E30 Zone

Right it won't be for a while probably not until december (as then I'll be 21 and I'll have a years NCB) but I thought I'd just start investigatong so I can know the in and outs of the e30.

I am looking for a cabby or a saloon, but I'm not sure which engine I should get. Bigger would be better; but thanks to the special way in which insurance companies work I am going to have to be a little more picky.

I could do with peoples opinion on the following;

316s are they fun to drive (I'm mean really fun)
318s are they all that much better than the 316s
320s I think I might be able to stretch to paying the insurance amount but it will be alot so can I have as much fun in a smaller engined e30??

At the end of the day the e30 is a great car so it doesnt really matter but any advice would be helpful.

316s are they fun to drive (I'm mean really fun)
318s are they all that much better than the 316s
320s I think I might be able to stretch to paying the insurance amount but it will be alot so can I have as much fun in a smaller engined e30??

i think you have seem to have forgotten the e30 that was hand crafted by god himself

introducing the almighty. . . . .




















E30 318IS 136bhp standard, 4 pot righness , mtech suspension , rear discs , recaro interior etc etc

320 , - id rather be dragged behind a 316 on my face

Hi mate
You might just open up the 6pot vs 4pot debate can of worms here, if your looking at a 320i you might as well get a 325i as they are about the same on fuel and the 325i is a lot faster.

Cheers
Sean

Talking cabbies now - don't think there is a 316 cabby, 320i isn't really much better on fuel or performance than the 318i so go for that, the only cabby engine better would be the 325i but you can't stretch to this so don't think about it.

Cabbies and salloons are different beasts, again for you the 318 is the engine of choice, the salloon will have the performance advantage because it ill alays be lighter than a cabby ith its strengthened chasis and sills to cope with not having a roof. ith the salloon you have the coice IIRC of the 316 carbed engine or 316 injection 1.6l engine, 318i 1.8 M40 engine or the 320 M20, being completely honest go for the 318 for insurance and performance.

Yeah have to agree the 318is is only available as a saloon model, they didn't stick it in the drop tops. and it is an awesome engine. But the cabbies are soooo much nicer.

foget cabby's - its never sunny enough

forget saloons - more door locks to go wrong

3 door is where its at dude

I think the cab would be more to insure, if it helps im 20 as well and paying 1500 for a 2dr 325i, they didn't quote me that much less for smaller engined e30, but you will suffer more on running costs on the 6 cylinders.

agreen wrote:foget cabby's - its never sunny enough

forget saloons - more door locks to go wrong

3 door is where its at dude

The 3 door is also classed as a saloon, if however it had a lower roof line than the saloon body it would be a coupe, but it doesn't they are the same aside from 2 more doors.

Running costs sont matter company pays for fuel etc, I think I want the 2dr saloon, not a fan of 4drs and you're right not enough sun to justify a cabbie

I think I want the 2dr saloon,

the almighty "is" it is then dude

I will check it out, now for a really boy racer scumbag question............... Is it fairly easy to chuck the 318iS into a few donuts every now and then?? (I'm living in a very naive diesel FWD world )

Insurance companies (in my experience) dont seem to see a difference between the 318i and the 318is, they just think they are both 1.8 litre and thats the end of it. 318is seems like a good choice, and thats coming from someone with a 325i

325 one day then maybe 2.8 3.6 etc etc

m30 3.5 is the way forward, thats what im saving for in the summer mate.

griff87 wrote:m30 3.5 is the way forward, thats what im saving for in the summer mate.

nah m59 2,5 is the way forward no boat anchor wrongness

m59? whats that from mate?

griff87 wrote:m30 3.5 is the way forward, thats what im saving for in the summer mate.

I wish but being 20 now and 21 in december is putting a stop to that.

griff87 wrote:m59? whats that from mate?

I reckon he hit 9 instead of 0, should be M50

well it looks like its going to be the 318iS 2dr saloon.

If anyone has any reason why I shouldnt get one please speak now

I think no claims has a lots to do with it. You could just grind off the 3.0/3.5 mark on the inlet manifold and no one would ever know (im joking btw)

march109 wrote:

griff87 wrote:m59? whats that from mate?

I reckon he hit 9 instead of 0, should be M50

ah yeah makes sense

im running a 318is in a (dare i say it) e36 and its fine, nothing like the 2.5 for sheer grunt though.

ive just got my first e30 and im paying £860 to insure it Fully comp its a 318i touring good fun car could do wit a bit more grunt but ittl do

Messenjah wrote:ive just got my first e30 and im paying £860 to insure it Fully comp its a 318i touring good fun car could do wit a bit more grunt but ittl do

how old are you?

Could anyone give me rough ideas about insurance prices from decent firms for a 21yr old, one yrs NCB on a

316
318
and a 320
and if possible just for a laugh a 325.

http://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/ ... otes+exact

Have a play yourself, go to the above link... we all live in different areas which play a huge part in insurance quotes, plus you can determine what legal cover you want, what level excess you want to have etc. The excess amount is where it can bring your insurance down to as little as possible, mines on £100 and i'm 28 got 4Years NCB have 320i and pay £450 fully comp with all the legal cover etc etc.

The problem is that because its all done using set computer programs they use my age now 20 and my 0 NCB plus it leave out a lot of the specialist companies. But thank you anyway just had a look and for a 320 is over £1500 so thats to depressing to believe so might just call up some specialist insurance compnanies and get qoutes the old fashion way.

The above link will give you more accurate figures than people saying what quotes they've got at 21 with 1 YNCB. I'm very doubtful it'll be much different anyway when your 21 and got 1 YNCB, maybe 200notes.

ok fair enough, thanks for the advice may just have to live in my small diesel nightmare for a bit longer!

I was just about to suggest what the first reply stated. If you can find one, get a 318iS. I had a red one and absoluely loved it. I seem to remember the insurance being pretty good too - think it was acutally cheaper than my Golf GTI. Certainly worth asking the insurance comapny for a quote.

Sorry if I came across a bit forward above

Having one of those days.