Hi there,
I have recently been looking into buying myself an BMW E30, i have looked at a lot of websites and i am still unsure as to what one to get. I love the thought of having a 325i but i would also like to have either a 318i or 320i. Which one should i go for and also would you be able to help me find one??
New to the BMW game
Moderator: martauto
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Cloggy Saint
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The 320i is unloved amongst the E30 community due to it's lack of power and similar (lack of) economy compared to the 325. I had one for 15 years and was happy enough with it, it's not a fast car by any means (neither is the 2.5) but it goes well enough. The 318i is fairly nippy and benefits from better mpg and cheaper insurance. It all depends what you want from a car but going by your user name a 2.5 would be the best bet.
E30 zone - promoting adult illiteracy since 2004
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WishesHeCouldGoFast
- E30 Zone Newbie
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haha, i just chose the username because i couldn't think of anything else. I am only 18 years old and i plan to get the car before Christmas this year and then insure it when i am 19, so would you say that the 318i is better for me?
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Cloggy Saint
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How deep are your pockets?
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WishesHeCouldGoFast
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ive been saving a while and i can stretch to around £4,000.
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Cloggy Saint
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Have you considered a 318iS?
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WishesHeCouldGoFast
- E30 Zone Newbie
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no i haven't, i'll take a look at them now.
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
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That to buy the car, or pay the annual insurance?WishesHeCouldGoFast wrote:ive been saving a while and i can stretch to around £4,000.
My lad is 17, and I'll happily give him one of my E30s, but insurance is the killer, even on a lowly 316i saloon.
I had a 318ti m44 and it was the best engine I have ever come across for it`s size , totally bullet proof and one hell of a lot of fun too !!!!Cloggy Saint wrote:Have you considered a 318iS?
Wait a year or two mate
Mart.
The 318 is, well what can I say...
Only the E46 cab left now.
Just got too old.
Just got too old.
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German-Whips
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My first E30 was a 318i and I absolutely loved the car and would have kept it for the long haul had it not ended up being rear ended. Although it was a lowly 4 door automatic which is probably the worst spec around, it was a good base to start on and it never gave me any trouble during the 2 years I owned it, and it wasn't too bad in keeping up with traffic.
My recent E30 was a manual 325i cabriolet, tonnes more torque and a lot more fun! One thing which surprised me though, was the fact that both cars gave me EXACTLY the same fuel economy, even though one was a 318i and the other was a 325i cab!
If insurance is not an issue, then a 325i would be the better option, although a 318i is also a good starting point if insurance does seem to cause a problem and it's your first E30.
I did own a 318is briefly quite some time ago but never got to drive it much so can't really comment on how it drives. The only time I drove the car was on the day I bought the car, which is also the same day I cracked the sump! Ended up sitting there for a month, and finally managed to sell it for £750 after weeks of struggling to get any interest in it. That was when E30s were relatively cheap! Had a nice interior, Nardi blackline steering wheel, good sound system, original smoked Hella headlights, Tech 1 rear spoiler, decent springs, super-sprint stainless system but still no one wanted it for £750!
My recent E30 was a manual 325i cabriolet, tonnes more torque and a lot more fun! One thing which surprised me though, was the fact that both cars gave me EXACTLY the same fuel economy, even though one was a 318i and the other was a 325i cab!
If insurance is not an issue, then a 325i would be the better option, although a 318i is also a good starting point if insurance does seem to cause a problem and it's your first E30.
I did own a 318is briefly quite some time ago but never got to drive it much so can't really comment on how it drives. The only time I drove the car was on the day I bought the car, which is also the same day I cracked the sump! Ended up sitting there for a month, and finally managed to sell it for £750 after weeks of struggling to get any interest in it. That was when E30s were relatively cheap! Had a nice interior, Nardi blackline steering wheel, good sound system, original smoked Hella headlights, Tech 1 rear spoiler, decent springs, super-sprint stainless system but still no one wanted it for £750!