Opinions On E30 318is

[jonnygoodhand 0]

I've always kept my eye on 318is and I'm pretty sure I've noted some folks on here have owned them in the past. Just wondered what people think of them? Reason I ask, one locally has come up for sale and I'm quite tempted...

[Cameron 16]

They're awesome cars. How much is it and what colour?

[jonnygoodhand 0]

They're awesome cars. How much is it and what colour?

 

It's Red and top money - £2k. Completely standard and just under 100k miles. Thing is, I used to see the car around town driven by an elderly bloke and always intended putting a note under the screen. Haven't seen it for a while and it has suddenly turned up on a sales forecourt. Probably chopped it in for a few hundred quid! But it does seem very clean and may pop along in a bit to have a proper look...

[Cameron 16]

Ahh shame you didn't get in there sooner! Yeah go and have a look, price doesn't sound too bad and I'm sure you could knock a fair bit off as it's a dealer.

[muddatrucker 125]

My housemate has a navy blue one, he's quite precious of it (infact someone crashed into him while he was carrying a trailer - rather than it being written off he paid to have it fixed - the guy who did it go away...)

[j_turnell 137 3 Cars]

Great cars! throw a diff and some decent suspension on them and there a hoot to drive.

[Cameron 16]

Doesn't the IS come with an LSD as standard?

[j_turnell 137 3 Cars]

No they dont, my house mate had one, you may have seen it at uni, fitted an lsd in the telford court car park! Off a z3 i think.

Edited April 24, 2010 by j_turnell

[pugit666 2]

I have recently boght a 325 E30 and love it so I'd go for it if I was you. If you take the VIN to BMW they'll tell you what extras were fitted and whether or not it has an LSD

[Cameron 16]

Was that the black one with E30 Zone stickers by any chance? That bloke was on my course.

[Richie 32]

Doesn't the IS come with an LSD as standard?

 

I'm pretty sure they do come with an LSD. I was looking at buying one once.

[jonnygoodhand 0]

I'm pretty sure they do come with an LSD. I was looking at buying one once.

 

I thought they did too, but it's an apparent popular misconception. They were an option when new, but few people ticked the box.

[Namder 0]

very cool retro ride i've always fancied one as a daily driver. lsd or not go for it i say!

[jtek 0]

I have had mine for a year and 8000 miles now, it was on 100k when I bought it, and was also red and similar money to yours. It was meant as a daily to go along side the 205 and it has done that impeccably, to the point where I would say it has been the best car I have owned. Best not necessarily being fastest or most exciting, but great all round. I imported the rare optional LSD for mine, and besides that the only other modification is powerflex rear subframe bushes which are a common thing to wear out.

 

Good points-

-Great handling balance, I think they have near 50:50 weight distribution and with the Rwd it makes it good fun on the twisty stuff

-Simple to work on, besides the diff and a few other bits I haven't done anything too major, but it seem simple enough mechanically and parts aren't too expensive

-Economical, I can easily get around 35mpg with a light foot and close to 40 on motorways. Hardly anything to shout about but this is a 20 year old car that weighs over a ton.

-Comfortable in most situations, whether it be town driving, motorway or lanes.

-Standard E30's look cool as f**k (IMHO anyway)

 

Bad points-

-Slightly long steering rack, can be sorted with one from a Z3 which would make it feel a little sharper I imagine.

-Engine has very little to give below 4000rpm, so unless you are buzzing along then it won't give you the impression that it is at all fast.

-Red (Brilliantrot) cars can fade pretty easily. This can be maintained okay but expect to be heavy on the polish and wax.

-Rust is an issue on all e30's, mine is absolutely fine but make sure you check all over the vehicle.

 

In comparison to a 205, the IS feels slower, and is slower, it is probably a bit tamed and with less urgency, however it can still be pretty enjoyable, with wet low speed bends making the whole Rwd thing make sense HTH

Edited April 24, 2010 by jtek

[boombang 2]

I owned one a while back as a cheap and sensible way into trying out RWD motoring.

 

A good one feels like a less exciting 309 Gti with RWD - it is still chuckable & sharp, but is more progressive and less harsh on the limit when compared to something like a 205.

 

The steering rack as said above is slow, a lot slower than you expect. If you are out doing an airfield or drift day, or even just chuck the arse out, it takes a lot of work to get the opposite lock on. Thankfully the PAS is well weighted so helps you out.

 

In the end I sold it simply as found it boring. Underpowered and IMHO overrated.

 

If you want a modern RWD classic and not prepared to pay out for an E30 325, then guess it's the car for you. The whole time driving it though, you'll probably be wishing you were in a 325.

[MerlinGTI 3]

I love E30's, beautiful looking cars.

 

I will have a E30 M3 one day

 

Edited April 24, 2010 by MerlinGTI

[boombang 2]

Not a 318is though, not even close really.

 

 

 

Now that is a true 318is!

[pugit666 2]

that looks tidy, my 325 is the same colour in some places , a bit pink in others though haha

[weejimmy 1]

just sold one for £400 and its to a guy whos taking some spares from it and crushing it, so you still get top money for them.

 

rust was the killer in this case and on many more i belive.

great handling thoe, a briliant winter fun car for the wet.

 

 

polly bushes and konis all round are recoomended aswell.