318is

[Lowm3]

Whats the pros and cons of this model .. an old neighbour has a h plate in schwartz black i think i could get my hands on

[Jhonno]

nice n nimble - some ppl call them the mini m3...


weak engines tho

[Geeman]

Fragile engines... as long as it's been looked after, then there shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Apart from that, they are a nice car. Handle well and want to rev and rev and rev...

Giles.

[Lowm3]

The owner is a motor mechanic by trade, and was always doing something on it, very looked after.

Fragile engine? in what way?

[MISSY30]

If you don't have it, let me know the details. I'd love to have a Black 318is.

[Simon13]

heads crack/warp. The stainless exhaust manifold cracks, they leak oil from the front timing cover.

Engine not very DIY friendly and engine parts as a whole are quite expensive like the manifold cos it's specific to the e30 lump.

However what an engine well ahead of it's time. still puts a lot of newer engines to shame for BHP/torque too.

Shame the guy who designed this engine killed himself hence all of BMW's 4 pots went down hill a bit afterwards

Don't be put off though! what a fun car these are

[Lowm3]

ok i'll have a chat with him and tell him to give me a ring when its up for a change, and missy i'll let you know if i don't take when its available ...

should be available soon as hes had it long, and his kids are getting bigger..

[Simon13]

if he's had it a long time and he is in the trade chances are it's a good car me thinks!

[Zayyan]

Shame the guy who designed this engine killed himself hence all of BMW's 4 pots went down hill a bit afterwards

Know any more details?

I love stories like this

[Simon13]

again Demlotcrew knows more than me! but look at this point of view

E30 M42 136bhp

E46 2002 318i with a 2 litre is 150 bhp so what has happened with the 4 pots over the years not alot!

Bmw lost alot of knowledge when he died, so it's been hard for them to get by without Mr M42 i tink

[Lowm3]

A wealth of knowledge simon ...

think i'll knock on his door tomorrow

[Russ]

However what an engine well ahead of it's time. still puts a lot of newer engines to shame for BHP/torque too.

Torque? The iS has no torque!

[Demlotcrew]

However what an engine well ahead of it's time. still puts a lot of newer engines to shame for BHP/torque too.

Torque? The iS has no torque!

Ha, He says after only driving one. (which was slower than a 316i)

A

[Russ]

However what an engine well ahead of it's time. still puts a lot of newer engines to shame for BHP/torque too.

Torque? The iS has no torque!

Ha, He says after only driving one. (which was slower than a 316i)

A

Yeah mine must have been a bad one - considering it put out 128bhp at the wheels at the RR day......factoring in transmission losses, I say that was damn near factory.

When have you even been in my iS anyway?

Anyway luckily those days are behind me now - Im moving onwards and upwards, I've realised that there is life after the E30!

p.s. You're gay

[tylerma]

p.s. Im gay

Ha ha ha
absolute quality

[tomstickland]

I've owned an IS for 3 weeks now and I love it.
On paper it's a bit underpowered, but when driving it it doesn't feel slow. The 4-6K rev range is where it goes best.
It goes from 60-100mph pretty well too. I've not had any moments when I've been anooyed with lack of power.

After the 320 it feels lighter and much more nimble. It's most at home on A and B road corners.

The slightly "underpowered" part of it is the fun really. It makes the driver have to work to get the most from the car. Which I like.

The engine output of 136BHP and 129lb-ft is actually pretty good.
Compare with the Vauxhall 2.0 16v 20 XE, as loved by kit car builders etc. That was a 2.0 16v that put out 145lb-ft and 155BHP.

In specific terms that's identical. ie: add 10% to the BM figures and you'll get 142lb-ft and 150BHP.