So......

[sunnyr83]

Whats better a 318is or a 325i?

[Topblag]

I'm not getting involved in this.

[Rav335uk]

[sunnyr83]

Could not resist but have always wondered...

[bss325i]

Shouldn't that be 318iS or 328i?

[sunnyr83]

328i hands down!

My brother has a 318is and well...it's....never mind.

[hennared323i]

That had me in stitches.

i.s. is poo - 328 manual ftw

[Fushion_Julz]

an E36 318is is around 200kg heavier than an E30 318is ...

at least the M50 (325) or M52 (323/328) will have more power...

[bab-91]

the 318is must need pushed up the road, it was hard work getting my turd up the motorway past mini's and golf's

[Fushion_Julz]

I don't think it's quite that bad...but they (E36 318is) aren't exactly fast and seeing as the cost of a 325/328 isn't going to be a lot more (if at all), I'd always choose one of those...
Obviously, if you have insurance issues then a 318is is a better option than the 316i or 318i 8v M40 or M43 motors...

The M50/M52 320i is a pretty much unloved model and has 150bhp (against the 140bhp of the is) so is just as fast and runs about the same economy

[harry_p]

the bonus of the 320i is that they sound fantastic. a really creamy smooth classic 6pot sound.

there's one that drives past ours occasionally with probably the standard exhaust minus most of it's baffles by now and it sounds great. much nicer in normal driving than my m3

and, like the e30 320i, more likely to be low mileage old person owned cars.

i wouldnt bother with the m42/44 engined cars other than the compact. if you want economy, cheap running costs and an indestructable engine get a later car with the 1.9 8v m43. if you want performance buy one with a bigger engine!

[bodger]

being the e36 variety the 328i is better as its a baby M3