E30 Zone

Hi all, I've been hanging around on here for the last couple of weeks, but this is my first post.

Just to introduce myself a little, I live in Ireland and adore older/classic cars.
My first project car (that I finished) is a 1989 Mini, stripped and rebuilt.
I almost got into the VW world but the lady wife won't let me spend money on one of those
However I have always liked the E30, the only reason I went Mini was because the insurance on a BMW would have been too much at the time, but now that I am getting older, insurance premiums become less of a concern and the lure of bigger engines is irresistible.

So, I am starting to keep my eyes open for a decent-ish E30. The dilemma I am having is what model to go for (bar the touring, sorry, but I have no need for an estate).
There are no motor ways any where near me and the nearest dual carriage way is 2 hours away. Most of my local roads are bendy, twisty, hilly( and pot holed) and I am a bit of a rally driver at heart. So what would better suit a 318 or one of the 6 cylinders?
Styling wise, I have no interest in body kits. I'd much rather have a slammed, wide rimmed and small bumpered old-skool look. And I haven't yet decided if I prefer 2 or 4 door, although I must admit a slight lean towards 4...

So what would the doctor recommend?

325i Saloon or a 318iS.....pick up the prescription on the way out

Oh and welcome to the zone too

Pal

welcome mate, my advise would be get a 6 cylinder(320/325) you wont go wrong!

325 touring.

Welcome to the zone.

welcome. dont write off tourings completely as they are much cooler than the usual 2 or 4 doors saloons. i agree with munky and would go for a 325 mtec touring.

ooh didnt read his whole post... pah, writing off tourings because you 'doesnt need an estate'... I dont like you.

Oh and its not an estate... its a touring.

how to win friends and influence people eh? alienate yourself from the coolest bunch of e30 owners (scientifically proven fact)and then throw in the "estate" comment to dig yourself in deeper with the originality bufties

does that make me an originality buftie?!

munky30 wrote:

does that make me an originality buftie?!

yes. its nothing more than badge snobbery to insist its not an estate its a touring

its the first time I've said it... in my defence.

anyway, shut up cossy boy... don't you have engine parts to fix?

munky30 wrote:its the first time I've said it... in my defence.

anyway, shut up cossy boy... don't you have engine parts to fix?

no ,engines fine. its the bmw parts that have let me down this time.
anyway enough o/t ness before we get told of again

oops... yes back on topic... buy a 325 touring, dare to be 'different'.

Velcome to ze forum!

BMW doesn't make an estate as far as I know.............

I don't need a Touring either, but lets face it, they look much cooler.

munky30 wrote:ooh didnt read his whole post... pah, writing off tourings because you 'doesnt need an estate'... I dont like you.

Oh and its not an estate... its a touring.

x2 but welcome anyway

lol :p that'll teach me to open my mouth

But, seriously, the touring doesn't go with my vision...

So what advantages are there to a 6 cylinder over the 318iS? and what differences are there between the 320 and 325 (apart from cc)?

It has to be said that 2 doors (coupes) and tourings (estates) are the better looking of the bunch.

If you go for a six pot (320i - 325i) Then the 2.5l lump is significantly more powerful and only a fraction lower economy but make sure you find one that hasn't just been ragged to within an inch of it's life. It is a much torquer motor than the 4 pots and makes for lazy a-b briskness.

If you go for a 4 pot the recognized favorite is the 318IS which is a nice revvy little twin cam unit with plenty of go but needs working to reach its full potential.

The 6 pot is slightly heavier than the 4 pot so a 2 door will be slightly nose heavy. Tourings suffer from perfect 50/50 weight weight distribution though.

Oh and the 6 cylinder sounds awesome

EDIT: ha ha just saw your last post. 325 most powerful, 320 second, 318IS third. 6Pot has more torque, 320 sounds best but laziest and least economical for the perfomance it has.

your vision must be blurred.

from the sounds of your location a 318iS is gonna see you right..

tho if youl like small bumpers n 4 doors then a pre facelift 4 door 325i would be the way to go..

munky30 wrote:your vision must be blurred.

Mine?

The 4 doors are pug ugly and the M3 is a different class

snowfruit wrote: But, seriously, the touring doesn't go with my vision...

your vision must be blurred.

Aha, i'm curious about this vision your having. One of the last people on here with strange visions ended up with a strange matt black touring

Welcome to the zone.

It's great to see Irish members. I too spend most of my time on these bendy, broken, but always fun roads you speak of. I've had a few E30's. I would go for a 325i in whatever format. (if you can afford the tax).

So from those comments then a 325 seems to be my best bet.

In regard to my vision... well I never claimed to be normal :p

If I can find some decent base pictures I'll post a small photoshop of my "vision"

Here's a rough draft of my "vision" - not in this colour or necessarily those wheels, but you get the idea

snowfruit wrote:Here's a rough draft of my "vision" - not in this colour or necessarily those wheels, but you get the idea

ahh, the classic "chrome turd on basketweaves"

I can hear the P40 cracking from here

seriously thiough- good plan very smart

320Touring wrote: I can hear the P40 cracking from here

Looks good. Would look better if it was a touring.

Fecking estate owners with their 'look at me!!' complexes.

Buy a cabby!!!

Go 325i, you'll never get bored of the sound. the 318is is facelift and may not fit your old school image requirements.

Plus plenty of stuff you can do to it too.

Don't buy that nose heavy crap. That's just the 4 pot boys trying to cover their insecurities for being 2 short in the cylinder department!

Welcome to the Zone Snowfruit. Your vision looks spot on to me. As Mr Coltrane has already eloquentley put
it, get the cabby in 325i form, Even with your top up the sound of that engine bouncing of the hedgerows
will put a smile on your face. Take no notice of the anti chrome mob either.Pure jealousy, and as for the "touring owners" im suprised they are,nt calling them shooting brakes.

the coolest thing about owning a touring is that you dont need to have a an "estate car", they just look fanfuckingtastic! (even when painted matt black). get a touring like every other cool person.

murran wrote:(even when painted matt black).

well since you asked so nicely....

That's my POS... Whatcha guys think?

Oh, and Munky, LOVE the matt black. My car is headed for a repaint soon, thinking about doin' it.

I must admit a cabby had crossed my mind. How useful is a cabby with a hard top?

I reckon that if you like the four door (i don't) then you should take advantage of the fact that no one else wants em, and that they are cheap. Also, Mr P Ensioner bought the four door to keep forever. He has just had his license revoked as he can no longer see, let alone drive, and only used his car to get Werthers originals each Saturday befroe taking it to his local BMW dealer to be serviced. Therefore, its cheap, serviced, and not been ragged. On the downside it will have comfort seats and be beige.

G524 wrote:On the downside it will have comfort seats and be beige.