The only time I've felt like I've got one over...

[diamondblack]

... on an insurance company. At least, that's how it felt at the time. I went from a standard 318i to a 318iS expecting the premium to jump up accordingly with the power increase. Pleasantly suprised when it only increased Ԛ£15 (and that was only because the iS was a year younger). Not bad considering the 318iS so much more powrful than a standard 318i.

So the 318iS is a pretty good way for younger drivers to get more power and not be totally battered by premiums.

Having said that, it was about six years ago when that happened to me, though I don't see why it wouldn't apply now.

[6potWil6pot]

A 318iS wasnt much more than my 316i then again my 325i wasnt much more than my 318iS when i bought its policy, diff comp tho...

[Zayyan]

Was your 318i a Lux by any chance? As this is in the same insurance group as the iS (gp 13)

I think anyone upgrading from a slower E30 to a faster one will be pleasantly surprised due to the high insurance grouping of the smaller-engined cars.

For example the 90bhp 316 is in group 12 whereas the 325i (&SE) are only 3 insurance groups higher, and you get nearly double the power

[stevo]

recently when i got my renewal notice in i found out i'd been paying insurance for a year for an is, when i pointed it out they gave me a quote for the i and it was exactly the same! they said its because its the same cc, tbh i think they thought i was talking p1sh!

[6potWil6pot]

Insurance comps probably think the iS is a trim spec and not an entire engines worth of difference!

[Simon13]

but they are a totally different beast to a 318i. When i went from 318 to iS it cost me nothing! which made me think why didn't i buy a 318is in the first place! faster and more economical too

[6potWil6pot]

I found i got roughly the same fuel eco in my 316i and my 318iS Simon!
If only i could have either mpg of those cars now tho!

[Simon13]

iS show their true colours on the m-way, i used mine alot on there it had economy to die for compared to my 325! 30-35mpg no probs, even at 90!

[6potWil6pot]

1 318iS memory of mine is being outdone by a DCi Ford Mondeo on a dual carriageway, it pulled away at 70mph, i was quite upset after i was almost in tears!

[Kedge]

Yeah know what you mean Wil, everthing pulls away from me on the motorway initially. Great economy though, Leicester to Blackpool and back with a few other little trips on about Ԛ£30