318i vs 318is

[iDreamBeemer]

wow, I have to say how surprised I am by the reaction of some towards the iS. I know there is a dedicate following but going by the question of 318i against 318iS and the responses so far I would say the 318i has it, but why?!!!

You get sooo much more car for you money AS STANDARD. You know with an iS that it has all those goodies if not more. Seats, interior trim, exterior trim. It has 325 bits, a 50:50 weight distribution, 16v with alu engine parts helping reduce weight, all round disk brakes, sport seats oh did I say as STANDARD, problem is with both is that they are between 16 and 25 odd years old the are lots of crap examples of both BUT find a good 318i and 318iS for the same money, say £1500, the end result will be that the iS is the outright winner.

In context, go and buy a 325 and mod the hell out it as this will be much more rewarding, spending a load of money on doing bits to a 1.8 engine is ultimately limited to what you can achieve so the measure is already set so low if moding is your thing you are better off elsewhere in the first place.

HOWEVER

I would also argue over point that you cannot do tuning and changes to M10 over M42. There are potential changes to that that head closer to 200bhp which is not too shabby. Look at what tim_is has done converting to 2l, there are S42 like options, other engine changes which would comparable to money needed to be spent on the M10 to do the same.

So for me, a better engine - if looked after, more power, more car for your money, you ask 318i vs 318iS.......well I am biased so what do I know. but I still say 318iS!!!!!

[Gwynleym10]

but throw the same money at an IS and what do you have. Fact is the M10 is a good engine but there just isn't the support from tuning companies for it, an IS is going to be easier on the wallet in the long run.

Don't get me wrong tho I'd love a tubo m10 but think of the $$$'s.

Er you have obviously never googled 2002 m10 or e21 m10. There is loads of stuff for M10's, just not specifically for e30's.

I used to own a 1987 318i m10 (no its not a 316 carb...) very good car, m10's when set up properly actually even sound like a proper bmw!

I now own a 318is (via a few m40's) I actually think the style of the engine - in the way it performs is very similar, both m10's and m42's lover to scream! (m40's much less so). However an IS is a lot quicker in standard form.

If the m10 is mint - stick it in a storage and open it up in a couple of years - should be worth a fair amount by then.

[tristan325]

but throw the same money at an IS and what do you have. Fact is the M10 is a good engine but there just isn't the support from tuning companies for it, an IS is going to be easier on the wallet in the long run.

Don't get me wrong tho I'd love a tubo m10 but think of the $$$'s.

And don't forget that the S14 is based on the M10!

[Royalratch]

This thread should be 2 posts long, including the first post.

Always funny to see zoners weighing with the old:

'Well mate, if you strap a rocket to it and bore the block out to 3.9 litres, re-cast the head in titanium and bung in some F1 cams and reflow all the air via 5 custom carbon intakes, well then mate a regular 316i will SHIT all over an M42...'

Is there a spaz emoticon?

The question is simple and the answer is simple.

Now, that 318iS V 325i thread ended just as I was getting warmed up - this is good a place as any for the 325i lot to try and reclaim the crown...

[doc]

Having just got rid of an M42 318is and got a 325 Sport i can tell you that the M42 IS is a gem of an engine, ok torque, loves to rev and has great throttle response.
In fact, its taking a bit of geting used to the 325s more lazy delivery and throttle response, but the noise and torque are the business.

P.S. I had the cat removed from the is but still ran standard system, some bark off it at high revs.

[jonny320is]

I had a 318 for 2 years then changed to a 318is due to some tit writing it off for me. I owned that for 5 years, once you get used to the fact you have to rev it to get the most out of it, you wont turn back. I would never go back to a 318 8v. It was owning a 318is that took me down the route to buyng an M3 and 320is, that cant be a bad thing
It gets it reputation of being a 'baby M3' for a reason.

It isn't as fast as a 325 but it isnt always about straight line speed, the 318is is very nimble due to its lighter engine responding well to steering change, dont forget the 318is also came with Mtec suspension as standard.
They are a very well packaged car and if I had room in the garage i'd be looking around to buy back my 318is.


Theres a neat little trick you can do by replacing the throttle body with a motorbike one. Do that in conjunction cams, custom chip, filter and exhaust and you'll have about 170bhp.
Ditch the airflow meter and go the Alpha-N fuel managemnet route and you can liberate another 10-15BHP.
Loosing the cat gains you 4-5BHP.
They are not hugley tuneable engines as there at a pretty high state of tune anyway but if you have enough money and inclination to tune then you can achieve alot.
Do all the above and then turbo it, now there will be an interesting car !