318 v. 320

[qwerty]

Hello I'm a n00b!

My names Thomas I'm 20 and from Co. Durham ooop North

I've been a fan of E30 for like ever! But don't know a gret deal about them. Basically I'm gunna be finishing of a couple of things on my current car then looking to buy an E30.

Sooo whats best? I've heard the 320 is heavy on fuel and the performance doesn't really warrant the extra cost of running it.

I like the idea of the 318i the engine supposedly responds well to tuning and its a better balanced car from a handling point of view. Also they're generally a little cheaper and the insurance is cheaper.

I had considered an iS and would love one but am wanting to keep the insurance down a bit.

So what are peoples thoughts and advice etc. All help is most appreciated.

[daimlerman]

Welcome aboard!! 'Proper BMW's have 6 cylinders...

[qwerty]

Haha I've noticed a lot of this 6 cylinder "snobbery"

I agree that the sound is addicitve and they're very smooth (this is from experience with an e36 320) but does the extra weight not make it a bit more nose heavy than a 318?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Drive the both of them, chose for yourself. You'll get strong opinions from both ends of the spectrum. I'm certain a lot of the opinions and differences are exaggerated.

[qwerty]

Hmmm to be honest thats a good idea, which I should have thought of!

[daimlerman]

qwerty,The touring in my piccy is a 316....the laches 4 door hiding behind it is a 2.7....

[madaboutthe30]

Yhhh i dont agree with 'Proper BMW's have 6 cylinders' either. Im sure we can all agree on the e30 m3 a remarkable piece of work, one of Munich's legends, and its a 4 cylinder.

I would go for the 318 IS its a 1.8 and is generally a much more fun car to drive than the 320i.

[hammoj28]

318iS wasn't any different insurance wise for me than a 318i for some reason. They are ace fun to drive too.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

An m3 is a completely different car. We're talking about regular cars, not road going race cars available for public consumption.

The whole point about a range of engines is to appeal to a wider audience. The 6 pot was the flagship and what gave BMW the distinction in the late 80's. The 4 pot fits into the range, the 318is was a direct competitor for the Golf GTi.

[qwerty]

318iS wasn't any different insurance wise for me than a 318i for some reason.

Hmm will look into that then! I would love an iS if I can afford the insurance, I see it as the best of both worlds. However the 6 cylinder does have a draw for the sound!

[e30bmlover]

i can see a shit storm a brewin!

[HairyScreech]

i think its one you should ask the PBMW guys as thats a class that puts the 318 and 320 side by side on the same track. and im not sure there is much in it either way.

[BIDIIYANGU]

i hav just acquired a bmw 316 without the i the body work is in mint condition and so is the engine. however i wanted to up the bhps a bit what would you guys recommend

[e30bmlover]

i hav just acquired a bmw 316 without the i the body work is in mint condition and so is the engine. however i wanted to up the bhps a bit what would you guys recommend

lol drop a 325 in it( thats my answer for everything performance related ) already got a 325 and want more grunt??? turbo it.

[BIDIIYANGU]

a friend of mine recomended matching the e43 320d engine to it...is that possible

[AlexBaur325]

Fudos to putting a 2.5 in. Ive got a Baur 325 and i LOVE it, not only does it sound amazing it goes well too, it just pulls in every gear and just goes on and on Only downside...petrol...howver on a run it will do 35 ish.

[e30bmlover]

a friend of mine recomended matching the e43 320d engine to it...is that possible

i havent a clue mate, im no mechanic mind you i did manage to change my front and rear shocks with the aid of a friend..... bmw master technician status here i come!

[Sacred_Cow]

I find my 318i fun to drive with decent handling, if not quite the quickest thing on the road (and that's from a former Porsche 928 owner!). Why not get a mint 318i, look after it and in a few years drop in a 2.5?

[qwerty]

I find my 318i fun to drive with decent handling, if not quite the quickest thing on the road (and that's from a former Porsche 928 owner!). Why not get a mint 318i, look after it and in a few years drop in a 2.5?

I think thats pretty much exactly what I'm gunna do! Maybe not a 2.5 but something better and quicker

Prolly buy a average 318i and spend money onminting it up first to keep me amused.

[Fushion_Julz]

Welcome aboard!! 'Proper BMW's have 6 cylinders...

so the S14 isn't a "proper" BMW motor, then?

How about the M10? That was fitted to all the Neue Classe cars...and you could argue that "proper" BMWs of the modern era started with the Neue Classe. The M10 was also the basis for the BMW F1 1.5litre Turbo motor of the 1980s...

Prior to the M10 era most BMWs were either 8 cyl or 2cyl.

[march109]

Welcome aboard!! 'Proper BMW's have 6 cylinders...

so the S14 isn't a "proper" BMW motor, then?

How about the M10? That was fitted to all the Neue Classe cars...and you could argue that "proper" BMWs of the modern era started with the Neue Classe. The M10 was also the basis for the BMW F1 1.5litre Turbo motor of the 1980s...

Prior to the M10 era most BMWs were either 8 cyl or 2cyl.

Ironically I believe daimlerman said that proper BMW's have 6 cylinders because of the number of people who go on about the 4pot rightness all the live long day, and in reality was just joking.

[Fushion_Julz]

i hav just acquired a bmw 316 without the i the body work is in mint condition and so is the engine. however i wanted to up the bhps a bit what would you guys recommend

If it is an M10 engine, then you can (fairly easily) get a reliable 190bhp from that.
Cams, carbs, manifold and some headwork larger valves.

[march109]

i hav just acquired a bmw 316 without the i the body work is in mint condition and so is the engine. however i wanted to up the bhps a bit what would you guys recommend

If it is an M10 engine, then you can (fairly easily) get a reliable 190bhp from that.
Cams, carbs, manifold and some headwork larger valves.

really?? not sure about that.

Tim_is has a 2.1L 318is which is a 16valve (not 8valve like M10), and puts out just a bit more than that.

I agree its a great engine especially for its age, and still has its place especially if you like your carbs, but I disagree with your definition of fairly easy.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Easy in so much as throw a few grand at a garage to do the work.

[Ric_Vezza]

Yhhh i dont agree with 'Proper BMW's have 6 cylinders' either. Im sure we can all agree on the e30 m3 a remarkable piece of work, one of Munich's legends, and its a 4 cylinder.

I would go for the 318 IS its a 1.8 and is generally a much more fun car to drive than the 320i.

you said it. ive got a 320is, drives really well but u do have to give it some....it loves it tho. S14's are superb engines, all variants.

it is true that the 4 pots handle better as my friend has a mint tech II that he let me have a go in! the lighter front end IS noticable. u can really stick it in.
325i's do drive alot smoother it has to be said....my first bmw was an E46 328ci, M52 i think??, that was a pleasure to drive apart from the lack of a slip diff. i ended up putting it into a tree in the pissin rain!

insurance wise, u shouldnt have too much of a prob insuring any of the above.
i was 21 when i got the E46 and that was only £1000 FC.(can hear the older chaps laughing now )
i now have a new high score of 10 points and a 14k claim!!
The 320is is still only £800TP F+T im 22 with 2yrs NCB, i lost 2 yrs when i smashed the coupe up.

IMO its between a 318is and a 325i...dont even bother with the '20! not enough cc's to warrant the 2 extra cylinders, not tryin to offend the 320 owners but......they are slow and a bit flat....lol

[bss325i]

Dont bother with a two litre 6cyl, 2.5 or above. If you cant afford the associated costs of a 2.5 then get a 318is, failing that a 318i. Just dont bother with a 2 ltr, the only exception to that would be if the the car was mint/good spec/good price but other than that seek a different model. With regards to excess weight on the front end with 6cyl cars ignor it because it would only be realy noticable when pushing very hard in corners, most 4cyl owners use it as ammo againt us 6cyl owners!

[Ric_Vezza]

Dont bother with a two litre 6cyl, 2.5 or above. If you cant afford the associated costs of a 2.5 then get a 318is, failing that a 318i. Just dont bother with a 2 ltr, the only exception to that would be if the the car was mint/good spec/good price but other than that seek a different model. With regards to excess weight on the front end with 6cyl cars ignor it because it would only be realy noticable when pushing very hard in corners, most 4cyl owners use it as ammo againt us 6cyl owners!

i use my car car as ammo against u 6 cyl owners

[bss325i]

Would that mint tech2 325 mine by any chance ric?

[bss325i]

blah blah blah!

[qwerty]

Hmmm. I'm gunna try and get an iS then I think after what Ric has told me about the Insurance.

[Ric_Vezza]

Admiral have always been pretty good mate, get a quote online bro

[bss325i]

You'll struggle to find a 320is if thats what you want but deff worth seeking out if in your budget and can put up with LHD.

[jbh]

i would agree with ric between the ones your looking at id try for insurance on a 318is youll be suprised

[march109]

a 320IS will also be a good £5000 more than any bog standard 318i or 320i. And left hand drive only.

But they are absolutly awesome. and rare.

Plus insurance is cheap because UK insurance companies don't actually know what they are.

[Ric_Vezza]

true march, true.
i was looking to get a sport. was more like £1200 to insure for me....oh well what they dont know wont hurt em eh