318 Coupe vs. Vert

[CanadianDirty30]

Oh, by the way....what eurospec bits are you referring to on the car you are considering trading for? Unless the car has smiley headlights that are in great shape, (it may- perhaps worth 300 bucks), and chrome euro bumpers (it doesnt) that doesnt mean a lot on a late model.

The thing I was mainly worried about was giving up the 318is if it's more collectible and regret it. But I'll drive the vert and see how I like it! And it has gold condition smileys, late model euro bumpers, might have the euro analog clock instead of the obc, but other than that not too sure what else.

I DD a vert, all be it a 325. I love it. I had a 325 2dr for a while. You get used to the extra wind noise and IMO it's realy not that bad. Is the 318is realy worth 40% more, I happen to doubt it but IDK for sure. Drive it, you are either going to love it or be megh about it. Compare real sale values. GL man

Yea I'm not sure which is worth more, I wouldn't thought the vert mainly because people would pay more for the euro part of it. I just think the vert has more value with it being lower km and better condition. But thanks man I'll see how she goes

[dnguyen1963]

Are you a type A person? If yes, vert is not for you. A vert is for cruising and enjoying the weather.

[varg]

Is the 318is realy worth 40% more, I happen to doubt it but IDK for sure.

I'd say yes, sounds about right. I'll bet that the 318 convertible is about the least desirable E30 made.

[MC Hammered]

I have a vert and a swapped wagon and they are two totally different experiences when driving.

My vert handles like a go kart, in fact I like how it rides much better than my wagon even though they have very similar suspension setups. If I could make my wagon ride like the vert I'd be in heaven.

Anyway driving with the top down when the sun it out is a lot of fun, however, being stuck in traffic and not moving with the hot sun beating on you gets annoying fast. This is where having a hardtop with A/C is best.

My vert is a 325 and has enough power to get around anywhere quickly and keep up with highway traffic. I don't know if I'd like it as much with a 4cyl under the hood.

[Kershaw]

All convertibles leak.

[Das Delfin]

Like Nick said, either you're a convertible person or not. I wanted one, so I got one. I always thought people owned convertibles as "extra" cars, like a third car or one you drive on the weekends. But it doesn't have to be like that.

Do convertibles leak? Yes. Do sunroof cars leak? Yes. So either way you have a project..which is what you want. Mine leaked around the seals when I got it. Now it only leaks sometimes. But you do stuff like park uphill, keep a towel in the car and put it on the seat. To give you an idea of how little of a deal is, I have cloth interior and don't give a fuck.

I bought a manual top because this way it can't break. If yours has an electric top, don't count on fixing it because it ends up being a huge expensive mess.

As far as winter driving, I bought my car in Connecticut and drove it there the past three winters. As long as your heater works it's fine in the winter. Actually if you blast the windshield you don't even need to use your wipers when it's snowing. I don't have a hardtop and honestly don't see the need for one

Try to buy a car with a zip-out rear window because they all yellow over time and the zipper type is a million times easier and cheaper to fix. If it's not too bad get a headlight cleaner and buff/polish the plastic

People say verts have more chassis flex than the other cars. I've only felt mine flex once, but it was before I changed the suspension. When I take it out on the twisty roads, it feels great. Honestly I can't say enough good things about the car.

I don't see a need to get any car other than a convertible. They're so much more fun than any other car.

But I will admit that convertibles are pretty much outlawed at any bmwcca or scca track event you go to. Lots of people like to track our cars and that's something you can't do in a convertible. Unless you buy a 2k dollar hard top or install a roll cage

[flyboyx]

I'd say yes, sounds about right. I'll bet that the 318 convertible is about the least desirable E30 made.

personally, i would estimate an 84 or 85 318i sedan would be the least desirable e30 possible. as far as trade is concerned, it really depends on 2 things: 1) is the condition of the cabby good enough to offset the value difference of the 2 cars? 2) would you rather or would you rather not have a car where the top comes down?

Like Nick said, either you're a convertible person or not. I wanted one, so I got one. I always thought people owned convertibles as "extra" cars, like a third car or one you drive on the weekends. But it doesn't have to be like that.

Do convertibles leak? Yes. Do sunroof cars leak? Yes. So either way you have a project..which is what you want. Mine leaked around the seals when I got it. Now it only leaks sometimes. But you do stuff like park uphill, keep a towel in the car and put it on the seat. To give you an idea of how little of a deal is, I have cloth interior and don't give a fuck.

I bought a manual top because this way it can't break. If yours has an electric top, don't count on fixing it because it ends up being a huge expensive mess.

As far as winter driving, I bought my car in Connecticut and drove it there the past three winters. As long as your heater works it's fine in the winter. Actually if you blast the windshield you don't even need to use your wipers when it's snowing. I don't have a hardtop and honestly don't see the need for one

Try to buy a car with a zip-out rear window because they all yellow over time and the zipper type is a million times easier and cheaper to fix. If it's not too bad get a headlight cleaner and buff/polish the plastic

People say verts have more chassis flex than the other cars. I've only felt mine flex once, but it was before I changed the suspension. When I take it out on the twisty roads, it feels great. Honestly I can't say enough good things about the car.

I don't see a need to get any car other than a convertible. They're so much more fun than any other car.

But I will admit that convertibles are pretty much outlawed at any bmwcca or scca track event you go to. Lots of people like to track our cars and that's something you can't do in a convertible. Unless you buy a 2k dollar hard top or install a roll cage

you have a lot of great insight there. as far as the hard top is concerned, i'm going to say that if you owned one, you probably wouldn't own another convertible without that option. on the other hand, they are so expensive and hard to come by-there just aren't enough of them to go around. in fact, i can get on my local craigslist and probably find about a half dozen cabby's that are priced cheaper than the going rate for that fiberglass roof.

no worries about the power top. 318 cabbies all came with manual tops(all m42 cars also came with a getrag 240 here in the usa) i assume this cabby is a manual too.

when i am not using the hard top, i feel a good bit of chassis flex. basically between your butt in the seat, your hands on the wheel, and your feet on the pedals, you will feel the car making a twisting movement. mostly over uneven parking lots/speed bumps, etc. i have never felt it with the top installed.

[Das Delfin]

now that you mention it, I do feel things like that over speed bumps etc. Lol I thought that was just because the car is old :P

[supermansocks95]

I've had two 325i verts and have never driven a hardtop. I can say that the old one with the billy/hr setup squeaked so much and they do handle pretty sloppy. That being said, I still always have a smile on my face when I drive my current one. Even with a cheap ass suspension with the rear struts blown. A strut brace will make a slight noticeable difference. Cross brace and swapping the billy/hr suspension is next for me. My advice is get all of that stuff and the ride should be fantastic.

[Brezzi]

+1 for verts

I've owned 9 e30's and 10 old bimmer's. My last 4 DD's have all been verts, as soon as I got one I never wanted to go back. Wind in the face is the best. Plus all the chassis flex helps keep the rubber on the road (jokes).

That being said I wouldn't buy a 318 but that b.c I like at least a little bit of torque. Like what ppl have been saying if you wana cruse a 318 vert sounds like a nice option. Plus it has euro goodies!

[Brezzi]

I've had two 325i verts and have never driven a hardtop. I can say that the old one with the billy/hr setup squeaked so much and they do handle pretty sloppy. That being said, I still always have a smile on my face when I drive my current one. Even with a cheap ass suspension with the rear struts blown. A strut brace will make a slight noticeable difference. Cross brace and swapping the billy/hr suspension is next for me. My advice is get all of that stuff and the ride should be fantastic.

^This you just need to refresh emm. I have a strut bar and am planning on an xbrace, solid rear subframe bushings, and a roll bar which should tighten it up quite a bit. Thats a little hard core for verts (I expect some ride discomfort due to increased stiffness) but thats how I like emm.

[supermansocks95]

^This you just need to refresh emm. I have a strut bar and am planning on an xbrace, solid rear subframe bushings, and a roll bar which should tighten it up quite a bit. Thats a little hard core for verts (I expect some ride discomfort due to increased stiffness) but thats how I like emm.

Who needs comfort when you can take a 90* going 40mph? :) I've been thinking about firmer bushings, but not sure. I REALLY want a cross brace, but I don't need to be spending more. I need to get my trailing arm replaced or see what's tweaked before I spend more money on upgrades...

[CanadianDirty30]

I've had two 325i verts and have never driven a hardtop. I can say that the old one with the billy/hr setup squeaked so much and they do handle pretty sloppy. That being said, I still always have a smile on my face when I drive my current one. Even with a cheap ass suspension with the rear struts blown. A strut brace will make a slight noticeable difference. Cross brace and swapping the billy/hr suspension is next for me. My advice is get all of that stuff and the ride should be fantastic.

Yea if I do end up getting it , first thing I'd do is new suspension, cross brace, strut bar, and I already have a set of stiffer subframe bushings laying around at home

^This you just need to refresh emm. I have a strut bar and am planning on an xbrace, solid rear subframe bushings, and a roll bar which should tighten it up quite a bit. Thats a little hard core for verts (I expect some ride discomfort due to increased stiffness) but thats how I like emm.

Hey stiffers always better, probably how I'll go about it if I get a vert

+1 for verts

I've owned 9 e30's and 10 old bimmer's. My last 4 DD's have all been verts, as soon as I got one I never wanted to go back. Wind in the face is the best. Plus all the chassis flex helps keep the rubber on the road (jokes).

That being said I wouldn't buy a 318 but that b.c I like at least a little bit of torque. Like what ppl have been saying if you wana cruse a 318 vert sounds like a nice option. Plus it has euro goodies!

Yea I'd rather have a 325 if it was gonna be a convertible but I'll test drive this and if it feels similar to my coupe with the m42 that's fine by me for now until I swap it or something!

[Brezzi]

Yea I'd rather have a 325 if it was gonna be a convertible but I'll test drive this and if it feels similar to my coupe with the m42 that's fine by me for now until I swap it or something!

Oh! If swap is on the table def get the vert!

Or boost it, that would be period correct and quick!

[CanadianDirty30]

Oh! If swap is on the table def get the vert!

Or boost it, that would be period correct and quick!

At some point in the futures the least, I'm in uni right now so funds are limited. I could always start parting together stuff for a turbo build tho, you're talking turbo m42?