E30 Zone

hi, just wanted to know if there is such thing as a 318is cab, i have seen them before but only when someones done a conversion. im looking to buy one, is there anything i should look out for, i have had an e30 before but it was a saloon, is there anything different i should look for ? any common areas for rust ?
cheers

No factory ones, only Baurs

Don't think convertible's had the IS engine from factory, just the normal 318.
Check the normal areas as you would on a saloon, check for any roof leaks as well. If it has/had a leak then check that area of the car closely

The poor modified chassis of the cabby couldn't cope with all the torque of the m42 engine. Hence it not being available.

Rosc0PColtrane wrote:The poor modified chassis of the cabby couldn't cope with all the torque of the m42 engine. Hence it not being available.

Cabbys are cruisers, not for hard driving. I'd only have a 320i/323i(if you find one)/325i cab for the style of the car. Coupe/Saloon for the fun side of things...

NayC wrote:Cabbys are cruisers, not for hard driving. I'd only have a 320i/323i(if you find one)/325i cab for the style of the car. Coupe/Saloon for the fun side of things...

Driven one? Thought not.

djk wrote:

NayC wrote:Cabbys are cruisers, not for hard driving. I'd only have a 320i/323i(if you find one)/325i cab for the style of the car. Coupe/Saloon for the fun side of things...

Driven one? Thought not.

I have, and I agree.

NayC wrote:Cabbys are cruisers, not for hard driving. I'd only have a 320i/323i(if you find one)/325i cab for the style of the car. Coupe/Saloon for the fun side of things...

Cab's no fun
You obviously haven't driven one

Cloud wrote:

djk wrote:

NayC wrote:Cabbys are cruisers, not for hard driving. I'd only have a 320i/323i(if you find one)/325i cab for the style of the car. Coupe/Saloon for the fun side of things...

Driven one? Thought not.

I have, and I agree.

Did you have the roof down in the rain or something?

djk wrote:Did you have the roof down in the rain or something?

I'm not saying they're not fun, because they are. I adore my cab and I love the way it drives. If I were track-day-racing though, or as NayC said "hard driving" I'd want the rigidity of the hard top.

Cloud wrote:

djk wrote:Did you have the roof down in the rain or something?

I'm not saying they're not fun, because they are. I adore my cab and I love the way it drives. If I were track-day-racing though, or as NayC said "hard driving" I'd want the rigidity of the hard top.

Furry muff, not having a go, I meant you'd hardly notice any difference on the road. Bit less acceleration maybe due to weight, few more bumps transmitted to the cabin due to the decreased stiffness. Agreed if you're setting lap times a saloon is preferable, but NayC made it sound as though a cab is totally hopeless as a driver's car, which is utter nonsense.

NayC wrote:Cabbys are cruisers, not for hard driving. I'd only have a 320i/323i(if you find one)/325i cab for the style of the car. Coupe/Saloon for the fun side of things...

Maybe in Jersey NayC, not on the mainland where there are miles
od decent " driving " roads. Don,t get me wrong, i never thrash mine
but it gets driven every weekend, not cruised. Then again, mine is not a garage queen that comes out only in the sun.

Cabbys are cruisers, not for hard driving.

And an IS is!!

It's IS powaaahhh

djk wrote:

Cloud wrote:

djk wrote:Did you have the roof down in the rain or something?

I'm not saying they're not fun, because they are. I adore my cab and I love the way it drives. If I were track-day-racing though, or as NayC said "hard driving" I'd want the rigidity of the hard top.

Furry muff, not having a go, I meant you'd hardly notice any difference on the road. Bit less acceleration maybe due to weight, few more bumps transmitted to the cabin due to the decreased stiffness. Agreed if you're setting lap times a saloon is preferable, but NayC made it sound as though a cab is totally hopeless as a driver's car, which is utter nonsense.

Didn't say they'e hopeless. Just said they're not the sort of car i'd have if i want a revvy 4 pot with light nimble handling. The extra weight of a cabby would have an affect on the fun of a 318iS and the rigitity of a cab wont really help either. Personally its a bit of "wastefull" effort to convert one to an iS as you wont really feel the fun of the iS properly.

I'd have a straight six with a bucket load of pulling power, smoother engine. Never said they aren't drivers cars, as they're nice cars, but an iS engine shouldn't sit in one...

Btw, i have drove a cabby.... and they aint as good (IMO...).

djk, you drove a hard top?? More importantly, a 318iS??

gooner1 wrote:

NayC wrote:Cabbys are cruisers, not for hard driving. I'd only have a 320i/323i(if you find one)/325i cab for the style of the car. Coupe/Saloon for the fun side of things...

Maybe in Jersey NayC, not on the mainland where there are miles
od decent " driving " roads. Don,t get me wrong, i never thrash mine
but it gets driven every weekend, not cruised. Then again, mine is not a garage queen that comes out only in the sun.

Driving roads ay, nice long stretchs and smooth corners... sounds like a nice place for a straight six IMO. High revving iS's are not what i'd really want on those roads by the sounds of things.

The iS is made for Jersey mate... Thrash it round corners, plenty of acceleration, light and nimble. So good. Never drove a 325 over here but cant see it being as much fun as the iS.

Have you ever been here?? we have some pretty damn good roads mate. Some pretty small ones and some open ones.

Rosc0PColtrane wrote:The poor modified chassis of the cabby couldn't cope with all the torque of the m42 engine. Hence it not being available.

Very nicely wrote there Rosc0PColtrane.

Personally its a bit of "wastefull" effort to convert one to an iS as you wont really feel the fun of the iS properly.

That's why the cab never came with the M42 engine and a reason why not many people put a M42 in their cab.

but an iS engine shouldn't sit in one...

I agree with you on that

nearest thing is a baur 318IS like aretha's white

I've only ever saw one Baur (i think) but i'm still not sure. They're basically a different cabby essentially aren't they?

NayC wrote:

gooner1 wrote:

NayC wrote:Cabbys are cruisers, not for hard driving. I'd only have a 320i/323i(if you find one)/325i cab for the style of the car. Coupe/Saloon for the fun side of things...

Maybe in Jersey NayC, not on the mainland where there are miles
od decent " driving " roads. Don,t get me wrong, i never thrash mine
but it gets driven every weekend, not cruised. Then again, mine is not a garage queen that comes out only in the sun.

Driving roads ay, nice long stretchs and smooth corners... sounds like a nice place for a straight six IMO. High revving iS's are not what i'd really want on those roads by the sounds of things.

The iS is made for Jersey mate... Thrash it round corners, plenty of acceleration, light and nimble. So good. Never drove a 325 over here but cant see it being as much fun as the iS.

Have you ever been here?? we have some pretty damn good roads mate. Some pretty small ones and some open ones.

Only about 18 times NayC. the roads i use are mainly country lanes too,
the sound when you are driving past mile after mile of hedgerows and over canal bridges is sweet as, especially with the top down. Tractors and horses can be dodgy though. Not knocking the iS or any four pot btw.
Each to their own.

nearest thing is a baur 318IS like aretha's white minty mint

Gooner, when did you come over, what was the reason?? Just wondering what brings people over here.

You would agree though that the driving over here is very different to the UK. Hence the idealness of owning a 318iS.

BTW, what engine do you have in your cabby?

NayC wrote:Gooner, when did you come over, what was the reason?? Just wondering what brings people over here.

You would agree though that the driving over here is very different to the UK. Hence the idealness of owning a 318iS.

BTW, what engine do you have in your cabby?

Well, was work twice, building swimming pools back in the early 80,s
Will pm you the reason for the other visits.
Yes i would agree that the driving experience is different.
The engine in my cab is an early high comp one. The better one.

It is odd the IS engine never made it into a cab when they did an m3 soft top.

I always felt my ols cab had plenty of go in her but compaired to my Alpina it felt very slugish on the accleration and AJ_Macky and I were both driving together him in his IS and I was in the cab and the IS was able to give the cab a run for it's money in all fairness.

Felix79 wrote:It is odd the IS engine never made it into a cab when they did an m3 soft top.

I always felt my ols cab had plenty of go in her but compaired to my Alpina it felt very slugish on the accleration and AJ_Macky and I were both driving together him in his IS and I was in the cab and the IS was able to give the cab a run for it's money in all fairness.

Thats because the cab weighs a tonne, cabbies are for cruising, iSs are for reversing global warming.

makes me love my IS more and more,,the evolve chip is in ,the bbtb next
got my blkack tech1 boot spoiler today,,,it's all coming along now

march109 wrote:

Felix79 wrote:It is odd the IS engine never made it into a cab when they did an m3 soft top.

I always felt my ols cab had plenty of go in her but compaired to my Alpina it felt very slugish on the accleration and AJ_Macky and I were both driving together him in his IS and I was in the cab and the IS was able to give the cab a run for it's money in all fairness.

Thats because the cab weighs a tonne, cabbies are for cruising, iSs are for reversing global warming.

But they put an s14 in them though! That's what I find odd they put one type of "Hot" engine in but not the other , then I guess not much point when you have a m3 option or 325i option the IS would be a pointless choice.

march109 wrote:

Felix79 wrote:It is odd the IS engine never made it into a cab when they did an m3 soft top.

I always felt my ols cab had plenty of go in her but compaired to my Alpina it felt very slugish on the accleration and AJ_Macky and I were both driving together him in his IS and I was in the cab and the IS was able to give the cab a run for it's money in all fairness.

Thats because the cab weighs a tonne, cabbies are for cruising, iSs are for reversing global warming.

i recycled this

With all this discussion I bet Dips will just post a pic of one he hapens to have tucked away like he always does

Thats because the cab weighs a tonne, cabbies are for cruising, iSs are for reversing global warming.

Mines not for cruising anymore, when i converted it to m30 its more involving now to drive as i am always losing traction, but it is very stiff as all the suspension and bushes have been done.

Does that mean my touring is just for lugging things about? I find my touring every bit as enjoyable (and fast) as my old 2 door. I think the reason they didn't put the M42 into 4doors/cabbies/tourings from the factory is because it came into existence late into the E30 timeline.

a rareity for sure which will only increase in value,,,not boasting,,,
i was just a very lucky chap to find mine indeed after evolve chip [now fitted] bbtbnot yet completed[m20 lightened fly,clutch/starter,,,after bbtb],,,if i'm not cock sure about my ponies IE not enough,,i'll consider a 6 pot but only when and if, i'm not happy with my bhp,,,then i may look at turbo's first,,,cost etc...or sell my sorted by then IS with all it's standard bits in the boot and go 325i sport,,,,,but i'd only get bored and look a t m50
so a 325i m50 sport would be next if the need ever arises,,,,i'm sure i can be happy with my wee project
and finish it too where i'm happy first,,,then we'll see i've owned and built some nice whiplash cars in the past and my IS will be no different,,,only subtle body mods here

NayC wrote:

djk wrote:

Cloud wrote: I'm not saying they're not fun, because they are. I adore my cab and I love the way it drives. If I were track-day-racing though, or as NayC said "hard driving" I'd want the rigidity of the hard top.

Furry muff, not having a go, I meant you'd hardly notice any difference on the road. Bit less acceleration maybe due to weight, few more bumps transmitted to the cabin due to the decreased stiffness. Agreed if you're setting lap times a saloon is preferable, but NayC made it sound as though a cab is totally hopeless as a driver's car, which is utter nonsense.

Didn't say they'e hopeless. Just said they're not the sort of car i'd have if i want a revvy 4 pot with light nimble handling. The extra weight of a cabby would have an affect on the fun of a 318iS and the rigitity of a cab wont really help either. Personally its a bit of "wastefull" effort to convert one to an iS as you wont really feel the fun of the iS properly.

I'd have a straight six with a bucket load of pulling power, smoother engine. Never said they aren't drivers cars, as they're nice cars, but an iS engine shouldn't sit in one...

Btw, i have drove a cabby.... and they aint as good (IMO...).

djk, you drove a hard top?? More importantly, a 318iS??

Err... I own a cabby, a 4dr and a touring, so yes. You'll notice I never expressed a specific opinion about an iS engined cab, so whether I've driven an iS is immaterial. I haven't, as it happens, but I'd like to add one to the fleet one day. I'm not trying to get in a row, this is after all a matter of opinion and hence yours is as valid as mine. As far as fun goes, and I'll be shot down for saying this, I prefer a 320 to a 325 - I find the fact that you have to stir the gears to keep them 'on cam' far more involving than the broad spread of torque in a 325. I guess a 318iS would give more of the same, though I would miss the 6-pot yowl echoing off drystone walls and low bridges. For me, fun while driving is about so much more than engine or chassis performance. Some of the best times I've had driving have been in a stock 75bhp Clio, pushing far harder than I'd dare on the public road in something with more power.