318is - > 2.5 conversion

[Conrad]

Hi guys

I know this has probably been asked before, but a quick search hasn't found me the info I wanted.

The previous owner of my vehicle mentioned that it has the same struts etc as the 325i sport, is this true?

What parts would I have to replace to lump in a 325i engine and box in my 318is?

[Brianmoooore]

Very similar suspension/brakes etc. to a 325i, except that front springs on a 318iS are weaker for the lighter engine.
You'd need to change engine, box, radiator, engine loom and ECU, propshaft and diff, and a few welded brackets in the engine bay.
If the iS engine is OK, I wouldn't really recommend this conversion. The iS is slower than a 325, but not by much in the real world. What it lacks in grunt, it makes up for in handling.

[Omi]

And the boys would come round and kick your head in for murdering another iS.

[Conrad]

the iS engine is OK, but it lacks low down torque. Perhaps I'll be happier if I get a zone chip.

The problem as far as I can see, is theres very little you can actually do to tune an M42 without spending silly money, and that money would probably be better off spent on a 2.5i engine...

[keggy]

chip and big bore throttle body will help

[stuartgallafant]

And the boys would come round and kick your head in for murdering another iS.

yeah, im with omi on this...

conrad, kos spent less than £300 on engine mods for his iS, and it would keep up with 2.5's all day long

the M42 is a much better engine than the M20, and is lightyears ahead of it tech wise.

dont murder another iS, just to be on the desperate hunt for a little bit of low down torque. spend a good bit of cash on the iS and you'll be well happy

and as brian said, they handle a lot better than the 2.5's

[Conrad]

And the boys would come round and kick your head in for murdering another iS.

yeah, im with omi on this...

conrad, kos spent less than £300 on engine mods for his iS, and it would keep up with 2.5's all day long

the M42 is a much better engine than the M20, and is lightyears ahead of it tech wise.

dont murder another iS, just to be on the desperate hunt for a little bit of low down torque. spend a good bit of cash on the iS and you'll be well happy

and as brian said, they handle a lot better than the 2.5's

What you're saying does make sense, could you expand on what mod's Kos did to his? I'd quite happily spend £300 to keep up with 2.5's.

Cheers,

Con

[m-dtech]

if you do decide to do an engine conversion, stick in an s14

[oldroydsr4]

I believe lightening the flywheel makes a huge difference on the m42

[stuartgallafant]

kos iS:

-removed throttle body heater plate
-K&N panel filter - NOT A GAY CONE FILTER!!
-live rolling road remap

thing was wicked!! and well good on fuel too!!

he might of had a big bore throttle body too, but im not sure

[jonb]

Kos's car did not trouble 325i's.

I proved that on the way back from ace last year.

[stuartgallafant]

yeah, sorry, im making it up...

[jonb]

Yes you are.

[Andyboy]

A 2.5 will always be 20 bhp ahead of a 318iS (136 bhp v 171) - so how will a 318iS 'keep up'?? Even if you dragged 150 bhp out of it, you're still way behind.

Not on your nelly.

[stuartgallafant]

a standard iS will of course be behind, i agree. but we're not talking about standard iS's are we mr everett...

[jonb]

A chip, "zorst", and filter wont make hardly any difference.

Even so, my standard 325i 4 door which i was driving at the time, shat over kos.

The 318is is an ok car, good round the corners to, but it will never be a 325i on the straights.

[Morat]

Whats this we have here? another 4V6 thread?
Shurley shome mishtake?

[Royalratch]

This swap makes no sense at all.
The iS is more than just a modern twin-cam 4 pot E30. It's really balanced and the best package of all.

Get a chip, exhaust and K&N filter and maybe a diff change / flywheel change. Supercharge it.

Anything but a swap.

318iS would easily keep up with a 325i with very few mods.