» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | 06-19-2012, 04:47 AM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 10 | 1998 318ti w/California roof Very sadly, it's time for me to part with my 1998 5-speed manual 318ti. Click link for photo. Body's in great shape (Moreau Green is the official name, though it's much more of metallic blue). Black canvas California roof is in fantastic shape....no nicks or tears, opens and closes like a charm, no leaks. Interior is grey leather; upholstery is in very good condition, with the exception of a few small tears. And now, to the reason for giving the car up...it's been overheating, and the mechanic believes the head gasket is cracked, which he can't confirm for certain, but it's been leaking anti-freeze, and a hose replacement will not fix the problem. Car still runs, but will not go more than 15 or so minutes before overheating. Anyway, I think it's a wonderful car for someone more mechanically oriented than I am. And though I would hate to see the car chopped up for parts, I suppose that's an option, too. I'm the second owner (purchased the car from my sister and her husband about 8 years ago). Mileage is approx. 130K. I say approximate because the instrument cluster died a few years ago, and when the geniuses at BMW installed the new one, they lost the original mileage. However, that info is all documented with my dealership. Asking $1,800 for it. Please let me know if you're interested in more specs on the car or more photos, or would like to schedule a time to see it. Car is in northern New Jersey. Would love to see the car find a home with someone who can really get it running the way it deserves to. | | | 06-19-2012, 07:06 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Morristown/Waldwick, NJ Posts: 151 | Where in North Jersey are you located? __________________ GFa: Parts, Powdercoating, and Powah | | | 06-20-2012, 04:45 PM | #3 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 10 | Quote: Originally Posted by Ragnorak Where in North Jersey are you located? | The car is in Upper Saddle. Very close to Paramus! | | | 06-19-2012, 07:20 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Severna Park, MD Posts: 126 | Those pastries look delicious! __________________ Friends don't let friends call it "Beamer". It's Bimmer, like Rim. | | | 06-19-2012, 07:21 PM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Morristown/Waldwick, NJ Posts: 151 | Quote: Originally Posted by TroyAndEddie Those pastries look delicious! | Hah I saw that too. __________________ GFa: Parts, Powdercoating, and Powah | | | 06-20-2012, 04:49 PM | #6 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 10 | Quote: Originally Posted by Ragnorak Hah I saw that too. | Yes...the pastries were amazing! I'll include those for anyone who buys the car! : ) | | | 06-19-2012, 10:23 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 404 | Quote: Originally Posted by TroyAndEddie Those pastries look delicious! | I agree. | | | 06-19-2012, 11:15 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 425 | Willing to swap california roofs? I can pay for shipping and ship you my roof. Obviously for $$$ (let me know how much would make it worth your while) Regards, Artem Last edited by Artem; 06-19-2012 at 11:15 PM. Reason: $$ | | | 06-20-2012, 04:47 PM | #9 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 10 | Quote: Originally Posted by Artem Willing to swap california roofs? I can pay for shipping and ship you my roof. Obviously for $$$ (let me know how much would make it worth your while) Regards, Artem | In theory, yes, but I wouldn't have the first idea of how to remove and safely shop the roof to you. I do know the roofs cost a small fortune to replace! More than the value of the car. If you have an idea of how this could work, I'm open to discussing the options. | | | 06-20-2012, 08:37 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 425 | Quote: Originally Posted by 318tom In theory, yes, but I wouldn't have the first idea of how to remove and safely shop the roof to you. I do know the roofs cost a small fortune to replace! More than the value of the car. If you have an idea of how this could work, I'm open to discussing the options. | Hey Tom, I replaced a lot of components in my roof (pretty much everything but the motor) and have a reason to believe that it might work as-is with just a good motor, so I will be willing to just buy the motor from you (to remove that it requires a removal of two phillips screws. If I had a good motor to go by, I may be able to make gears or design one that is easy to install inside the motor assembly for all to use later, as I have access to a machine shop and fairly neat materials like A286 steel superalloy for instance. (or if anyone else can give me their motor so I can make a gear for mine... thats all I really need - just a motor) As far as your car is concerned, if you really like it and want to keep it, then a headgasket on a 4-cyl engine shouldn't run you much more than $1,000, and these motors are really robust and one shouldnt worry about its longevity with good maintenance. I myself will be doing the same thing to my car shortly (head refresh + gasket), along with timing components to refresh the motor, before putting a DASC kit in it. I love this little thing, and driving it side-by-side with an M3 and a newer E46, its a lot more fun as it is lighter and one can really throw it around. Its a very simple little car, so its fairly easy to work on as well. It does lack the acceleration, stopping power and handling characteristics of the M3 however, but that is mostly due to a larger steering wheel, smaller brakes, and smaller wheels with slightly softer suspension. Cheers | | | 06-19-2012, 07:46 PM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 1,106 | o man, what a great price on a nice looking car. i hope it finds a good seller. if i knew how to replace the head gasket, i would have bought it in a heart beat. good luck. | | | 06-19-2012, 09:01 PM | #12 | Junior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 8 | Quote: Originally Posted by hotmilk400 o man, what a great price on a nice looking car. i hope it finds a good seller. if i knew how to replace the head gasket, i would have bought it in a heart beat. good luck. | Same. And I live in North NJ! Sadly, for my project car, I would like to have one that works, at the beginning. 318tom, good luck with sale, and I hope to see that gorgeous example on here again sometime. | | | 06-20-2012, 04:48 PM | #13 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 10 | Quote: Originally Posted by ramLlama Same. And I live in North NJ! Sadly, for my project car, I would like to have one that works, at the beginning. 318tom, good luck with sale, and I hope to see that gorgeous example on here again sometime. | Thanks so much. Appreciate the good wishes! | | | 06-20-2012, 04:48 PM | #14 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 10 | Quote: Originally Posted by hotmilk400 o man, what a great price on a nice looking car. i hope it finds a good seller. if i knew how to replace the head gasket, i would have bought it in a heart beat. good luck. | Thank you! : ) | | | 06-20-2012, 02:45 AM | #15 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 1,364 | Do you know if the car's cooling system has ever been overhauled? | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 2 (0 members and 2 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |