Its time for a new E30

[ELVA164]

What are you going to use the car for? DD use? All year or just summers? The M42 would get better mileage but it's possible to get 30mpg with an M20B25 also.

Also, the early Euro 316i/318i was the lightest E30 chassis ;)

[Herr Faust Schinken]

so far the 318iS is winning it lol and if i do a 24 valve swap it would be the S54.

seriously dont cut up a 318is for a swap car, they only made them for one year , if you want to buy a car just to swap it buy a car like an eta because etas are not that rare and nobody cares if you destroy one

[dannyyisntt]

M10 318. Do it.

[mikeedler]

look for a 325iS, and if an M42 falls in your lap, then scoop it up.

[zig553]

What are you going to use the car for? DD use? All year or just summers? The M42 would get better mileage but it's possible to get 30mpg with an M20B25 also.

Also, the early Euro 316i/318i was the lightest E30 chassis ;)

30MPG with an M20B25? The most I've ever gotten is like 26 on the highway only

[ELVA164]

30MPG with an M20B25? The most I've ever gotten is like 26 on the highway only

You have to pay attention to it, but going by the OBC (which I do reset to keep myself honest) I've done it pretty regularly. I actually tend to do worse on the highway.

[Shangsta]

I bought my 318is with the original intention of swapping it imediately. After driving the car i decided it was more fun than my 325is i had before. Its a different experience but i drive tthe car everyday like i stole it and have soo much more fun with it

[agent]

i drive the car everyday like i stole it

I can personally attest to this.

[G-Man]

Go with the M42. I agree with the others, you have to drive it like you stole it. The M42 comes alive after 3500 RPM. Prices are going up on the 91 318is, good ones are hard to find since most have been ridden hard and left out to dry, wet. The 91 318is is considered a poor man's E30 M3. If you can't find a decent 318is, consider the 91 4 door 318i. There are some great deals to be found on the 91 sedan 318i M42 since it doesn't have the sport package, (sport seats, basketweave alloys, front spoiler, OBC, etc...) but it does have 4 door utility.

G-Man

[Simon S]

It all boils down to the sort of driving experience you want in a vehicle without sacrificing all the other things one might easily do without on those mornings where the sun shines down on world filled with mediocre japanese vehicles and even worse domestic/US vehicles made of pig iron and bubble gum of a flavor not worth chewing since chewing it for too long makes your jaw sore while you realize that what really matters is that you start with a car you are going to END up being happy with rather than a car you’ll end up spending a fortune on in a vain attempt to transform it into a vision which may or not be in your head.