September 23 2005   Story: Bryan Joslin

The Drive Home

In the first installment in this series I was preparing to drive from Orange County to Chicago in a car that I had never driven and had in fact bought sight-unseen. I'm happy to report that the drive home was uneventful, at least as far as the car is concerned.

When I arrived in Huntington Beach to pick up my new ride, I was impressed that it actually looked as good in person as it did in the pictures. Not that I had any reason to believe otherwise, but I know how kind the camera can be to minor flaws.

I signed papers, put my Illinois plates on the BMW, and handed the keys off to my friend Chris, whose brother had sold me the car and who had flown out for the return trip. Chris, a lifelong VW enthusiast, quickly succumbed to the charms of the E30, driving it from Huntington to Ontario, California, the following day to meet me at another event. In fact, he wasted no time expressing his regret for not buying the car himself, realizing what a deal it was.

Following the event in Ontario, Chris and I hit the road for Vegas at around 5 PM on Sunday evening, arriving in Sin City shortly after sundown. Chris gambled (and won) while I got some rest for the upcoming drive. We would have to drive straight through from Las Vegas to Chicago in order to ensure Chris made his morning appointment on Wednesday.

We set out early Monday morning, filling the tank and our bellies on The Strip before heading out. Using a portable GPS as a speedometer, we settled into a speed of about 80 mph as Vegas grew smaller in the rearview mirror. A steady stream of traffic gradually picked the pace up to around 90, and we hung with them. Bad move. The small municipality of Moapa possesses two important assets- a section of I-15 and a Cessna. The combination proved expensive when our little speed-pack crested a hill to discover a team of patrol cars awaiting our arrival. I, along with half a dozen others, was ticketed for traveling 87 mph (reduced to 85 on the ticket) in a 75 mph zone. The cost for this offense: $190. This was not in the original project car budget.

Nevertheless, I accepted my penalty and moved on. We had a lot of driving ahead of us. With the A/C inoperable, we did our best to keep air moving through black vinyl cockpit. At least the sport seats offered great support, if not the best breathability. Luckily the weather was fairly mild and we managed not to cook while we drove. Likewise, the engine performed flawlessly, the coolant temperature never coming out of the normal range, regardless of conditions.

Air conditioning wasn't the only amenity we were lacking. The radio had also gone into security mode before we picked it up, meaning we would have lots of time for deep discussions. Apparently it only takes four and a half hours to discuss everything meaningful in the world, so Chris and I spent the rest of the trip alternating between meaningless conversations and awkward silence. Ah, the joys of road-tripping.

Monday night we passed through Denver and kept driving, hoping to stop in Nebraska for a few hours sleep. Oddly enough, after a Red Bull and an ice cream sandwich at 2 AM, I got my second wind. The roads were dead empty, save for a few semis, and we were able to make it to Iowa by about 6 in the morning. We refueled, changed clothes, and brushed our teeth at a gas station in Des Moines, then got right back on the highway.

By 5 PM on Tuesday, Chris and I were both at home. We had spent 37 straight hours in the BMW, napping only briefly in the front passenger's seat. We were tired, but not sore. The 318 was a great road companion, delivering roughly 33 mpg while we averaged 70 mph with the windows and sunroof wide open. It drank only one quart of oil in the 2000-mile trip, most of that weeping past the oil pan gasket.

It had passed the first test, getting us home safely, soundly and reliably. In the course of the drive, I too fell in love with this little car, wondering where it had been all my life. She's not a perfect specimen just yet, but I'm anxious to get on with returning her to her former glory.

Assessing the Subject

I'm not a big fan of the term, but I've built several project cars over the years. In fact, it seems like every car I've owned has been a project in some way or another. And while I won't pretend to know everything there is to know about building a car, I have learned quite a bit in the process. Each new project has benefited from my cumulative experience, and I'd like to think the results reflect that.

Before jumping into a new project and turning wrenches, I first like to take an honest look at what I'm dealing with and then make a "map" for the project. What needs to be taken care of first, what is realistic to expect from the car, what kind of budget am I working with, and how will I use the car when it's done? Addressing these issues at the outset not only saves money, but also time and frustration, and the results will almost certainly be more satisfying than just winging it.

The foundation for this particular project, a 1991 318is, is a fairly clean and solid example. It has spent the majority of its life in the Southwest, so it is totally free of rust, if a little faded. The front clip has apparently been repaired, though the work looks quite good, factory replacement panels and all. The interior was also a victim of solar abuse, suffering several cracks in the dashboard and the driver's seat vinyl. There are a few minor mechanical flaws, but nothing requiring major work- ticking lifters, noisy timing chain tensioner, an inoperable speedo, etc.

Before I get into the plans for the car, I'm sure some of you are wondering why anyone would bother playing around with an old four-cylinder BMW, especially when there are so many great six-cylinder engines in the family. For me, it comes down to a couple factors. First, I learned a long time ago that power is not everything. I know, I'm probably hanging myself a bit with that statement, but I've spent a lot of time driving less-powerful cars quickly - it can be done, it's just more challenging. Second, this car was too good a deal to pass up. And I don't just mean the $2000 price- I simply can't express the importance of starting with a rust-free platform, easily the most important thing I've learned over the years.

Mapping Out the Project

Now that I've established where we're starting, let's talk about the final product. My goal for this project is to create an "essential driver's BMW." OK, just what the hell does that mean? In a nutshell, it means extracting and highlighting all of the qualities that make a BMW, a BMW, and not adding or changing things just for the sake of change. To bring this concept into a little sharper focus, we'll concentrate on four main areas- power, chassis, aesthetics, and functionality.

In the interest of reliability, power upgrades will be made to the existing engine. The M42 four-cylinder in the 318is made 136 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. Admittedly, it's not a rocket, but it's no slug either, if driven right. The key to driving this car fast is maintaining momentum and using the revs. Still, there is room to improve upon what's there without compromising reliability and efficiency. We'll get a baseline power figure before performing any work, and we'll see where we end up when all is said and done.

BMWs are as renowned for their road handling as for their engines. One of the E30's greatest assets is its relatively low weight. We'll use this to our advantage as we replace and upgrade old and worn components. The chassis will be set up primarily for street use, but with an emphasis on performance handling, since I plan to use the car at local BMWCCA autocrosses and track days.

The E30 was the last 3 Series to adhere to the Neu Klasse design philosophy, with its horizontal body lines, tall greenhouse and individual, unshrouded headlamps set into an back-raked grille. The styling is clean and simple, both inside and out. The aim is to honor the simplicity of this design, while at the same time enhancing its appeal. Visual tuning will not be achieved by simply adding on to the car, but through careful selection of component upgrades, color, and texture.

Finally, since this car will remain a daily driver, its functionality will be retained and even enhanced. Driver and passenger comfort has come along way in the last decade and a half, and there are some things I've simply come to expect- like the ability to play music from a digital source. Electronic additions will be minimal, with only the most important changes finding their way into the car.

So without giving away too many details, you have at least a rough idea of what the finished car will be. My goal is to complete this project over the course of the next 8 to 10 months. I'll keep you posted on the progress, with updates to the project every month here on mwerks.