318iS vs. everything else

[Split_S]

As a few of you may know Im rebuilding a 1991 318iS. I read a lot of posts about guys ragging on the 4 bangers and how the 325 is the cats meow... I had the chance to buy a 325 but chose the 318iS because I already own an e46 with a sweet inline 6. I wanted something different.

For those of you who have driven the 318iS, how much better/different is it than other e30 4 bangers and how different is the experience?
Just curious because I never had the chance to drive her before I started tearing her apart...

[jimbom30cab]

pulls a little bit better and revs a little bit more than a M40 lump, but not a huge difference and is 2-3mpg better also. If you want a reliable and low cost to maintain (timing chain and coil packs are good news) with decent MPG then the M42 is a good choice.

[pac1982]

I had a 318is M42 and currently drive a 318i M40 the M40 feels so slow and lazy compared to the M42.

The 318is may not be the fastest of engines but does try hard to make use of every last bit of horse power it has and its very revvy and responsive, I've also had a 316 in the past and it felt no slower or faster than my current 318i

as far as 4 pots go the m42 is miles ahead of all the others and in a good state of tune can give a 325 a run for its money from a stand still but the 325 will sail past after about 50mph

[PhilipJL]

Hear Hear! I also chose an 318IS over a 325i , and I'm not unhappy about it at all.
Goes well, turns-in with real vigour, lighter and gives 35MPG on my commute.
Winner!

[bab-91]

I would have definitely entertained a 318is IF they had come in pre-facelift.



Nothing wrong with them, I wouldn't take much notice to the 4 pot banger carry on.

Tech 1's get 'rusty old sheds'
Tech 2's are simply terrible, according to Barry.....
Chromie's are cool, I cant think of anything negative.


But I wanted a e30 with steam boat technology so I got a 6 pot!

[ross_jsy]

I like a nice iS. Slap a lightened flywheel on it and a chip and you have a nice buzzy four pot. Works well with a short shift kit as well.

But given the choice it's 6 pot every time and preferably 24v

[andyp]

its got 2 cylinders missing,,






its not as smooth as a 6 pot or sound as nice, but if tuned right it will not be far behind a standard 6 pot as we have tested a few times

[polsta]

i had an is, ive driven m40 318s, im with pac- the 318is is loads better, much more responsive and revvy and faster and more fun to drive, a nice well maintained on the button 318is with nice suspension etc, is a nice fun drive and great on the back roads

over a 325i - sadly not, i bought a 325i, had it sat along side my 318is, could of kept both, but after driving the 325, the is, was not the same again, i sold it, make no mistake a 325i is much much better/more smile on your face

but its more juicy, and i later regretted selling my is, and id like another as a daily driver, keeping my 325 as the garaged weekend fun car

318is, is a nice e30, great interior too

[ajay]

We had a M40 1.8 in our cab, it was nice and smooth but too slow on the motorway, constantly changing lane to let other vehicles pass. Dropped a M42 engine n box in and its a different car. With a decent suspension they out handle 325i's all day long, will be dropping a 2.1 converted M42 in place of the standard lump with these

Much more fun than a 325i..!!

[hillbilly30]

My opinion.... M42 is way better than m40, it's like sticking a low pressure turbo or VTEC on the m40! I honestly didn't think the "is" handled any differently to the m20 325i's it seemed great on fuel and quite smooth for a four pot. But!.......... After diving 325's for so long I just feel that the e30 should have a good lump of torque, it is a strong heavy little car so I think it feels better being powered by a lump with guts! Hence the m52 ended up in my "is"

[Split_S]

Ummm, how much does that cost??

[magpie]

the m42 is a fantastic little fizz bomb ,it loves to be revved and wakes up around 3k revs .

i had 152 bhp out of mine with an m20 lightened flywheel it would stick with any m20 325i until 3rd gear ran out then the 6-pot grunt would show me it's arse end

the m42 318is will nail all other 4-pot bangers and show an m20 b20 it's arse end all day long

the e36 318is doesn't hold a light to the e30 m42 poowah!

[ross_jsy]

Ummm, how much does that cost??

For an the itb's? A lot and every build thread I have seen with them has had very poor results.

[ajay]

No gain to be had bolted to a standard engine but if you know what you are doing they can benefit an upratted lump, unlike the S50 throttle body conversions on M42 engines most just don't work and are a waste of time..!

[driftmaster808]

i miss my h reg iS which i sold and bought 3 times over. My mate had to get a family car and went for the e39 530i he still misses it. there's something about this iS and that is it loves to be driven, and hard, it loves being flung round corners at silly speeds, it loves the nuts being revved off it. I agree with Polsta mistake not keeping it as my daily driver and using the 325i sport put for summer use/weekend use, but given the choice its the 6pot. now i'm reduced to buying an audi a2 as a daily

[Royalratch]

Its all in here:


[youtube][/youtube]

[ajay]

+1..!! He forgot to mention four valves per cylinder and more BHP per litre too. Sorry but a different pedigree.

[Royalratch]

Sodium filled valves, Coil packs, hand built in Garching etc etc.

Its practically an F1 engine.

But the iS is better in other ways too - sports interior as standard, MTEC suspension and fully galvanised.

[bss325i]

What a yawnfest.....

[Split_S]

What a yawnfest.....

Maybe you're on the wrong site then amigo...

[bss325i]

What a yawnfest.....

Maybe you're on the wrong site then amigo...

Any seasoned zoner will tell you how BORING this 318iS vs whatever as it has been done to death!

And its always started by iS owners which i guess is down to some inferiority complex.

Use the search function and see for yourself how many times this subject has been debated (and lost) by iS types and you'll understand why to people that have been on here a while find it a.....


....yawnfest.

[polsta]

to be fair, hes only asking, hes new, and was asking more what its like compared to a normal 318

if its a yawn fest, then its not hard for people to just ignore it, and let those who can/want to comment, comment

[hillbilly30]

There are quite a few guys who are newish to the zone (me included) who dispite the subject being covered before, fancy giving there own input, opinions may well change over the years! If you use the search function and look up clear indicator lenses, you can prob find an old thread that is all for them. Not so much today though I suspect..

[Split_S]

What a yawnfest.....

Maybe you're on the wrong site then amigo...

Any seasoned zoner will tell you how BORING this 318iS vs whatever as it has been done to death!

And its always started by iS owners which i guess is down to some inferiority complex.

Use the search function and see for yourself how many times this subject has been debated (and lost) by iS types and you'll understand why to people that have been on here a while find it a.....


....yawnfest.

I honestly could care less about "winning" or "losing" some debate. My question wasnt about whether the 318iS is better than anything else.. see original post on that one.... I simply want to know what people think now...or else this forum just becomes an archive doesn't it? I'll search if I need info on some part or something, I'll post when I want opinions... Just like life, its all been done before..

[NoTurbo]

I have had both 318is, 325i and an Alpina c2 2.7.

All i can say is that they are all great cars. The is handles better and has better economy but the 2.5/7 are sooooo smooth and sound fuckin horny!

The m42 is more fun but a shitter is always a shitter. If all bushes, suspension, tyres etc are good then whatever you have just enjoy it.

You will probably drive or own both at some point anyway.

[bss325i]

That's fair enough but i doubt opinions will have changed, the cars haven't and ratch has proven that by posting that gay video of his from this thread....

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... sc&start=0

Its only a couple of years old but its still relevant.

God there was some drivel posted in that thread!

[bss325i]

Oh, and ive owned an iS and driven many including Ratch's fabled turd.

[Split_S]

I understand your POV... trust me... I live with it everyday with my teens!!

One word: Scotch....

[Royalratch]

Its never boring to straighten out these 6-Pot warriors. Barry - you are a biased M20 sheep of the highest order and have no say in these matters. Owners of cast iron maritime memorabilia* need not apply!

I can say, completely objectively that the iS is the best E30 pound for pound.

The Motorsport technology, generous standard spec and extensive rustproofing makes it the goto choice for an E30. They should have made it a Touring - would have been the best car ever made.

Ever!






















*The M20 engine.

[bss325i]

ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

All i hear is the yap yap yapping.

[Blitz]

Real E30s have check control.

[magpie]

Real E30s have 24v's

[gooner1]

M42's Anyone with a modicum of nous and class, knows the M10 is top dog.
Thread dismissed.

[andyp]

all this 4 pot wrongness tut tut

[B7]

Everyone knows, 6 is a bigger number than 4 and therefore better.

As a serious note. This has been done to death.

Some people will always like a revvy 4 pot and some like a silky six with it's exhaust note. It's horses for courses.

i.e. For me, it'll alays be a six over a 4. I've driven shed loads of cars that were available either as a 4 pot or a 6. And it also stands when I also think back at those available as a 6 or an 8. And the bigger the number of cylinders has always faired better and felt "more right" in my eyes. Even going back to the old P6 Rovers.
A 2200TC was a nice car. Until you drove the V8!
The SDI? The 2600 vs the V8? Not for me thanks.
Granadas? A 2 litre pinto over a 2.8 V6?
Capris? A 1.6 Kent / Pinto or 2.0 V4 / Pinto over a 3.0 or 2.8 V6?
Volvo 740 or a 760 V6?
Volvo 940t over a 960 24v? (and I'm currently driving a 940 LPT and while a bullet proof load lugger, it just feels soooooo wrong!)
E34? 518 over a 525? The 518 was a capable car but I'd never have had one through choice over my 525's.

At various points in my driving life, I've gone from a six to a four. I sold my last Mk2 Granada 2.8 for a more technically advance Saab Turbo. That lasted all of 8 months before I chopped it out for a 3.0 six a line Senator. When i got married, the 2.8i Scorpio went in favour for a 2.0i Ghia Sierra. Didn't last long either. Replaced it with a 2.7 V6 Volvo 760 GLE.
When I needed to release some cash once, my first e34 525iSE went in favour of a 1.0 Metro Auto. FUCK me that was painful!

I know technology moves on but so far, for me personally, theres no substitution for numbers on the cylinder front or CC's.

A good 318iS is a good car and deservedly, has a place high in the e30 history. If you like a light, balanced, revvy, RWD then theres not much else out there of a similar age.