Choice: 325i vs 318i

[vegaskyle]

Kikkoman,

the white 318is is for sale again. I don't know if u are the one selling it or not but, I'd like any info you have on the car. I live out of state so any info I can get before I go see the car would be helpfull.

[naplesE30]

m42 FTW

timming chain is better then a timming belt! Find out if it has a 4.10lsd if it does even better def go with the 318.

[JMil86]

Id say take the stock one and do it all your self.

[ThaiRacer]

I say go for the 318is, I had a 325es n it wasnt a big difference.

[Joey Link]

After driving Copperwheat's '91 318is I'm convinced they're more fun to drive.

[Jb325is]

If you're planning on swapping it, I'd go with the 318is. If you aren't planning on swapping it, I'd go with the 318is. I've tried to enjoy my m20, I really have, but they are just boring.

[dude8383]

Go for the 318is, I used to have one and I actually miss working on it. The room in the engine bay is just insane.

I want to pick one up for winter but need to figure out where I can store my car :(

[Jean]

Go for the 318is, I used to have one and I actually miss working on it. The room in the engine bay is just insane.

I want to pick one up for winter but need to figure out where I can store my car :(

LOL... you would love the empty room in the engine bay in an early 318 even more :)

One (the only?) plus early 318 cars have over late model 318 and 325 cars is how much lighter they are compared to anything else (325i/e/318is even). So if you are trying to build a fast(er) car then honestly I think the early chassis is the way to go. If you are looking for a nice/comfortable DD then late model.

My 2 cents.

[JMil86]

LOL... you would love the empty room in the engine bay in an early 318 even more :)

One (the only?) plus early 318 cars have over late model 318 and 325 cars is how much lighter they are compared to anything else (325i/e/318is even). So if you are trying to build a fast(er) car then honestly I think the early chassis is the way to go. If you are looking for a nice/comfortable DD then late model.

My 2 cents.

You could sleep in an m10 car, its like an RV.

[vegaskyle]

I bumped a 2 month old thread trying to get in contact with kikkomam. Now 8 people responded to the original question. Do you guys even read the posts or just respond to the title?

[Stu]

LOL... you would love the empty room in the engine bay in an early 318 even more :)

One (the only?) plus early 318 cars have over late model 318 and 325 cars is how much lighter they are compared to anything else (325i/e/318is even). So if you are trying to build a fast(er) car then honestly I think the early chassis is the way to go. If you are looking for a nice/comfortable DD then late model.

My 2 cents.

Hey, an M42 is shorter and about 30 pounds lighter than an M10 -- cylinder spacing of the 16v is based on an 84 bore M20/50, not the M30, so there's a lot less material. You'd be surprised how tiny an M42 looks with the fan shroud removed. Early 318's are light as balls though, even US market cars. I wish my '91 was an '82 build with an Msport 1 front airdam.

[2002maniac]

Hey, an M42 is shorter and about 30 pounds lighter than an M10 -- cylinder spacing of the 16v is based on an 84 bore M20/50, not the M30, so there's a lot less material. You'd be surprised how tiny an M42 looks with the fan shroud removed. Early 318's are light as balls though, even US market cars. I wish my '91 was an '82 build with an Msport 1 front airdam.

the M42 top end is much much larger than the M10's though.

[Stu]

the M42 top end is much much larger than the M10's though.

Definately, by a good bit. An extra cam, 16 lifters, more material for the casting itself, etc.

[Jean]

Hey, an M42 is shorter and about 30 pounds lighter than an M10 -- cylinder spacing of the 16v is based on an 84 bore M20/50, not the M30, so there's a lot less material. You'd be surprised how tiny an M42 looks with the fan shroud removed. Early 318's are light as balls though, even US market cars. I wish my '91 was an '82 build with an Msport 1 front airdam.

Stu - sorry, I was talking more about the total weight of the car :) I think I've seen a picture of someone holding the m42 block to show how light they are lol. But, like you said also late model 318s are in fact heavier than the early cars.

[James Crivellone]

m42 FTW

timming chain is better then a timming belt! Find out if it has a 4.10lsd if it does even better def go with the 318.

Wrong, at that mileage the M42 is nearing time to have its timing system completely replaced.

Last I checked, thats around 800 dollars to replace all those now pointy teeth gears, and then you have other M42 200Kish issues, such as bottom end issues with the main bearings (IE the 180degree thrust bearing, which is def burnt up),

M42's at that mileage are worthless motors and nothing more then a ticking time bomb. I've worked on enough of them to hate them

/Take that M42 purists :-p

M20 FTW, Old Thread FTW, yadda yadda