E30 Zone

A mate of mine is looking at buying a Silver 1992 Manual 318is. So I thought I'd ask if anyone knew of any problem areas?
I know the power windows aren't entirely bulletproof, but anything else?
Rust? Reliability?

Thanks

In general E36 coupes are very reliable but a 1992 318is is now an old car. I'd want to be seeing as original an example as possible, no Lexus lights and ridiculous lowering springs councilness. They were great handling cars in their day with M-Tech suspension but by now this will probably need an overhaul if it hasn't already been done. Snapped springs and knackered balljoints are E36 favourites. Timing chains can get a bit rattly in old age/high mileage.

E36's in general don't really rust badly. Rear arches, sills and around the bootlid are the common hot spots. They're now so cheap that its not worth buying a grotty example.

In all honesty, the 318is is a bit underpowered but they make a decent economical daily driver.

I go along with Darkchild. They are not the quickest cars and fall into the 'adequate' rather than the 'rapid' category. Try to get something with good spec, full colour coding on the bumpers and decent alloys. Also check the ignition switch/barrel works correctly and that once the keys are out of the ignition that none of the electrics still operate (after the closing of the door).

E36 318is in stanard guise was a lovely car, especially with the kit on. Finding an unmolested one will be key.

having owned one myself, i'd agree totally with the above.

rear springs have a nasty habit of snapping, and the rear bushes are made of swiss cheese.

a later model will be worth the investment.

stevotheevo wrote:having owned one myself, i'd agree totally with the above.

rear springs have a nasty habit of snapping, and the rear bushes are made of swiss cheese.

a later model will be worth the investment.

I had a 99 'T' plate M tech about 4 years ago, It was very loose due to its high mileage 130k. The only thing that went was as mentioned above rear bushes but thats nothing really is it......Windows used to let in abit of water but not much and I just lived with that and Id had simular problems with my previous E36 316i coupe.

I'd go for the E30 318iS. They're holding a little bit of value and cost around the same. Difference is the E30s are / can be really cheap to fix in comparison. + E30 is lighter and faster. But a hunt for an unmolestered one with no rust or councilness etc will require a tadd more searching. But you will find one.

Hold it for a few years and it'll probably be worth more that the E36 ones. Reasonable nick ones from 1990/1991 that are all standard and nothing wrong with them with roughly 100k are reaching 2.5k....sometimes more..

But if he wants an E36 thats his choice.

NayC wrote:I'd go for the E30 318iS. They're holding a little bit of value and cost around the same. Difference is the E30s are / can be really cheap to fix in comparison. + E30 is lighter and faster. But a hunt for an unmolestered one with no rust or councilness etc will require a tadd more searching. But you will find one.

Hold it for a few years and it'll probably be worth more that the E36 ones. Reasonable nick ones from 1990/1991 that are all standard and nothing wrong with them with roughly 100k are reaching 2.5k....sometimes more..

But if he wants an E36 thats his choice.

Sorry but I dont agree....For a half decent E30 318is you will be paying way to much money for what they are....E36 318is' can be bought for peanuts now and are an all round better car....apart from 'fun factor' of course.

e36boy wrote:Sorry but I dont agree....For a half decent E30 318is you will be paying way to much money for what they are....E36 318is' can be bought for peanuts now and are an all round better car....apart from 'fun factor' of course.

Well ye they are an all round more modern car. Personally i dont agree with E36s at all. Too me a car has got to be somewhat special and E36s to me are just not that. If it where me i'd put up with the downsides to have an E30 1.8iS and fix it up. E36s are just horrible cars IMO.

NayC wrote:

e36boy wrote:Sorry but I dont agree....For a half decent E30 318is you will be paying way to much money for what they are....E36 318is' can be bought for peanuts now and are an all round better car....apart from 'fun factor' of course.

Well ye they are an all round more modern car. Personally i dont agree with E36s at all. Too me a car has got to be somewhat special and E36s to me are just not that. If it where me i'd put up with the downsides to have an E30 1.8iS and fix it up. E36s are just horrible cars IMO.

Ive had both mate and both have there good and bad points but the E36 is a more solid car imo and for a daily a much better allrounder.

i just showed my mrs pictures of both e30 318is and the e36 318is.

she said she'd prefer to look like a chav in a 36, rather than a pikey in a e30

NayC wrote:E36s are just horrible cars IMO.

Quite. All those millions of Deutsch Marks BMW wasted in making an inferior car to the mighty E30.

The BMW 318iS E36 is a very good car, if you get one of the first versions, the engine is made by BMW motorsport them self and not "in house". The iS is lovely to drive because you need to drive it because its a 4 pot lovely engine who loves rews. As some ppl say, get one with the m-tech packiage and you have a nice Beemer

is the later engine no made by motorsport then? and is the first one definatly made by the big M

NayC wrote: Well ye they are an all round more modern car. Personally i dont agree with E36s at all. Too me a car has got to be somewhat special and E36s to me are just not that. If it where me i'd put up with the downsides to have an E30 1.8iS and fix it up. E36s are just horrible cars IMO.

maybe the posters mate doesnt want a car that needs 'fixing up' or battle against rot and just wants a solid, reliable car that's decent to drive?

an e30 might be cooler, quicker and more fun, but a lot of people dont want to pay a premium for those things for a car that's worse in other areas.

a grand will buy a good solid totally rot free e36 318is which still looks good and is more coupeish than the 2 door saloon e30 coupe.

to me, personally a car that needs care and attention should be a lot more special than an e30 318is, whereas, now i'm getting a bit older i appreciate a quieter, more comfortable car that needs nothing more than a fluid level check every couple of months and an occasional wash.

78dude wrote:The BMW 318iS E36 is a very good car, if you get one of the first versions, the engine is made by BMW motorsport them self and not "in house". The iS is lovely to drive because you need to drive it because its a 4 pot lovely engine who loves rews. As some ppl say, get one with the m-tech packiage and you have a nice Beemer

Im not so sure if thats true....So youre saying the M42 was made by BMW Motorsport ?

I dont think thats right but dont mind being proven wrong

i know that the m42 is is basically and m50 with 2 pots missing! but i have heard that M power had somthing to do with the m42 design?

we all know e30 318is' are baby M3's and thus M division hand built fully forged engine and lined the engine bays with gold..

Indeed, the E30 318iS is the baby M3 and it looks like it is the car ppl like for the most in here, but to say its a better car then the E36 (same version) is wrong!
The first generation E36 318 iS have I been told have engines made from BMW M-Sport

Ok thanks,

So he should check the rear suspension (bushes, springs, balljoints), timing chain, and rear sills, and bootlid?
But rust in Aus shouldn't be a problem for the e36's yet.

I'll pass this on.

I like my e36 318is it has 171K on the clock - the two things that don't work is the passenger window and the A/C also doesn't work. - Everything else is fine. It is fast enough for todays roads, and will return 40mpg if you really try. Engine is only has a little rattle when you start it up otherwise it is fine.

It was cheap as chips - £500 with 6months Tax and 10months MOT... I don't think there is much cheaper / reliable / nicer motoring out there!

Rear seats also fold down unlike in an e30 which makes it a little more useful...

Mine had no modifications what so ever