E30 Zone

Had a drive of my mates e30 318is today, Ive got to say i was absolutley well impressed. I have been saying for ages im going to get rid of my e36 and go down the e30 road. Anyway my mates e30 looks the nuts, Its silver with full tech 2 kit and 18" multi spoke rims, Lowered 40mm. Although the car was a hard ride it felt so tight and i had the back end out coming out of a side road turning right, I can now see why everyone on here loves their e30's so much. It also made me think about if i can have that much fun in a 318is, How good will a 325is be. Need to get my arse in gear and sell the e36.

the 318is is a legendary car and so well balenced. the 325i sport command much higher prices though

Bob_S wrote:the 318is is a legendary car and so well balenced. the 325i sport command much higher prices though

I know mate, I've been after one for a long time.

Yeah mate your rite....I just sold my silver 318is today, the new owner has taken it to ireland. I miss it already!

He was well impressed with it!

Make sure you get 1 that is bog standard with good history and all the MOT's, which will help to verify the mileage.

Get the e30 bud...be it 318iS or 325iS...Both outstanding cars.

You know it makes sense.

Pal

OK, Thanks for the info Guys.

318 IS, brilliant fun. I just drove mine again tonight after not driving or seeing it for three weeks. had a huge grin on my face.

Hi. Interested in the comparison between the E36 and the IS. I have an IS and used to have an E36. I found the balance on the E36 better. I seeme dot have more confidence in it, but I'm trying to find out if my IS needs better suspension. Also, how did the steering compare? Am thinking of putting an E36 rack on my IS to make the steering feel better. Sorry for all the questions

Great car though the IS; and very well engineered. I've been told by a German guy the standard of engineering was higher then (less squeeze on the development budgets).

G

I would say my IS is an extremely well balanced car and im very confident in it on the twisties. You can really really throw em about and they wont loose grip, in the wet i ain't got so much confidence but all RWD cars will slip out in the wet.

My steering is quite heavy, is that what you mean? I quite like that as thats the whole idea of the e30, you can really feel the road through em and they are so positive to drive. No sloppyness. E36 rack makes the steering lighter i think....

my "is" is for sale.. at a considerable price though

it's got all the important IS bits it's the perfect spec got a couple of problems but nothing major

reggiegasket wrote: I have an IS and used to have an E36. I found the balance on the E36 better.

G

You either have a perculiar driving style, or there is something wrong with your iS! The 318iS is one of the best balanced cars ever made.
It's not as fast as a 325i, but it feels it, and is every bit as much fun.

Interesting. I don't think my driving style is stange, but you never know!

The e30 is famous for being easy to spin - i.e. difficult to catch a slide. That's my experience with the car, although I am getting better at dealing with it. The first time at my local rounabout in the wet, I try to drift it and spun it immediately. Certainly the e36 was easier to catch in this respect. I'd assumed this meant it (the e36) was better balanced, but thinking about it, that may not be the case. Maybe there are 2 things here?

G

Hmmm, an lsd can help if im right? If you ain't got an lsd i think the car feels more jerky in a slide and is harder to control. I need an lsd on mine but i just try not to slide it much as i dont wanna put it into a tree.lol. The big wimp that i am.

get an iS and join the M42 crew!! 4 pot rightness my friend! they're great

Yeah as above. They are great fun and economical too.

The E30 is easy to spin - if your driving style is so bad as to lift off in a corner.
The E36 is a "post litigation" design. Following celebrated (probably mythical) cases Like the American "automatic" RV driver who went to make himself a coffee, manufacturers had to protect themselves by designing cars to be fail safe even in the hands of the most hopeless driver who imagines himself to be the world's undiscovered Schumaker.

yep 318is are the bomb!!!

not been driving mine the now so when i get home n take her for a blast its a joy!!!

nicest car ive ever driven for sure, comfy too!!!! defo a car that makes u smile!!!

great @sideways action too,very controllable for an open diff and more predictable than i expected, in wet or dry!! if i didnt love mine so much it would be my tramp drifter.

Standard e30's are easy to spin since you have to twirl the wheel like a maniac to catch a slide due to the ridiculous amount of travel.
Just put the last bolt in on my z3 conversion-no more arm twirling for me

I have 2 IS's one i'm breaking does not have an lsd,that was easier to get in to slide but less controllable,current one needs more provoking but is a lot easier to show off in!

In my opinion, You get more feel when driving an e30, It feels more of a drivers car, But i dont think the e36 is that far behind. I feel alot safer though in an e36, It just feels alot more sturdy, Its hard to explain. Overall i think you can have more fun in an e30, The e30 also has more character.

Will be very keen to hear about the Z3 rack. I hope it finally comes together!

I'm getting better at catching the slides, but does require quick movement and serious spinning of large wheel! Would like to put a LSD in to get those power slides going .

I think the e30 feels more sporty to drive, but I had more confidence in the behaviour of the e36. Actually, I'm very confident of the e30 in the dry now. Really the only real danger comes from flooring it in 2nd gear in the wet There's no doubt my driving is improving with the IS

hammoj28 wrote:318 IS, brilliant fun. I just drove mine again tonight after not driving or seeing it for three weeks. had a huge grin on my face.

what he says is true- he's the baԚ£$%d that got me in this Ԛ£25 one I hav ethe now- like a different world fro the 320i- you DRIVE it all the time