How to choose - 325i or 318is...???

[george graves]

I've been shopping around and I seem to find a lot of 318is in good condition - and not a lot of 325i/is(looking for a '89, '90, '912-dr, Blk, 5-speed)

What are the factors that I should consider? I know the differences between the cars - but what about the differences in driving them? Owning them? Is the handeling that much better that the difference in horsepower does not seem to matter with the m42?

I need help deciding if I'll regret not having the m20 under the hood....

Thanks

[rwh11385]

I'd only get an "is", so you're only choice is 4 or 6 cylinders. The "is" provides many good standard items, most importantly a LSD.

As far as 325is vs. 318is....... different flavors for different people. People have swapedp the M20 into their 318is if that tells you anything. (Bryson) ask him about his thoughts.

The 318is is lighter, much of it being less sound deadening. It also out-handles an 6. But the 6 has more power. So what are you looking for? Autcross? Track? Daily Driver?

p.s. I love my 325is.

[OldUser1]

When I first got my 318is I was very happy with its power. And because it is my first car, I was not familiar with driving cars with different amounts of horsepower.
The M42 is a great motor, built to last. I got the car with exactly 180,000 miles on the clock, and currently have 192,xxx. It runs strong, and have never had any major problems with it. The only thing that needed replacing was the Timing Chain Tensioner, it made my car sound like a POS before I replaced it, but was a $35 part, and took 10 minutes to replace.

As for what car to choose, 325i vs. 318is? It all depends on what you want to do with it, and how much funding you can throw at it. You can build a nice NA M20 or turbo M20 and make sufficient power. As for the 318is, you can put in a Jim C. Chip that adds 12hp, intake, adjust the cam timing and exhaust, and probably only get about 150hp...If that.
The M20 has more potential than the M42, which will make up for its weight. But most people are realizing now that they either build up the M20 correctly, turbo it, or simply swap in a different engine (M50, S50).
Then again as I said before, if you have the funds. Buy the E30 in the best condition, and swap in a M50 or S50. I've seen complete M50's with ECU, wiring harness etc. for $600. And if you can swap it yourself you would probably save the difference than the asking price of a 325is over a 318is. Maybe a 1990 325is is going for $4500, and a 1991 318is is $3500, get the 318, then find a M50.

Hope this helps.

[franz]

I'd only get an "is", so you're only choice is 4 or 6 cylinders. The "is" provides many good standard items, most importantly a LSD.

As far as 325is vs. 318is....... different flavors for different people. People have swapedp the M20 into their 318is if that tells you anything. (Bryson) ask him about his thoughts.

The 318is is lighter, much of it being less sound deadening. It also out-handles an 6. But the 6 has more power. So what are you looking for? Autcross? Track? Daily Driver?

p.s. I love my 325is.

Um, in 318is, LSD was optional. I love mine, impeccable handling. 4.10 diff. makes it fairly quick. It doesn't have OBC, check control, sunroof, 50lb of stupic sound deadening in the trunk, or cruise control. Most of that crap I am VERY happy to not have. What can I say, I love me some 318is.

Check my website for LOTS of resources and ideas.

[bahnfire]

I'd only get an "is", so you're only choice is 4 or 6 cylinders. The "is" provides many good standard items, most importantly a LSD.

As far as 325is vs. 318is....... different flavors for different people. People have swapedp the M20 into their 318is if that tells you anything. (Bryson) ask him about his thoughts.

The 318is is lighter, much of it being less sound deadening. It also out-handles an 6. But the 6 has more power. So what are you looking for? Autcross? Track? Daily Driver?

p.s. I love my 325is.

Um, in 318is, LSD was optional. I love mine, impeccable handling. 4.10 diff. makes it fairly quick. It doesn't have OBC, check control, sunroof, 50lb of stupic sound deadening in the trunk, or cruise control. Most of that crap I am VERY happy to not have. What can I say, I love me some 318is.

Check my website for LOTS of resources and ideas.

Hate to say it but i agree with franz 100%. :shock:

[Rob]

I love my 318is as well. Its got enough power to keep me entertained on a daily basis. It has fewer maintainence issues than the m20 cars as well

[slammed_e30]

Buy the E30 in the best condition, and swap in a M50 or S50. I've seen complete M50's with ECU, wiring harness etc. for $600. And if you can swap it yourself you would probably save the difference than the asking price of a 325is over a 318is. Maybe a 1990 325is is going for $4500, and a 1991 318is is $3500, get the 318, then find a M50.

Hope this helps.

Do that, i am planning on this in the future.

[franz]

Hate to say it but i agree with franz 100%. :shock:

Thanks, Justin! :roll:

[bahnfire]

No prob!

[TheyCallMeDale]

the 318is is a more fun car to drive Id say but your going ot get more raw speed out of 325is. Im more for pushing the limits handling wise so Id go with the 318, plus you get 30 mpg on the highway!

[Low Level E30]

I dunno - I've stripped my 325is' interior, I swapped in a 4.10 LSD from an M3, and removed all of the non-essentials (AC, OBC, etc) --- it has other things, like a Sparco seat, etc - it's extremely fast, handles like crazy, stops -hard-, etc -- especially relative to its original performance. I love it to death.

I personally would probably get tired of the 4-banger, coz I like the extra grunt of a 6-cylinder. The car is light enough to really move - if you can do this, then I would do it.

But if you want to make it a daily driver and keep all the fancy stuff, my experience is really no help.

[OldUser1]

Buy the E30 in the best condition, and swap in a M50 or S50. I've seen complete M50's with ECU, wiring harness etc. for $600. And if you can swap it yourself you would probably save the difference than the asking price of a 325is over a 318is. Maybe a 1990 325is is going for $4500, and a 1991 318is is $3500, get the 318, then find a M50.

Hope this helps.

Do that, i am planning on this in the future.

Yeah, after college, I am definatly planning on swapping in a S50 built to hell.

[Bryson]

318is







you can choose engines later, start with the best platform

[Low Level E30]

you can choose engines later, start with the best platform

Everyone always says that. It's the popular response.

But it's probably realistic for maybe 10% of the E30 population on this board. Maybe 10%.

Most people here can barely afford a new set of aftermarket rims - how are they gonna pay for motors and all the extras and so on? I don't see it.

We all want to do a twin-cam swap. It just goes without saying. It's such a damn good idea that you just have to want to do it.

And there is not a doubt in my mind that hardly any of us will actually ever do one.

It costs money - liquid cash, gotta have it. It's cheaper if you know where to look for stuff, sure, but it's still not -cheap-...

If you honestly think you're going to swap the motor out in the future, sure, get a 318.

But if you're just gonna dream big dreams all day, and then head back and forth from home to work every day, go M20 and enjoy the extra Oomph.

My thoughts, of course. Do what makes you happy.

[franz]

you can choose engines later, start with the best platform

Everyone always says that. It's the popular response.

But it's probably realistic for maybe 10% of the E30 population on this board. Maybe 10%.

Most people here can barely afford a new set of aftermarket rims - how are they gonna pay for motors and all the extras and so on? I don't see it.

We all want to do a twin-cam swap. It just goes without saying. It's such a damn good idea that you just have to want to do it.

And there is not a doubt in my mind that hardly any of us will actually ever do one.

It costs money - liquid cash, gotta have it. It's cheaper if you know where to look for stuff, sure, but it's still not -cheap-...

If you honestly think you're going to swap the motor out in the future, sure, get a 318.

But if you're just gonna dream big dreams all day, and then head back and forth from home to work every day, go M20 and enjoy the extra Oomph.

My thoughts, of course. Do what makes you happy.

What makes me happy is already having a twin cam, without the swap!