E30 Zone

hi guys im looking for anther e30 but before i buy one i would like to know what is the best reliable engine in the e30 range is please

M42.

!

oh are you asking for an argument?

and Rayalratch is straight in!

read some other threards because this has been a MASS debate ( )

i have always said the 6 pot is better as it doesnt have to work as hard to pull the weight and is much smoother and way more powerful!

your choice.

the 6 pot is better as it doesnt have to work as hard to pull the weight and is much smoother and way more powerful

hmm, this is how the debate started last time. Question is which one is most reliable not better performance etc

I would say general rule of thumb is the newer the more reliable, BMW will have fixed early mistakes.

However it depends what you want....6 pot or 4 pot? early 2.5s have higher compression and are so preferred...do you want to mod or what.

There will be many examples here of 1.8s going for 200k miles without breaking a sweat as well as 2.5s doing the same

Most stuff will be reliable if looked after, they are BMWs after all. Find a well cared for engine and it will do you well. If you just want a fun car I would go for the 2.5. iS is good but you do have to push it. 1.8 and below are under powered...

JR318i wrote:hi guys im looking for anther e30 but before i buy one i would like to know what is the best reliable engine in the e30 range is please

The smart and fair way to go about things is ask what you want of the car. Reliable running, decent power, fuel economy and lean(ish) emissions then I would go with an M42 - which mean a 318iS.

If you want smooth waves of torque, horrendous fuel consumption and tail happy ride and an engine that makes the car rust then go with a 6-pot. The 325i drinks a little more than a 320i so stay away from those.
The M40'ed 318i/316i's are too weedy.
If I can be real for a moment, I would argue that the M42 is the most reliable as it's chain-driven and is a more modern design.

Whatever you go with, try and get the most modern engine management ECU you can as some older one's aren't as good.

iDreamBeemer wrote:1.8 and below are under powered...

not mine

going by my experience the 1.8 M40 is a great little engine
and will plod along for miles and miles without skipping a beat.

from what I have heard from others
and from what I have read the 318is engine
can be a fragile little beast if you get one that hasnt been cared for
but on the flipside if you get one that has been looked after they
can be quite fun buzzy little engines
but you need to wind them up to get them going.

fuel consumption is pretty much the same across the board really
with any engine
drive properly and it will return good figures
heavy right foot everywhere
and its gonna cost ya

Great it has started again!

People say the 318is is fragile mainly because the 6pot is so strong!

As for the 2.5 making your car rust!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Absolute horse manure!

dont see how that happens?

For fuel consumption my 1.8 is only slightly better than my 2.5 was (2.5 was chipped etc) but I would argue the 2.5 was better at 80mph.

This is hard to stay on topic of reliability!

Depends on its history - best looked after is better as they are all good BMW engines. But my 1.8 cam is loose probably because it's had to be racked to get the power needed from it?

Still trying to work out why a 6 cylinder engine would make the body rust more.
Silly me ....

And they're not that tail happy if you buy decent tyres .. come to think of it, if a 318is isn't tail happy then it's underpowered.

G

oh and sometimes modern complexity in an engine can be a pain and play with your mind!

m20 simple power and strength.

GDBN wrote:Still trying to work out why a 6 cylinder engine would make the body rust more.
Silly me ....

And they're not that tail happy if you buy decent tyres .. come to think of it, if a 318is isn't tail happy then it's underpowered.

G

my 318i is tail happy

little skinny bottle tops and pointless cheap tyres i love it.

rust from a six pot? must be all that extra power ripping the car apart and the torque the m20 has that the m42 doesnt?

who knows?

Or many someone here is biased because he's building a 318is ?

Who knows ... I've just got 2 rusting 6 pots

good luck with the build of the 318is i bet it will be a great car!

at least Jr318i will know all the engines are good and strong and we all have strong opinions of which they prefer!


plus i there is still the chance someone with mega tech knowledge will get on here and say which is better but its still going to come down to personal prefrences and needs.

arr sorry guys i obviusly hit a nerve my intention was just to ask advise only not a war ounce again sorry yours john

John,

This is not a problem as far as starting a war, we are mostly all friends and this is taken in good measure but, as with life, people have requirements and needs - you have not been clear enough with yours (please don't take offence, it is not a personal comment) there is a lot of variety but you must sort out you priorities

Do you want:

Performance
Fuel Efficiency
Power figures
Fun

the list goes on...but once you know what you want there are plenty here that a)know what they are talking about b) willing to help you out........but as I said it is a little vague so peeps put their own bits in to the pot....

Build it and it will come......bugger, wrong film......uuhhh ask and the answers will come....oh, you get the idea!

Best engine for reliability, performance and fuel consumption in an E30 is the M50B25, preferably with vanos, but you'll have to put it in yourself, because BMW didn't!

Brianmoooore wrote:Best engine for reliability, performance and fuel consumption in an E30 is the M50B25, preferably with vanos, but you'll have to put it in yourself, because BMW didn't!

AGREED!
Chain driven
Torquey
Reliable
Good on fuel
Modern management
Sound lovely

GDBN wrote:Or many someone here is biased because he's building a 318is ?

Who knows ... I've just got 2 rusting 6 pots

ric325i wrote:good luck with the build of the 318is i bet it will be a great car!

See. There's no need to get personal and start having pops. I was having a laugh, as is my right and not aiming anything at anyone in particular. This is how shit starts.

Just keep it general, don't start talking about individuals and their projects - that's just bitchy.

Who said I wasn't laughing too ?

I will say no more !!

G

I was referring more to ric325i's comments.

I'll lend you my M42 engine to run around in your E30. Watch the rust magically disappear before your very eyes...

Then I want it back.

hi guys my 318i m40 is ok around town but when we take a trip to Cornwall form leeds it a pain after a few hours{NO offence interned lol} so i suppose i really what a all rounder the chain derived 325 appears to be the best choice dear i ask what is the best trim level/model i.e comfort for long trips

JR318i wrote:dear i ask what is the best trim level/model i.e comfort for long trips

Well `comfort` seats certainly arent comfortable

325i SE

SE stands for special equipment so at least leather is included (afaik) will give you the comfort on longer drives

thanks guys for your advise now i have £1500 lets hope i can get a good example ill start hunting ,wish me luck cheers

Good luck,although for that money you should get a tidy well specced car

cheers eko is there any problems that is not obveious with the 325 engine that i should be awere ov

If youve made your mind up that you want a 2.5(M20) then id suggest you read the buyers guide.
Ill try and find the link.

For that you'll get a nice tidy 318iS.

Nice motor, sports seats and power windows. MTEC suspension is nice too.

Beats a worn and baggy 325i. Good luck finding a nice SE.

Sorry cant find the link,maybe i just imagined seeing one
Anyway headgaskets can cause problems resulting in cracked head(?) but apart from that as long as its well looked after and serviced well then they are very good and capable of good mileage too.
Think theres a few on the zone still going strong at over 200K?

thanks eko thats the one ill buy 325

Ignore ratch, he's on a 4pot mission
A 318is is just as likely to be worn out and baggy as a 325i especially as its a thrashers machine anyway...

JR dont just take my word for it,maybe consider the iS too,all really depends what you want like was said earlier?
I had a 318is for about 12 months.Cracking little car,pretty pokey in all honesty and handled great.
Only real critism is that they can get a bit noisy on the motorway.
This can easily be sorted by swapping diffs though.
Basically the 318is is a fantastic car for round town/local driving.
6 pot is a good cruiser.
My opinion of course

hi i all ready have a 318i witch im keeping so when i have a look at a 325 i will have a independent car cheek done as well as looking at service history i think this would be the safest bet john

here's a late answer

like the guys above said, it depends on what you need.

but i'll tell you some facts that can't be disputed kidding
the 6 cyl ones are smoother, they are the best balanced ones, and more quiet, but have a higher fuel consumption round the city, or when the engine is cold, not ideal for short city trips

4cyl ones, warm up fast, and are more economic round the city
on the highway the ods change, the 6cyl ones are more economic at higher speeds.