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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » E30's: 318is vs 325is?

Sept. 1, 2010 2:09 p.m. SlickDizzy SuperDork

I blew up 4th gear in the Brat yesterday...oops...time for a 5-speed conversion! Before I blow my wad on something silly to drive back from Florida, I've decided it's time to pick up a decent DD (if just so I have something to drive while going through the Brat), and I think the E30 is my car.

I've been looking at both 318is and 325i/is models (I don't want anything with the ancient M10, reliability aside). Pricing around here seems to be in the $1000-$2500 range, which is squarely what I'm looking to spend.

Is the later 4-cylinder quite a bit less gutless than the 6? What's the fuel economy difference? Are the timing belt changes hard/very frequent on the 6? (I like the idea of the chain on the four, though tensioner failures seem to be common). Either way, what should I be going through/replacing right off the bat as far as maintenance goes? I've had both an E36 and an E28 before, so I'm not totally new to the BMW game.
Sept. 1, 2010 2:20 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

The onboard computer of my '87 325is tells me I am getting 25mpg in mixed driving (60% highway.) I have seen as high as 28 with more highway.
Sept. 1, 2010 2:22 p.m. ditchdigger HalfDork

There are a lot of folks who really like M42 powered E30's. Lighter nose, better handling...ect. But in the entire time I had my 325is there was never any point that I wished it had less hp and torque.

Plus the exhaust note of the M20 is to die for.
Sept. 1, 2010 2:58 p.m. mtn SuperDork

I have the 318 convertible. I like it a lot, but I like tossable cars. I don't feel its underpowered, but I can understand how someone would.

As far as gas mileage, I've averaged about 25 when I drive it hard, and 33 when I drive it REALLY REALLY softly.
Sept. 1, 2010 3:00 p.m. Apexcarver SuperDork

Timing belts are every 60k and they are a decent amount of work. When you are looking at one think about removing everything between the block and the grill (radiator, alternator, ignition, etc). That said, its not all that difficult, just some work.

Dont discount the more torquey eta motor for a street car.
Sept. 1, 2010 3:03 p.m. Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork

I like the M20 i motors but if I was buying one right now as a DD I'd get a 1.8L for the rev happy goodness and lighter nose. If I had any plans to track it... I'd get the cheapest one I could find and swap in an S52.
Sept. 1, 2010 3:55 p.m. 2002maniac HalfDork

ditchdigger wrote: in the entire time I had my 325is there was never any point that I wished it had less hp and torque.

Um, that's like me saying i never wished my 318is weighed 200 lbs more and had dull turn-in. In fact, the only times i wished for more power was when i was stuck on the rear bumper of a "faster" car at the track and couldn't get past on the straight.
Sept. 1, 2010 4:03 p.m. Joe Gearin Associate Publisher

Slick,

They are both great cars. The 325is is noticeably faster, and has a lot more torque. The 318is feels lighter, more nimble and more Honda-like in it's responses to controls. Either car is a good handler, and a practical daily.

I'd look around for the very best example of either one that you can find. I prefer the 325is, but I'm kind of a torque junkie. I still miss my 87.

A/C units can be expensive to fix, but living up North that shouldn't be an issue for you. Maybe look for one with bad A/C, as they are worth nothing in FL without air. Just a thought.....
Sept. 1, 2010 4:31 p.m. speedblind Reader

I've owned both.

I think the people raving about the tossability differences in the 318 vs. the 325 are either confused or kidding themselves - any E30's a light, tossable car, albeit with very indirect steering and way too many turns lock-to-lock. An E36 rack solves that.

My 318 consistently got in the 28-30 mpg range with a manual trans (M42 engine) and all of my 325s have been in the low-mid 20s. Same driving conditions, same driver, etc.

Neither car is fast, but the 325i is faster and the torque is very noticeable. I'd say it comes down to torque vs. fuel economy.
Sept. 1, 2010 5:33 p.m. fastbmw New Reader

I think the June 2002 issue of GRM did a comparison of the e30 318is vs 325is vs M3. I'll see if I can find that issue kicking around.
Sept. 1, 2010 5:34 p.m. fastbmw New Reader

fastbmw wrote:

I think the June 2002 issue of GRM did a comparison of the e30 318is vs 325is vs M3. I'll see if I can find that issue kicking around.

Sorry it was the august issue.
Sept. 1, 2010 6:38 p.m. z31maniac SuperDork

I liked my slicktop 318is better than my 325 (before it had the S52 anyway).

The 318 + a good chip + lightweight flywheel (why they put a 28lb flywheel on a 1.8L is beyond me)+ intake/exhaust gets back nearly all the deficit to a 325.
Sept. 1, 2010 6:48 p.m. belteshazzar SuperDork

I've owned every combo of e30. every one had it's tradeoffs. i didn't ever like one more than another overall. I will tell you, just get the nicest one you can find in your price range, whatever the model.
Sept. 1, 2010 6:59 p.m. minimac SuperDork

jrw1621 wrote:

The onboard computer of my '87 325is tells me I am getting 25mpg in mixed driving (60% highway.) I have seen as high as 28 with more highway.

My '89 325is said the same. And mine was an automatic. Get the cleanest model you find. It won't matter which one, though. In six months you'll be lusting for something else!
Sept. 1, 2010 9:48 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

I can't say about the E30.. but I know I prefered the Ti over the coupe E36 due to it's lighterweight and more lively handling.

as an aside.. I did once read an article where a tech from BMW was quoted as saying the M42 actually had a better flowing head than the S15. The rare S42 was quite a track beast

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