It's not all about engines.
I think a mint E30 2-Door with nothing but maybe SE sidekirts and iS lip rear spoiler is the best overall look.
Sports have just always seemed a bit chavvy/kitted for me. The curse of all those aftermarket kits but that's my opinion.
M3 looks awesome but again, perhaps not as all round elegant as a plain car.
Tourings are great.
All other tuned version are so so.
After that, handling etc etc is all pretty much the same bar M3.
So endless rows about this E30 and that are lame - the iS is the best all round - simple.
Saw a 318iS get a little embarassed yesterday...
Moderator: martauto
I was meaning that, i thought he ment it by engines orginally not by 4 pot classes. trust you!bss325i wrote:S14 is an engine not a Model like the 318iS!Felix79 wrote:2.3 S14 , 2.0 s14 maybemagpie wrote: what's second,after an s14,
TBH I adored my m10 on my 318i I thought it was a cracking little engine!
1st M3
2nd 320iS
3rd 318iS
Felix79 aka Dan
If you got haters, then your doing something right!
E85 Z4M Roadster
If you got haters, then your doing something right!
E85 Z4M Roadster
For me the M3 evolutions from Alpina and Hartge were the pinnical of the e30.On_a_Roll wrote:You could thus argue that list is also the best 3 E30's ever.bss325i wrote:1st M3
2nd 320iS
3rd 318iS
The B6S is just simply sublime, althought uses a M30 engine over the S14 ( I an sure Barry will correct me on this if need be
) I like the 320is as they were real sleepers and alot rarer than other models too.
The 318IS is a nice car but it just does not do it for me the same way my Alpina does.
Felix79 aka Dan
If you got haters, then your doing something right!
E85 Z4M Roadster
If you got haters, then your doing something right!
E85 Z4M Roadster
i couldn't agree morebss325i wrote:S14 is an engine not a Model like the 318iS!Felix79 wrote:2.3 S14 , 2.0 s14 maybemagpie wrote: what's second,after an s14,
TBH I adored my m10 on my 318i I thought it was a cracking little engine!
1st M3
2nd 320iS
3rd 318iS
does an ix have an m20?
an s14 in one of those would be nice,
but i'll be it's been done before?
m52 b30 stroker 6-speed 318is Galvanizer
m42 touring
+ a yard full of scrap turds
i take it's without the sand,Barx325i wrote:the best way to realise an engines full breathing potential is to warm her up and connect the inlet boot to a sandblaster.
I read this on an audi forum..
m52 b30 stroker 6-speed 318is Galvanizer
m42 touring
+ a yard full of scrap turds
So that's where those pricks on ebay got the idea of an electric supercharger 
Christ, this has gone off topic!!!
I don't give a shite about the 318iS/325i-Sport argument, I only used play along as everybody gets so wound up in it, lol.
End of the day, the iS is a good daily driver and is "nippy" and fun to chuck about with some nice mods and actually is the best E30 to have if you live in a country where a Sport is 1500 euro extra to VRT and 400 to tax every year... otherwise a M20b28, M52 or S50 is what I'd have
The Sport is just faster and sounds better but is alittle more old fashioned engine and alot can be tired which is the only reason iS's all around the place can keep up or be faster the odd time over normal 325s.
Both cars are blown into the weeds on the handling front by an M3 so really whats the point debating that if your really on the limit right before you hit that tree that you can feel the iS being slightly more balanced than when you did it in a 325 and lived to try again in an iS
M42 is a better engine in terms of an engineering point of view but it should be when it was over a decade newer than the basis of the M20.
The point of the thread was how much a 4.45 diff and 15" BBSs made which is 50bhp it seems.
And no, I'm not 25 stone
Christ, this has gone off topic!!!
I don't give a shite about the 318iS/325i-Sport argument, I only used play along as everybody gets so wound up in it, lol.
End of the day, the iS is a good daily driver and is "nippy" and fun to chuck about with some nice mods and actually is the best E30 to have if you live in a country where a Sport is 1500 euro extra to VRT and 400 to tax every year... otherwise a M20b28, M52 or S50 is what I'd have
The Sport is just faster and sounds better but is alittle more old fashioned engine and alot can be tired which is the only reason iS's all around the place can keep up or be faster the odd time over normal 325s.
Both cars are blown into the weeds on the handling front by an M3 so really whats the point debating that if your really on the limit right before you hit that tree that you can feel the iS being slightly more balanced than when you did it in a 325 and lived to try again in an iS
M42 is a better engine in terms of an engineering point of view but it should be when it was over a decade newer than the basis of the M20.
The point of the thread was how much a 4.45 diff and 15" BBSs made which is 50bhp it seems.
And no, I'm not 25 stone
M42 rightness above 6500rpm, nobody can hear you scream
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e30bmlover
- Ac Schnitzer prophet
- Posts: 5352
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Playing on the ring road!!!
lol!! too true... the m52 would laugh at an i.s.... FEEL THE VANOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!magpie wrote:e36bmlover
aaaaachen!!!!!!!!!!!!
i know the dirty sixes dont count... but it would decimate both and destroy a b25 with a few suttle mods... we will find out soon as my inlet is being swapped!
And a rocket ship would laugh at an M52 - what a silly comment. I mean seriously dude... roll:e30bmlover wrote:lol!! too true... the m52 would laugh at an i.s.... FEEL THE VANOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i know the dirty sixes dont count... but it would decimate both and destroy a b25 with a few suttle mods... we will find out soon as my inlet is being swapped!
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Alex
- Married to the E30 Zone
- Posts: 22666
- Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
it seems that all 6 pot owners think that we think our 4 pots are faster and better than 6 pots 
ive yet to hear an m42 owner say there quicker and better than a 6 pot, i cant wait till i can afford to insure a 6 pot
we like them for what they are but i want a 325i at heart but i make do
ive yet to hear an m42 owner say there quicker and better than a 6 pot, i cant wait till i can afford to insure a 6 pot
we like them for what they are
but i want a 325i at heart but i make do Well said Alex 
Hands down 325i's are the better car, but only when running right. The newer iS's do better at keeping their performance over the 6's.
I'm sorry to hear you have to pay so much for a 325i Dave. Its dirt cheap over in sunny ol' Jersey! (actually too hot today!)
Saying that, I would gladly have a nice little iS in jersey. But there are sooo few. So I bought a 325i and wont look back. If I found a well priced M3 in my budget then I'll grab that. Only four pot thats worth it!
Hands down 325i's are the better car, but only when running right. The newer iS's do better at keeping their performance over the 6's.
I'm sorry to hear you have to pay so much for a 325i Dave. Its dirt cheap over in sunny ol' Jersey! (actually too hot today!)
Saying that, I would gladly have a nice little iS in jersey. But there are sooo few. So I bought a 325i and wont look back. If I found a well priced M3 in my budget then I'll grab that. Only four pot thats worth it!
Uni is killing the project.
Oh theres been plenty!Alex wrote:...ive yet to hear an m42 owner say there quicker and better than a 6 pot...
Agreen springs to mind!
The 325i is NOT the better car hands down or otherwise.
The only thing 325i owners bleat on about are capacity, miniscule speed increase, 2 extra cylinders etc etc - all engine and all BS. What about the downsides? It has an old, thirsty, heavy engine. No sports interior/trim as standard, no sports suspension as standard, no exterior mods as standard (shadow-line, fogs etc) and is now worth less than any 318iS!
The 318iS is more than the engine (though the M42 is superior), you get so much more for your money and is a more complete car, better value, better investment and better to drive!
So how is a 325i (read M20B25!) constantly in this argument? Because it has a bigger engine and is slightly quicker? I thought E30 are about more than BHP, E30 owners more enlightened than your average driver of any pikey turbo hatch - which would muller both cars.
325i owners just can't stand that their 'flagship' model is nowhere near as desirable as the 318iS - FACT.
The only thing 325i owners bleat on about are capacity, miniscule speed increase, 2 extra cylinders etc etc - all engine and all BS. What about the downsides? It has an old, thirsty, heavy engine. No sports interior/trim as standard, no sports suspension as standard, no exterior mods as standard (shadow-line, fogs etc) and is now worth less than any 318iS!
The 318iS is more than the engine (though the M42 is superior), you get so much more for your money and is a more complete car, better value, better investment and better to drive!
So how is a 325i (read M20B25!) constantly in this argument? Because it has a bigger engine and is slightly quicker? I thought E30 are about more than BHP, E30 owners more enlightened than your average driver of any pikey turbo hatch - which would muller both cars.
325i owners just can't stand that their 'flagship' model is nowhere near as desirable as the 318iS - FACT.
No there hasn't - if they were it was only for a wind up whereas 325i owners lose it!bss325i wrote:Oh theres been plenty!Alex wrote:...ive yet to hear an m42 owner say there quicker and better than a 6 pot...
Agreen springs to mind!
Ratch, you just on your back foot because, even a golf gti was/is a quicker car.On_a_Roll wrote:So the argument is closed by a neutral - 325i sucks - 318iS wins.
Read the contemporary road tests. The iS was aimed at taking a slice of the hot hatch market.....
....and failed!
325i FTW!
Barry - you're a smart dude. How many times do I have to go on speed not being the be all and end all? The iS was also a test for the next generation E36 engines too. I also would rather have a mint iS over a mint MKII 16V any day, again, it is a superior CAR. Not ENGINE - CAR.bss325i wrote:Ratch, you just on your back foot because, even a golf gti was/is a quicker car.On_a_Roll wrote:So the argument is closed by a neutral - 325i sucks - 318iS wins.
Read the contemporary road tests. The iS was aimed at taking a slice of the hot hatch market.....
....and failed!
325i FTW!
Err.... 325i Sport?!On_a_Roll wrote:The 325i is NOT the better car hands down or otherwise.
The only thing 325i owners bleat on about are capacity, miniscule speed increase, 2 extra cylinders etc etc - all engine and all BS. What about the downsides? It has an old, thirsty, heavy engine. No sports interior/trim as standard, no sports suspension as standard, no exterior mods as standard (shadow-line, fogs etc) and is now worth less than any 318iS!
The 318iS is more than the engine (though the M42 is superior), you get so much more for your money and is a more complete car, better value, better investment and better to drive!
So how is a 325i (read M20B25!) constantly in this argument? Because it has a bigger engine and is slightly quicker? I thought E30 are about more than BHP, E30 owners more enlightened than your average driver of any pikey turbo hatch - which would muller both cars.
325i owners just can't stand that their 'flagship' model is nowhere near as desirable as the 318iS - FACT.
A 16V GTi is worth more and doesn't rust!On_a_Roll wrote:Barry - you're a smart dude. How many times do I have to go on speed not being the be all and end all? The iS was also a test for the next generation E36 engines too. I also would rather have a mint iS over a mint MKII 16V any day, again, it is a superior CAR. Not ENGINE - CAR.bss325i wrote:Ratch, you just on your back foot because, even a golf gti was/is a quicker car.On_a_Roll wrote:So the argument is closed by a neutral - 325i sucks - 318iS wins.
Read the contemporary road tests. The iS was aimed at taking a slice of the hot hatch market.....
....and failed!
325i FTW!
Yeah but it ain't a BMW is it? It's a bloody FWD VW.
Yeah but 99% of the 318iS bashers on here don't won Sports - so the lash out at the 318iS thinking they are superior which is not the case.
Anyway, my work here is done, let it be cast in stone etc etc - Let the mighty 318iS prevail.
Yeah but 99% of the 318iS bashers on here don't won Sports - so the lash out at the 318iS thinking they are superior which is not the case.
Anyway, my work here is done, let it be cast in stone etc etc - Let the mighty 318iS prevail.
The E30 was designed to use a 6 pot.
The first E30 model released was a 6 pot
The 4 pot models were an after thought for poorer/tighter/limp wristed buyers.
6 pot = win 4 pot = looser
The first E30 model released was a 6 pot
The 4 pot models were an after thought for poorer/tighter/limp wristed buyers.
6 pot = win 4 pot = looser
I think I wound a galvaniser up!On_a_Roll wrote:The 325i is NOT the better car hands down or otherwise.
The only thing 325i owners bleat on about are capacity, miniscule speed increase, 2 extra cylinders etc etc - all engine and all BS. What about the downsides? It has an old, thirsty, heavy engine. No sports interior/trim as standard, no sports suspension as standard, no exterior mods as standard (shadow-line, fogs etc) and is now worth less than any 318iS!
The 318iS is more than the engine (though the M42 is superior), you get so much more for your money and is a more complete car, better value, better investment and better to drive!
So how is a 325i (read M20B25!) constantly in this argument? Because it has a bigger engine and is slightly quicker? I thought E30 are about more than BHP, E30 owners more enlightened than your average driver of any pikey turbo hatch - which would muller both cars.
325i owners just can't stand that their 'flagship' model is nowhere near as desirable as the 318iS - FACT.
The 6 pots weight at the front and torquey engine keeps it well poised on the road and very well balanced. The 4 pots are too light feeling and the engine doesn't quite feel right to drive.
All of the "goodies" about the 318is are taken straight from the 325i sport. The 51mm strut suspension, sports seats. The iS wasn't even given a body kit. Just a nice front lip and a spoiler from an SE or optional extra on any E30. The 325i actually came with much more options available than 318is. The 318is was made (as said above) to challenge the hatchback market of small and nimble cars. It was a cheaper alternative to the real deal.
Also, if you look close enough, a good 325i (not sport) in perfect nick with extras similarly matching the iS will pick up more than a 318is in the same nick.
Trust me, I'm not one for having an absurdly quick car, I bought a 325i. Which struggled to outrun a 1.4 Turbo mini. its not that quick of a car, I could have such a quicker car if i so wished.
I love the whole "better" engine thing that goes on with this car. IMO, they stop making certain engines due to having to keep up with emmisions, mpg ratings, bhp/L ratings and all these silly numbers which sees the death of some of the best engines ever made. The iS engine was a step in the wrong direction in my opinion. The only advantage is doubling the valves. Which to me makes cars smoother and more efficient. I personally prefer older engines like 8v (or 12v :winkeye:) with more of a rugged muscle feeling to them. Not some poncey smoother pile that they call the M42.
Is that a good enough explanation? I didn't mention "325i's are faster (which they are), better sounding (which they are), the correct amount of cylinders (which it has). My 320i auto and 325i manual can quite happily hit into the 30mpg. Thats not too bad in my opinion in jersey.
For the record, shadow-line was standard later on in all models, it was the chrome part as a option. Or both were an option which didn't cost a thing, just one of the other.
Face it, the 318is was aimed at the hatchback market and for people who couldn't afford or get insured in the real deal, or didn't care enough about cars in the first place to see the benefits of the true sport. If i remember correctly, wasn't a moredoor 320iSE auto considered a "higher up" model than the 318is?
Now i could go on and on and on and on.
But still the M3 rules supreme.
Uni is killing the project.
Not true.bss325i wrote:The E30 was designed to use a 6 pot.
The first E30 model released was a 6 pot
The 4 pot models were an after thought for poorer/tighter/limp wristed buyers.
6 pot = win 4 pot = looser
They were designed to use both, BMW had a history of 4 pots as long or longer than the 6 pots - so that's not quite true.
Yes the 4 pots are obviously entry-level - not so the 318iS.
If you must go on about 4 pots, BMW's flagship E30 engine is a 4 pot.
In my low revving Cabrio Cruiser type driving I want a 6.
For every other type of driving, I want lightweight, modern and reliable (in context) 4-pot - an M42.
True, don't own a sport.On_a_Roll wrote:Yeah but it ain't a BMW is it? It's a bloody FWD VW.
Yeah but 99% of the 318iS bashers on here don't won Sports - so the lash out at the 318iS thinking they are superior which is not the case.
Anyway, my work here is done, let it be cast in stone etc etc - Let the mighty 318iS prevail.
Drove an iS (an very very clean one too!), drove 2 sports and own a 325i and a 320i. Drove a few 325i as well. If a bog standard 325i is a nicer drive in the first place, hands down, the sport will beat that. Apart from one of the sports i drove was a pig and full of rust and a broken body kit, so I definately didnt buy that!
Uni is killing the project.