My car 318 76 model converting to 323i
- Atle_323i
- E21 VIP
- Posts: 219
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:00 pm
- My E21(s): 76 EU 318
- Location: Stavanger, Norway
Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i
Update:
All parts for the rear axel is painted and ready to put togheter. I´ve made a bracket for the fuel pump/filter/accumulator bracket to be mounted on.
Some more cleaing of the rear exhaust bracket, before being welded on the car.
Plan for next week is to weld all parts needed at the rear, then it´s all good to mount the parts.
I´ve test fitted the BBS Mahle wheels, looks ok. My BBS RS70 / RS71 will probably not fit after mounting the 323i rear axel, as it its 2cm wider than the 318 axel. It was a tight fit on the 318 axel.
Anyone else using similar rims as mine BBS RS70/71?
Will they fit?
https://www.bbswheels.info/en/rim-model ... /bbs-rs071
https://www.bbswheels.info/en/rim-model ... /bbs-rs070
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO ... 1yMm04WEtB
All parts for the rear axel is painted and ready to put togheter. I´ve made a bracket for the fuel pump/filter/accumulator bracket to be mounted on.
Some more cleaing of the rear exhaust bracket, before being welded on the car.
Plan for next week is to weld all parts needed at the rear, then it´s all good to mount the parts.
I´ve test fitted the BBS Mahle wheels, looks ok. My BBS RS70 / RS71 will probably not fit after mounting the 323i rear axel, as it its 2cm wider than the 318 axel. It was a tight fit on the 318 axel.
Anyone else using similar rims as mine BBS RS70/71?
Will they fit?
https://www.bbswheels.info/en/rim-model ... /bbs-rs071
https://www.bbswheels.info/en/rim-model ... /bbs-rs070
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO ... 1yMm04WEtB
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
- Jeroen
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i
Nice progress again! As for the BBS wheels, agreed, I think the offset may be too much, usually around 12mm is best to keep some clearance when using decent width 205 tyres.
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
- Atle_323i
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- Posts: 219
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:00 pm
- My E21(s): 76 EU 318
- Location: Stavanger, Norway
Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i
I got 195 tires on the BBS Mahle, will use that for now, and change to 205 later. I would love to use the BBS RS wheels, they are so nice. But the rear rims are too wide, even when I got rolled wheel arches both front and rear.Jeroen wrote: Thu Apr 13, 2023 11:06 am Nice progress again! As for the BBS wheels, agreed, I think the offset may be too much, usually around 12mm is best to keep some clearance when using decent width 205 tyres.
I have to see if I can buy used RS 70 wheels, they should fit rear, and sell the RS 71 rims.
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
- Atle_323i
- E21 VIP
- Posts: 219
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:00 pm
- My E21(s): 76 EU 318
- Location: Stavanger, Norway
Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i
All the brackets for fuel tanks and fuel pump is now welded in, and tomorrow I will spray the body above the fuel tanks with Lanofilm (Norwegian made Fluidfilm) to protect the car, and finally start mount fuel tanks, and rear axel.
Both front struts are bolted on the car, and the fuel line connected in the engine bay.
Finally soon coming to an end for the part 1 of the rebuild, and time to enjoy the E21 for the summer
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO ... 1yMm04WEtB
Both front struts are bolted on the car, and the fuel line connected in the engine bay.
Finally soon coming to an end for the part 1 of the rebuild, and time to enjoy the E21 for the summer

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO ... 1yMm04WEtB
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
- Atle_323i
- E21 VIP
- Posts: 219
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:00 pm
- My E21(s): 76 EU 318
- Location: Stavanger, Norway
Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i
Update:
Both fuel tanks is mounted and all fuel lines are finished. Sprayed Lanofilm (Fluidfilm).
Sorting out bolts for the rear axel. Will start mounting the rear axel next week, so I hope the car will be 97% done.
I´ve fitted the 323i fuel sender unit, so that I don´t have to replace it later.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO ... 1yMm04WEtB
Both fuel tanks is mounted and all fuel lines are finished. Sprayed Lanofilm (Fluidfilm).
Sorting out bolts for the rear axel. Will start mounting the rear axel next week, so I hope the car will be 97% done.
I´ve fitted the 323i fuel sender unit, so that I don´t have to replace it later.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO ... 1yMm04WEtB
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
- Atle_323i
- E21 VIP
- Posts: 219
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:00 pm
- My E21(s): 76 EU 318
- Location: Stavanger, Norway
Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i
Update:
Rear axel mounted with trailing arms, diff partly fitted, need to bolt on the shaft before tightning the diff.
Driveshaft will be fitted after bearings is in, going to freeze them, and tighten them in with the old bearings.
Then it's just fitting the last parts, and bleed the brakes.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Qip ... 1yMm04WEtB
Rear axel mounted with trailing arms, diff partly fitted, need to bolt on the shaft before tightning the diff.
Driveshaft will be fitted after bearings is in, going to freeze them, and tighten them in with the old bearings.
Then it's just fitting the last parts, and bleed the brakes.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Qip ... 1yMm04WEtB
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
- Atle_323i
- E21 VIP
- Posts: 219
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:00 pm
- My E21(s): 76 EU 318
- Location: Stavanger, Norway
Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i
Update:
All bolts in the rear is torqued to spec, dampers, brakelines finished.
The car should now be ready for test drive by the end of next week. I was hoping to be done this weekend, but due to family things, I just can´t make it. So I should be done by next week.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO ... 1yMm04WEtB
A question, my 318 has pressure regulator for the brakes, but my donor car didn´t have one. I can see from the website at Wallot, that they have a picture of one used on all cars from 79 and up. Do you need the pressure regulator?
https://www.wallothnesch.com/en/pressur ... 05-14.html
All bolts in the rear is torqued to spec, dampers, brakelines finished.
The car should now be ready for test drive by the end of next week. I was hoping to be done this weekend, but due to family things, I just can´t make it. So I should be done by next week.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO ... 1yMm04WEtB
A question, my 318 has pressure regulator for the brakes, but my donor car didn´t have one. I can see from the website at Wallot, that they have a picture of one used on all cars from 79 and up. Do you need the pressure regulator?
https://www.wallothnesch.com/en/pressur ... 05-14.html
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i
it was also present on mine but it was faulty, I put an adjustable one
- Atle_323i
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- Posts: 219
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:00 pm
- My E21(s): 76 EU 318
- Location: Stavanger, Norway
Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i
I've managed to find one like the one on Wallot on Ebay. So I'll use that one.nic65 wrote: Thu Apr 27, 2023 8:31 am it was also present on mine but it was faulty, I put an adjustable one
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i
new or used? unfortunately my original was blocked
- Atle_323i
- E21 VIP
- Posts: 219
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:00 pm
- My E21(s): 76 EU 318
- Location: Stavanger, Norway
Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i
I found one NOS, so it should be ok.
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
- Atle_323i
- E21 VIP
- Posts: 219
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:00 pm
- My E21(s): 76 EU 318
- Location: Stavanger, Norway
Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i
Update:
Getting closer to being finished. Bearings fitted in the trailing arm, meassured all clearings.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Qip ... 1yMm04WEtB
Getting closer to being finished. Bearings fitted in the trailing arm, meassured all clearings.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Qip ... 1yMm04WEtB
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
- Atle_323i
- E21 VIP
- Posts: 219
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:00 pm
- My E21(s): 76 EU 318
- Location: Stavanger, Norway
Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i
Update:
Driveshaft fitted, handbrake and rear disc in place. Need to customize the E30 325i calipers to fit trailing arms, rear diff filled with Castrol LS oil 70W-140.
Changed oil and filter on engine.
Sooo close to being done
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO ... 1yMm04WEtB
Driveshaft fitted, handbrake and rear disc in place. Need to customize the E30 325i calipers to fit trailing arms, rear diff filled with Castrol LS oil 70W-140.
Changed oil and filter on engine.
Sooo close to being done

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO ... 1yMm04WEtB
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.