E30 318iS any good?
Discussion
chippy17 said:
what do we think of these cars in general and what is the going rate for a nice one? Have seen a lovely looking car and am very tempted.
I'd love to see one too...
However I reckon you may well be on about the E36 model perhaps?
If it is, I considered one before I got my Golf as they are pretty nippy, however I'm not a fan of the looks

bob1179 said:
Nope BMW launched the e30 318is in '88 (I think).
It puts out around 140bhp from a 16v four cylinder engine. It is basically a baby M3 as it doesn't have the weight of the straight six up front. If you find a good one, go for it, you will not regret it. Absolutley fantastic cars!

It puts out around 140bhp from a 16v four cylinder engine. It is basically a baby M3 as it doesn't have the weight of the straight six up front. If you find a good one, go for it, you will not regret it. Absolutley fantastic cars!
I had an M3 Cecotto for 4 years and due to lack of money and new baby was forced to sell but I still miss it and this seemed like a good car to buy to get some of the spirit, I have found what looks like a minter at a specialist but it has 136k on the clock and is strong money at £2.3k, can they take this kind of mileage, I would be using it everyday (40miles)?
bob1179 said:
Nope BMW launched the e30 318is in '88 (I think).
It puts out around 140bhp from a 16v four cylinder engine. It is basically a baby M3 as it doesn't have the weight of the straight six up front. If you find a good one, go for it, you will not regret it. Absolutley fantastic cars!

It puts out around 140bhp from a 16v four cylinder engine. It is basically a baby M3 as it doesn't have the weight of the straight six up front. If you find a good one, go for it, you will not regret it. Absolutley fantastic cars!
Consider me learned
There's some useful stuff on the Unixnerd website about these, along with a few things to look out for. The E30 version was a marvellous car, but I think the extra weight of the E36 took away some of the spirit of the engine.
£2.3k does seem a bit steep for a 136k mile car though, even if it is a "minter". But I guess if it's got meticulous service history and really is in immaculate condition, it would be justifiable.
£2.3k does seem a bit steep for a 136k mile car though, even if it is a "minter". But I guess if it's got meticulous service history and really is in immaculate condition, it would be justifiable.
wrighty78 said:
There's some useful stuff on the Unixnerd website about these, along with a few things to look out for. The E30 version was a marvellous car, but I think the extra weight of the E36 took away some of the spirit of the engine.
£2.3k does seem a bit steep for a 136k mile car though, even if it is a "minter". But I guess if it's got meticulous service history and really is in immaculate condition, it would be justifiable.
£2.3k does seem a bit steep for a 136k mile car though, even if it is a "minter". But I guess if it's got meticulous service history and really is in immaculate condition, it would be justifiable.
thanks have just been reading his website, yes I think the price is a bit much but I will call him and see what he has to say for himself! the spiel suggests it has all of the above and it is in a colour I have never seen before.
wrighty78 said:
chippy17 said:
... it is in a colour I have never seen before.
Really??? I'm fairly sure they only sold them in red, white and black... what colour is it?
Also Laser Blue Metallic and Silver
Missed what looked like a beautiful 42k miler in Silver, one family owned from new with FBMWSH for a paltry 1200 notes (being sold by a trader who obviously didnt know what he'd got

mustard said:
wrighty78 said:
chippy17 said:
... it is in a colour I have never seen before.
Really??? I'm fairly sure they only sold them in red, white and black... what colour is it?
Also Laser Blue Metallic and Silver
Missed what looked like a beautiful 42k miler in Silver, one family owned from new with FBMWSH for a paltry 1200 notes (being sold by a trader who obviously didnt know what he'd got

bingo! laser blue and it looks fantastic, although the other downside is it has 17inch Alpina replica's on it, which I think look quite good but take away the originality and could eprhasp effect handling etc, £1200!!!! the only one I have seen for this amount recently has got 238k miles on it!
chippy17 said:
all E30s seem to be going and have gone up in value by quite some margin in the last year or so! I see your lovely E30 convertible mustard, how much has that gone up in value, plus the 318is 42k minter mentioned above, have I missed the E30 boat?!
Bought it 18mths ago 'trade' for a very nice price, I reackon with a bit of minor paintwork and a new roof it would be worth circa 4k (2.5ltr Manuals seem pretty rare), Cars as original as they come... ie NO cut Springs/lowered suspension/bodykits/clear indicators etc and has a very good service history/low owners
mustard said:
chippy17 said:
all E30s seem to be going and have gone up in value by quite some margin in the last year or so! I see your lovely E30 convertible mustard, how much has that gone up in value, plus the 318is 42k minter mentioned above, have I missed the E30 boat?!
Bought it 18mths ago 'trade' for a very nice price, I reackon with a bit of minor paintwork and a new roof it would be worth circa 4k (2.5ltr Manuals seem pretty rare), Cars as original as they come... ie NO cut Springs/lowered suspension/bodykits/clear indicators etc and has a very good service history/low owners
very nice lovely colour (malchite green?) agreed these cars have to be original as they are well on their way to classic status, if you ever come across another 'trade' send it in my direction!
chippy17 said:
mustard said:
chippy17 said:
all E30s seem to be going and have gone up in value by quite some margin in the last year or so! I see your lovely E30 convertible mustard, how much has that gone up in value, plus the 318is 42k minter mentioned above, have I missed the E30 boat?!
Bought it 18mths ago 'trade' for a very nice price, I reackon with a bit of minor paintwork and a new roof it would be worth circa 4k (2.5ltr Manuals seem pretty rare), Cars as original as they come... ie NO cut Springs/lowered suspension/bodykits/clear indicators etc and has a very good service history/low owners
very nice lovely colour (malchite green?) agreed these cars have to be original as they are well on their way to classic status, if you ever come across another 'trade' send it in my direction!
Yep, Malachite Green Metallic with Natural Leather, as regards to any 'others' you can never have too much of a good thing

I was looking at 318is a while ago...really fancied the idea of one when I was considering hillclimbing!
Performance, if I remember correctly, is on par with the baby 6 cylinder models...I stand to be corrected if I am wrong obviously
If its a corker and the price is right (remember the E30's arent demanding a preium right now other than M3's) I say go for it!
Performance, if I remember correctly, is on par with the baby 6 cylinder models...I stand to be corrected if I am wrong obviously
If its a corker and the price is right (remember the E30's arent demanding a preium right now other than M3's) I say go for it!
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Well you learn something new every day...! I've certainly never seen a laser blue one. Need pictures!!!