1984 BMW

318i Coupe

4 Cylinder 1.8 Liter

Manual

WBAAK7401E8762874

Gasoline

1984 BMW 318i - E30 Have you ever had a single car change your outlook on driving and what a joy it really can be? I needed a commuter car in 2005 as I was driving my two year old Infiniti G35 over everywhere and back to get my business done. Wanting to save the miles on it and get something more economical, I strolled into Don Collins Motors in San Rafael and spotted the 318i. To say the least it was beautiful. I own several antique automobiles and can tell at a glance whether a car has been run through the mill or well maintained and loved by a previous owner. I knew that the 318i had had a loving home before Don came out to greet me as I walked around the car. After driving the car for ten miles or so, I knew that it needed to be parked in my garage. At the time of purchase it had 98,500 miles on the odometer and in the last five years of ownership I’ve added another 60,000 miles on the clock. When I purchased the 318i the exterior and interior were as near to pristine as you could want for a car of its age but I soon realized that 21 year old parts have a tendency to wear out. Since this was my principal car of business I started a mechanical renovation of the automobile. All work was done by an excellent BMW mechanic in San Francisco and I would be happy to give you his contact information to verify the work and condition of this car. Everything purchased or repaired has been documented and available for your inspection since my ownership. Only factory authorized BMW parts went back into the car once replaced. Over and above the purchase price of the car, I’ve invested well over $10,000 in mechanical renovation and upkeep and have all receipts to show for it. Some of the recent work done includes: 4/1/2010 New Clutch $1,426.54 3/15/2010 Brakes & Rotors $597.89 2/12/2010 New Michelin Radial Tires $624.38 2/5/2009 Bilstein HD E30 Shock Absorbers $322.60 I didn’t stop with the mechanical work, either. I like my cars to be complete as possible, replacing what’s worn and improving as I go along. Bavarian Motorsport was a great resource for items such as new badges, grill, trunk and floor mats, shifter knob and diagnostic meter. I also replaced the front windshield with an exact BMW authorized replacement along with a new rubber seal. I also have the back window seal in its package if you ever need one. The fading chromed inserts for the front and back windshields were replaced with new ones as well. New rubber door and window seals were installed. The felt seal around the sunroof was replaced. The car is air conditioned and runs cold. The car idles at 1,000 RPM and at 40 mph in third gear registers 2,000 RPM. It has an aftermarket radio which is Sirius enabled and comes with a single CD player. Now, let me explain how the car changed me into a TOTAL BMW fan. It absolutely is the one of the finest road cars I have ever had the opportunity to own. It hums down the highway at seventy five miles an hour with such a wonderful purr from the cylinders and has more to give if needed. It corners like it’s on rails. The sunroof is huge and when opened, akin to driving a convertible. Someone even asked me the age of the car at a stop light one day because they had never SEEN anyone manually crank open a sunroof before! The car has its original tool kit intact. The spare tire has never been down in my ownership, and by the looks of it was never down with the previous owner as well. Markers from the factory are all still intact as pointed out in the photos. I have the original owner’s manual complete with service recommendations. The small flashlight that originally came with the car is still in the glove compartment and from its patina has never been moved. So, why am I selling it? The 318i got me hooked on BMW’s. I bought a 2003 525i and then in February, a 2006 325ci. With those and two classic cars, something had to go. The Infiniti G35 that I wanted to “preserve” went out the door to buy the 525i and I’ll never own another BMW wannabe again. That little 318i made a true believer out of me! Know issues with the car: The previous owner replaced the driver seat material with BMW spec upholstery. I don’t think the rear seat has been sat in but shows its age. The passenger side upholstery is starting to tatter as shown in the photographs. I have a resource for the original replacement material if you want to complete the interior as new. There are some dings from parking lots but nothing major. I was planning on having them removed by Dent-Pro or some qualified technician but you can do that if you so desire. I replaced the muffler about four or five years ago and it’s fine, but I think a baffle must have loosened because sometimes it rattles on starting the car or turning off the engine. The original wheels are starting to lose their shimmer. I’ve had my eye on replacements from Bavarian Motorsport and if I keep the car, they’ll get another order from me. They would really make this car from any angle.. My mechanic tells me that at some point I need to replace the hydraulic lines to the power steering pump. He said that they’re fine for the time being, but that twenty six year old car thing crops up now and again. If you own old cars, you know what I’m talking about. Oh, by the way, when he installed the new Bilstein shock absorbers he said that the ones coming out of the car were original from the factory and had never been replaced. I won’t sell this car to someone who just wants to drive it into the ground. It’s too nice for that. If you love E30’s and understand how they can get under your skin, and want to continue its preservation, then I will gladly sell it to you. And we should talk before you bid. I’m happy to tell you anything about the car that you would like to know. All I know is, after five years of ownership, someone is going to get a damn fine automobile that has always been looked after and maintained. The disclaimers: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY · The car is 26 years old and will be sold “As Is”. All I’ve relayed is accurate but I won’t make any claim or give you any assurances on the 318i’s future performance once its in your possession. · While the reserve is low according to the 2010 Collector Car Price Guide for a car in its condition, I won’t tell you what I’m willing to sell the car for and please don’t ask. That’s contrary to how an auction works. · If the car doesn’t find a new owner by auction end, please don’t try to contact me to strike a deal. You didn’t win the bid for a reason. E-Bay has been a great resource to us all and they need to stay in business. I’ll just try to sell it locally or repost it to this site until the car is sold. · The car is for sale locally in San Rafael, California. “For Sale” signs in the windows only. I reserve the right to sell the automobile prior to the end of bidding on E-Bay should I choose. · If you are the winning bidder you’ll need to transfer a non refundable deposit of $1,000 in certified funds to hold the car for one week until the remainder of the selling price is secured. · All transactions will be in certified funds from an established financial institution. No personal checks or guarantees of payment at a later date. · The car is to be sold within the United States. No foreign bidders, please. · You’re responsible for delivery of the automobile to your doorstep. If out of state and you require shipping the car, please investigate reputable firms that can get this done for you. I would be very happy to take photographs of the car with a time and date stamp upon their arrival to ensure that the car they picked up and the one you were expecting are one in the same. · Please, if you’re genuinely interested in the car, contact me. I would be happy to tell you everything I know about the 318i. · If you have no bidding history with E-Bay, don’t bid on this car. Only established E-Bay users with high approval ratings will be accepted.