318is or 320i which to buy?

[tillerthou]

hi, new here.................and straight in with a question!

i've had a few searches, but can't find what i want (i think....)


i've got an E28 525i at the moment and am looking to get an E30 - possibly either a 318is or a 320se. i hate the fuel consumption on my 525 (£40 to <200 miles) but don't want to lose the ooomph.

is the 318is a bugger to get specific parts for? is the 320 not too bad on fuel and would the 318is be much better on fuel? (and other related stuff!)

i think i would prefer a 320 6 pot as i like the sound, but the 318 spec sounds like a mini M3 - which attracts me to it.




any recommendations?

thanks,

iain.
<<< me trying to decide

[dazleeds]

318is all day long mate

[FLO]

I have a 320 and I wouldn't buy aything with less than 6 cylinders, they are more reliable, have more torque withe practically the same power.
Mine is a flying machine and I still get 90miles to a tenner!
Hope this helps.

[tillerthou]

dazleeds - is that a biased opinion - or the general concensus??

[dazleeds]

is that a biased opinion - or the general concensus??

far from it mate
until recently ive had 2years of 320i

am now back in a 325 much better

i say 318is because it will outhandle
outpower on most occasions if running sweet
and hold value far better than the average 320i
and overall is more fun to drive than a 320

so i say either 318is or 325i

[tillerthou]

2 rplies and still split down thw middle!!!


fuel sounds ok on the 320 so far then - better then my petroholic 525

[dazleeds]

2 rplies and still split down thw middle!!!


fuel sounds ok on the 320 so far then - better then my petroholic 525

in the last 2 years and 4 320s i have never managed more than 60miles to a tenna

thats my final reason for avoiding a 320i

[Splondike]

General consensus apart from 320 owners of course... 318is does not have that lovely soundtrack but is faster and more economical than a 320i and it's rarer too

[Motorhole]

M42 is a very reliable engine. Some say the most reliable under the bonnet of an E30, and looked after, they can see M20 mileages.

I had a 320i which I liked. The 6-pot sound is fantastic. BUT, heres the killer...

The 320i provides 318i performance and 325i fuel consumption. In fact, if you look in an onwer's handbook, the 325i is MORE economical than the 320i in all but urban cases.

318is is the way forward! Best weight distribution of all the E30's and a great, strong engine. The performance doesn't look that great when viewed next to the 325i on paper, but the figures mask the change to 3rd before 60mph which the 318is needs and the 325i doesn't ;o) In the twisties there should be nothing between them. And it is more economical than a 320i!

[tillerthou]

The 320i provides 318i performance and 325i fuel consumption.

that's why i've never had a 2.3L granada or cortina................2.8 consumption with 2.0 pulling power!


is a 318is cheaper to run in general, including spares? or are there specific odd things it needs?

[tillerthou]

oh, and what about the timing case gasket i've heard about on these........scaremongering or fact blown out of proportion?

[Motorhole]

Profile gasket? If the car has done over 80,000 miles, most likely it will have been replaced already. Chances are with them these days is that they have been replaced. Ask the owner! Thats the only real achilles heel of the M42.

Parts shouldn't be a problem. The engine was used well into the life of the E36 also, so there are loads around! Rest of the car is base E30, although the propshaft may be different with the engine set futher back, don't quote me on that though!

The only reason I sort of know this stuff is because I am looking out for a 318is myself...not buying 'til the summer though

[hammoj28]

I would say 318is but i am biased and have never had a 6 cylinder e30. have driven a 325 and loved it though. Get a 318is! faster, funner, more economical plus you get m-tec suspension and more.

[tillerthou]

downpipes would be the only really specific bit though i think - just thinking of consumables really.

i like the idea of the 318 more due to fuel too!! i've had 8 years of 2.8i capri and 525i to finance (too much with todays petrol prices).


i think i'm leaning to the 1.8. must be getting old with economy in mind!!! i've always got me bike to go mad on - 168 mph with ~38 mpg (not at the same time tho!!)


great imput on here too btw..... thanks all

[tillerthou]

another plus too, at least you're guaranteed a 3 door with the 318is!!

[tillerthou]

are there any specific grot spots for the E30 (MOT stuff or otherwise) like inner wings, rails, boot leaks etc?

[hammoj28]

Iv found that you should always check behind the boot carpet. My last e30's both had huge holes here! Plus the lower bits in the boot seem to fill up with water and rust. Oh and on the passenger side bulkhead in the engine bay. Could be the drivers too.

[mrLEE30]

driven all these cars 320, 318is, 318i, 325i and despite now having a 320 and a 325 i would personally go for 6 cyl. but if its fuel ecnonmy your after then go for a four pot unless you to a lot of motorway miles as i found the 318is undergeared and it revved away at any speed over 70-80mph. but on the twisties and town the 318is is a better car then a 320.

Why not the 325, and even better go for a sport (lsd, Cr gearbox, 2 dr usually, and mtech kit) the fuel consumption as mentioned is the same as a 320 (and that is true believe me my 320cab and 325 sport are the same)

only advantage i can see for a 320 is price, they tend to be cheaper and if lucky owned by an elder gent who never saw the thick end of the tachometer, rather than a 318is which would propably be owned by a younger more fruity driver!

ps read the sport buying guide as a general guide to buying E30's, always remove all the carper in the boot, especially round the light clusters, and have a look under those mtech plastic spoilers, plenty rust to be found there!!

mrlee
mrlee

[jb81]

afer haveing owed 2 320ise and now a 318is i would say go for the 318is its a much better car and costs a lot less to run for a lot more fun, service costs are a lot less as well and the e36 318is has the same engine so engine parts are still ok to get hold of, 320 about 60miles for £10 318is 80miles for £10 the saveings on fuel at the end of the year will pay for the service and up keep of the car hope this helps and good look with findind a car

john

[dark_sounds]

i asked exactly the same question when moving from dubs to e30s..

my general thought on the situation.....

318is,,,, the only thing in my opinion the 320 has going for it is the sound track.

other then that in all other aspects a 318is will win. economy 30miles to a fiver easy, its quick enough. handles better. more standard gear will hold value better.

only down side is its a tad revvy,

[Cava]

I agree with Dazleeds - It has to be a 318is or 325. The 320 is a decent car but loses out on too many things to the other two (handling, economy, etc etc).

[Motorhole]

With regards to rust, all the E30 soft spots are generall shared, follow the advice mentioned here, plus there are loads of posts about where to look for rust.

One more advantage with the 318is though is I believe they were built at a different factory and left with better corrosion proving, so they are more likely to be clean. Am I right in this people?

[Simon13]

318is seem to have extra galvanising and underseal. heads crack and warp on these like any other bmw really. Most are shagged so tread carefully when buying.

U can still get very tidy 320's but i wouldn't piss on one if it was on fire. Most common too as the 320 was the top selling E30 in UK.

Engine parts for a 318is are specific and things like exhaust manifolds for £400 from BMW aren't funny when thats the only place u can get them from. (they crack by the way). Profile gasket should of been done years years ago at the dealers as it was a recall job

[Lordschleife]

Also 318is has rear discs, mtech suspension & rear anti roll bar

This ones a no-brainer 318is>320i
The 318is is better handling, less thirsty & quicker than a 320i

318is all the way!

[tillerthou]

best quotes for classic car insurance will only cover cars to 1989.............

regular 318/320 >'89 is £197
the preferred 318is 1990/91 is £389!


may settle for a nice regular 318 in the meantime.........the E28 525i only costs £208 at the moment.

[tillerthou]

thanks for the v.useful info - great


only other forum i've been on where replies are as quick as here is the tl1000 forum i go on - makes you come back for more!!!

[paulym]

I have had a 320i and now have a 318is, in my humble opinion the 318is the superior car (and i know very little about these cars compared to the other guys on here so my opinion is entirely based on what each car was like to own!)

If you are looking for a 318is then i may be forced to sell mine soon