Let's hear it for the 318is.

[tomstickland]

It's 4 weeks since I bought myself a 318is and I've been to Wales twice this weekend. 7am start on Saturday. That means empty roads, sun shining. Welsh roads. Big, sweeping, corners. The business.

As my confidence in the car has built up then I finally made a major step on Saturday. Now that I can look at a corner and know that the car will make it round with no dramas then I've been able to feed more power in on the corner and hey does it go round better with some power being fed in!

I've been quite astonished by the pace possible on flowing A and B roads. For a car with such rubbish official acceleration figures it's actually a little monster once you're in the mood. I guess it's because the 0-40 time is off cam or something, because 40-90 it doesn't feel slow.

The feeling when exiting a corner and noticing that it's taken virtually no steering lock because the back must be ever so slightly coming round. Ah...., amazing.

The slow steering doesn't seem to be slow once on the move.

This has to be the most fun car I've owned. I think the unbreakable 30mpg is part of it, along with the way that it's quite happy being driven sensibly, but then again will allow a full on assualt of a good road, then also sit at a steady 120 on the mway if that was legal.

I think I also like the borderline underpowered nature of it. It means that you have to be efficient with your driving to get the most from it. Makes a change from overpowered FWD hatches where you can just use raw acceleration to make up the difference.

[Jhonno]

Glad to hear your enjoyin it Tom. Everytime i read bout someone biggin up the m42 lump i do wonder what it'd be like with some tb's n stuff but then i've already put my money down on the s50.. which is kinda like the m42 - revvy etc, just not 30mpg and alot quicker

I'm loving mine with its 100bhp tbh - the handling is what does it, AC Schnitzer stuff is the nuts this thing does not roll despite a 1.6 anti roll bar setup and yet isnt overly hard riding. Its all about conservation of momentum!

[kidsinister]

I can highly recommend chipping an iS for a little extra go throughout the range (chipped uk Viper2 chip) - it makes it a bit more torquey lower down the revs, and a monster once you get to 3500 - 4000.

I'm also slapping a big-bore throttle body on this weekend (thanks Ian), I'll report back...

I don't know about you, but... Ԛ£3000 for a rust free Sport, or Ԛ£850 for an iS. Tricky.

[Geeman]

Having owned both at the same time, they are hardly comparable.

The Sport is lovely and smooth, where as (my particular) the 318iS is a nice drive and easier use round town, but loves to scream when you're out in the country. Mine has a Viper chip, BBTB, induction kit and a full stainless system which all go towards making it a more 'intresting' drive...

The Sport is much more of a laid back, low revving car. For long distance relaxation, but with the knowledge that you've got it there if you need it, then the Sport wins; but for lightweight screaming and competent road holding and behaviour, then the 318iS has it.

Personal preference.

If I was buying another E30 after having owned both of these, then I would have to go for the Sport again though. It's just got that 6 cylinder noise...

[kidsinister]

You're one of us now, Giles.

Mwahahaaaaaaa...

[tomstickland]

You know what? The engine is staying standard. I've been down the engine tuning route before and it's good fun, but the novelty has worn off now.
I might try a chip if I can find one cheap. I've never been impressed with chips before. Did BMW have a very restrictive map to start with or something?

[Moofles]

tom - there's actually plenty of engine tuning options open to 318iS owners....


- m20
- m50
- s50
- m30
- s38


etc etc, it goes on and on...

[Jhonno]

tom - there's actually plenty of engine tuning options open to 318iS owners....


- m20
- m50
- s50
- m30
- s38


etc etc, it goes on and on...

Lets hear it for the Zone's comedian

[Karan]

tom - there's actually plenty of engine tuning options open to 318iS owners....


- m20
- m50
- s50
- m30
- s38


etc etc, it goes on and on...

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats GREAT!!!! its been a while since uve made me laugh adam.... but this did make me giggle...LOL


yeh teh 318iS rules and to be honest id rather drove one round town and country than my sport.....its just so easy to drive... ive driven some e46 4 pots and they were harder to drive!!!

[Rearwheel_nick]

i'm thinking of switching to 4pot powahh. love the m20 but the car feels too nose heavy in the twisties which is what its all about for me

[Demlotcrew]

The M42s are pushed back further into the centre of the car, more than the M40.

When driving a 2.5 you can feel its very heavy, but it handles the bumps a little better.

A

[320Touring]

the iS is a different beast to the m20 e30's

It does feel a lot lighter at the front and a bit more 'direct' into corners-handles a bit like a huge mini

the MPG for the performance is great too-all in all, a bit of a gem of a 4pot

[Geeman]

I'm loving mine at the moment... just chucked it around some twisties for 100 miles to go to the local DVLA office... what a bind... Ho hum...

[orangecurry]

is a 318iS Baur conversion the best thing ever then, or is it just a hairdressers car?

[Demlotcrew]

is a 318iS Baur conversion the best thing ever then, or is it just a hairdressers car?

Its a good thing, dont know about best!

A