325i vs 318is, performance and handling pros and cons?

[Leemc2009]

no replacement for displacement

[maf260]

I thought 'is' stood for 'is slower' ??

[Sawyer_E30]

I thought 'is' stood for 'is slower' ??

Really I thought it was 'interesting Seats'?

[bss325i]

I thought 'is' stood for 'is slower' ??

Really I thought it was 'interesting Seats'?

Irritating shit?

[Sawyer_E30]

I thought 'is' stood for 'is slower' ??

Really I thought it was 'interesting Seats'?

Irritating shit?

Infinity Stereo?

[bss325i]

Really I thought it was 'interesting Seats'?

Irritating shit?

Infinity Stereo?

Itchy scrotum?

[Sawyer_E30]

Irritating shit?

Infinity Stereo?

Itchy scrotum?

That'll be down to those Interesting Seats then.

Emmmm...

Includes Stabilisers!

[Morat]

Infant Sportscar?
(baby M3)

[capri_rob]

And so we accellerate towards once again

[Sawyer_E30]

And so we accellerate towards once again

I've seen enough of these threads too. All of them turn into a bitch fest. Without exception.
Keep it nice, or it gets locked.

Sorry - Got carried away

[e30bmlover]

And so we accellerate towards once again

not before i remind you all that you have the wrong number of valves!!

[Alex]

318is better throught the twisteys

325i sounds better and its a 6 pot so it wins

[ImysE30]

There you go, even a die hard IS lover admits it

If you have difficulty insuring a 325 then get a 320 (still a 6 pot)

[mattrs]

a 318is might get close to or even keep up with a 325i on very twisty bits and if you constantly scream the nuts off it, but as soon as you give a 325i the beans down a straight you will pull away from the 318is.

You've already said fuel and insurance aren't an issue - so why trade down to a less powerful car ? Fuel and more usually insurance are the main reasons why people would settle for a 318is .... and then trade up to a 325i when the insurance becomes affordable.

The small weight saving the 318is has over the 325i is more then compensated for by the power advantage the 325i has as standard.

Its a track car, got traders insurance and regulary do well over a 0ner in juice on open pit lane track days inc driving there and back, so im really not worried.

Its all about handling really. I read some where about a German guy clocking awesome lap times around the ring in a 4 pot e30 (not m3) due to handling prowess due to low weight as well as great set up and local knowledge.

Would he have been quicker in a sorted 325i?

[djk]

a 318is might get close to or even keep up with a 325i on very twisty bits and if you constantly scream the nuts off it, but as soon as you give a 325i the beans down a straight you will pull away from the 318is.

You've already said fuel and insurance aren't an issue - so why trade down to a less powerful car ? Fuel and more usually insurance are the main reasons why people would settle for a 318is .... and then trade up to a 325i when the insurance becomes affordable.

The small weight saving the 318is has over the 325i is more then compensated for by the power advantage the 325i has as standard.

Its a track car, got traders insurance and regulary do well over a 0ner in juice on open pit lane track days inc driving there and back, so im really not worried.

Its all about handling really. I read some where about a German guy clocking awesome lap times around the ring in a 4 pot e30 (not m3) due to handling prowess due to low weight as well as great set up and local knowledge.

Would he have been quicker in a sorted 325i?

Almost certainly. It's not as if the weight balance is moved drastically rearwards by the loss of two cylinders - any movement in this direction is obviously preferable, but I find it difficult to believe that this and a small improvement in overall weight would be enough to negate the power and torque advantage of the 325 in a circuit situation. However it's a worthwhile debating point as I assume in track trim, the weight balance of an e30 is moved forward by the very fact that more weight is more easily discarded from the rear of the car. Presumably the removal of the spare wheel alone has a noticeable effect on e30 handling as it's a relatively heavy weight some distance from the CoM. I'm reminded of my father telling me he used to carry some concrete blocks in the front 'boot' of his rear engined Renault R8 to avoid heartstopping front wheel lock-ups in the wet in normal road use!

Interestingly enough, on a related point, there was an S50 engined track e30 in an old (2005ish) BMW mag I have where the owner had refabricated the bulkhead to allow mounting of the engine some inches further back in the chassis for improved balance. IIRC, it was so far back that the rearmost cylinder appeared to be partially under the scuttle. Obviously this would be seriously beneficial, especially combined with around 290bhp!

[e30bmlover]

a 318is might get close to or even keep up with a 325i on very twisty bits and if you constantly scream the nuts off it, but as soon as you give a 325i the beans down a straight you will pull away from the 318is.

You've already said fuel and insurance aren't an issue - so why trade down to a less powerful car ? Fuel and more usually insurance are the main reasons why people would settle for a 318is .... and then trade up to a 325i when the insurance becomes affordable.

The small weight saving the 318is has over the 325i is more then compensated for by the power advantage the 325i has as standard.

Its a track car, got traders insurance and regulary do well over a 0ner in juice on open pit lane track days inc driving there and back, so im really not worried.

Its all about handling really. I read some where about a German guy clocking awesome lap times around the ring in a 4 pot e30 (not m3) due to handling prowess due to low weight as well as great set up and local knowledge.

Would he have been quicker in a sorted 325i?

yes.

[Felix79]

Just to put some lighter fluid on the fire.....


Shurley the better tourqe from a 325i helps it get out of the corners on a twisty track

Let's face it the IS is like a breast inplant, it's purpose is to make it seem there is more than there really is.....

[bss325i]

iS owners suffer from little man syndrome hence all the ramblings about galvanised gloveboxes and weight balance!

[Simon13]

your talking about fabian hes a test driver for bmw, standard 318iS engine, rubber brake lines and standard discs with race pads! He does something like an 8:15 BTG time. But he is a race driver also and the car is also

[Bob_S]

Barry.. don't knock a diesel golf an interesting chariot with a loon at the helm.

As for an iS ever being quicker? I very much doubt it, in any case. the 6 pots handle better, grip better and frankly are better..

but then, an m50/m52 is a strong case for some good old fun!

[bss325i]

your talking about fabian hes a test driver for bmw, standard 318iS engine, rubber brake lines and standard discs with race pads! He does something like an 8:15 BTG time. But he is a race driver also and the car is also

Coilovers, cage, striped out and IIRC glass fibre bonnet and boot.

[Simon13]

What i find weird - is that this argument always focuses on speed.

neither the iS (what I have) or the 325i are very quick anymore in modern terms but both are bought by people for there looks, style, and fun chuckability (thats why i have mine?)

For pace I bought an e28 M5 but I wanted an e30 for everyday/Track so iS made sense for me because of the fuel issue.

Point is both are v.fun cheap cars with retro flair (the 325 is quicker and sounds glorious) the iS is quick enough and revs like a nutter.

to the 325s though Just pray when your 'slaughtering' the iS off those lights there isn't and old woman reving up in her new golf diesel next to you

a sorted E30 regardless of its engine can carry serious enough speed in the corners on track if there is commited pilot at the helm. It just takes a fair bit more nerve and skill to extract it from an E30 compared to someone in an e46/e90. It won't be as quick agreed but theres plenty that can be hassled when they are peddled right!

[capri_rob]

your talking about fabian hes a test driver for bmw, standard 318iS engine, rubber brake lines and standard discs with race pads! He does something like an 8:15 BTG time. But he is a race driver also and the car is also

Coilovers, cage, striped out and IIRC glass fibre bonnet and boot.

Do the same to a 325i and he'd probably be nearer 8:00

[Simon13]

you see alot of 318iS e30's on track at the ring but you see more 325's

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Infinity Stereo?

Itchy scrotum?

That'll be down to those Interesting Seats then.

Emmmm...

Includes Stabilisers!

Impotent Shed

[fuzzy]

incognito supercar?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Irritating Spazwagon

[Chris-W]

Incessant Spam.

Both good cars.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Touche!

[fuzzy]

yep, both good cars but one more so than the other.

[Alex]

both good in different ways, both have negatives and both positives

neither can be compared as the same

same goes for the m3

[djk]

What i find weird - is that this argument always focuses on speed.

neither the iS (what I have) or the 325i are very quick anymore in modern terms but both are bought by people for there looks, style, and fun chuckability (thats why i have mine?)

For pace I bought an e28 M5 but I wanted an e30 for everyday/Track so iS made sense for me because of the fuel issue.

Point is both are v.fun cheap cars with retro flair (the 325 is quicker and sounds glorious) the iS is quick enough and revs like a nutter.

to the 325s though Just pray when your 'slaughtering' the iS off those lights there isn't and old woman reving up in her new golf diesel next to you

a sorted E30 regardless of its engine can carry serious enough speed in the corners on track if there is commited pilot at the helm. It just takes a fair bit more nerve and skill to extract it from an E30 compared to someone in an e46/e90. It won't be as quick agreed but theres plenty that can be hassled when they are peddled right!

I have to say, no road based car ever really cuts it on a track - you could get a useable zetec formula ford for about 4-5k that would piss on anything but the most outrageous road based creation on nearly any circuit you care to mention. For example, the zetec lap record at Castle Combe is 1m07s - Mark Funnell presently races a 300bhp+ supercharged Toyota powered Lotus Exige, with slicks, wing and diffuser at combe and just about laps faster than this, 1m06 IIRC.

[bss325i]

What i find weird - is that this argument always focuses on speed.

neither the iS (what I have) or the 325i are very quick anymore in modern terms but both are bought by people for there looks, style, and fun chuckability (thats why i have mine?)

For pace I bought an e28 M5 but I wanted an e30 for everyday/Track so iS made sense for me because of the fuel issue.

Point is both are v.fun cheap cars with retro flair (the 325 is quicker and sounds glorious) the iS is quick enough and revs like a nutter.

to the 325s though Just pray when your 'slaughtering' the iS off those lights there isn't and old woman reving up in her new golf diesel next to you

a sorted E30 regardless of its engine can carry serious enough speed in the corners on track if there is commited pilot at the helm. It just takes a fair bit more nerve and skill to extract it from an E30 compared to someone in an e46/e90. It won't be as quick agreed but theres plenty that can be hassled when they are peddled right!

I have to say, no road based car ever really cuts it on a track - you could get a useable zetec formula ford for about 4-5k that would pee pee on anything but the most outrageous road based creation on nearly any circuit you care to mention. For example, the zetec lap record at Castle Combe is 1m07s - Mark Funnell presently races a 300bhp+ supercharged Toyota powered Lotus Exige, with slicks, wing and diffuser at combe and just about laps faster than this, 1m06 IIRC.

Maybe but this thread is about galvanisers and boat anchors not single seaters.

[e30bmlover]

What i find weird - is that this argument always focuses on speed.

neither the iS (what I have) or the 325i are very quick anymore in modern terms but both are bought by people for there looks, style, and fun chuckability (thats why i have mine?)

For pace I bought an e28 M5 but I wanted an e30 for everyday/Track so iS made sense for me because of the fuel issue.

Point is both are v.fun cheap cars with retro flair (the 325 is quicker and sounds glorious) the iS is quick enough and revs like a nutter.

to the 325s though Just pray when your 'slaughtering' the iS off those lights there isn't and old woman reving up in her new golf diesel next to you

a sorted E30 regardless of its engine can carry serious enough speed in the corners on track if there is commited pilot at the helm. It just takes a fair bit more nerve and skill to extract it from an E30 compared to someone in an e46/e90. It won't be as quick agreed but theres plenty that can be hassled when they are peddled right!

I have to say, no road based car ever really cuts it on a track - you could get a useable zetec formula ford for about 4-5k that would pee pee on anything but the most outrageous road based creation on nearly any circuit you care to mention. For example, the zetec lap record at Castle Combe is 1m07s - Mark Funnell presently races a 300bhp+ supercharged Toyota powered Lotus Exige, with slicks, wing and diffuser at combe and just about laps faster than this, 1m06 IIRC.

did the bloke in the single seater get one in the post?

[The_Diddler]

And so we accellerate towards once again

Yeah but who's gonna get there first the 4pot wannabe or the 6 pot rightness driver.....................