E30s vs French cars

[griff87]

After reading the 318 compact thread/pointless arguement about 205's, Clios etc caining e30's round the track, and my own experience with my brothers 106 quicksilver being much better in the twisties than the 325i. Can the 325i being heavy in the front ever be made to handle as well as these cars with their one wheel in each corner go-kart-like design?

I want tips people so I dont keep getting whooped by 1.4/1.6s

[maxfield]

Some ARB's, Bilstein B8's, H&R springs and some fresh bushes.

You won't have any problems.

Or get an M3 with a 4 pot

[griff87]

Haha dude I knew you would say something M3 related. The B8s are expensive tho are they worth it? What sort of difference to the give?

[maxfield]

Cracking shocks.

Deffo worth the dosh.

[Jon_Bmw]

But then spend the same money on the 205/clio/civic and it will be in the lead again. Annoying these cars with a wheel in each corner arn't they.

[Dan318-is]

Cracking shocks.

Deffo worth the dosh.

Has your 316i got these equipped then max?

[griff87]

Fair enough, what you got on the touring in your sig? not a standard drop by the look of it?

[maxfield]

No, but the M3 has.

Not sure what's on my Touring, an old MOT certificate did say incomplete coil springs...

[griff87]

But then spend the same money on the 205/clio/civic and it will be in the lead again. Annoying these cars with a wheel in each corner arn't they.

Thats exactly what gets me, it makes my faith in e30s waver sometimes, and they weigh in at around 700kg stripped (my bros 106) compared to the 1200kg 325

[Simon13]

Fair enough, what you got on the touring in your sig?

plenty of rust on the sills by the looks of it!

Mate just enjoy the 325i for what it is and not worry about hot hatches 10 years newer and 400kgs lighter

[Jon_Bmw]

Exactly that /\

I'd still drive the e30 to work 9 out of 10 days, just because its a nicer drive. Its nothing to do with fuel consumption as they are both very similar.

[griff87]

its rivalry between me and my brother I cant help it

[griff87]

As were on the topic of handling chaps, what size wheels would you recommend? I have 14inch bbs atm, but have picked up some 15inch bbs soon the be on the car, and have some tsw 16s lying around. 15's or 16's the better choice? (looks aside)

[Theo]

TSW = totally shit wheels. Silly quesiton.

Use 205-50-15 tyres, with a stiff tyre wall. Should make a big difference.

[griff87]

OK thats for that theo, any tyres in particular?

[Aleksandar]

Yokohama semi slicks or toyo t1r/s.

[bss325i]

French cars, you can keep them! I work for renault as a technician and i drive a bmw, says it all really. Some may drive ok but they are shockingly designed and put together.
Bilstein B8's, eibach springs and H&R anti roll bars transform an E30 by the way and this is what is on my car in the sig.

[Theo]

Yokohama semi slicks or toyo t1r/s.

Semi slicks are awesome, no doubt about it, but they will wear out much quicker than road tyres and they are rather expensive.

The T1-s is very average in my opinion, and the tyre wall is very soft on them. The T1-r is supposedly better, but not used them myself.

I'd go for a goodyear eagle f1 - really good road tyre, best i've tried.

[bss325i]

Continental sportcontact2's are good. Standard fitmaent on megane 225's and porche 997's. I also have them on my car, 205/50R16 front and 225/45R16 rear, cant rate them highly enough.

[Onz]

what 16" wheels u got mate? I ound that moving from the 14's to the 17's really made a difference to handling but the biggest change to handling came from fitting a Z3 steering rack and M3 eccentric wishbone bushes. It made turn in really sharp and fast, totally changed the car!

I still want to try some uprated ARB's though, I hear whiteline do a good set for not much money ;)

[Rosc0PColtrane]

After reading the 318 compact thread/pointless arguement about 205's, Clios etc caining e30's round the track, and my own experience with my brothers 106 quicksilver being much better in the twisties than the 325i. Can the 325i being heavy in the front ever be made to handle as well as these cars with their one wheel in each corner go-kart-like design?

I want tips people so I dont keep getting whooped by 1.4/1.6s

Learn to drive better. And I don't mean that sarcastically. May not be the car.

[madaboutthe30]

But then spend the same money on the 205/clio/civic and it will be in the lead again. Annoying these cars with a wheel in each corner arn't they.

Thats exactly what gets me, it makes my faith in e30s waver sometimes, and they weigh in at around 700kg stripped (my bros 106) compared to the 1200kg 325

Mate Im sure your brothers 106 wont be able to keep up with you in the top end. While his 106 is redlining and shaking away your e30 will still havent reached its topspeed

[Theo]

but have picked up some 15inch bbs soon the be on the car, and have some tsw 16s lying around.

what 16" wheels u got mate?

Here's a tip - try reading.

[Onz]

Also your E30 wont break down at the traffic lights or burn out clutches when u rag it. French cars are poo

[griff87]

Mate Im sure your brothers 106 wont be able to keep up with you in the top end. While his 106 is redlining and shaking away your e30 will still havent reached its topspeed

This is correct his does about 120

Also your E30 wont break down at the traffic lights or burn out clutches when u rag it. French cars are poo

He has just had a new clutch.

Its funny how right you are fellas, cheers for the sound advice

Learn to drive better. And I don't mean that sarcastically. May not be the car.

Im not saying i'm an awesome driver, but I have driven both and can notice a difference in handling.

Cheers

[Rosc0PColtrane]

I'd not be convinced by the handling, unless your suspension and bushes are fooked. Fwd just feels wrong. It'll feel sharper as the steering rack in the French turds will be quicker than the e30.

Seriously, learning to drive a rwd properly will have huge rewards.

[JohnnyBlazE]

That's all it is... I always cornered quicker in my FWD cars but that's because the back end was less likely to come out... I am not ready to take the E30 round corners too quick yet because I haven't learnt it fully... I need trackdays asap.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Yeah, I'm a sh*t driver. I'm not smooth enough. Really showed up driving gokarts. To late on the anchors, every corner sideways and lost too much speed.

Though I took to rally driving a lot easier!!

I'm going to have a crack at the ROSPA advanced driving, I know the dude who runs it in Yeovil.

I'd love some proper track experience and instruction.

[DaveD]

It depends what you learned to drive on (and I don't mean the test) I find rwd much more progressive and controllable fwd is a bit sharper(on my fiat coupe) but a lot twitchier. The BMW has been transformed by m3 bushes eibach springs and Gaz shocks and now feels ... planted ..if you know what I mean

[lance1a]

The french are worse than the Italians at electrics, and you should be comparing your E30 against similar aged french cars. Perhaps the exception would be the 205GTI. My customers know not to bring me anything french, I refuse to work on them, in particular Renault.

[ric325i]

guys a 205 with a Mi16 lump is a naughty car!

i had one and it was very quick, then i raced one in my 325i and...........straight lines - he won, corners - he won.

we can get sideways they can. and i have always been more brave with a 205 since i have been with them since i started.

get your 325i handling and just keep chasing them! atleast yours sounds better

[zaust]

French cars, you can keep them! I work for renault as a technician and i drive a bmw, says it all really. Some may drive ok but they are shockingly designed and put together.
Bilstein B8's, eibach springs and H&R anti roll bars transform an E30 by the way and this is what is on my car in the sig.

Lol.

I work for Pug. And I could not agree more.
I have a 207 gti for a company car this week. It has eibach suspension upgrade and is 175 bhp standered. Although it is not quick at all.

It is built like a prawn cracker.(like all french car's) I have put the eml on twice and it's only tuesday + the turbo makes a wired noise. My work are telling me it's the way I drive but my argument is it's a gti and why would I sell one to someone and tell them you can't drive it fast as it brakes. Although the 308 turbo I had for a month blew the turbo completely and broke the ns drive shaft and the esp system has become faulty.

+ I find mpg is better on a 20 year old 325 than it is on a brand new 1.6 s**t box.


As for e30 v's french. If you are asking, then you should not be allowed to drive an e30. lol

[lance1a]

As far as performance goes, we have the same engine in the new Mini as Peugeot (the PSA bottom end with the BMW head/joint venture) and they are not much to write home about. Buzzy, laggy turbo's, and sound like diesels.
Though the old (well, a few years old anyway) Mini engine was essentially a Chrysler unit, it was a better motor in blown form.

[George_Of_The_Jungle]

can i just state one thing
E30 = RWD
french **** = WWD (wrong wheel drive)

On a track when you can afford to test your tyres, the sensation of going through a fast corner, and being able to control the power to get just the tiny-est bit of oversteer, will be far greater than any feeling while in a french box.

But on the road..... is it really worth giving it too much and writing the e30 off. its a fast road car, its more comfortable, sounds better and gets way more respect than a frog ever will.

My advice: Know the roads where your gonna pull the frogs legs off, get in front, brake early, hold your line and power down as you pass the apex.....

Then drift around some roundabouts to celebrate the victory

[Gibson]

the E30 is not that great handling in standard form in my opinion. its too much of a motorway cruiser... however the right combination of shocks springs bushes and tyres can make it a very, very compitent track car while still being easy to use on the road. and comfortable