VA '97 318ti, driveable parts car or could be made back into a DD/track car

[ecpreston]

***SOLD***

For sale is my '97 318ti, mostly crashed. 132800mi, 5spd. Still runs and drives at highway speeds. Located in Roanoke VA. $1300



many more pics here:
http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...%20FS/?start=0

Bought almost a year and a half ago in good shape, no damage, clean carfax, didn't need much. The following I did a year ago to be a reliable DD and occasional track car:
engine oil changed to 5w-30 synthetic
diff and trans fluid changed to redline synthetic
drained/filled cooling system
bilstien sports and H&R race springs
sourced a set of front brakes from a 325, so it's got vented rotors.
Solid brake guide pin kit on front as well as stainless brake lines
new pads all around (something like hawk HP+, can't remember the brand though)
aFe panel filter
Bosch platinum+4 plugs
simplified intake system- shorter, larger pipe from airbox

Then I ran the right rear into a tire wall, all cosmetic damage, put a new tail-light on. Good to go.

Just changed a week ago:
serpentine and A/C belts
fuel filter
urethane front control arm bushings
urethane trans mounts

Then hit a gaurdrail on the left rear and front, which presents me with more than I want to fix. Not so lucky this time. I was able to patch a small crack in the coolant recovery tank and adjust the front toe to get it home, and I've been driving it to work this week, but there's lots to do:

coolant recovery tank (cracked)
airbox (mounts cracked)
some left front suspension component, strut, control arm or tie rod
steering rack? (popping and binding sound up there)
engine mounts (best guess, there's more vibration at idle than there was before)
left rear trailing arm (about an extra degree of camber now on that side)
trailing arm bushings (likely to be done with trailing arm)
possibly a halfshaft (it's probably fine)
some exhaust related thing (sounds like a minor leak at manifold or cat)
tail-light and front turn signal
both windows are off track, though motors and such work, they need a lot of coaxing and luck to go up and down
and all the obvious body damage, see pics

So it's either:
1) a cheap DD or track car for someone who likes fixing things
2) a rolling parts car

Engine/trans/driveline are still good, interior is complete and decent, race springs and shocks, AC blows cold, power sunroof works great, all switches, signals, glass, wheels (the stock ones are back on now, track wheels got a little scuffed up), brakes, power locks and mirrors, fuel/intake/ignition systems. Just did a compression test to make sure: 195, 185, 195, 200. Looking at the thinner metal around them, I really don't think the frame rails are bent, but obviously the rear unibody would need a lot of work to be right. Or BFH and paint to be passable. Headliner is currently out of the car as the fabric was drooping, it could be repaired and put back in.

The only other problems I can think of is that the airbag light has always been on, the audio system is pretty sorry (mostly working blaupunkt tape deck and stock speakers with a rear blown), glovebox latch is half broken (still stays closed), and I've been intermittently getting a camshaft position sensor code for a few months. Doesn't seem to affect anything.

Clean title in hand. Please call 540 521 9084 or PM, thank you!

[jca]

Sorry to see a good ti bite the dust. Good luck with the sale. Glad that you weren't hurt.

[hotmilk400]

That is an amazing price.

if i were not leaving the country over the summer, and then going back to school, i would buy this in a heartbeat.

i parted out a car in much worse shape, and you can def get alot more parts wise then selling it whole.

this should be a quick sale. i am so upset that i can not buy this car.

best of luck!

[ecpreston]

yup I don't know what the next person will do with it, but it's a good deal either way for someone with more time or determination. A guy's already supposed to be coming to look at it today, wants to bang it out and put it back on the road.

here it was in action about 72hrs ago:

[tiFreak]

I've been looking for a cheap ti to replace my E30 for track duty, little far though. if the other one I've been looking at doesn't pan out and you still have this I may be interested

[familytruckster]

How bad are the track wheels? Interested in selling?

[ecpreston]

Originally Posted by familytruckster

How bad are the track wheels? Interested in selling?

Very lightly scuffed, just looks like minor standard curb rash on the lip of two of them. They were in 100% awesome shape, now a little less I guess. Haven't quite decided if I want to keep them or not, they're really light for factory wheels and if I get another 5-lug BMW I'd definitely keep them! They currently have some Toyos on them good for another weekend or two.
They'll certianly be posted here if I decide to sell them.

[familytruckster]

Originally Posted by ecpreston

Very lightly scuffed, just looks like minor standard curb rash on the lip of two of them. They were in 100% awesome shape, now a little less I guess. Haven't quite decided if I want to keep them or not, they're really light for factory wheels and if I get another 5-lug BMW I'd definitely keep them! They currently have some Toyos on them good for another weekend or two.
They'll certianly be posted here if I decide to sell them.

Cool. They are somewhat difficult to come by. I've been looking on CL for some time, and always get blown off by the sellers.

[ecpreston]

I know that's why I hate to sell them, it took me months to find them! They really look too small on an E36 with 50 series tires, but they sure are light...