Members with 323i,s.

[e30topless]

even if i get it to fire up i bet the whole thing will struggle to sell cheaply .

leave the donk in the bay Mick, it will help on the weigh in and save a lot of hassle

[Andyboy]

I'd remove the head and sump, and stick the bottom end on the E21 forum for 50 quid. They're a rare engine now.

[jlb]

As with any e30, a healthy 323 is a nice thing to drive...the problem is not many have driven nice examples; any 30 year old car that is not running well is going to be a little underwhelming. A well sorted, tight 323 with LSD is a nice thing, I can vouch for this - the 323 fits where you would expect in terms of performance in the e30 range - closer to the 2.5 than the 20 it has to be said. As mentioned the 2.5 is a better all rounder, it's mid range grunt the 2.5 has over the 2.3 - as the stats suggest, there is very little in acceleration.

[gooner1]

As with any e30, a healthy 323 is a nice thing to drive...the problem is not many have driven nice examples; any 30 year old car that is not running well is going to be a little underwhelming. A well sorted, tight 323 with LSD is a nice thing, I can vouch for this - the 323 fits where you would expect in terms of performance in the e30 range - closer to the 2.5 than the 20 it has to be said. As mentioned the 2.5 is a better all rounder, it's mid range grunt the 2.5 has over the 2.3 - as the stats suggest, there is very little in acceleration.

Thanks for posting some very good points, jlb.

[pacerpete]

As with any e30, a healthy 323 is a nice thing to drive...the problem is not many have driven nice examples; any 30 year old car that is not running well is going to be a little underwhelming. A well sorted, tight 323 with LSD is a nice thing, I can vouch for this - the 323 fits where you would expect in terms of performance in the e30 range - closer to the 2.5 than the 20 it has to be said. As mentioned the 2.5 is a better all rounder, it's mid range grunt the 2.5 has over the 2.3 - as the stats suggest, there is very little in acceleration.

Thanks for posting some very good points, jlb.

To summarise. A GOOD (flying pig overhead !) 323 is better than a 320 but not nearly as good as a 325.

As for performance, a 325 will tear a 323 a new ringpiece, while at the same time doing better MPG. My opinions are not based on hearsay, I drove and owned many of these cars when the E30 was still a current model

[Rav335uk]

As with any e30, a healthy 323 is a nice thing to drive...the problem is not many have driven nice examples; any 30 year old car that is not running well is going to be a little underwhelming. A well sorted, tight 323 with LSD is a nice thing, I can vouch for this - the 323 fits where you would expect in terms of performance in the e30 range - closer to the 2.5 than the 20 it has to be said. As mentioned the 2.5 is a better all rounder, it's mid range grunt the 2.5 has over the 2.3 - as the stats suggest, there is very little in acceleration.

Thanks for posting some very good points, jlb.

To summarise. A GOOD (flying pig overhead !) 323 is better than a 320 but not nearly as good as a 325.

As for performance, a 325 will tear a 323 a new ringpiece, while at the same time doing better MPG. My opinions are not based on hearsay, I drove and owned many of these cars when the E30 was still a current model

Yes, we ALL know how OLD you are Shiela

[pacerpete]

Thanks for posting some very good points, jlb.

To summarise. A GOOD (flying pig overhead !) 323 is better than a 320 but not nearly as good as a 325.

As for performance, a 325 will tear a 323 a new ringpiece, while at the same time doing better MPG. My opinions are not based on hearsay, I drove and owned many of these cars when the E30 was still a current model

Yes, we ALL know how OLD you are Shiela

I am so old, i remember the original Transits, the ones that used to run forever and never sh1t themselves, weekly ..........

[mick_318is]

A lot of the differences are more about the year model rather than it being just a 323.

As Rav mentioned the front panel, I believe it was all the earlier cars Y and early A reg whether it was a 323 318 or 320 that had that front panel.
Later A, B and C had the standard prefacelift.

Same goes for the rear parcel shelf and seatbelts.

I had an early A reg 323 that indeed had all the early parts, made it difficult to find replacements.

[Rav335uk]

Were the rear parcel shelves not the same on prefacelifts then?

[mick_318is]

Very early ones had a different mounting for the sealblets, so also require a different parcel shelf to go with.

[gooner1]

Thanks for the Pm, pete.

Received it whilst in the middle of sending you one.

[Rav335uk]

To summarise. A GOOD (flying pig overhead !) 323 is better than a 320 but not nearly as good as a 325.

As for performance, a 325 will tear a 323 a new ringpiece, while at the same time doing better MPG. My opinions are not based on hearsay, I drove and owned many of these cars when the E30 was still a current model

Yes, we ALL know how OLD you are Shiela

I am so old, i remember the original Transits, the ones that used to run forever and never sh1t themselves, weekly ..........

I'm not falling into a slagging match with a tart.

[gooner1]

Yes, we ALL know how OLD you are Shiela

I am so old, i remember the original Transits, the ones that used to run forever and never sh1t themselves, weekly ..........

I'm not falling into a slagging match with a tart.

On Topic please, Captain Spam, you should know better
with your standing in the E30 community.

[Rav335uk]

I am on topic Roberto.

[Simon13]

re front panels there was a facelift on the front end of chromies. Hence the two different types.

Alpina had 3 different spoilers to cater for all the front valance types i believe.

[e30topless]

pre-85/86 cars had the 2 piece valance, my 87 registered 333i has it too but that was on a boat from germany to S/A for a good 12 months while the rest were facelifted

the M3 kept the top half of the 2 piece until the end !

[hennabm]

As a 323i owner for a few years now I concur with all the comments so far; The 325 is a better performing car but that always happens in the form of development. The M3 is even better handling than a 325 etc etc.

The 323i was not such an advance over the previous E21 model but a softer car altogether.

Yes L jetronic fuelled the thing; the early cars were 139bhp (once the earlier ones were modded by BMW to make them that). For the 84 MY they upped it to 150bhp, so within 9 mths of launch the original 323i had been updated.

The very early cars didn't have the vents in the rear quarter panels in the boot. By May 83 they had introduced them.
The trim panels in the boot were different; the cloth trim was only available for a short time as well.
The 323i had an overdrive g/box as standard meaning 100mph was 4000rpm.
The LSD was an option and has been siad is the large diff.

Until Sept 83 the OBC, heated washer jets and cruise control were not options and can't be retro fitted according to BMW and realoem. The washer jets are a different part number from other E30s for the early cars.

The coconut overmats were not held in with the plastic screws. A stud push was used for the driver's side and nothing for the others.

As has been said the seatbelt rails are different for the early cars as well.

The boot carpet has a built in raised part to go ontop of the spare wheel. Later vehicles have a plastic plate that supports the carpet.

Prior to Sept 83 the 323i was supplied with a 60litre tank, not the 55 as per other vehicles.

[frielso]

I will have one for sale in henna red soon.

looking for a auto gearbox for a 323i baur

[tonbridge_e30]

I have a 323i but ist sooo hard finding parts for her. I got her off a old man dow my road that had it from new and she is a mint A reg

[Duke137]

I have a 323i but ist sooo hard finding parts for her. I got her off a old man dow my road that had it from new and she is a mint A reg

PM sent

[Grrrmachine]

Duke, have you still got your nr.45 323i?

[Duke137]

Duke, have you still got your nr.45 323i?

It belongs to my brother and he still has it