325is versus late model 325i 'sport'?

[mikeb23ft]

What are the big differences between the two? I have an '88 is which has sport seats, an mtech 1 wheel, 'mtech' badged struts, limited slip, basketweaves, and a trunk spoiler. Presumably it also came with an is front lip but that's gone. Does a late model 'sport' also have all of this stuff?

What percentage of late model 'sports' came with the m-tech 2 body kit?

Is there an easy way to identify a late model sport car for certain?

[Turf1600]

IIRC the 91+ sport cars came with all of the same options in addition to side skirts.

Don't mix mtech and sport - they aren't the same thing. However, aus market is cars came with the tech 2 appearance package.

[SA E30]

So did the British 325i "Sport" , and our South African 325iS (but that also came with other bits as has been discussed to death... re M3 suspension, 2.7lt Alpina engine)

[akorcovelos]

I thought the south african 'IS' came with an S14 in them?

[mikeb23ft]

So in America it would actually be possible to find a car with Mtech 2 side skirts that wasn't a factory sport? Mtech 2 with comfort seats and an open diff on bottlecaps? Weird.

[S62]

I thought the south african 'IS' came with an S14 in them?

Aren't you referring to the 320is which was only sold in Italy and Portugal?

[reelizmpro]

So in America it would actually be possible to find a car with Mtech 2 side skirts that wasn't a factory sport? Mtech 2 with comfort seats and an open diff on bottlecaps? Weird.

No way. Not fitted from the factory. In 91 they stopped making 325iS models and had the 325i with optional sport package. The only thing really distinct about it are the "iS" side skirts. M Tech 2 has nothing to do with this model. Only e30 M technics the US got were full M tech2 convertibles and appearance packages.

[mikeb23ft]

No way. Not fitted from the factory. In 91 they stopped making 325iS models and had the 325i with optional sport package. The only thing really distinct about it are the "iS" side skirts. M Tech 2 has nothing to do with this model. Only e30 M technics the US got were full M tech2 convertibles and appearance packages.

Okay, so they made an IS model until 90? Mtech appearance package isn't important to me but I want my next car to be a late model sport/is with plastic bumpers. The designation 'is' isn't important either, but I want to make sure I get all of the performance goodies.

[MR 325]

Yes the 325iS was 1987-1990 for the E30. There's no performance benefit to the iS over the regular i other than the LSD differential which is easily swapped out.

[akorcovelos]

Aren't you referring to the 320is which was only sold in Italy and Portugal?

You may be right. For some reason I remember it being a south africa model though.

Yes the 325iS was 1987-1990 for the E30. There's no performance benefit to the iS over the regular i other than the LSD differential which is easily swapped out.

Didn't the 'is' have larger rear sway bar, and slightly higher spring rates? Doesn't really matter, the "sport" goodies are still garbage compared to even moderate upgrades most people are going to do anyway.

[slammin.e28]

Yes the 325iS was 1987-1990 for the E30. There's no performance benefit to the iS over the regular i other than the LSD differential which is easily swapped out.

Not all IS cars had an LSD. It was an option from the factory the original owner had to "check the box" for.

[M-technik-3]

iS cars got the diff, That was part of the package. Non iS had a block to option one in if they didn't want the suspension and wheels and seats and front and rear spoilers.

This is kinda why there was so much hopla when the iS was reintroduced for the E9X series.

[TimKninja]

The 325is came with an LSD.

On the 318is it was optional.

[reelizmpro]

You may be right. For some reason I remember it being a south africa model though.



Didn't the 'is' have larger rear sway bar, and slightly higher spring rates? Doesn't really matter, the "sport" goodies are still garbage compared to even moderate upgrades most people are going to do anyway.

He's right, it was the Italian 320iS powered by a S14B20 2.0 liter because they couldn't get the M3. It had to do with paying more taxes for higher displacement engines or something.

[slammin.e28]

iS cars got the diff, That was part of the package. Non iS had a block to option one in if they didn't want the suspension and wheels and seats and front and rear spoilers.

This is kinda why there was so much hopla when the iS was reintroduced for the E9X series.

The 325is came with an LSD.

On the 318is it was optional.

Okay. I knew that 535is car didn't always have an LSD. I've got 3 535i and a 535is, all have LSD diffs, years from 11/84 to 1988. It was pretty arbitrary for e28s. Figured the same for e30s.

Also, we pulled the diff from my friend's car and it was not an LSD in his 1989 325is. We were sorely disappointed as he had stated that IS cars came with one. Must have been swapped at some point, but IDK why someone would go to an open diff, especially the PO who worked at a shop and kept the car in great condition.