor.
One other factor to think about is the automotive’s $27,000 asking worth. That’s an entire lotta’ schnitzel, and we now must weigh that substantial asking towards the automotive’s execs and cons.
What’s your tackle this supercharged and S52-ized E30 at that asking? Does $27,000 really feel truthful, given the quantity of labor that’s gone into the automotive and the E30 market usually? Or does that make this Bimmer a bummer?
You resolve!
San Francisco Bay Space, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to Don R. for the hookup!
Assist me out with NPOND. Hit me up at [email protected] and ship me a fixed-price tip. Bear in mind to incorporate your Kinja deal with.
