e30 318is 'vs' e36 318is??

[brendo]

just wondering, how does an e30 318is compare with an e36 318is coupe performance wise etc?? cheers-brendan

[Sjoerd320i]

e30 = 136 bhp
e36 = 140 bhp but havier car

[brendo]

so the e30 would be marginaly quicker?? the e36 is still rwd tho yeh??

[Sjoerd320i]

yep rwd, don't know of any fwd BMW

good chance it is faster yes not sure tho I'll look it up

[TheDutch]

The power to weight of the E30 is somewhat better, however the E36 is more aerodynamic. So at low speeds the E30 is better, but over 60-70 (?) the E36 will have the advantage.

Don't know which wins in the corners; again the E30 has the low weight, but the E36 gets the improved z-axle at the rear. Maybe someone has owned both and can comment.

[Simon13]

E30 is faster than both e36 variants. an e36 will always out handle an e30 if both standard say

[Lordschleife]

Yeah what Simon13 says, but although the e36 will out handle the e30, the e30 will be more fun

Heres someone whos owned boths opinion:
http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/mybmw.html

[Demlotcrew]

Yeah what Simon13 says, but although the e36 will out handle the e30, the e30 will be more fun

Heres someone whos owned boths opinion:
http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/mybmw.html

When speaking to some guys at the ring, they said they much prefer the E30 round the ring than the E36 (after some tweaks to both)

A

[e30symphony]

e36 318is engine up to the end of "95 was the same as e30 (m42) from "96 on they changed the engine to 1.9 (m44) the m44 engine is supossed to be a lot harder to modifie

[Simon13]

the m44 is an cheap and nasty engine compared to the M42 which was built using quality parts.

m44 is much more a mass production engine if u get me

on the e36 they tweaked with the torque delivery and altered the exhaust manifold to give a bit more mid range than the e30 to help counter the extra weight.

[tim_s]

my brother has a '99 T reg sport spec 318is coupe with the M44, 16" wheels, half leather, mtec kit etc.
I have an e30 318is with a 3.91 lsd, sebring exhaust, koni adjustables, eibach ARBs, 15"s x spokes yadda yadda. Mine is marginally quicker in a straight line and round the twisties. The e36 understeers more in the dry and with traction control and no lsd it isn't much fun. In fact, its really pretty dull. In the wet its much more capable than mine, but its a bit difficult to compare - apples and oranges an all that - his is a standard car, mine not and a stiff e30 in the wet is always going to be trouble (but lots of fun). my e30 felt really spongey when standard but the rear shocks were a bit knackered. I think the e36 probably as standard is more capable and about as much fun as the e30, i only started to enjoy mine once i had sorted the suspension etc, and 14s really weren't much good.

In fact, my brother also used to have an e30 318is (he was a regular on the zone when it first started) with a fairly similar spec to mine (he had a straight through powerflow zaust and his sat lower, better tyres), and he sometimes misses it.
The 1.9 M44 is easier to live with and is a real pleasure to chug around town in. It's quieter, smoother and picks up better, but once the M42 is singing its quicker. Of course the purists dont like the m44 as i believe it loses the forged crankshaft and rods from the m42 etc and is ultimately a cheaper engine, but if its just a daily driver, really who cares! the top end seems quieter too but i guess its a much younger engine.
His has air con and still returns as good if not better economy than mine. I think they are two quite different cars - the e36 is much more sensible, is a better town and motorway car (quieter, more refined etc, more toys etc) but the e30 a bit nicer on the twisties. Mine obviously gives a lot more trouble maintenence-wise being an older car. I don't feel any urge to go out and get an e36 318is - if I were to have an e36 i believe it woudl have to have a 6 pot as the car's too heavy for the 4 pot.
thats my $0.02 anyway

[Lordschleife]

if I were to have an e36 i believe it woudl have to have a 6 pot as the car's too heavy for the 4 pot.
thats my $0.02 anyway

That about sums it up for me too