1992 Bmw 318i Convertible 4 Cylinder 5 Speed 318ic 110k Miles E30 New Top/seats on 2040-cars

Well, I'm moving out of Florida and have decided to let my fun summer car go. I'm going back to Pennsylvania where the time I can enjoy a convertible is limited.

Here are the bullet points:

Pros:
M42 reliability and fuel economy
New top
New interior
New battery
110k miles
Excellent body
Many new parts
Cold AC
"mess under the intake" mod (cleans up a bunch of hoses)

Cons:
Worn shocks
Slight engine knock when cold

What we have here is a 1992 318ic that was a FL car its entire life. I got it about a year and a quarter ago. It was owned by an older lady most of its life (I know because of all the original paperwork that came with the car). Before I got it, it had passed between a few people. The top and interior were shot and probably no one else wanted to fix it and enjoy it as I did. It now has 110k original miles.

This car has a brand new top and brand new seats reupholstered in black vinyl. The work was done professionally at a local reputable shop. I chose vinyl over leather because I thought it would last longer if it ever got wet or sat in the sun for long periods. It has been stored indoors since the work has been done at the beginning of summer. The dash has several micro cracks, none of which are easily visible. Not bad for a FL car. Many of the top parts were also replaced, like the top lid shocks, lid release handle, and cables. I fixed some trunk leaks, both in the third brake light, and the antenna. I installed an early model antenna with the chrome mast base instead of the rubber one that was original so it won't disintegrate again.

The engine is strong and didn't ever need much attention from me. I did replace the spark plug wires with some high performance ones I had. It also had a small vacuum leak behind the throttle heater, so I performed the "mess under the intake" mod and deleted the throttle heater and the associated coolant lines. While I was in there I checked all the vacuum lines and such; everything's good. I also had a small leak in the AC fixed, it now blows nice and cold. It never over heats and runs great. The only negative with the engine is when its cold, it has a slight knock. It goes away when the engine gets up to operating temp. It never concerned me much since it was my lazy Sunday car for taking it easy, and not a track car. The block is a bit oily, could probably use a pan gasket and valve cover gasket. But I've never noticed any drips on the floor.

In case you don't know, all the 318i convertibles were 5 speeds. The transmission shifts very smooth, clutch has a wonderful feel and very easy effort (compared to any other e30 I've ever owned) The brakes are good, and tires are decent. The shocks are a little weak, but again, I didn't drive this car hard enough to really be bothered. I was gonna hold off and replace the entire suspension/brakes/tires with nicer wheels and a bit of a drop, but never got that far.

Body is straight, accident free. There are a few small dings here and there, but overall I'd say its excellent. White is very good at hiding scratches and swirl marks. There are two very small rust spots that most people would never notice, but I want to be thorough in pointing it out. The windshield does have some small scratches, looks like some sand got stuck on the wiper blade.

This car is not perfect, but its very close in my opinion! I can't think of anything that doesn't work except for the clock and windshield washer nozzles. Its very nimble and peppy enough to have fun with the top down. I got lots of compliments on how new and clean it looks. It's truly a joy to drive here in beautiful sunny Florida, and I hope the new owner enjoys it as much as I did!

Also, I forgot to mention it has an aftermarket radio with upgraded speakers. I can also include an original factory radio.

Buyer is responsible for transporting the car within 5 days of auction end. I am leaving the state and can't leave it behind. I prefer payment in cash. If you have any questions you may call me at 239-340-4111. Thanks for looking!




Update: I added some pictures of the two small rust areas, as well as the largest crack in the dash. I also wanted to show that the car has a full size alloy wheel spare, instead of the usual steel wheel spare that comes with 318's. Also I have all the original paperwork that came with the car, and even some German convertible papers from a Euro model convertible I had before. This is also the only E30 I've owned that had an unbroken fuse panel cover (if you're an E30 enthusiast you'll know how hard these are to find!)