Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 27

Thread: Looking for a fun daily driver... 325e? 325i? 325is? 318i?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    274
    My Cars
    E39 540i6!

    Looking for a fun daily driver... 325e? 325i? 325is? 318i?

    I'm looking for a daily driver. Right now I'm looking for something classy but fun to drive. I work in alot of nice neighborhoods and don't want to appear as some young kid in a wannabe race car (I'm 23). I'm thinking of either a MKII Jetta or an E30 and I'd REALLY like the E30. I've got up to $4k to spend but I'd really like to spend less. Above all, I need it to be reliable. I think tastefully modded E30's look amazing and I've heard awesome things about them.

    So I have a few questions.

    1) Which model E30 would you guys recommend? The 325is seems to be the obvious choice but they're getting harder to find and they sell for $3k-$4k even with high miles (near 200k). Would I be better off purchasing a 325i and modding it? would it be cheaper and/or better than purchasing a 325is?

    2) What're the differences in MPG between the different models?

    3) How many miles are too many? How much life do these cars have in them? I see alot of them with high miles but I'm scared I'm going to be making alot of costly repairs if I purchase one, even if it's seemingly in good condition. There's a 325is here for $3500 with 197k on it, that seems nuts to me but maybe it's normal?

    Any other input you guys have would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Ottawa, Canada
    Posts
    406
    My Cars
    86 es, 94 Golf
    A lot of the guys have way more knowledge than me on this topic but the basics are 325e usually are unbreakable. Very good reliability, aswell as gas mileage. But you pay for this in performance. 325i have way better performance not as good gas mileage still pretty reliable and easy to work on. 325is same as 325i with a LSD (limited slip differential) sport seats nice "is" lip different steering wheel (i believe). 318i slower than 325i but according to many better handling but this is very debatable. Again pretty reliable and has timng chain instead timing belt which is a large bonus. As fore how many miles some say the 325e is just broken in at 400 000km but like anything other car you have to look for low mileage but also maintenance such as timing belt on the 325's aswell as water pumpetc... Hope this help. Please anyone correct if im wrong.

    -Jesse

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    in sin
    Posts
    204
    My Cars
    E30
    325i

    The gears in an "is" just piss me off on the highway, and if you're going to do suspension it's not like you're going to keep the "is" springs etc. anyways. So to me, the "is" really isn't worth the extra $.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    2,259
    My Cars
    1987 535(sound provided by Byzanz)
    Test drive both, the 1991 318is is said to be a little bit more reliable than the 6-cylinder models.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    in sin
    Posts
    204
    My Cars
    E30
    yes, and enjoy the gutless acceleration of the 318is along with it's gears that will start reaching their top end at 100 mph.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    MA
    Posts
    3,652
    My Cars
    1998 M3 Coupe - RIP
    Don't listen to the haters. The M42 engine in the 318i/is is a great little engine. It is rev happy and the 130 something (134 I believe) HP propels the 26xxlb 318 very well. The light weight does help handling and this is not debatable. The 318 is more nimble than a 325. It even has high skidpad ratings than an E30 M3.

    Beyond the timing chain advantage, the 1991 318 also has self adjusting hydraulic valves and a forged crank. It is a very solid little engine and will last a very long time. You can also expect 30MPG which is easy on the wallet.

    BTW, a 318 will get over 120MPH rather easily. I don't know the top speed because I've never tested it in mine.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    105
    My Cars
    1991 318is
    Quote Originally Posted by DirtyHarry
    yes, and enjoy the gutless acceleration of the 318is along with it's gears that will start reaching their top end at 100 mph.
    ah yes, the 318 haters haha. been to 138 in mine and wasn't even redlined in 5th, but thats just what the mph said. supposedly they are not that accurate, but it was hella fast for my car, and hella smooth at that speed. there are upsides and downsides for both cars, and the owners of each will continue to battle it out forever. just drive both and decide which you like better. you can't go wrong with any e30

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Alpharetta, Georgia
    Posts
    278
    My Cars
    Black '85 325e
    IMO, the 325e. I love my '85 and I get arround 28mpg. It can be EXTREMELY fast when you want it to be, but it's also a relitivley safe car. Price is usualy less than 3k, and for a stock one you could probably go 1.5k

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Redding, CA USA
    Posts
    82
    My Cars
    1987 325i Convertible
    How the FUCK does a 318 have a better skid pad than a M3??? That doesnt make any sense at all. Them M3 is probably lighter or at worst the same. and it has a wider wheel base and wider tires stock. Not to mention stiffer suspension and a lower stance.

    Here is what you should get....


    http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2227410 for more info...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    2,259
    My Cars
    1987 535(sound provided by Byzanz)
    Quote Originally Posted by pbbreath
    How the FUCK does a 318 have a better skid pad than a M3??? That doesnt make any sense at all. Them M3 is probably lighter or at worst the same. and it has a wider wheel base and wider tires stock. Not to mention stiffer suspension and a lower stance.
    It's common knowledge, the M42 318is got higher skidpad rating than the M3 of tht generation...it's a wierd anomally.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    2,259
    My Cars
    1987 535(sound provided by Byzanz)
    That IS a pretty cool Jetta, though.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Littleton, CO
    Posts
    1,572
    My Cars
    07 X5, 02 325iT
    Quote Originally Posted by pbbreath
    How the FUCK does a 318 have a better skid pad than a M3??? That doesnt make any sense at all. Them M3 is probably lighter or at worst the same. and it has a wider wheel base and wider tires stock. Not to mention stiffer suspension and a lower stance.
    Yet more proof that benchracing doesn't work. An M3 would eat the 318 alive on a racetrack, but the skidpad numbers might say otherwise. Like somebody above said, it's one of those ever-present anomolies in the automotive world


    BMW CCA Member #480924

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    274
    My Cars
    E39 540i6!
    Ok so I found a couple clean 325e's an a 325es. What's the difference between a 325es and a 325is besides the engine? What can be done to boost the output of the ETA engine and what would the output be once it's modded? Someone was saying something about putting an iS head on an ETA engine and then basically having a stroked iS engine, is that true? What would the output be then? is it possible to get around 200hp with the ETA engine? Did they improve alot between say, 1986 and 1991?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    in sin
    Posts
    204
    My Cars
    E30
    just get the VW lol

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Posts
    27
    My Cars
    BMW 325e
    Personally, I would go for the 325es. I own a 325e and love the thing, my father used to own a 325es. I got my 325e with 68k on it in 2002, of all the cars to find with really low mileage I had to get the one built like a tank.

    According to my father his 325es was much better than the normal 325e. Of course he is old so everything he used to own was better than it is today.

    I hear they get much better once you chip them. Replacing the flywheel with a lighter weight one might also make it feel a lot faster.

    I get 26mpg doing pure city driving. On the highway I get somewhere between 34 and 36 and with gas prices these days that really helps. Maintenance isnt terrible either.
    Last edited by fragmaster170; 10-09-2005 at 07:39 PM.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Overland Park/Lawrence
    Posts
    2,916
    My Cars
    85 325e
    The Eta engine will always be slow. It feels fast but its horrendously slow. For a beater though its the best engine because its easy to drive and gets pretty good mileage.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    ..Near Dallas
    Posts
    39
    My Cars
    '71 2002/'91 318is/'76 Sahara 2002
    Quote Originally Posted by DirtyHarry
    yes, and enjoy the gutless acceleration of the 318is along with it's gears that will start reaching their top end at 100 mph.
    Been to 125mph several times and no such thing!

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Posts
    27
    My Cars
    BMW 325e
    Quote Originally Posted by Ryan Stewart
    The Eta engine will always be slow. It feels fast but its horrendously slow. For a beater though its the best engine because its easy to drive and gets pretty good mileage.
    That pretty much sums it up.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Winston-Salem, NC
    Posts
    805
    My Cars
    e30 325i
    Quote Originally Posted by fragmaster170
    That pretty much sums it up.
    -This is true. If you are interested in a ETA get an '88 325 or 325es since the 88 had a coupl more horsepower but isn't quite as rediculouly slow as an 84-87, and had a 1000 rpm higher redline and a shorter (2.93 v 2.79) rear-end for easier driving. My car is NOT FAST but is a blast to drive, easy to drive sportly, and gets near 30 mpg AND still outruns Civics (not saying much...). Oh, bought it for $1700 with 200 000 miles on it and it drives like a charm
    -Slushy 1989 cirrisblau-metallic 325i

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    MA
    Posts
    3,652
    My Cars
    1998 M3 Coupe - RIP
    Quote Originally Posted by fragmaster170
    I get 26mpg doing pure city driving.
    sorry, but

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Posts
    27
    My Cars
    BMW 325e
    Do You want me to take a pic of my OBC?

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Greenville, SC (home) / USC (School)
    Posts
    530
    My Cars
    E46 328i Sport
    Quote Originally Posted by Fly2002Fly
    Been to 125mph several times and no such thing!
    Really? My friends E36 318ic automatic struggles at 110 pretty bad

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    305
    My Cars
    '98 M3
    Get the i, if rpm's and hp are more important than a little better gas miliage and low speed torque. I'd suffer the pain to be able to tear it up in the i every so often.

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Littleton, CO
    Posts
    1,572
    My Cars
    07 X5, 02 325iT
    Quote Originally Posted by KillerZJ
    Really? My friends E36 318ic automatic struggles at 110 pretty bad
    An automatic E36 convertible and a light E30 5-speed coupe are two completely different animals.


    BMW CCA Member #480924

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Seattle, Washington
    Posts
    323
    My Cars
    1966 C10 on bags
    I'd go with a 318is, it's got a lot of spunk for a daily driver w/ a 4 cylinder. I found mine for $3,000 with 130,000 miles and good maintenance on it. Cheaper than a 325is but still is a lot of fun.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •