91 318is vs 325is confussion...whats the diff? (besides eng)

[six2midnight]

Alright guys... Ive been googling and trying to figure this out for a while but cant find any really solid answers.

ive owned a couple 91 318is's now, and i know its the only year for this car. What ive read so far is its a the only year for a 325is body with the m42 engine.


My question is, the 91 318is came with the small little front lip while the 325is came with the big IS front lip that we all know and love.

my question to all of you is BESIDES THE ENGINE, what is the diff between the 318is and the 325is?? :hitler:

exterior, interior, suspension. I want the real specs :) thanks!

[Bglad]

Rear dif cases are different, 318 is slower.

[Chessmaster]

interior if im correct in the usa, we never got an option for leather. also no check panel, unique carpet, less sound deadening, option for no sunroof. those are the ones I can think of for now on my 318is slicktop.

[ELVA164]

I'm pretty sure a good search will turn up a number of threads on this topic.

Also, there's no such thing as a "325iS body" unless you're referring to the iS front and rear spoilers. The large front "lip" only came on the '87 325iS, and was then replaced with the smaller front lip due to the introduction of a new front valance.

[318isbmw]

I'm pretty sure a good search will turn up a number of threads on this topic.

Also, there's no such thing as a "325iS body" unless you're referring to the iS front and rear spoilers. The large front "lip" only came on the '87 325iS, and was then replaced with the smaller front lip due to the introduction of a new front valance.

I think he's referring to the IS lip versus the I lip on the late model since there was no early model 318is

[ELVA164]

Very possible.

[six2midnight]

I guess i am referring to the BIG vs SMALL i"s" lip, the rear spoiler and i guess the elliposoids which were only available on 89 325is?

ELVA164 - "he large front "lip" only came on the '87 325iS, and was then replaced with the smaller front lip due to the introduction of a new front valance."

wasnt the front valance changed to the facelift "plastic bumper valance" in 88. 88 should be the only year with the plastic bumper valance and the diving boards.

was 88 the only year for the big lip? or was the big lip only offered on 325is and not 318is?

[ELVA164]

I guess i am referring to the BIG vs SMALL i"s" lip, the rear spoiler and i guess the elliposoids which were only available on 89 325is?

ELVA164 - "he large front "lip" only came on the '87 325iS, and was then replaced with the smaller front lip due to the introduction of a new front valance."

wasnt the front valance changed to the facelift "plastic bumper valance" in 88. 88 should be the only year with the plastic bumper valance and the diving boards.

was 88 the only year for the big lip? or was the big lip only offered on 325is and not 318is?

The ellipsoids were standard on all e30s in the 89 model year, but were also an option in 88, 90, and I think 91. You're right about the 88 having early bumpers and a late valence, but it would have had the same lip as the late model iS. If I understand the question.

[ELVA164]

But since we're discussing it...

The leather seats, maplight mirror, limited slip differential, electric sunroof, and maybe(?) Premium sound that were all standard on the 325iS were either options or were not available for the 318iS. The 318 also had thinner carpet, a smaller differential case, and I think less sound-deadening/weight distribution tar. The manual gearbox is different in addition to the motor, with the 318 using a Getrag 240 and the 325 using a Getrag 260.

[Stanley Rockafella]

The seats, maplight mirror, limited slip differential, electric sunroof, leather seats, and maybe(?) Premium sound that were all standard on the 325iS were options for the 318iS. The 318 also had thinner carpet, a smaller differential case, and I think less sound-deadening/weight distribution tar. The manual gearbox is different in addition to the motor, with the 318 using a Getrag 240 and the 325 using a Getrag 260.

some of these things were never even an option for the 318is such as the power sunroof. The 318is was referred to as a "poor man's m3" since it was designed to be a stripped down version of the 325's with a high revving 4 and few luxury items and less weight.

[ELVA164]

Fixed! I just saw suspension as well, and the 318 had lighter springs because it was a lighter car. I'd assume the damper valving is different, too, but have no idea.

[Codym42]

318is also has shadowline trim

[Cabriolet]

my god. i lost brain cells reading this thread.
OP. The engine/trans differs more about the car than anything else. seats can be change, trim painted black or be bought chrome, springs changed, exhaust changed, etc.
There is 0 difference between the 325is/318is lip or spoiler.
318is came with cloth or vinyl interior, not leather, they were only made in 90-91.
The rear valance has only been cut out for a single exhaust pipe.
the engine is a 1.8L dual over head cam, the cooling system is smaller and lighter and more fragile. the trans is smaller, lighter, and shitter. the exhaust is a single pipe. the cars weigh about 2602 lbs.

The 325is was made 87-91, all 87's are crap, in 88 they were still metal bumpers, but the cooling system, engine management improved and body changed, including late model window regulators, late model seats, light map mirror, and door trim painted black. 89 is regarded as the best year of the 325is. no air bag, ellipsoid headlights, all the other late model up grades and the first year of plastic bumpers. the cars weight about 2844 lbs.

If you are comparing just the years that the 318is was made (90/91)
The only real difference is the engine, trans, cooling system, exhaust. the rest is superficial.

[uturn]

The rear valance exhaust cutout is for a single tailpipe, 325 is a little wider for the twin pipe.

[reelizmpro]

My question is, the 91 318is came with the small little front lip while the 325is came with the big IS front lip that we all know and love.

You have to pay attention to the production dates on the 325iS. Real quick, of the 325i's, only the 87 325iS had a big "cow catcher" air dam. 88-90 had the facelift with the iS front lip spoiler. In 91 they came out with your 318iS which came with the same iS front lip spoiler. There was no 325iS for 91 but you could get a 325i Sport package instead that came with the spoilers.