What makes the E30 318is a fun driving car?

[roguetoaster]

Wait what?

I thought this would make the car quicker to respond?

I really like my 4-cylinder and this thread is kinda making me reconsider my M52 swap...

He's trying to say that a turbo kills responsiveness, and while that is true just a little bit with the normal piping required it's also true that a properly sized turbo setup doesn't change it much.

FYI, a light FW is the best fun mod you can do for your M42, not that it really makes the car faster overall.

[djjerme]

Sadly, both of those are debatable. The smart cookies took the 2.3 Lima turbo instead, which was probably the right choice.

Sadly, one of the first motors I ever rebuilt was a 2.3 Turbo. Though, to be fair, it was in a '79 Mustang. It looked great (still wish I had that car) but it was draw through carb style.. Needless to say, I am not surprised that Ford didn't sell many of the early turbo Fox Body 'stangs before the SVO in '84.


Crap - now I have to look on the interwebs for a '79 Mustang hatch.

[dnguyen1963]

Sadly, one of the first motors I ever rebuilt was a 2.3 Turbo. Though, to be fair, it was in a '79 Mustang. It looked great (still wish I had that car) but it was draw through carb style.. Needless to say, I am not surprised that Ford didn't sell many of the early turbo Fox Body 'stangs before the SVO in '84.


Crap - now I have to look on the interwebs for a '79 Mustang hatch.

Don't know about you guys, but I still love the old Ford 5.0 V8. The sound of a naturally aspirated V8 is just awesome.

[Bimmerguy91]

Haha, ironic isn't it? An E30/M10 is not a fun car, but a little hotrod M10 in a 2002 is such a fun combo... go figure.

Ha yeah it is. I had an 84 318i with a 5 speed and it was much more bearable. The automatic just sucks out any life the M10 has.

It's also hilarious that a lot of crazy BMW F1 engines were based on the M10 :mrgreen:

[gwb72tii]

the m42 engine is a blast to rev out, and the car is lighter-weight by a considerable amount from the factory. the longer second gear ratio, combined with the factory LSD short ratio 4.10 really makes the car "quick" and "fun".

The weight distribution is the same as a 6 cylinder e30, but the lighter weight front end is easily noticed, especially with power steering disabled.

The engine uses a progressive type throttle body that allows for great fuel economy while cruising, but still soem oomph when floored. My m42 e30 is lightened up about 200lbs, has a few bolt ons, and is faster than both of my 325is's (both of those are stock).

Everyone is quick to hate on the m42 but it really is the baby m3. The m42 is the most technically advanced engine ever offered from the factory in the e30, even more so than the s14.

with an engine chip and a lightweight flywheel the 318i/318is late model is almost every bit as good as 325i - you just wont have the torque down low. the m42 is also easier to work on than a m20, in my humble opinion... though both are super easy anyways.

get one!

all of this

I've owned both and the 318is is not that much slower than a 325i that it matters. The M42 motor flat out is a much better motor than the 6cyl 325i.

The two cars are different experiences. The 325i is a tank compared to the 318is.

[MrBurgundy]

the M42 motor flat out is a much better motor than the 6cyl 325i.

[reelizmpro]

Haha, ironic isn't it? An E30/M10 is not a fun car, but a little hotrod M10 in a 2002 is such a fun combo... go figure.

Well they used the M10 very early in the 2002's all the way into the 80's on the bigger/heavier E21 and then on the even bigger/heavier E30. So we're talking about virtually the same 100HP engines having to move bigger/heavier bodies. They kept that engine around a long long time. Furthermore, the 2002 guys benefited from the later M10 development such as EFI conversion, etc.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Well they used the M10 very early in the 2002's all the way into the 80's on the bigger/heavier E21 and then on the even bigger/heavier E30. So we're talking about virtually the same 100HP engines having to move bigger/heavier bodies. They kept that engine around a long long time. Furthermore, the 2002 guys benefited from the later M10 development such as EFI conversion, etc.

And along the way they nerf'd the engine when they went efi by dropping compression ratio and losing engine size from 2.0 liter to 1.8

[djjerme]

To be fair, they were trying to meet the ever changing emissions standards. The M10 was a rock solid motor and you still see people abusing them in competition..

[Jb325is]

all of this

I've owned both and the 318is is not that much slower than a 325i that it matters. The M42 motor flat out is a much better motor than the 6cyl 325i.

The two cars are different experiences. The 325i is a tank compared to the 318is.

I couldn't agree less. Again, just my opinion. I was so excited when I drove my first 318is long ago, but was so let down, and have been ever since. I think a stock-ish m20 iS, with good suspension and exhaust is a fantastic driving experience in any environment, while a 318is in any configuration is only fun when you can really fling it around at its limit. Which is a pretty lame thing to do on the street. That said I'm considering picking up a nice 318is from a friend right now... but would be tossing the M42 quickly.

[sandrune]

I thoroughly enjoy my m42. I've got a 4.27 diff though so getting into the fun rev range is super easy. Definitely wish I had a few more horses but honestly I keep up with people pretty well in a short race, and that's with a slipping clutch too.

A turbo is in my future at some point. Already have a lower milage m42 I'm building on the side.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[nando]

I couldn't agree less. Again, just my opinion. I was so excited when I drove my first 318is long ago, but was so let down, and have been ever since. I think a stock-ish m20 iS, with good suspension and exhaust is a fantastic driving experience in any environment, while a 318is in any configuration is only fun when you can really fling it around at its limit. Which is a pretty lame thing to do on the street. That said I'm considering picking up a nice 318is from a friend right now... but would be tossing the M42 quickly.

as another person said, what makes the 318is truly fun is an engine swap.

[robrez]

as another person said, what makes the 318is truly fun is an engine swap.

Or this


Actually, I never once thought my daily driven 318i needed it, but intrigue made me try it. It's still a work in progress, but I'll report back if/when it returns to daily driver form.

[Balleristic31]

Is that a Downing Atlanta SC, Robert? How does it run? Selling? ;)

[c0rbin9]

Drove a 590HP 2010 Shelby GT500 around all day today - got home and took the E30 for a spin. It felt slower than usual, haha. Driving feel was no comparison though.