Why Do People hate the 318 so much?

[pbr87]

Only thing from that list that may add real power is the MarkD chip.

Really!?!?

I heard the cone filter is good for a few ponies (maybe 3bhp). I heard advancing the intake timing adds around 7bhp, and I was told the muffler on the stock exhaust is a huge bottleneck, so the cat-back exhaust mod adds more than one would expect.

[boom-monkey]

That's what I was told too, but I wasn't positive. The way BenM explained it to me is roughly the following....

m42 makes 130bhp

With these mods:
-K&N cone intake with custom shroud
-2.25" cat-back exhaust
-MarkD 93 octane chip
-COP conversion
- +5 degrees on intake came timing

you can get maybe 160bhp...best case scenario.

So yeah, 180bhp sounds like a stretch. For 180bhp, you'd need all of the above plus cams and ITBs...which I've been told isn't really worth it given the cost.

Only thing from that list that may add real power is the MarkD chip.

M42's are great motors. Good on gas and virtually no maintenance. I've had mine for about 50k miles; daily driving, cross country, track days, autocross. Haven't done anything but fluid changes and new plugs.

And let's get real guys, not like the M20B25 is a powerhouse...

EDIT: Where's the Rob option......?

[Highway1]

Yeah I love my underpowered 318is I know it’s slow and I don’t pretend to think it’s fast, or even quick.

I have owned a 325is and 318is. The 325is is hands down much more fun to drive around town and not to mention much smoother. With that being said, i grew up in the cuts where it's a 20 mile drive, on very curvy roads, to any store that is open past 9pm, so i appreciate the advantages of lightweight underpowered car more than most people.

After driving on twisty roads for so many years I find myself living in a city laughing that the fools who fly past me on the freeway only to come up behind them, waiting at a stoplight a few exits down.

[Wh33lhop]

why do i like my 318is?



I don't have to worry as much about getting more tickets ;) Plus I'm not complaining about 26/30 mpg

Haha, I hear you there. While the E30's under the knife I'm driving a '99 QX4. It's a 12 second truck: 0-60? 12 seconds.

However it keeps me out of tickets in the meantime and it's fun to toss it in 4L and pretend it's necessary when you want to drive over curbs.

In the meantime I've either got 3 or 4 points on my license (!), so it's nice to have something calm to chillax in for awhile.

[pbr87]

fine for a DD

Yeah. I also plan on using mine as a "learner's car" when I start doing track days next summer. By that time, it should have all the goodies I have in store for it installed.

[ejnight]

fine for a DD

[Highway1]

why do i like my 318is?



I don't have to worry as much about getting more tickets ;) Plus I'm not complaining about 26/30 mpg

[pbr87]

180bhp, stock displacement M42 isn't happening that isn't a race motor.

That's what I was told too, but I wasn't positive. The way BenM explained it to me is roughly the following....

m42 makes 130bhp

With these mods:
-K&N cone intake with custom shroud
-2.25" cat-back exhaust
-MarkD 93 octane chip
-COP conversion
- +5 degrees on intake came timing

you can get maybe 160bhp...best case scenario.

So yeah, 180bhp sounds like a stretch. For 180bhp, you'd need all of the above plus cams and ITBs...which I've been told isn't really worth it given the cost.

[nando]

This is quite the opposite. I read an article in Total BMW on how well designed the m42 engine is. The engine also has all forged internals, and can be tuned up around 180+ horsepower without major modification. The power was limited from the factory (specifically the cam timing, which can be adjusted) as well as the tuning, as not to compete with sales of the 325i. With upgrades, the near 50/50 weight ratio, 4.10 lsd (if it has it) is a great car. Maybe someone can find the article. It was maybe in the May or June issue 09

what? so adjusting the cam timing gives you 40hp? stu must have done it wrong then, 7-8 years ago before you were probably even driving.

it's not all forged - the crank and pistons are both cast. all engines have forged rods (well, maybe not in a yugo).

180bhp, stock displacement M42 isn't happening that isn't a race motor.

[pbr87]

This is quite the opposite. I read an article in Total BMW on how well designed the m42 engine is. The engine also has all forged internals.....

Not forged pistons though, right?

[ALYKZANDYR]

exactly. "Slowly gathering momentum" is more accurate.

That sentence basicly sums up my M20 (2.7L) , it is so fucking slow.

[freeride53]

awesome nick!
i'll let you drive my slow 318i...lol.
it passed smog, so i just started driving it to school and shit.

[richardb]

Stupid poll. M42s are crappy engines from factory, but there's no reason to hate them.

This is quite the opposite. I read an article in Total BMW on how well designed the m42 engine is. The engine also has all forged internals, and can be tuned up around 180+ horsepower without major modification. The power was limited from the factory (specifically the cam timing, which can be adjusted) as well as the tuning, as not to compete with sales of the 325i. With upgrades, the near 50/50 weight ratio, 4.10 lsd (if it has it) is a great car. Maybe someone can find the article. It was maybe in the May or June issue 09

[pbr87]

I don't hate VW's I just wish I could replace it with something way faster.....

My Z is for sale ;)

[abefroman]

I don't hate VW's I just wish I could replace it with something way faster.....but its my DD and gets me from point A to B.

Never selling my 318is....ever. That car is the shit and I never get tired of driving it, no matter how slow people think it is or what people think of it.:letitout: