RANDYFAQ: 325i vs 325is

[PeterCip]

Does any body have the recording of ove pronouncing his name? Ov-uh kwam.

It was priceless.

[bimmerphile]

charlie, these kids don't know what BEN is. they were playing with tonka trucks and big wheels when Ove was talking about oversteer vs understeer.

[2002maniac]

Nice info! Who are you quoting though?

[Axxe]

The "is" options were available on all 4-door "i"

My 325i sedan came with all the iS goodies.

[silversleeper]

whats the deal with the 525 motronics? what models/years did those become avail, and what were its pros/cons?

[CGDoig]

Slighty thicker sway bars?

[King Luis]

my IS doesn't have leather sport seats. it has the grey cloth ones (heated).

[Eurospec]

good stuff :up:

[Charlie]

I miss these from the old BEN days.

Standard equipment on the E30 325is
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Limited Slip Differential (3.73 ratio)
Slightly Stiffer Front Springs (rears are same as 325i)
Slightly Stiffer Shocks (Bilsteins in 87, Boges after that)
14x6½" BBS Cross-Spoke Wheels
Deeper one-piece front airdam (87 model only)
Deeper Front chin spoiler extension (88-90)
Factory Oil Cooler
Foglights in the airdam
Rear Decklid Spoiler
Bolstered Leather Sport Seats
3-Spoke Sport Steering Wheel up till and including the '89
Leather Airbag wheel on all '90 and up E30s
Trip Computer (OBC)
Premium Stereo System
Power Sunroof
Power Windows
Power Mirrors
In 1991 they dropped the "is" model. However a
Sport Package option was available on the 2-dr 325i
for 1991, with all the same stuff as on the earlier "is".
So technically there was no 91 325is, just a 325i that's
made into a virtual clone of the 325is when equipped with
the Sport Package. The Sport Package was also available
on the 91 325i 4-door, with all the above items except
it did not get the deeper chin spoiler extension. It had
a rocker-panel molding similar to the 325iX only without
the upturned fenderwell transitions.


Items shared by both the 325i and 325is sedans:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Same 6-cyl 2.5L Engine (168hp, 164 lbs-ft torque)
Same Transmissions (5-sp and automatic)
Same Dual Exhaust system
Same Fuel Injection system
Same Ignition system
Same Oil Cooler
Same Brakes and ABS system
Same front and rear swaybars (20mm front, 12mm rear)
Same rear springs


Differences between the various years (both i and is):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
87, 90, and 91 came with sealed beam headlights.
The 88 and 89 came with the ellipsoidal headlights.
The 90 and 91 came with an airbag steering wheel.
The 87 and 88 came with the big aluminum bumpers.
The 89 thru 90/91 had the body-colored wraparound bumpers.
The 87 had a deep one-piece front spoiler with square foglights.
The 88 thru 91 had the two-piece front apron/spoiler with
integral foglights and integral brake ducts.
The 87-88's 153 Motronics were sometimes troublesome (idle probs?)
The later 88's got the new 173 Motronics starting with build date 3/88
The 89 thru 91 came with the new and improved 173 Motronics.
The 87 had no apron below the rear bumper, the 88-91 does.
The 87 has smaller taillights (a la M3), the 88-91 has larger ones.
The 87 has larger rear fender openings and exposes more tire.
The 88-91 rear fender openings are smaller and look better :-)