318is buying guide?

[m7roadrunner]

Im going to have a look at an e30 318is after the weekend and i'd like to know if theres anything specific to this model to watch out for?
Have looked on site cant seem to find a buyers guide.
Greatful for any help fellas.
Cheers!

[Gortour]

Not an iS specific, but hope this helps...

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=22543

[nr]

Ah! I picked one up last week, and here's my succinct buyers guide:

• Make sure it's not honking down with rain when you go for a test drive. You won't be able to see the coolant pissing out of the chuffing great hole in the radiator...

That said, having driven it around for a few days now, I can hand on heart say that it outhandles every car I've ever driven bar a Honda NSX [1]. It's so much easier to drive than an E36 M3 that it's almost embarassing. Until, of course, we get to a straight bit of road, when the E36 of course just vanishes. Now that I've tasted the 318is I'm thinking of committing a major crime to have a go in an E30 M3. It feels *so* different to a 325i - I'm guessing this is down in part to having a lot less weight over the front.

Apparently you have to watch out for a failing profile gasket too, but the advice I had is that if it's still running, it's more than likely to have been fixed already, so best not stress about it.

[1] Still my perfect car, much as I hate to admit it on a BMW forum. Mind you, the fact that I mention the 318is in the same sentence as the NSX is testament to it's capabilities. Quite stunning for a 17 year old 130,000 mile car.

[Kedge]

This site should give you all the ino you should need.

http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/index.html

[Dave_M3]

This site should give you all the ino you should need.

http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/index.html

Very useful site, plus hes Irish
I've been told theres not a huge differnce in the M3 suspension etc as the iS as you'd think. Only the front anit roll bar and bushings, hubs and a quicker steering rack... Still its not an M3, but at around 10K less its worth the compromise... for a few years anyway until I can afford to have an M3 too