1995 BMW 318is - Bilstein Shocks & Eibach Pro Kit - The Road Less Traveled

At this year's Bimmerfest we noticed the OEM+ style of Dave Aupperle's 318is. We appreciated that the enthusiast had expended so much time and effort to transform the neglected four cylinder 3-Series into a performance machine. We met with Dave at his home in Hermosa Beach, CA where he built the car in his crammed one-car garage. He was so passionate and knowledgeable about his project that he wanted to write his personal story and we offered to publish it. Over to you, Dave:

I've always been a gearhead by trade, which is why I'm now a full-time mechanical engineer. My passion for cars started in high school after blowing the engine on my '85 Toyota truck. A lack of cash meant there was no choice but to rebuild it myself. I spent most of my money and high school years turning this truck into a customized show vehicle.

As I neared the end of high school my buddy Kenny Jisser showed up in a new '92 E36 BMW 318is with a big smile on his face. I loved the style and handling and vowed to own a BMW myself.

Years went by and then my truck was stolen. I took the insurance payout to a BMW dealership to ease my pain and drove away in an 18-month-old '95 CPO 318is automatic with 25k on the odometer.

Typically, I started out saying I'd leave it stock and appreciate the OEM German engineering. Well, that didn't last long. But it was after I started full-time work that the cashflow increased and the mods started to arrive.

The car came together slowly. I started with the usual wheel and suspension upgrades. Being a sensible shopper, I sourced most of my parts used from eBay and online forums. In the early stages I cycled through three sets of wheels before finding the right set, finally settling on 18" Schnitzer Type 3 wheels. I then wrapped them in Toyo T1-S - 225 in front, 255 in the rear - once the rear fenders were rolled with a specialized tool I rented via mail order.

To improve the suspension, I sat the car on Bilstein shocks coupled with Eibach Pro-Kit lowering springs. Rear end height adjusters were also added to give the car a sporty forward rake.