E30 Zone

Since I've been on here I have read lots of postings about how rubbish the 320i is compared to the 325i.

I've found the 320i to be a nice realible car, it goes well for what it is, it has 129bhp v a 325i's 171bhp so it is slower, the torque is lower too, but the way some people talk about them it's like they have a Citroen 2cv engine in them

I have also read loads of threads about 325i head/gasket problems, but the 320's only a few... Can't be that bad then.

The bhp/litre of of the 320 is 3.9bhp/litre less than the 325i.

very strong engine but uses more go go juice than a 25 cost the same to maintain and repair insure and IT'S VERY SLOW.

Seconded that man! id love a 325 but ive got a 320 which is perfectly good for me

also think the same....... i have a 320i does what i need it to very niceley and the 325s are a lot more to insure, well for me anyway!

It's becasue of the difference in performance, it's not so much the engine being un-reliable, up until January this year, I was regulary running a 325i and a 320i and the difference is huge, 320i isn't too bad after 4000rpm, just not enough! I can't wait to remove the 2.0 from my touring in all honesty! And then there's the fuel consumption as zaust says, it's appaling!

And the missus is menace enough in a 320,id hate to think what she'd be like in a 325!!

I see where people are coming from on the performance issue, to a point.

Mine does 0-60 in 9.4 and will show 128mph on the speedo, hardly very slow, just not as quick as a 325i.

I always get more than 30mpg out of my car, hardly appauling MPG. I used to get 36mpg out of my Pug 405 Turbo diesel (modded) so that gives an idea of how I drive

I haven't driven a 4 cylinder E30 but I have driven an E36 318i. now that was a slow car

its not a bad car...far from it....i know id rather have one than a 318i for sure...

just a bit undrpowered i think

i had a 320i 2door before my 325`s, i thought it was pretty quick,
i had cam, chip, k&n, custom single box exhaust and lowered 60mm

I'll say it again; they're not as bad as everyone makes out!

They're smoother & sound better than a 325 (not much, but a bit!), & are miles nicer than a 318i

Mine was more economical (thanks largely to the diff in the early ones I expect).

If you put a 2.5 TB etc onto a late 2.0 then you can get good gains for not much money. & they're not slow to start with - they still easily keep up with moden traffic & it's quite possible to have loadsa fun in em!

The insurance is less (not much again, but it all counts!)

The biggest factor I think is that nice 320s are often way cheaper & easier to find than a similar 325...

But at the end of the day, the power's what counts to most people; there really is a big difference... & it's pretty obvious which I prefer, from which I now drive!

I love the revvy nature of the 320i but miss the all out drivability of the 325i.

I think 320's are a great way into BMW ownership, they aren't the quickest but they sound great and are really smooth.

I still enjoyed my Touring when it was 2.0, it's just that it lacked that bit of extra pull.

The fact that 'slow' cars weren't far off keeping up with you was a bit gay too. Like 1.1 106's and stuff!!

davetouring wrote:
The fact that 'slow' cars weren't far off keeping up with you was a bit gay too. Like 1.1 106's and stuff!!

I know what you mean!! I pulled up alongside a granny (and no shit..she was) in a new shape clio, nothing special, I was in the outside lane, and she did me from the lights!! I had to pull in behind her..

Two girls in an MGF did me off the lights, which was embarrassing! I know they are reasonably quick!

Even when my touring was 2.5, and as quick as a Sport, I was harrassed by a Smart Car!

A girl tried to race me in a Fiesta the other day in my Civic, I had a terrible start, (after not expecting her to boot it!!) got level by 8k in first, missed second, still level, hit second and shot off! Civic is a little rocket and I love it!!

Jap rules!! (read - vtec rules)

320's are pants unless dave is driving it!

I had a 320i touring before my current car. Prior to that I had an e28 520i with the same M20 engine as the 320i. The difference between them was huge, the 320 was seriously quick and felt quicker than my 325 does. I don't know why people slate them, it was a great car and more economical then the current one.
On the subject of racing I had a great laugh with an e36 316i compact and a passat on Friday night. On the A24 from Horsham to Washington then cross-country to Chichester, what a road. He'd had some suspension work done and probably knew the road so was taking bends quicker then I'd get back on his bumper on the straights. Got up to about 115, which I'm guessing is his top speed.

Because they are, and I'm a 2.5 snob.
I don't see the point in having 129bhp for the same fuel economy as 171bhp

Oh and this, guess which one is the 320

nope edited lol left is 320 hahahaha

320's a perfectly good car/engine for what it is, just like a 316 is, in it's own way.
It's when people start talking about modding 320s that it gets silly.
What's the point of sticking a 325 throttle body on a 320, when you'll get far better returns by leaving the throttle body still attached to it's parent engine.

if you're just after a cheaper bmw but refuse to go 4pot then i see nothing wrong with the 320i. if you're trying to make some kind of racing slag then no piont in the 320 at all. well i'd like a 320is though.but still rather stay with the 25.

My dolphin 320 is smooth, but as you guys suggest, a little under-powered compared to my daily drive 525 24v.

Mmmmm if I could transplant the M50 lump .

I can see the appeal of the 2.5 m20 engine!! 171bhp is a good load of poke
The problem nowadays is getting the space and feedom to utilise all that power...171bhp is as useless as 129bhp sitting in a traffic jam on the m25

however, I've been running my 320 touring since march this year and I must say I LOVE IT!!!!

the 2.0 seems to be a bit more rapid at spinning up (compared to the 325's i've driven), and the noise from it past 4000rpm is amazing

Its not a 'lazy car' to drive, as you cant exploit the torque in the same way as a 2.5-so even if you're driving fairly gently, it provides an involving drive.

The fuel consumption of mine is'nt too bad (35mpg on a run, 27ish around town) and can probably be put down to the fact that most 320's have a 4.10 diff fitted.I will hopefully get a taller diff off a 325 fitted at somepoint, to reduce the revs at motorway speeds.

TBH I'm not really too bothered about racing saxo's etc, but I have no problems passing them when needed. 129bhp is plenty in a car weighing 1300kgish

for comparison the new astra is available with a 1.4 16v (giving 80ish BHP) in a car weighing 1725kg

Widge, I know that the 2.0 is flat-topped as opposed to 'hemi'd' but you can argue that the reduction of Alloy present in the 2.5 head is what makes them more 'fragile'... (as for being a 2.5 snob-you're gonna have 2.0 conrods in your 2.7 )

Furthermore, IMO two of the nicest sounding engines in the world are 'flat top'

1930's Harley v twin (also a side valve)
1960's Dodge 440 v8 (flat topped as opposed to the 427 hemi)

and as already said the 2.0 m20 engine in an e30 provides a cheap and viable way into owning a 6pot bmw, yes the fuel consumption isnt great, but neither is it worse than the 2.5

:yeahthat:

There's too much of the 'snobbishness' associated with some members of the forum. It's not very inclusive is it? Perhaps the zone should be limited to folks who run 325s or iSs????

If not, then shut up!

kp

who is quite happy with his 320i thankyou!!

320Touring wrote:Widge,as for being a 2.5 snob-you're gonna have 2.0 conrods in your 2.7

No if I can help it. Anyone got any 323 rods for sale?

320Touring wrote: Furthermore, IMO two of the nicest sounding engines in the world are 'flat top'

1930's Harley v twin (also a side valve)
1960's Dodge 440 v8 (flat topped as opposed to the 427 hemi)

In my opinion both these engines sound sh1t.

Fcukin Ditch pumps.

Widge wrote:

320Touring wrote: No if I can help it. Anyone got any 323 rods for sale?

320Touring wrote: Furthermore, IMO two of the nicest sounding engines in the world are 'flat top'

1930's Harley v twin (also a side valve)
1960's Dodge 440 v8 (flat topped as opposed to the 427 hemi)

In my opinion both these engines sound sh1t.

Fcukin Ditch pumps.

good luck getting 323 rods

as for the engines, each to their own what would you say are the two best sounding?

bigger is always better , unless its jap

zaust wrote:very strong engine but uses more go go juice than a 25 cost the same to maintain and repair insure and IT'S VERY SLOW.

Very slow? I guess you've never driven a genuinely slow car.

krazypaul wrote::yeahthat:

There's too much of the 'snobbishness' associated with some members of the forum. It's not very inclusive is it? Perhaps the zone should be limited to folks who run 325s or iSs????

It would be better wouldn't it? then we wouldn't have to talk about naff 316,318,320's then

320's are now old and cheap there is no point to them, there are plenty of 325's about too.

As said a million times before 325 fuel with 318 performance.

There is no snobbbery it's all facts

Bugatti 35B Supercharged 2.2ltr straight 8 single overhead cam 3 valves per cyl roller bearing crank 150bhp in 1928 in a car that weighs less than a rollerskate

Lamoughini Miura Transverse V12

AC cobra 5.3 Big block Ford V8

Simon13 wrote: 320's are now old and cheap there is no point to them, there are plenty of 325's about too.

As said a million times before 325 fuel with 318 performance.

There is no snobbbery it's all facts

318 performance?! so the 318 has 129bhp does it?!

there is plenty point to the 320-provides a cheap to buy way into e30 6pots, parts are easily available-provides good sounds (some say better than the 2.5)

with the bbtb and 'zone chip the 2.0 is worth probably 140+ bhp... Have a look at the specs for say a Ford Focus 2.0 or Vaux Astra 2.0 (140+ bhp aint too bad, esp as the car is lighter )

As widge said to me yesterday, sometimes you gotta stop following the herd and throw them a swerve ball.
If everyone had 2.5 m20's on here then it's be fairly boring as a forum,cos you wouldnt learn anything about the m40, m10, m42, s14 etc....

320Touring, and proud of it!!

Simon13 wrote:

krazypaul wrote::yeahthat:

There's too much of the 'snobbishness' associated with some members of the forum. It's not very inclusive is it? Perhaps the zone should be limited to folks who run 325s or iSs????

It would be better wouldn't it? then we wouldn't have to talk about naff 316,318,320's then

But don't you feel slightly envious when M3 owners belittle your mere 325??

There is no snobbbery it's all facts

M3s are better than 325s....that's a fact...loser!


kp

320Touring wrote:320Touring, and proud of it!!

Good on yer mate! I just figured if I was going to get an E30 I might as well get the best, especially as I'd already had a 320i(albeit briefly), and learn to live with the expense. Big engines are only small knob compensators anyway!

JoeP wrote:

320Touring wrote:320Touring, and proud of it!!

Good on yer mate! I just figured if I was going to get an E30 I might as well get the best, especially as I'd already had a 320i(albeit briefly), and learn to live with the expense. Big engines are only small knob compensators anyway!

thanks dude

no comment on the size of anything

no offence to the 325 dudes out there-i will have one one day, but most e30 fans have got to start off from wherever they can

Paul ure so crazy! I'm very envious especially of chrome 320 auto's with 3 speeds and steel wheels

i couldn't give a poo what anyone thinks really i know E30's are not the be all end all so thats a good start. lets not be name calling please, and i'm pleased u took the bait.

Why do think in the seloc series they use m40 1.8's and 320's of any age?

cos the extra weight of the 6 pot cancels it's whopping 10bhp power advantage. Early 320's make more like 120 brake. So for what little straight line speed u have, u lose on the twisties to the 4pot.

Simon13 wrote:Paul ure so crazy! I'm very envious especially of chrome 320 auto's with 3 speeds and steel wheels

i couldn't give a poo what anyone thinks really i know E30's are not the be all end all so thats a good start. lets not be name calling please, and i'm pleased u took the bait.

Why do think in the seloc series they use m40 1.8's and 320's of any age?

cos the extra weight of the 6 pot cancels it's whopping 10bhp power advantage. Early 320's make more like 120 brake. So for what little straight line speed u have, u lose on the twisties to the 4pot.

no problems through the twisties for us touring owners

like you say e30's are not the most important thing in the world, but its something that connects the lot of us and i dont think we should neccessarily differentiate between people due to their engine size

as for the m3-thats 4pot wrongness