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Thread: 318i vs. 325i

  1. #1
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    '98 328i, '05 Tucson

    318i vs. 325i

    Is there really that big of a difference between a 5 spd. 318i and a 325i? Not top speed wise, just in general.

    Thanks for any advice.

  2. #2
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    4cyl vs. 6.. Drive them and you can tell the difference pretty easily.
    -Qaz
    02 330i

  3. #3
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    Probably as big a difference between a M3 and a 325 as between a 318 and a 325.
    EX-NASA SpecE30 Racer---NASA Florida Certified Instructor

  4. #4
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    94 318is 5 speed
    i dont feel so, my friend has a 94 325is 5 speed stock and i have a 94 318is and i drove his car and my car is just as fun if not more because of the weight difference and when you take the turn i notice a difference, plus you dont have to deal with the vanos going on you. His car doesnt feel like its faster than my car is just feels that he gets his power before mine. Its up to you but everyone and their mother has a 325 i say go for the 4 banger is you dont care about speed and if you think you do get a DASC or some sort of turbo i much rather have a fun 4 banger FI than a 325 just my opinion, im sure i would be saying go for the 325 if i had a 325 but its your call just dont rule the 318 out.

  5. #5
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    94 318is 5 speed
    oh yea i also have a intake exhaust and jimc chip and i took out my spare tire lol every last hp or weight reduction counts.

  6. #6
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    '98 328i, '05 Tucson
    Thanks for the responses!

    I know comparing a 4 to a 6 is kind of like apples to oranges. But I found a '98 318i and a '94 325i for about the same price.

    Anyway, as far as reliability is concerned, instinct tells me to go with the '98, I just don't want to regret it down the road and wish I went with the 6. However, I feel like I would have to spend some loot on repairs on the 325i ( a '94 must need some work) at the same time with the 318i, I could spend the money on mods.

    Just thinking out loud

    Any other advice would be appreciated.

  7. #7
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    It's 50HP stock difference between the M50 and M44 engines..

    M50 189hp @5,900
    M44 138hp @6,000

    It's a big difference.. If you don't notice it, you aren't driving the car to it's full potential.

    The fact that the 94 and th 98 are the same price should also be a hint that the 6-cyl is wort a bit more.. Still it is a tough call w/ the difference in years.

    How many miles do each of them have? Test drive them both if you haven't already! It's you that has to live with the car, so you may as well just see what one you like more.
    -Qaz
    02 330i

  8. #8
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    So if a 325 only has 50 more hourse power then a normal 318, then a 318 Ti would be almost or as fast as a 325 because of the 400-500lb weight difference.
    95 Ti

  9. #9
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    right now i owna nice 325i and a jeep wrangler. my project carat the moment is a 95 eclipse

    Thumbs up dude go with the 325

    dude go with the 325. i have a 95 and ive never had a problem with it.

  10. #10
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    I have a 93 318i and it's a fun car to drive, but i'm ready for some more power and I wish i would have sprung the $ for the 6-cyl a few years ago.
    93' - 318i, 76' - 2002,
    94' Ducati 900ss cafe racer
    (O=00=O)


  11. #11
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    Where do you get this "400-500lb weight difference"? 325's weigh in at 3087lb, last I checked the ti (lightests of the 18's) was a bit more than 2600lb. 2822lb in 94, slimmed to 2745 by the 96 year. Even at it's best weight it's still only 342lbs lighter than my is.

    Basically, no it doesn't mean that it'd be as fast. You also have to remember the 6 has a hellovalot more torque than the ti's and a broader power band.
    -Qaz
    02 330i

  12. #12
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    Wouldn't the hatch be awsome for the autoX?

  13. #13
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    Test drive them both.
    When I was first shopping for a BMW, the salesperson told me just that. If you feel you can be happy with the 318, you can buy a much newer, lower mileage car (not usually the 4 yr spread you've mentioned, but still). If not, you have to decide how much you can spend to get as new of a 325 / 328 as you can afford.
    The 318i handles great (the ti really great, but I didn't like the interior as well), but it didn't have the power I wanted for stop and go traffic.

  14. #14
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    I also have not had any problems with my car. How can the performance in a 318 be even close to a 325?!?! Doesn't make any sense.

    DiscoTeknix - yes, the Ti is great in an autoX. Kos-motate gets one of the best times each time he's out racing.

  15. #15
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    98 and 94 almost being the same price? i dont know where you are looking at buying a car, but when i was buying my 95 318 it was almost the same price as another 325 i was looking at... here were the specs:

    95 318i:
    -53k miles
    -5 spd
    -no leather
    -no cd
    -$10k

    95 325i:
    -150k miles
    -auto
    -leather
    -cd
    -$8k

    the 6 cyl really isnt that far off from the 4 cyl price-wise if you check autotrader or any other magazines/online sources. my dad who is the "real" owner of the car naturally took the 4 cyl over the 6 simply because of the lower milage and the 5 spd transmission. as far as features go, i now have leather and cd player and my car is just about the same as any other 325 cept for some with the extra onboard computer. i am 16, i dont need the extra power to run myself into a wall yet =D


    04 M3 - ACS Exhaust - Alpine+Infinity ICE

    00 328Ci - Tint - GruppeM Intake - AA Gen3 Exhaust - ACS Roof Spoiler - M3 Lip Spoiler - Titan Front Grills - Clears

  16. #16
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    btw, i did notice that the miles on the 325 were drastically higher, but i took into consideration that the 2k price diff plus extra luxury options made up for it


    04 M3 - ACS Exhaust - Alpine+Infinity ICE

    00 328Ci - Tint - GruppeM Intake - AA Gen3 Exhaust - ACS Roof Spoiler - M3 Lip Spoiler - Titan Front Grills - Clears

  17. #17
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    BMW 318iS, VW Polo 1.2
    The 4-cylinder is a lot of fun because the max power is achieved at 6KRPM while the redline is only slightly higher, consequently you get a much free-er (sp?) revving engine. But the sound and the refinement of the M52/M54 is enough to make me want a 6-pot next time. As long as it's got the M44 engine (not the 8 valve M43) go with the 98 4-pot, it might not be as fast, but you won't be disappointed.
    1998 Steel Blue BMW 318iS

  18. #18
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    92 325is (sold), E90, Tacoma, Yamaha R6s
    my friend has a 96 (96 is a 1.9 liter 4)318, i used to have my 92 325 (non vanos, less low end torque) from lets say a 5 mpg roll...we would be even (my car was stock preformance wise except exhuast(lose low end)) till 3,000 and i was gone. with every gear i just kept pulling and pulling

    the 318 is still a bimmer....its got mad handles

    questionning handling shouldnt be a big question...as far as sport packages and stuff....u can always go aftermarketer to make each handle better

    we both had 5 speed's, his 318 is fun to drive, we used to switch cars and drive around, its like a euro rice basically, think your going fast...but u aint, the 318 sounds like a wheezy donkey...the 6 banger bimmers sound.....awesome

    screw the stock bmw cd player and speakers, they blow IMO....well my friends m5 stock system aint bad, lolz

    i'd use those extra 2K's and find a lower mileage MANUEL E36 6 cycl., my friends 318 maintanence bills were about even with mine...he spent just as much keeping his bimmer as i did...mine also had almost double his mileage too

    i cant say his 318 isnt peppy though....its fun to drive no doubt...but when my parents 99 auto toyota camry 4 banger pulled on his 318....2 times racing......my friend sure was embarressed
    undercover camry race car

    go with atleast a 325....
    2006 TiAg/Black 330i 6MT ZSP ZPP |F1 Pinnacle 15%|Debadged|Mtec Cosmos Fogs|Hamann Style Diffuser|Quad Magnaflow Exhaust|Transmissive Polarizer Mod:|Silver CF Amber-Gone|MTech Dead + ACS Pedals|

  19. #19
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    if you get the 318, in 6 months to a year you'll be wanting more power.
    get the 325, 50 more horses

  20. #20
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    Get the 325, definitly much more power than teh 318. Even with the 325 you will want more power. E30 318s are great cars, but the E36 has to much weight for such a small engine.
    -Chris

  21. #21
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    Originally posted by nydog
    if you get the 318, in 6 months to a year you'll be wanting more power.
    get the 325, 50 more horses
    haha, cant argue with that, its been 7 months now and i just now started wanting more horsepower


    04 M3 - ACS Exhaust - Alpine+Infinity ICE

    00 328Ci - Tint - GruppeM Intake - AA Gen3 Exhaust - ACS Roof Spoiler - M3 Lip Spoiler - Titan Front Grills - Clears

  22. #22
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    ------------------->
    Originally posted by KtecR
    haha, cant argue with that, its been 7 months now and i just now started wanting more horsepower


    hehe
    same here
    and i have a 92' 320 =P (yea its 6Cyl) 150hp


    the diff is huge imo its the way u feel the care beside the power

    the sound of the engine is diff and the way the car act is diff

    cant really explain but my dad had 98' 318 (115hp) AS and he offered to give it to me if i sell my 320

    hehe

    still have my 320


    for the power

    the diff is 75 HP pretty much


    go for the 325 cuz the more hp the better

    you even might wanna go for the m3 after a year or so


    im gonna replace mine with 328 as as i find one
    <- wifey

    Quote Originally Posted by howie View Post
    Why arent U answering the questions Mr.Quattro??

  23. #23
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    That's the truth...

    I love my 325, but I would REALLY love to trade up to like a ~95 M3/2.
    -Qaz
    02 330i

  24. #24
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    Originally posted by DaveB
    The 4-cylinder is a lot of fun because the max power is achieved at 6KRPM while the redline is only slightly higher, consequently you get a much free-er (sp?) revving engine. But the sound and the refinement of the M52/M54 is enough to make me want a 6-pot next time. As long as it's got the M44 engine (not the 8 valve M43) go with the 98 4-pot, it might not be as fast, but you won't be disappointed.
    The US got the M42....we never had the M43 like you guys on the other side of the pond. But what you say holds for the M42.
    EX-NASA SpecE30 Racer---NASA Florida Certified Instructor

  25. #25
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    03' 330 ZHP
    i have a 318is. ive had it for almost 3 years... take my word. GET AT LEAST A 325.. i wanted more power the first time i got destroyed at the street races.
    DUBLIFE..

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