Buying an E30 within a week or two, need some help!

[WRX2M3]

Hey everyone,
First let me introduce my situation so that you can have a better understanding of what I'm looking for. I currently own a Subaru WRX, and absolutely love it except for one minor detail. It's a slushbox. Now I'm looking for an additional car that is stick to have alot of fun with at the Auto-x and just driving some beautiful back roads. To start, I absolutely love handling and speed is something I enjoy to. But if it came down to it I would choose handling over speed.
So with that said, I am in the market for an E30. I was only gonna spend about 4k max but then found an 91 318is mint condition with a new engine 40k miles on body of 85k. But the guy wants 4500! This is a bit much huh? After having not alot of luck finding a good car I confronted a coworker about my problem and coincidentaly his son is selling an 86 1/2 325es. With a new engine put in about 30k-40k miles ago and he says it is in top notch condition. Now I know the 325es is slow, but he told me that you can change the heads on the engine to make it an iS. Is this true? Will it then be an iS? Now here is the good part, he is willing to sell it to me for 2000! What do you guys think I should do. I'm obviously gonna take the car to a place in which I can get a compression test done along with what else?
Also what would you advise? Thanksa gain!

[ColdAccord]

318is are rare, and increasing in value

325e's are slow, 121hp 168 torque.

you can put a 2.5 head on there, but you'd need custom pistons to do it. compression would be too low otherwise, do to different piston design (domed vs flat top). you can use super eta pistons (88+ 325e pistons) for like 9:1 or something. you can also get pre 5/85 525e pistons for a 10.1:1, but those are pretty hard to find.

you can get custom ones done for like $600

you could also get a 323i head, and use that with your 325e block without needing new pistons. that will probably get you around 160hp or so

[Erick]

4k takes my 325i :)

[Ryan Stewart]

I'd be on that 318is like a fat kid on cake if it was in as good a condition as one could infer from only 85k miles. Id try and talk him down to $4000 is possible but I still wouldnt shy away from that car. Its very light, that makes a car fun.

Dont buy an Eta unless you plan on some serious modifications to it.

[reelizmpro]

It's best to start off with the 325i or iS. The entire i engine breathes much better than the 325e engine does as it has bigger throttlebodies, intake/exhaust valves, etc etc. However the 325e can be upgraded with 325i parts but simply swapping the head isn't going to make the 325e a 325i or iS. You could swap the 325i head on and take advantage of the lowered compression by then turbocharging it. The intake can easily be swapped out for 325i parts and you'll have the added benefit of the engine being 2.7 liters instead of 2.5 (325i).

[UNHCLL]

If you really want handling, and dont want to drop $15k on an M3....
Buy a 318is
Bang for buck and handling own any 6-cylinder e30.
325i/iS are good for more power, but fall short in handling.

Good luck!

[///M42 sport]

get the 318iS. $4500 is a good price especially for one under 100k
________
V8

[WRX2M3]

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