318is ?
Author
Discussion

dfen5

Original Poster:

2,398 posts

241 months

Sunday 2nd September 2007
quotequote all
Bit of advice please guys - I've read so many topics recently I've lost track a bit. I think I want a 318is as it has the LSD but which version & year do I go for? Quick search didn't reveal the answers. It'll be the wife's daily drive (only a few miles) and something for me to try a few trackdays so it'll get the usual mods. Only other thought was a 328 sport but again don't know which is best bet with all the nicasil problems with those.
Budget 5k
Oh and if someone could point me in the direction of one. Ta.

John

Edited by dfen5 on Sunday 2nd September 18:05

clonmult

10,529 posts

238 months

Monday 3rd September 2007
quotequote all
I could be very badly wrong, but I don't think the LSD was standard on the 318iS, at least on the E36 (mine is one of the last E36s, definitely no LSD on there).

It could have been an option though.

Best bet is to go over to the e36coupe.com forums and have a look through there. I've had a search, and the LSD was apparently an option, but hardly ever specced.

podman

9,081 posts

269 months

Monday 3rd September 2007
quotequote all
I believe the early 328 sports came with an LSD, this was then changed for TC on the later models.

Just watch out for the nicasil issue on 97/98 328's, the 4 pot in the 318is was unaffected.

Dont fancy a very smart,low mileage manual E34 535 sport, with LSD as an alternative do you ?

m3evo2

2,064 posts

237 months

Monday 3rd September 2007
quotequote all
As mentioned, E36 318is didn't come as standard with LSD and cars fitted with one must be far and few between. Some 328's did and is indicated by an S on the diff case.

dfen5

Original Poster:

2,398 posts

241 months

Tuesday 4th September 2007
quotequote all
podman said:
I believe the early 328 sports came with an LSD, this was then changed for TC on the later models.

Just watch out for the nicasil issue on 97/98 328's, the 4 pot in the 318is was unaffected.

Dont fancy a very smart,low mileage manual E34 535 sport, with LSD as an alternative do you ?
I'll pass on the 535, thanks for the thought though. Bit big for her indoors.

I'm going to phone up today to get an insurance quote on a non Evo M3 - they seem to be bargains at the moment. If it's daft I think I'll search out a 328 with the LSD.

Cheers for the info guys.

neil_bolton

17,113 posts

293 months

Tuesday 4th September 2007
quotequote all
dfen5 said:
podman said:
I believe the early 328 sports came with an LSD, this was then changed for TC on the later models.

Just watch out for the nicasil issue on 97/98 328's, the 4 pot in the 318is was unaffected.

Dont fancy a very smart,low mileage manual E34 535 sport, with LSD as an alternative do you ?
I'll pass on the 535, thanks for the thought though. Bit big for her indoors.

I'm going to phone up today to get an insurance quote on a non Evo M3 - they seem to be bargains at the moment. If it's daft I think I'll search out a 328 with the LSD.

Cheers for the info guys.
Good luck on the hunt for a 328 with an LSD - less than 450 were brought into the country with an LSD specced (or so I read on E36Coupe).

To be honest, the 328 Sport isn't exactly powerful enough as standard, being overtyred as well, as to trouble the rear grip.

Never thought to myself in the times when I've been 'pressing on' that "Hmm, I really could do with an LSD - it'd make just that bit quicker". Even sliding about on the VMax corners, the back end was controllable (ish) as many have witnessed wink

I don't think the E36 warrants it with 200bhp.

300 bhp yes, 200 bhp no.

Also if you are looking at M3's - expect insurance to be double the 328 Sport (in my experience). Also you are looking at higher servicing costs - a reason why they are quite the bargain...



Edited by neil_bolton on Tuesday 4th September 22:58

clonmult

10,529 posts

238 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
neil_bolton said:
dfen5 said:
podman said:
I believe the early 328 sports came with an LSD, this was then changed for TC on the later models.

Just watch out for the nicasil issue on 97/98 328's, the 4 pot in the 318is was unaffected.

Dont fancy a very smart,low mileage manual E34 535 sport, with LSD as an alternative do you ?
I'll pass on the 535, thanks for the thought though. Bit big for her indoors.

I'm going to phone up today to get an insurance quote on a non Evo M3 - they seem to be bargains at the moment. If it's daft I think I'll search out a 328 with the LSD.

Cheers for the info guys.
Good luck on the hunt for a 328 with an LSD - less than 450 were brought into the country with an LSD specced (or so I read on E36Coupe).

To be honest, the 328 Sport isn't exactly powerful enough as standard, being overtyred as well, as to trouble the rear grip.

Never thought to myself in the times when I've been 'pressing on' that "Hmm, I really could do with an LSD - it'd make just that bit quicker". Even sliding about on the VMax corners, the back end was controllable (ish) as many have witnessed wink

I don't think the E36 warrants it with 200bhp.

300 bhp yes, 200 bhp no.

Also if you are looking at M3's - expect insurance to be double the 328 Sport (in my experience). Also you are looking at higher servicing costs - a reason why they are quite the bargain...



Edited by neil_bolton on Tuesday 4th September 22:58
Thats right on about insurance, at least in my experience. I looked around at insurance for the 318iS, 323, 325, 328 and M3. There was maybe £30 difference between a 318iS and a 328 (it was the servicing costs that made me choose the 318iS), and the (E36) M3 was roughly double (about £600 versus circa £300).

Reckon in a year or so's time that at least a 328 will be in the driveway, maybe an E36 M3.

mat205125

17,790 posts

242 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
neil_bolton said:
Good luck on the hunt for a 328 with an LSD - less than 450 were brought into the country with an LSD specced (or so I read on E36Coupe).
yes

Always find it funny that, despite being a rare option, 99.9% of cars advertised for sale say they have one fitted.

cloud9 the BBS rims on the 328 sports. Shame they corrode so badly.

muppets_mate

834 posts

245 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
podman said:
Dont fancy a very smart,low mileage manual E34 535 sport, with LSD as an alternative do you ?
Bryan, have you got any more details?


podman

9,081 posts

269 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
muppets_mate said:
podman said:
Dont fancy a very smart,low mileage manual E34 535 sport, with LSD as an alternative do you ?
Bryan, have you got any more details?
Im afraid I havent a camera or the software to host pics but these are some that where taken for me on the links below.

The car has now done 69K with FSH..recently had an oil service as well as coolant/brake fluid change by my local indy. Still on 4 greens. The car is faultless...the only exception being a mark on the passenger seat cloth, which if id kept the car I would have replaced(still available from BMW) the guy I bought it from kept it in a heated garage and under blankets thu' out the winter, ive done the same, so I can tell you it hasnt seen a winter in 7 years and I dont even use it in the wet...concerning E34s as far as ive seen its a one off. Im the third owner.

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=98...

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10...

dfen5

Original Poster:

2,398 posts

241 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
podman said:
muppets_mate said:
podman said:
Dont fancy a very smart,low mileage manual E34 535 sport, with LSD as an alternative do you ?
Bryan, have you got any more details?
Im afraid I havent a camera or the software to host pics but these are some that where taken for me on the links below.

The car has now done 69K with FSH..recently had an oil service as well as coolant/brake fluid change by my local indy. Still on 4 greens. The car is faultless...the only exception being a mark on the passenger seat cloth, which if id kept the car I would have replaced(still available from BMW) the guy I bought it from kept it in a heated garage and under blankets thu' out the winter, ive done the same, so I can tell you it hasnt seen a winter in 7 years and I dont even use it in the wet...concerning E34s as far as ive seen its a one off. Im the third owner.

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=98...

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10...
Blimey, that car looks mint. I'd be scared to drive it the way I normaly drive cars smokin

Mind me asking how much?

neil_bolton

17,113 posts

293 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
dfen5 said:
podman said:
muppets_mate said:
podman said:
Dont fancy a very smart,low mileage manual E34 535 sport, with LSD as an alternative do you ?
Bryan, have you got any more details?
Im afraid I havent a camera or the software to host pics but these are some that where taken for me on the links below.

The car has now done 69K with FSH..recently had an oil service as well as coolant/brake fluid change by my local indy. Still on 4 greens. The car is faultless...the only exception being a mark on the passenger seat cloth, which if id kept the car I would have replaced(still available from BMW) the guy I bought it from kept it in a heated garage and under blankets thu' out the winter, ive done the same, so I can tell you it hasnt seen a winter in 7 years and I dont even use it in the wet...concerning E34s as far as ive seen its a one off. Im the third owner.

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=98...

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10...
Blimey, that car looks mint. I'd be scared to drive it the way I normaly drive cars smokin

Mind me asking how much?
I'm interested in the price too - but I would advise to stop hawking your car to everyone who even expresses an interest at a car - "I'd like a Ferrari F430 - what should I get?" "What about a hardly used 535i"...

Just a friendly word before I start deleting your posts - the classifieds are free you know wink