What's the best 318is to buy

All the info you need to race E30's

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Lloydie38
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Post Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:18 am

Hi everyone,

Which is the best 318iS to buy for a daily driver or even to take on the track..?

What are the different versions and pitfalls (if any with a E30..!) How can you tell it's a TRUE iS model..?

Love to hear your opinions..
Cheers

Lloydie
a 6 pot fan but open to 4 pot rightness
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juniorGT
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Post Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:38 pm

i think the IS's are pretty much all the same tbh, some had ABS (mine does'nt but thats a good thing)
they'v all got leccy windows/mirrors/sunroof/Mtec seats/suspension (17 years old)/thicker arb's etc etc

they are a fantastic daily driver when thet are not totally gutted ! lol

only some of the american market IS's came with LSD's..
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GrindCulture
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Post Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:43 pm

The best way to check if it's a true iS I've found is look at the rev counter. iS clocks have a redline just over 6,500 rpm whereas other E30s don't. If it has this and isn't a TRUE iS, some one's gone to a lot of bother to pretend.
Not in E30s any more :(
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Jon_Bmw
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Post Sun Jan 25, 2009 4:39 pm

Umm a 16v head is the biggest giveaway.
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DHFiS
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Post Sun Jan 25, 2009 4:51 pm

The iS had black headlining and 4 wheel disc brakes as well as the points made above.
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armanib
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Post Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:09 pm

IS have 16v twin cam which is a dead give away and maybe check the number plate with auto trader registration checker
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GrindCulture
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Post Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:12 pm

Jon_Bmw wrote:Umm a 16v head is the biggest giveaway.
I think he means how to tell if it's a 318i with an M42 dropped in or a proper iS. Why anyone would bother trying to replicate an iS and flog it as one is beyond me :?
Not in E30s any more :(
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E30Mark
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Post Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:58 pm

DHFiS wrote:The iS had black headlining and 4 wheel disc brakes as well as the points made above.
Not all iS's had black headlinings, I've seen a few blue cars with grey headlinings.

The chassis plate behind the drivers side headlight says 318iS on it if it's real. Otherwise it might just say 318i.
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monkey
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Post Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:09 pm

imo the best 318is to buy is one with no rust as everything else can be sorted easily enough . do people actualy badge up some four pots as a 318is
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juniorGT
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Post Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:43 pm

iv neaver seen or heard of it.
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LeonNewton
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Post Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:56 am

think im of to bye one today. hope this is usfal info :roll:
Yer i am sorry for my bad spelling. i am dislexic and find it just as hard to read your posts as you do mine.
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