Bill bought this 1991 BMW 318i convertible from a friend in 2012. It was driven only in the summers until it overheated and the head cracked around 2018. It is rear-wheel drive, powered by a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine coupled with a 5-speed manual transmission. With a curb weight of 2,867 lbs., this convertible is quite light and very well equipped with four wheel disc brakes and power steering.

With 126,000 miles and besides minor dings and scratches, the car is in good condition. Besides EV conversion, Bill does not anticipate any cosmetic transformation or major alterations except upholstery later. The two-door sedan is for fun and general transportation, not for car shows or competitions.

Bill wants the BMW to be as powerful as today (factory-rated 134hp), and keeping the transmission and clutch would be great, but he is open to suggestions. His range requirement is conservative at 100 miles, and he is looking for a top speed of around 80 mph. A single Netgain hyper 9 motor coupled with the manual transmission setup would be the preferred solution, but he’s open to suggestions.

Bill will use his BWM during weekends for leisure and charge it overnight.

The BMW is currently equipped with power steering and power brakes, and Bill wants to retain these options. No AC is needed. He is fine with the addition of necessary EV gauges and will entertain options such as a Speedhut-style instrument cluster.

With the help of a few friends, Bill will convert his BMW himself; he needs a kit including a plug-and-play battery pack and support during the build.

There are no towing requirements.