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View Full Version : how big is the difference between E30 325is and 318is?


nftyM3
09-18-2001, 12:54 AM
???
Bry
09-22-2001, 11:52 AM
I think the power difference is quite noticeable. I've never driven them, so this is just comming from what I have heard.
The Beastmaster
09-24-2001, 06:23 AM
Try this link for acceleration comparisons. Accel chart (http://bmwcentral.2y.net/speed.html)
The difference should be noticeable as the 318is is giving up @50hp. Also, the chassis balance is a little different as 1.8 is a little lighter than the 2.5. I would say the 318is is more tossable, but the 325is has better driveability characteristics due to greater hp and torque.
PrecisionE30
09-25-2001, 07:11 AM
(assuming they are both '91 models)
-engine
-tranny
-diff. (318is uses small case 4.10 LS)
-318is has shadowline kit
-318is has less standard equipment (i.e. cruise, elec. sunroof)
-318is has no sound deadening
-318is weighs about 300 pounds less than 325is.

-stock for stock the 325is will beat the 318is. The M42 has to have a performance chip and the ability to turn seven grand to really open up the powerband. After doing so, they are pretty quick. But will not beat a 325i. (except automatic 325i's)
casto1313
10-13-2005, 08:01 AM
318i has 1.8 L engine
325i has 2.5 L engine
i have an 89 325i and i can beat my friends 99 318is i also have a 94 325is and the 325 is a much faster car not even close the only good 318 is the ti or whatever its kinda like hatchback my friend has one that can keep up with my 325is but he also has 3k into parts for it mine is stock for now
bokes
10-13-2005, 08:10 AM
the 325 is obviously faster in a straight line. a 318is will own a 325 in the corners. i've had both and can honestly say that my 318is handles A LOT better than my 325 did (both had the same suspension setups, eibach prokit and bilstien sport shocks).

with that said, i'd rather have a 325is for your everyday driving. i enjoy having torque, and its not like they handle bad, just not as well as a 318is.
Snarcher!
10-13-2005, 08:24 AM
one is slower, thats it.
cgregory
10-13-2005, 09:28 AM
Why doesn't somebody sticky a 325 v 318 thread. There's seriously at least one question like this every week.
AlfaEric
10-13-2005, 11:30 AM
Why doesn't somebody sticky a 325 v 318 thread. There's seriously at least one question like this every week.
But then we wouldn't get a weekly boost to our post counts. :stickoutt

---Eric
cgregory
10-13-2005, 11:34 AM
No...the questions would still get posted and instead of explaining them, we would all just post to tell them to look at the stickies and to call them a n00b:)
AlfaEric
10-13-2005, 11:46 AM
No...the questions would still get posted and instead of explaining them, we would all just post to tell them to look at the stickies and to call them a n00b:)
How about if we took the space taken by the 6 stickies and replaced it with a HUGE search button? :D


---Eric
Snarcher!
10-13-2005, 11:52 AM
mabey instead of stickes on the bimmerforums.com main website not the forum there could be all these write ups orsomething
2002maniac
10-13-2005, 12:12 PM
This thread does not apply to people with unsupported opinions. so assumptions aside...

The 318is and 325i/s are very different cars. I like my 318is not because it has stump pulling torque, but becasue I can rev it up to 7100 daily (Thanks to Mark D!) and zip through canyons with ease. The driving experience is similar to the M3 (yes, Ive driven one); Slow off the line unless launched violently, but pulling hardest when exiting a corner at high RPM's. It takes more skill to drive fast, and I enjoy that.

And snarcher, your vert is slow.
Snarcher!
10-13-2005, 12:31 PM
exactly why im selling it for a 328is :) but i never bought it for speed, bought it for, well, it has no roof!

318's have alwasy been for label whores that want to drive a bEAMER but cant afford a nice one , but at least they have the roundel and hats and shorts to prove it!

btw my vert would eat a 318, but thats like saying i would beat a eurovan too...
ehlpitel
10-13-2005, 12:34 PM
Never driven a non eta 325, but I can say the 318 is way more fun than an eta and the handling is awesome, not a bad car at all, maybe a tad bit slower than a 325is but not much less fun.
Snarcher!
10-13-2005, 12:45 PM
u call 3 seconds to 60 difference a tad bit?? lol
bmwman91
10-13-2005, 12:49 PM
Search, I posted in the first 20 ones last week.

"318's have alwasy been for label whores that want to drive a bEAMER but cant afford a nice one , but at least they have the roundel and hats and shorts to prove it!"

LOL. Yeah, that is why the 318iS will always get banged on. The folks that spent way more on the 6-cyl model don't like to admit that a less expensive one is still good stuff. THese days, the going price on a nice 318iS looks a little higher than that of a nice 325. Hmm.
2002maniac
10-13-2005, 01:11 PM
btw my vert would eat a 318
Doubt it.
Snarcher!
10-13-2005, 01:17 PM
lol, ive driven both, the 318 has NO get up and go, where the 1 adn 2 gear in my car are tork monsters, come on man lets DRAGGGG!!!! lol!
ehlpitel
10-13-2005, 01:24 PM
u call 3 seconds to 60 difference a tad bit?? lol
:stickoutt , I'm not talking about drag-racing here, with a few mods the 318is is a real fun car!
Snarcher!
10-13-2005, 02:06 PM
no doubt, any car is fun on the right road as long as it can handle :)
meseetree
10-13-2005, 02:56 PM
so then I shouldn't get anything bigger than 16" foe my car......
well I think I'm going to get 17" M-contours what would you guys think of that?? I'm just curious
if no then give me some good suggestions for 16x7.5 or 16x8
bmwman91
10-13-2005, 02:56 PM
no doubt, any car is fun on the right road as long as it can handle :)

Aaaand he redeems himself.
ehlpitel
10-13-2005, 03:00 PM
so then I shouldn't get anything bigger than 16" foe my car......
well I think I'm going to get 17" M-contours what would you guys think of that?? I'm just curious
if no then give me some good suggestions for 16x7.5 or 16x8
You need 5 lugs to do that, and if the only reason you want them is for wheels, that may not be the best route unless you have a lot of money and are good at working on cars.
meseetree
10-13-2005, 03:25 PM
You need 5 lugs to do that, and if the only reason you want them is for wheels, that may not be the best route unless you have a lot of money and are good at working on cars.


yeah somehow this got put in the wrong thread. I'm currently gathering up all of my suspension for the swap right now. as far as money and knowing cars I don't think you would be mentioning that if you knew what I'm getting ready to do.:devillook
OptimusGlen
10-13-2005, 05:12 PM
I like my 318is not because it has stump pulling torque

not to be an ass or anything... but when was the last time you.. or anyone for that matter, pulled out a stump with a 318is?

haha, maybe if it was that monster truck E30 in that other thread ;)
OptimusGlen
10-13-2005, 05:12 PM
edit: accidently posted 2 times
Snarcher!
10-13-2005, 05:23 PM
when u approach speeds that make areodynamics come into play, u are going to wish u had that tork to keep pushin :)
02stu
10-13-2005, 06:17 PM
This arguement has been going on for as long as I've been on this forum, some one should step up and find some published information. Grass roots compared the m3, 325i and 318is to each other a year ago, does any one have a copy?


"Stump pulling torque" is a expression, its not literal.
m42technic
10-13-2005, 06:53 PM
Its "torque," not "tork."
ehlpitel
10-13-2005, 07:01 PM
Empirical Truth:
M42 guys vouch for M42's and M20 guys vouch for M20's...those who have one of each are lucky and enlightened.
cgregory
10-13-2005, 07:16 PM
Its "torque," not "tork."
Snarcher kind of makes up his own grammar rules. It's how he rolls.


not to be an ass or anything... but when was the last time you.. or anyone for that matter, pulled out a stump with a 318is?

haha, maybe if it was that monster truck E30 in that other thread
He said NOT because of it's stump pulling torque. Anyway, I don't think anyone's arguing that the 318 is faster than the 325 in a straight line...I think the argument is more about which car is better all around, which is entirely subjective.
bmwman91
10-13-2005, 08:45 PM
Empirical Truth:
M42 guys vouch for M42's and M20 guys vouch for M20's...those who have one of each are lucky and enlightened.


For shit's sake can we please just leave it at this. ehlpitel is 100% right, end of story. M20B25 owners think the M42 is a piece of econo-garbage barely above an '88 Cressida. I...err M42 owners...think it is just dandy and are glad to have 2 cams, some forged goodies prettymuch just to brag about, no distributor, no valve adjustments, sweet-enough mileage, and a motor that will revv its heart out till the cows come home.

A BMW is a BMW. An E30, regardless of model, is a well build piece of machinery, and is heading straight for "classic" status. Just get one be happy. Looking for a straight-line monster? Don't buy an E30. The 325 & 318iS are both fast. Everything else is heresay (like most of my 1st paragraph).
Chrono7
10-13-2005, 08:47 PM
If it was me, and i was picking a e30 that i would leave for daily driving - id go for the 318is.

EDIT: if i had a quarter for every time 'bmwman91' talked about the 318is v 325is comparison......
OptimusGlen
10-13-2005, 09:06 PM
He said NOT because of it's stump pulling torque

whoops, my bad.
bmwman91
10-13-2005, 09:10 PM
if i had a quarter for every time 'bmwman91' talked about the 318is v 325is comparison......

If you did, I would demand a 50% comission, and we would both be living in mansions, never needing to work another day in our lives...though driving our Porsche GT3's around our personal tracks trying to beat our own lap times would prolly start to feel like work :D.
meseetree
10-13-2005, 09:10 PM
ok ok it's settled the 318is is better because it sounds cute :stickoutt
OptimusGlen
10-13-2005, 09:29 PM
hahaha

cute


hahahahaha
nickmpower
10-13-2005, 09:34 PM
exactly why im selling it for a 328is :) but i never bought it for speed, bought it for, well, it has no roof!
318's have alwasy been for label whores that want to drive a bEAMER but cant afford a nice one , but at least they have the roundel and hats and shorts to prove it!
btw my vert would eat a 318, but thats like saying i would beat a eurovan too...


my friend has a 325 convert and he rode in my 318 and was like whoa, this thing is pretty fast for a 318 and i was like its faster then your 325 right and he was like yeah....i think so
meseetree
10-13-2005, 10:34 PM
hahaha

cute


hahahahaha


well don't you think so too?:devillook
robweenerpi
10-13-2005, 11:08 PM
325's have a crapload more sound deadening. A ton more.
cgregory
10-13-2005, 11:13 PM
325's have a crapload more sound deadening. A ton more.
I thought the only difference in the sound deading was with the trunk tar...I'm probably wrong though. Whatever the case, you can always take it out.
robweenerpi
10-13-2005, 11:17 PM
I'm building a Spec E30 Car right now from an 87 325is body with 91 318is Parts removed from my wrecked car. There is a good deal more in this particular 325 I know.

Our WC shells have had pretty good variances in the amount of undercoating/soundening before too. Even on the same model car. Kinda odd.
cgregory
10-14-2005, 12:04 AM
I'm building a Spec E30 Car right now from an 87 325is body with 91 318is Parts removed from my wrecked car. There is a good deal more in this particular 325 I know.
Our WC shells have had pretty good variances in the amount of undercoating/soundening before too. Even on the same model car. Kinda odd.
Hmm...that's interesting. I guess you can attribute it to the E30 being hand built:)