I was driving a silver e30 325e, enjoying a rare day off from Dreyer, when I spotted a black e30 coupe sitting in the "Back Row" of a small "lemon lot" in Indy. The hood was half open, two tires were flat, and it said "Not For Sale, Parts Only". You should know me well enough to understand, they might as well have put "Free Beer!" in flashing neon... 

 

I originally thought I'd just pick it up for parts for my car. As I looked closer I realized that it was a grey market car. With Euro bumpers, grilles, gauges, and lights. Hey, I could make my silver car look really cool ! I bought it. For $700.00!

 

I had it delivered to the dealership and continued driving my 177k mi. 325e on my 65 mile (one way) commute to work. It was winter and I had no place to work on either car. So when the 325 started to exhibit the telltale death rattle of another rear wheel bearing going out, I panicked. One of the tech's here offered to buy my 325 for $1500, and there was a nice used minivan around the corner that I could pick-up for $700. I bought and sold again. The 318 still sitting (now in the back of a detail shop) was my only link to legitimate BMW ownership.

 

In the spring of 2002, I moved to Greenwood. No more 65 mi. commute. And best of all I had a garage!! I had been doing a little here and there over the winter on the 318, when it wasn't too cold outside, and when I could afford a new part or two. New Master Cylinder, New Battery, Couple cans of fix-a-flat, cleaned the plugs, cap and rotor.

The car actually started and ran now. The fan blades were somehow hitting the radiator, and making an awful racket. I dared the trip to my new garage and made it. Weeks later I figured out that the motor mounts were shot and the entire power train had shifted in it's mounts allowing the fan to contact the radiator. New mounts, new water pump, belts, hoses, more payroll deduction...

 

Now the car was actually running and driving. Another lucky vehicle saved from the crusher. A few more parts, alternator, wheel cylinders, drums and rotors etc. and it could even be called reliable. "Salvage titled 140k mi. foreign car, needs lots of work" and now I can call it a reliable daily driver! "You've come a long way baby!"

 

So summer comes around and no one else really understands my misplaced pride in this old 318i. What can I do to make it a little more respectable... I'll give it a slick new black paint job. Whoops, don't have the money for that. I'll do it myself, in the garage, with no air tools, by hand.  Damn, that should make people respect her.

Sand, sand, sand, sand, damn it's a lot of work by hand, prime, sand, sand, sand etc. etc. Couple bucks for paint, a used HVLP sprayer, (a sort of shop vac in reverse) and there you have it. It shines, sort of. 1500 grit and sand some more. Sand, sand, sand and hey doesn't look too bad. A little buffing compound, by hand, and some wax, sort of looks good now. I was having a good month at work also. Been working a couple of deals on those new 745i's. You know the ones everybody hates...

 I tried to sell three in one month, told myself on the third one that if I get this deal, I'm going to buy the 318 a set of wheels and tires. I did sell three and now my 318 is rolling on 17's!

 

Specs: