This E30 is a piece of kit

[Tim_P]

Took it for a 20/25 mile drive this evening to see what was what. I haven't given it the proper test since buying it however long ago it was. Nothing too heavy to start with but once it was warmed up I hit the b-roads, national speed limits and generally made the most of the completely empty roads.

The car is a peach, inspires such confidence and the balance is perfect. The M42 goes really well when wound up, it actually surprised me. You do need to get it past 4k to make progress but once you do it feels pretty fast and I can say that with confidence after owning and driving some fairly potent cars.

The engine and chassis complement each other really well and sweeping bends are devoured with ease, the car constantly wanting you to go that little bit faster.

On the tighter, more interesting bends, plenty of gear-changes are required which makes the whole experience more rewarding and even more involving. When you can keep the engine on the boil I was surprised at the rate the speedo goes up and how easy it is to keep the speed as you attack the straights and curves. I was actually driving a lot faster than I have in previous, statistically faster cars.

If you do have to scrub off a lot of speed there is that moment where a bit more torque would be nice, there seems to be a slight plateau of activity between 2000 and 3500rpm, but it's quickly forgotten once into the power band. I dare say if you were totally merciless you could drop another cog to fire you round the next bend, but that wasn't what tonight was all about.

The engine is not particularly refined, but is well up to the task and feels as strong as it is eager. Apparently good ones will make 140bhp which is not a bad sum when mated to a rear drive chassis of the E30's weight.

The whole car is so direct yet not as fly away as I thought it might be, though granted the roads were dry.

Overall I am really very impressed with the 318iS, it's every bit as fun as the magazines say and if it's likened to a baby M3, I simply have to drive the daddy because it would be a very, very hard act to follow.

The E30iS is proof that you need neither huge bhp, turbos or electronic trickery to make a great driver's car. It's easy to see why people prefer it to the 6-cylinder engines which for their greater smoothness and muscle advantage are almost a totally different driving experience.

As a standard car it is excellent and some mild fettling to suspension and engine would make it a very complete car for any occasion. I'm staring down the barrel of several hundred pounds profit if I were to sell the car, but the more I drive it the more I want to take it that little bit further, contemplate making those minor changes which will make the car that bit better, that bit quicker, that bit more direct and that bit more addictive.

A guy once said, if you can only afford a tatty E30 M3, but an 318iS, I thought he was talking crap, I now know he wasn't.

[nav786]

good thing your lovin it. yep they are awesome.

[Adammcf]

Good to see you having fun Tim! How do you rate it against your E36 325?

[psychochild187]

the bit about,,, and sweeping bends are devoured with ease, the car constantly wanting you to go that little bit faster.


so so true!

try a bend at 110 ooohh the feel of balencing the car with the throttle