Why Do People hate the 318 so much?

[nando]

actually I said I do like the car. Just that the E30 M42 isn't the pinnicle of engineering that people make it out to be. It's a decent design with some serious flaws that BMW worked out in later versions of the motor.

[Miasma]

I like my M20 over my brothers M42 car. Sounds better(to me) and has more power. And the timing belt isn't that big of an issue to me as it can be done in a day for very cheap. I don't hate them though. lol

FANBOIZ

[TooTall90]

actually I said I do like the car. Just that the E30 M42 isn't the pinnicle of engineering that people make it out to be. It's a decent design with some serious flaws that BMW worked out in later versions of the motor.

oh, well then,carry on gentlemen. 8)

[BlueBMW]

My first e30 was an 89 325i coupe automatic. It was pretty fun, but the automatic took a lot out of it. Now I have a 91 318is and I couldn't be happier. Its definitely a different driving experience, but I enjoy it a lot more than the 325i I had. Probably just the automatic vs manual issue, but still. Comparing the two motors, I like the M42 mostly because of the timing chain and direct coils (as opposed to the distributor and timing belt) I work on BMWs all day at work so for my own car I want low maintenance.

[HarryPotter]

After having driven all four standard non rare variations of the e30 I'd say the m20b25 is hands down the motor to go with.

M10 complete shit
M42 cool I guess
M20b27 GTFO GRANDMA
M20b25 still slow.

[Emre]

Do you like 318's, more specifically M42 cars?

I used to have an M42 in my 318is ... until I let my mechanic talk me into an M20 swap*

The balance of the car was ruined. The M20 doesn't like to rev. It requires a bunch of maintenance. It's been very unreliable on the track (broken rocker arms, oil starvation).

The extra mid-range torque is nice. Everything else about it pretty much sucks, though. I regret the decision practically every time I drive the car.




*Before you guys make fun of me for doing an M20 swap rather than an M50/S50, I was originally building the car for K-Prepared.

[HarryPotter]

I used to have an M42 in my 318is ... until I let my mechanic talk me into an M20 swap*

The balance of the car was ruined. The M20 doesn't like to rev. It requires a bunch of maintenance. It's been very unreliable on the track (broken rocker arms, oil starvation).

The extra mid-range torque is nice. Everything else about it pretty much sucks, though. I regret the decision practically every time I drive the car.




*Before you guys make fun of me for doing an M20 swap rather than an M50/S50, I was originally building the car for K-Prepared.

The m20 doesn't like to rev? This is news to me.

[Emre]

The m20 doesn't like to rev? This is news to me.

Try reving it past 6K rpm for a while on the track and see how long the rocker arms last. Besides, you're not making any significant power past ~5.8K rpm anyway ... so there's little point in revving any higher than that.

Also, I've found the combination of M20 + 4.10:1 rear end is a PITA on the track. The shorter gearing is nice when you first get on the power, but you quickly run out of revs in longer corners ... which means you need to back off or shift in the corner. It also renders 2nd gear all but useless, so you're basically left with a 2-speed car.

Overall, the M20 + 4.10:1 combo itsn't really a good match for a track car. Maybe I'd be happier with a 3.73:1 rear end. I dunno. I've just never been satisfied since the swap.

[HarryPotter]

Try reving it past 6K rpm for a while on the track and see how long the rocker arms last. Besides, you're not making any significant power past ~5.8K rpm anyway ... so there's little point in revving any higher than that.

Also, I've found the combination of M20 + 4.10:1 rear end is a PITA on the track. The shorter gearing is nice when you first get on the power, but you quickly run out of revs in longer corners ... which means you need to back off or shift in the corner. It also renders 2nd gear all but useless, so you're basically left with a 2-speed car.

Overall, the M20 + 4.10:1 combo itsn't really a good match for a track car. Maybe I'd be happier with a 3.73:1 rear end. I dunno. I've just never been satisfied since the swap.

Sounds like you have other issues besides the m20 that need to be sorted out before making a full diagnoses. :) I can't say I have ever tracked any of them so I guess you have a greater pull on the opinion then I do.

And I would say there is a bit of a point of reving past 5.8k if you shifted at 5.8k I'd say you most likely would be out of the power band every time you shifted.

[nando]

Try reving it past 6K rpm for a while on the track and see how long the rocker arms last. Besides, you're not making any significant power past ~5.8K rpm anyway ... so there's little point in revving any higher than that.

Also, I've found the combination of M20 + 4.10:1 rear end is a PITA on the track. The shorter gearing is nice when you first get on the power, but you quickly run out of revs in longer corners ... which means you need to back off or shift in the corner. It also renders 2nd gear all but useless, so you're basically left with a 2-speed car.

Overall, the M20 + 4.10:1 combo itsn't really a good match for a track car. Maybe I'd be happier with a 3.73:1 rear end. I dunno. I've just never been satisfied since the swap.

interesting, I have no trouble at 7200rpm. but I guess I wouldn't expect a 100k mile M20 to last a long time on the track. :p

[HarryPotter]

interesting, I have no trouble at 7200rpm. but I guess I wouldn't expect a 100k mile M20 to last a long time on the track. :p

I know I caught shit for this a long time ago, but I fucked with the AFM on my car ticked it over about 3 notches to the left and boy does the top end feel A LOT better. The car felt like it leaned out tremendously at the higher RPM's now it just feels like it wants to keep going. I had it at 5 over but I did it while the engine was hot (:|) so when it was cold it barely ran for shit until it warmed up. So I had to cut back a little.

[Emre]

Sounds like you have other issues besides the m20 that need to be sorted out before making a full diagnoses. :) I can't say I have ever tracked any of them so I guess you have a greater pull on the opinion then I do.

Well, I've been doing track stuff for at least 10 years now and have been using E30s from the beginning. I may not be the fastest guy on the planet, but I am the chief instructor of my chapter of the BMW Club, so I guess I'm not a complete hack. I think it's fair to say I've accumulated quite a lot of experience running E30s on the track, both M42 and M20 powered.

And I would say there is a bit of a point of reving past 5.8k if you shifted at 5.8k I'd say you most likely would be out of the power band every time you shifted.

Then I would say you're wrong :p

All joking aside, I think you'll find most of the "old timers" will agree with what I wrote. If you want to keep an M20 reliable on the track, you can't be bouncing off the rev limiter all day. And, of course, you need to address oiling. I've got an Accusump (and assorted mods) in my car. It makes a difference.

interesting, I have no trouble at 7200rpm. but I guess I wouldn't expect a 100k mile M20 to last a long time on the track. :p

I know you're joking, but you can rest assured that the car is very well sorted and one of the faster E30's out there. Numerous guys on this forum know me and my car (and have seen it in action on various circuits all over the US and Canada).

The M20 is a great street engine. But it really doesn't hold up to hard track use ... at least not when you're putting 25-30 track days on it each season.

[iwantspeed]

i own a 325e and a 325i
I have also driven an e30 m3

I drove a 1991 318is with a m42 last week and was soo happy I purchased an e30 with an m20.
it was only somewhat impressive if your in the higher rpms besides that it falls flat on its face.

[FredK]

M10 complete shit
M42 cool I guess
M20b27 GTFO GRANDMA
M20b25 still slow.

OLOLOLOL

Harsh, but only because there's a grain of truth to what you say. Which is not to say these engines are truly deficient, they just urge you to adopt a different style of driving on-track.

[barry]

It's like comparing apples to oranges!!!