E30 Zone

E30 318is
BHP 140
0-60 ”“ 9.7
Top Speed ”“ 122
MPG ”“ 27


E30 325i
BHP 170
0-60 - 7.6
Top Speed ”“ 128
MPG ”“ 21

Not impressed with the 0-60 stats of the 318is, so why is it called the baby M3??
I know the 325i sounds great when you give it the full beans.

So on a serious note which ones better? forget all the 6pot 4pot crap

The 318is will out handle the 325i all day long!

ajay wrote:The 318is will out handle the 325i all day long!

Whats the point of out handling something if your always behind it.

Oh dear Lord not this again.....

ajay wrote:The 318is will out handle the 325i all day long!

Why? I'm not being sinical, am just interested why you'd say that. Obviously it's a heavier engine but more powerful, the suspensions set to cater for it... What have I missed?

suchy wrote:Oh dear Lord not this again.....

One isnt better than the other, different engine suit different needs. They're both E30s so that automatically makes them better than any other car on the road anyway.

325i is 'better' and I'll admit that even as a iS owner.

But the stats are a bit off: you can go under 9 secs to 60 in an iS and it will do 126.

A 325i will do 135 and is over a second quicker to 60.

I think an iS sounds better, and may handle better.

But it is a debate though, and will end up locked...

both are shit in standard form

reggid wrote:both are shit in standard form

Do me a favour! They are nothing of the sort!

don't worry, he's just mad about the olympics..

Vastly depends on what you want, a c road terrier iS, or a torquey jack of all trades, master of non motorway cruiser 325i

It's called the baby m3, due to its 16 valviness and its superior flickable nature..

BEERBOY123 wrote: I think an iS sounds better.

lol

A 4pot will never sound as good as a 6pot. However the 325i doesn't sound as good as the 320i.

a 320 with a 325 system sounds good

an iS with a stainless straightish through system isn't to be overlooked - it gives many different sounds, all morphed into one rev range, all of which are

Never fitted a 2.5 system to a 320i, I guess it gives a bit more bark. The 320i just sounds much smoother and tight to me, the 325i is more of a waffle lol

I'm not saying the iS sounds bad, I hope it has a distinct sound for when my touring gets one. It's just the 6pot sounds better

i love the sound of a 325i with a 'straightish' through exhaust sounds deep rather then that raspy trumpet crap..
never herd a 318is floor it with a aftermarket exhaust nor a 320i

vids on youtube dont sound nothing like what they do in real life for better or worse..

All this baby M3 shite is a load of bollox, yes the IS is more chuckable and when hustled does ok. I was disappointed when i first drove one after all the hype.
You can feel a big difference in weight in a 325i and they do like a drink.
I'm not dissing the IS its good in its own right and you have to weigh up the fuel costs dependent on your situation.

BEERBOY123 wrote:325i is 'better' and I'll admit that even as a iS owner.

But the stats are a bit off: you can go under 9 secs to 60 in an iS and it will do 126.

A 325i will do 135 and is over a second quicker to 60.

I think an iS sounds better, and may handle better.

But it is a debate though, and will end up locked...

Yes, and the mpg is off for both, perhaps that bad around town but add 10mpg to it for a run.

BEERBOY123 wrote:325i is 'better' and I'll admit that even as a iS owner.

But the stats are a bit off: you can go under 9 secs to 60 in an iS and it will do 126.

A 325i will do 135 and is over a second quicker to 60.

I think an iS sounds better, and may handle better.

But it is a debate though, and will end up locked...

Yes, and the mpg is off for both, perhaps that bad around town but add 10mpg to it for a run.

Depends on what you looking in a turd.... Ive owned a 325i and a number of other over the years.

The 325 was quick, but drank more than the Mrs (and she is Irish!) however it was a nice torquey fun car to drive.

I now own a 320 cabby and as i only bring it out in the sun (about 2 weeks a year at present) i find this engine very smooth and a great cruiser for B roads etc (i live near the peak district).

If however i was looking for an everyday turd i would be looking for an IS purely due to the fuel costs.

I have got 40 mpg plus from my iS on a long run (a very long run - to the 'Ring).

But even so, 21 mpg is very low for a 325i, you'd have to be hammering it to get that.

Which is 'better' though: the least rusty one, with a book full of service stamps and a nice interior.

BEERBOY123 wrote:I have got 40 mpg plus from my iS on a long run (a very long run - to the 'Ring).

But even so, 21 mpg is very low for a 325i, you'd have to be hammering it to get that.

Which is 'better' though: the least rusty one, with a book full of service stamps and a nice interior.

forget about rust and service stamps that's common sense to buy a car thats been looked after and pampered regularly.
if i was to buy a 318is would i wish i had opted for a 325i or vice versa. And becauseit was renown as the baby M3 were they ragged the s*it out of just like some people thought the 325i sport being a sport the engine could take a constant beating

BEERBOY123 wrote:
I think an iS sounds better, and may handle better.

But it is a debate though, and will end up locked...

it will end up locked with crazy statments like that !

no way on gods earth does the is sound even anything near as good, let alone better

i had both an is and a 325i parked outside at the same time, and could of kept both, but once you drive the 325i- putting your foot down in an is, is just like it doesnt really have any guts or feeling under the foot, thats the truth of it

the is is fun to drive on nice nimble roads, but nothing like a 325, its just natrual progression, like having a 125 motorbike and getting on a 250...

I just put a deposit down on a 325i Touring today. Having owned an IS for four years, I'm looking forward to driving a six pot. Felt so much more solid when test driving it today..

really for the e30 lover- a 325i grage queen, and an is as a daily driver, would be a good combination

with a rear window sticker "my other car is a 325i"

Do we really need to do this AGAIN?

rix313 wrote:Do we really need to do this AGAIN?

maybe the memers commenting on this thread didnt comment or wearnt members when the last debate was active!!!!!!!!!!

BEERBOY123 wrote:325i is 'better' and I'll admit that even as a iS owner.

But the stats are a bit off: you can go under 9 secs to 60 in an iS and it will do 126.

A 325i will do 135 and is over a second quicker to 60.

I think an iS sounds better, and may handle better.

But it is a debate though, and will end up locked...

thats gotta be bshit! ive touched 130 in my 316i,

325i in top condition must be able to hit 140 no?

My 318is will soon be a 2.5 and my 325i touring will be getting an m42. Own both and both are shit...

Kangman,
Why not test drive both before you buy? They both have distinct advantages and disadvantages.!

When I was looking for my turd the decision it ultimately boiled down to this;

You want more power which will cost you more in fuel. - 325i
Less power which costs less in fuel. - 318iS

Personally I opted for the 325i... as the uber cheap insurance offsets the extra fuel cost... plus I liked the extra power and roar of those 6 pots.! Plus nothing beats the feeling of smoking dumb ass chavs at the lights in their crap astras and focuses and other crap modern cars in my 26 year old turd. .

mcbonio wrote:Kangman,
Why not test drive both before you buy? They both have distinct advantages and disadvantages.!

When I was looking for my turd the decision it ultimately boiled down to this;

You want more power which will cost you more in fuel. - 325i
Less power which costs less in fuel. - 318iS

Personally I opted for the 325i... as the uber cheap insurance offsets the extra fuel cost... plus I liked the extra power and roar of those 6 pots.! Plus nothing beats the feeling of smoking dumb ass chavs at the lights in their crap astras and focuses and other crap modern cars in my 26 year old turd. .

A lovely debate like this is healthy for the zone been a while since they brought in them rules and started banning people.

I dont mind running a juicier car if it sounds and performs well plus im never the designated driver as i do like to have a few jars .
My mate bought himself a Audi A5 3.0TDI and the thing flys!! 0-60 in 5.9 secs limited to 155mph and its diesel so it gives great mpg. Best of both worlds and it doesnt even sound like a tractor amazing..
So im after something thats a proper drivers car. Im not guna track it so i dont care how fast i can go around sharp bends and corners, but i do like to give it the full beans on empty straights

318is all day long ,younger , beautiful and after 6k rpm no-one will hear you scream!

G-Bear wrote:

ajay wrote:The 318is will out handle the 325i all day long!

Why? I'm not being sinical, am just interested why you'd say that. Obviously it's a heavier engine but more powerful, the suspensions set to cater for it... What have I missed?

.The reason i say that is because its a fact! A four pot weighs less and is a shorter engine with less weight over the front wheels ie; less transfer of weight during a manouver etc etc regardless of the 325i susspension (which the 318is has exactly the same dampers).

Six pot and 4 pot cars will need different damping rates due to the difference in weight and the difference spring rates, however if they actually get them fitted then who knows.

Which ones handles better well who knows.
Is the 4 pot actually any lighter? It has a chain instead of belt, an extra cam, 4 more valves springs and retainers, and a wider head, all of which has mass.
Not to mention more wiring and heavier coil packs.

The engine also has a lot more mass high up in the car, which will have a significant effect on centre of gravity and overturning moment.
There are as many reasons an is could be worse as there are against the 2.5. It has not been proven either way so the2hidling argument holds no water.

Six pot and 4 pot cars will need different damping rates due to the difference in weight and the difference spring rates, however if they actually get them fitted then who knows.

Which ones handles better well who knows.
Is the 4 pot actually any lighter? It has a chain instead of belt, an extra cam, 4 more valves springs and retainers, and a wider head, all of which has mass.
Not to mention more wiring and heavier coil packs.

The engine also has a lot more mass high up in the car, which will have a significant effect on centre of gravity and overturning moment.
There are as many reasons an is could be worse as there are against the 2.5. It has not been proven either way so the2hidling argument holds no water.

BEERBOY123 wrote: I think an iS sounds better