Why are some people so particular about buying an "is" car?

[ME30W]

I've seen numerous WTB ads recently that are looking for a 325is, not a 325i. As far as I know, they are essentially the same car while an IS has a few body add ons, sport seats and an LSD (which was an option in the I anyways)

Are there truly any advantages to an IS car? Or are IS owners out there just riding the wave and charging a bit of a premium?

[Quadrajet]

There is some suspension refinements with the "is" as well. And sometimes an Mtech steering wheel.

[blunttech]

I always look for the cleanest I, IS whatever I can find. All that crap is going to get changed out and upgraded anyway.

[SkiFree]

I constantly ask myself the same question on 2002 vs 2002tii's.

[bmwstephen]

I always look for the cleanest I, IS whatever I can find. All that crap is going to get changed out and upgraded anyway.

THIS, plus in my experience, everytime I find a standard "I" with "IS" upgrades, the PO is likely to botch the job.

(ie, uneven spoiler mounting and other aesthetic parts, semi-functional 12-button OBC, inconsistent interior, bad sound system wiring, etc...

[Stanley Rockafella]

I constantly ask myself the same question on 2002 vs 2002tii's.

considering the age of them now (2002's), I agree

everytime I find a standard "I" with "IS" upgrades, the PO is likely to botch the job.
(ie, uneven spoiler mounting and other aesthetic parts, semi-functional 12-button OBC, inconsistent interior, bad sound system wiring, etc...

+1. nothign like having it done RIGHT at the time of assembly

[Wschnitz]

If you have an 89 a lot of 325s are 325i/is on the vin, so it can go either way, I understand wanting an IS badged car if your going to restore it and hoard it, but if your going to bastardize it who cares, get whatever and change it how you like.

[88Alpine]

I think it's about the bragging right. I would take either as long as it's original and unmolested.

[word is bond]

Especially unimportant distinction considering many E30s are no longer (or shouldn't be) running on their original suspension bits.

[reelizmpro]

I would go for the iS as well if the price difference between the two is negligible like it used to be in the early 2000's. With the iS you get a car that's fully loaded, leather sport seats, premium sound, front and rear spoilers, BBS basketweaves, 13 button OBC, gas shocks, etc. It's the next best sedan after the M3, was highly regarded and many articles were written about the iS model specifically. So it makes sense that if the M3 should skyrocket, then a factory iS would bring a premium over a base model 'i' that may or may not have upgrades. It was an 'S' sports package. Any special package of any type stands out from the others even the iX. You could always upgrade your car but it will always be just that...an upgraded car opposed to a factory fitted Sport model.

I wouldn't even compare a Tii to a regular 2002, unless you only care about the shell.

[SkiFree]

I wouldn't even compare a Tii to a regular 2002, unless you only care about the shell.

I would, same theory applies ... a couple minor differences (mech. fuel injection, boxed trailing arms, different calipers) and that's it.

It really just depends on your perspective as a buyer. They will inherently be worth more, but for reasons that are, in my opinion, immaterial outside of bar-room braggin' rights.

[ELVA164]

I would, same theory applies ... a couple minor differences (mech. fuel injection, boxed trailing arms, different calipers) and that's it.

It really just depends on your perspective as a buyer. They will inherently be worth more, but for reasons that are, in my opinion, immaterial outside of bar-room braggin' rights.

Personally, I think the difference between an i and an iS is much smaller and less significant than that of a 2002 and a 2002tii. It is what you listed, but also multiple differences inside the engine including a different cam. Most significantly though, the 2002 is a collector car and as such the tii label has value. The iS label may have value someday, but I seriously doubt it will ever approach the difference the 2002s see. I would find it hard to pay much of a premium for an iS just because it's an iS. I'd have no problem making my i just as good if not better. It's what I'm doing to my car now, which aside from no premium audio-which I don't care about-has or will have everything I'd want or need.

[Raxe]

I'd remove/upgrade everything the IS added anyways, to me there's no benefit other than maybe saying "its a 325is."

[RUFFLZ]

for me and what I think will hold true in the future for our car prices is this:

m3>318iS>325iS>325i 2 dr>318i 4dr=325i 4dr
*totally excluding early models and iX for this

does anyone have a breakdown of how many of each model was sold?

edit: to answer OP's question, you basically hit it on the head as far as differentiating between the 325i and 325is.
However, the 'mystique' when it comes to 318is/i is quite vast IMO.
318is' only came in a 5 speed, 2 doors, lighter carpet, option for black headliner, option for cloth sport seats, option for sunroof, shadowline trim. I know I'm forgetting a bunch of shit.
The latter half of my list is pretty much exclusive to this model, which is my justification for it being worth more than the 325is in the future.
I'm not even gonna mention stuff like body accessories/performance options because those were available to pretty much all later e30's.

[JinormusJ]

Cause iS dey rdabes


The perfectly factory mounted trunk lip, the fully functioning 13-Button OBC, the original factory wired Map-Light mirror, Factory wired premium sound, Factory OEM iS lip, and a Factory LSD: These are really the only reason. The sway bars will get replaced, along with getting a coilover setup to replace the "upgraded" iS springs, the basketweaves, while nice, will get replaced with a more practical 15" or 16" (maybe even 17" or 18") wheel, the iS lip has probably been ripped off by now, and the sound system will most likely get beefed up anyway.

However, at the end of the day, I love being able to call my car an iS. There were much less sold of the iS versus the run-of-the-mill "i", so yes, they will be, and deserve, to be charged at premium