If you had the choice what would you buy?

[iamsam]

good choice!!! i was about to launch into a lengthy tirade as to why you should buy a 318is, but you already did, so you saved me alot of typing!

[Jean]

Congrats, does it have a factory black headliner?

[atan88]

Last week I bought a Sterling 91 318is. The body is solid and was sitting in a shop for 3 years. The car had a head job new radiator 3 years ago and ended up as a lien sale. Few days ago I bought a 89 325i (4dr). I love the power and the smooth acceleration. Both cars paint are pretty tired but the motor are good. Reading at everyones post I decided to keep the 318is and start with it. For now I will bring the car to the body shop and have it repainted with its original Sterling color. 8)

[T Verdier]

a well modified four-door always seems to look better (more sleeper/stealth) than a modified two-door. IMO.

Maybe a little biast? just a little?

[T Verdier]

318is because I hate 4 doors and AWD isnt practical in the bay area.
after you buy the 318 you should drop an s50 because your a baller and thats what you do!

[JasonC]

A: maybe
B: Hell NO, it's a 4 door
C: Yes, as long as its 2 door and 5speed.

[PaladinReed]

I just got a 4 door 325i after having owned two coupes and a cabriolet. I am super happy with its extra space and I agree they seem a bit more unique nowadays. Much more tame looking to a coupe and attracts less unwanted attention. With your resources and taste Id say a super clean and tight late model 4 door M-S5x swap with moderate low and some classy weaves, RS', Ronal LS' ect. Something like Raxe's coupe but with an extra door. Super classy.

-Paladin

[ayemattyyy]

Personally, I would go with a 318is. If you're just getting around daily, it's cheap. 360 miles to a tank of a gas. The engine is damn near bullet-proof if you make sure the timing has been taken care of. The m20 is not that much faster, but sure there is "no replacement for displacement". You'll love the lightness of the front end and entire car. They don't call it the poor mans m3 for nothing ;) Better balance and mileage than the m20 cars, without having to rev the hell out of it to keep it happy. Although, it is fun to rev it to the moon and back. A chip and exhaust and it really opens the car up, throw on a lightweight flywheel and it's even better. Just my $0.02 Alvin.
Matt

[atan88]

Ill narrow it down. I wont be thinking about the IX since Im in Norcal. Thanks for the info guys.

[surfevo]

I voted for the 318is.
Based on your post you want a DD you can slowly build up and enjoy.

So the 318is comes with an LSD and sport seats. For me seats are super important as you spend all your time in them as a DD. So the need to upgrade here is only in suspension. Then you would have a very fun dd that gets good mpg.

The option to drop in a m50/s50/s52 is always there or a turbo option for the m42.

[analogjesus]

I voted IX. It's something different, and cool. An '80's AWD stickshift sports car? Its kinda like the German grandfather of STI's in my mind. Either way, it's a very cool car. I understand the arguments for the others, but I think iX's are really, really cool. And, you have the M3, which is the pinnacle of what the 318is strives to be.

And, if you were taking your friends out for a ride, would you really stuff all of them in a 4-door E30? Many on here do and I would have no problem with it, but I think you've moved beyond that just a little bit...

Shit man, I stuffed four people into my 2dr for a 4 hour trip up to the Kancamagus. . . It wasn't too bad actually, everyone survived.

[Ral]

I voted IX. It's something different, and cool. An '80's AWD stickshift sports car? Its kinda like the German grandfather of STI's in my mind. Either way, it's a very cool car. I understand the arguments for the others, but I think iX's are really, really cool. And, you have the M3, which is the pinnacle of what the 318is strives to be.

And, if you were taking your friends out for a ride, would you really stuff all of them in a 4-door E30? Many on here do and I would have no problem with it, but I think you've moved beyond that just a little bit...

[Iain]

318iS - lovely responsive front-end (steering is great... once you replace all the shit that has fucked out over the last 20-25 years). I think one of those as a gutted thrashbucket would be a world of fun and something you could re-shell easily if you ever bent it. I'd go 2dr, too, as I don't like the look of the 4drs and I think they weigh a bit more too.

I'd do every spec of the suspension, rip most of the trim/AC/etc out to get weight down, add a decent LSD and probably a Euro M52 (lighter block) with S50 cams to keep weight off the nose, but add twin-cam six-cylinder zing. You could also build a good turbo M42 for similar coin.

[HarryPotter]

325is

[325ix]

318is in norcal