Which E30 would you buy - 325i or 318is perhaps?

[vonmarshall]

I bought myself a lovely E30 320i about 2 years ago off ebay for £1,700.

It was meant to be my station runner car and I fully expected to use it and throw it away when it inevitably broke down.

However I seem to have bought myself a little gem of a car. 130k on the clock, every single mile of which is covered by the complete service history and every MOT certificate is included.

It starts straight up every time and has proven to be a lot of fun to run (especially now it has 15" BBS wheels and Yokohomas on it).

In short I have grown to love it, but I cannot stop myself thinking that I want a cleaner (the interior is a bit tatty although externally it is very good), probably lower mileage car.

I have been tempted to spend the cash on my car (new leather interior, somhow source a carpet etc) but I also am considering trading it and and going up the food chain.

I keep bouncing between trying to get myself a 325i , or going for a 318is.

I know there is a price difference between them (and I can probably afford to go to about £12k if I really have to), so it is not really comparing identical options, but I am keen to hear your thoughts, particularly if you have been privaledged enough to own both of them at some time.

What would you do if you were me?

[Nobby_N]

325i is all you should be considering!
Touring or 2 door FTW
10-14k I would consider something better than E30

[cheffy]

Whats "station runner" ? - 325i v 318is, if you want a really good drivers car go for the 318is, I have one, and its such a great car to drive, loves to rev,its just great fun on the twisty bits, if you want more than 2 doors, or its more of a daily driver, I'd go for the 325 touring, but whatever you want get it asap, as pricies are rising.

[vonmarshall]

A station runner is literally a car I bought simply to get me to the station and back every day! I live about 4 miles from my station and get to drive down some nice bendy "b" roads on the way.

My wife has the family 4x4 so we use that for longer journeys.

I guess my headline question, is which one is more fun?

The 318is, is cheaper but I have a sneaking suspicion it may be more fun than the 325i.

My gut feel is that the 318is is lighter, more nimble and a little bit keener to rev, whereas the 325i has more torque, is heavier and may be more suited to longer runs. Does that sound right?

[Gert_8]

325i is all you should be considering!
Touring or 2 door FTW
10-14k I would consider something better than E30

I'd agree with Nobby. You can't beat the 6 pot. Also, 10-14k will buy you a better car as the 325 motor isn't the most frugal.

[ross_jsy]

I've driven both, owned 2 325's and my current daily is a 325 with an m30b35 engine conversion.

Personally I wouldn't consider a 4 pot. I like how fizzy they are and they are fun to keep on the boil, but they don't compare to the sound a 6 pot makes. Neither are massively quick by modern standards but a good 325 goes down the road well enough.

12k would get you in a nice sport if that's your bag. But for less money you would be able to find a very nice non sport example. Have you considered one with an engine swap? An m52b28 is a lovely thing in an e30

[andye30nut]

318is is the 1 you need , had e30s from 316 to 325i and the 318is is probably the best 1 to drive but long trips 325i .

[JungleGus]

M52B28 your car - easy!

[scallyally]

Let's be fair most roads in this country are nothing short of diabolical! And we all know motorists ceased paying for road improvements years ago. My 318is is a bone shaker with it's very firm suspension on all but motorways.

It might be more economical than a 6pot, but that's the only justification.

[bp23456]

Both

[e30_mtec]

318is, because 325i is a cheaper M3, I'd have an M3 over a 325i, 325i is common, whereas 318is rare, I'd say 318is.

LOOL
318is better than a 325i? You havent had a good 6 pot then mate.....

6 Pot over 4

[Cypriotgeeza]

318is is a fun car! it was my first E30 and I loved every minute of it!

But lets not get it twisted it has nothing on a 6 pot bmw!

[driftmaster808]

i wish i kept my 318is - miss it but i could not afford to keep both the sport and the is and when it came down to making the choice, it was the sport all day long

[bp23456]

Both!!!

[ross_jsy]

A) m3's are not a bit more than a 325i
B) there are multiple spoilers available
C) there are multiple seat options. Sport seats are nothing like those of a lowly 316i/318i Lux
D) six cylinder cars do not overheat. Poorly maintained cars overheat regardless of cylinder count
E) the same seats are available in 325's/any other model (minus the iS pattern). There is no "indication of the use of m3 parts on the 318iS" any more than a similarly specced 316/318/320/325
F) an s14 is not comparable to a m42, regardless what deluded owners think
G) they made the iS for 2 years
H) rare does not mean good. They built the iS to take on the Golf GTi, and going by contemporary road tests, they failed, hence the lower sales

So pretty much all your statements are wrong

[Simon13]

i'd keep it and just enjoy it for what it is,

its also the cheapest option. just remember this, they're all rotton welded up shit now and they all have a cracked dash and shagged interior. They're just so old now.

Finding a good normal 325i now is nearly impossible, that ship sailed a long time ago. A long with any e30 tbh regardless of engine or body shape

[jcm325]

Would you really want to spend 12k on a car to leave it in a train station car park 5 days a week ? I certainly wouldn't. ....keep what you've got at least you don't have to worry about it getting stolen /damaged etc......and buy a 12k car to enjoy at weekends etc....never had a 318is but I've had X2 325i and they are good but not quick by today's standards. ..

[bp23456]

Both!!!!

[ross_jsy]

I don't think anyone is claiming a 325i is better than an m3.

Only deluded iS owners/people taking the p1ss call them the baby m3. Similar rocker cover design, clutching at straws there

[Cloggy Saint]

My touring has the same lights as an M3.

[csl]

"Another reason for choosing 318is is that it's a one year production, whereas the 325i sport mtech 2 have been made for 3+ years. So what's more rare?"


Some interesting figures....318is 38,613. 325I Sport tech2 2357 (there will be a few more to add to that total from the very first 1988 registered cars) These figures are from German production records,apparently...

Id take a 325,simply cos I love a bit of pig iron

[bss325i]

The M42 is nothing unique, every facelift 318i sold in the states be it 2dr, 4dr or cabrio got the M42.

[pacerpete]

It's all about the on limit handling balance, cough

[bp23456]

Maybe

[Gert_8]

Most have been scrapped....?

[pianist]

Can't say much about 318is as I never owned it but to people going on and on about its rarity I ask this: can it be that it is rare for a reason? Maybe no one was buying it at a time as there were better options?
It seams that this car is special but more to people who already owns it and there's a thing when you own the car you see it with different set of eyes just like my more door is best looking car to me

[pk1976]

If I were the OP I would stick with my 320i and go to the station and back safe in the knowledge that if it got scraped in the car park I wouldn't be overly upset.

318is vs 325i? Depends on what you want today and what you plan to do with it in the future. If you want a weekend road warrior then both will suit depending on your driving style.

Either way they will both smell the same...

[magpie]

get the best shell you can find and build your own

[iDreamBeemer]

I've had 2 e30s - a 318iS and a 325i. They are different to drive and the iS is a fun and more economical driver. the iS was only made over a 2 year period to compete with the golf GTI and failed. It was a marketing term used at the time to call it the baby M3 as it was a 4 pot and took some good points like all round disc brakes instead of drums that a standard 318 had.

My short answer is if you can get a 325i. The power and the sound are much better but the m20 is heavy and you will notice the weight on the front end.

If you can find a decent one of either you'll enjoy it and if in good nick and looked after, you'll be able to have something worth something in the future too.

[jmc330i]

Most have been scrapped....?

Or have been fitted with proper engines

[Gert_8]

Hahahahah!!