318is or 325is? which is better?

[rob-redm]

325is hands down !

[JinormusJ]

Coming from a guy who has owned an m20 325iS and borrowed an m42 318iS:

The 318iS m42 is:
Pros:
-Rev happy, rev-it ferdaize
-Super light and tossable
-loves taking corners
-Lightweight oriented
-Good gas milage being 4-cylinder
-DOHC
-Timing Change
Cons:
-Very stripped down; those used to all the extra e30 gadgets will find it less accommodating
-m42 is gutless, unless you take it to 5k, there is nothing in that engine; you have to kill it to keep up to traffic
-Pretty reliable, but once stuff goes south, maintainence is a B* and $$$.

The m20 325iS is:
Pros:
-Torque ferdaize, stomp on it and feel the vroom anywhere. 2nd gear is actually fun
-Comes fully equipped with all the fun e30 gadgets
-Clutch dumps are awesome
-Torque
-Smooth powerband; feel the fun from 3-6.5k and beyond
-Torque
-Very reliable (I've seen stock non-rebuild motors lasting 300-400k, my current one has 199k now and haven't had a problem yet)
-Maintanence is fairly cheap
-Did I mention Tork?
Cons:
-All that extra equipment comes as weight disadvantage over 318iS
-Front isn't as peppy as the 318iS
-SOHC
-Timing Belt
-Lower gas milage than the M42 (but can still get 23-25 easily)


Really, it depends what your looking for; if your looking for a grungy enthusiast car, I'd go with the 325iS. If you're looking for a nice relaxing enthusiast car, go with the 325iS. Really, they are both great cars, but the m20 is more livable with, and that's really the bottom line.


Me personally? I'd have the 325iS

[lolcantturn]

had every e30 combo, had swapped e30s too, love my 318is.

THe 318is is the epitome of performance that appeals to the senses. The whining of the high revving 4cyl through your ears, the tossability through your hands. Your left leg constantly on that clutch cause you love to rev match downshift into any gear you can, and that 4.10 is going to keep your left leg busy. Your right leg firmly pressed to the floor because you're not really moving too fast but you really want to, but god do you love the sound of that 4cyl building up power that doesn't equal how much noise it produces.

A 318is makes me feel all the fun of driving.

[stefennn]

Owned both, 325i is a smooth powerplant to work with and as everyone has mentioned here plenty of torque. 318is feels like a go cart, nothing like hearing that twin cam scream at 6k, to keep the m42 at its peak it needs to be thrashed but when are you constantly hitting 6k? I prefer the 318is over the 325i, the 4 banger feels more in place in the e30.

[Vtec?lol]

I love me some M42!
I think all the pain and struggle these engines cause makes it worth it. They are some leaky little sum'bitches though. When rebuilding, too much silicone is not enough.

the almighty m20 has got to be the best breathing overhead single cam engine I've ever driven. They're both slow, both fun. BOTH r3v happy. m20's can get up there with very little work and a chip.

[TurboJake]

I rev the piss outta my ancient super high mileage M20. Making tons of glorious noises in the process.
I've reved the piss out of m42's too. Making much less glorious noises in the process.

M20/325is all day unless you're in it for economy. If I was in for eco I'd have an M42 with a 2.93 diff. Slow as balls, but awesome MPG.

[getouth]

318 or 325

Ok well im planning on doing a swap when i get one. I have a 83 BMW 533i e38 And i wanna swap the motor a 3.2l. To the e30. Would it be easy to do that or easier to just throw a chevy 350 in it?

Dude .......U just lost me! please don't buy an E30.

[matthugie]

Why does it matter if you're just going to swap it?

[cferb]

I love me some M42!
I think all the pain and struggle these engines cause makes it worth it. They are some leaky little sum'bitches though. When rebuilding, too much silicone is not enough.

the almighty m20 has got to be the best breathing overhead single cam engine I've ever driven. They're both slow, both fun. BOTH r3v happy. m20's can get up there with very little work and a chip.

The puddle in my driveway agrees.