RE: Shed Of The Week: BMW 318iS
Discussion
A cousin had one of these and it was incredibly faulty. Every year there was a big bill... gaskets, gearbox seals, ac hedgehog and, the gearbox eventually... for a 3 year old car (brought from new).. at 40k miles and not driven hard... he got rid of it. However, another relative had the 320ti? compact... ugly car but decent engine!
t out of, chuckable and stable. Good fun!I owned a 318is for a short while around 10 years ago, bought because it came up at a good price. it never excited me but I had owned a 328i not long before it.
Lack of power and no decent noise ruined the car for me, and it somehow didnt feel like a bmw. No substitute for a 6cyl car IMO.
It looked nice tho!
Lack of power and no decent noise ruined the car for me, and it somehow didnt feel like a bmw. No substitute for a 6cyl car IMO.
It looked nice tho!
danllama said:
I recently picked up an E36. I did consider a 318iS, however I settled on a 323 (2.5 M52). If I was going to own a BMW, it would have to have 6 pistons, and I suspect many will think the same. My car is in the same colour as this shed, and if its clean and in the right light it looks great.
I initially bought the car for skid days etc and to have something with four seats to compliment my mr2, but I've actually taken quite a shine to the thing. I fit some 15" E39 alloys and a welded diff in a few hours and i've since had some of the best fun I've ever had in a car! And it still drives like it left the factory, very comfortable and sensible when you are.
Its also cheap to insure on a classic policy! Who can believe they're that old? Oh here's mine.
BMW E36 323i by Dan J, on Flickr
Looks great. I replaced my 16" for 15" wheels on narrower tyres - drives considerably better!I initially bought the car for skid days etc and to have something with four seats to compliment my mr2, but I've actually taken quite a shine to the thing. I fit some 15" E39 alloys and a welded diff in a few hours and i've since had some of the best fun I've ever had in a car! And it still drives like it left the factory, very comfortable and sensible when you are.
Its also cheap to insure on a classic policy! Who can believe they're that old? Oh here's mine.
BMW E36 323i by Dan J, on Flickr
M44 is map rather than chip (M42 would take a chip) and Schrick cams probably cost at least half again the current asking price of the car. You can do quite a lot with these lumps but you need deep pockets. They can be stroked out to 2.1 or 2.2 with the right pistons. They can be supercharged although again, the cost is probably around 3k. The earlier M42 has iron block and can take large amounts of turbo boost compared to the ally block on the M44. The handling on the 4-pot cars is a whole load better than the 6cyl which is something of a well-kept secret/nasty fact that 6pot owners like to brush under the rug - although the fact a 6-pot 2.8 is that much quicker means that losing the handling edge when you upgrade from one to the other, is just about bearable. But I have always longed after a really well-modded 318ti or is. Actually I prefer the ti - in sport trim anyway.
People interested in seeing these engines tuned well should google 'Metric Mechanics M42/m44' - you should find some interesting material out there. I used to run an M44 powered 318ti and the only negative was that it didn't cope with extra weight in the car at all well. A very sprightly car when only the driver was in it, add a front seat passenger and the difference was immediately noticeable. 4up and you'd be overtaken by old biddies in a Honda Jazz - especially on any kind of gradient. This meant in terms of day to day usability, the 2.5 and 2.8s really have the edge. Oh and the gears in the is/ti are quite short. The car would benefit from a 6th gear for motorway cruising - 80mph sees you at around 4k revs which can be quite tiring on long journeys - not so bad on the standard car but if you have a sportier exhaust setup the noise and drone is seriously invasive compared to a 2.8
People interested in seeing these engines tuned well should google 'Metric Mechanics M42/m44' - you should find some interesting material out there. I used to run an M44 powered 318ti and the only negative was that it didn't cope with extra weight in the car at all well. A very sprightly car when only the driver was in it, add a front seat passenger and the difference was immediately noticeable. 4up and you'd be overtaken by old biddies in a Honda Jazz - especially on any kind of gradient. This meant in terms of day to day usability, the 2.5 and 2.8s really have the edge. Oh and the gears in the is/ti are quite short. The car would benefit from a 6th gear for motorway cruising - 80mph sees you at around 4k revs which can be quite tiring on long journeys - not so bad on the standard car but if you have a sportier exhaust setup the noise and drone is seriously invasive compared to a 2.8
Edited by vsonix on Saturday 22 April 14:21
Edited by vsonix on Saturday 22 April 14:34
fatboy69 said:
Bitterly regret getting rid of my E36 late last year.
Was a very stupid thing to do.
New owner will not return my calls as I want it back. One day I will get it back.
Same here. I needed a change, ended up selling my 328i cabrio - which got replaced with a Z3 2.8- which I am overall pretty happy about. My coupe needed quite a bit of work that was beyond my ability on the driveway so I took a punt on swapping it for a (mostly) fully operational 740i - I've never had a V8 and felt like it'd be a fun swap. However it's only after running it for a few months you look at how much money goes into 'normal' driving let alone lead-footing that you realise just how good the fuel consumption to fun ratio is with the BMW 4 and 6 pots and what a 'sweet spot' a nicely modified 2.8 manual car really is. Was a very stupid thing to do.
New owner will not return my calls as I want it back. One day I will get it back.
danllama said:
SidewaysSi said:
Looks great. I replaced my 16" for 15" wheels on narrower tyres - drives considerably better!
Yeah mine came on 17's, way too numb! vsonix said:
M44 is map rather than chip (M42 would take a chip) and Schrick cams probably cost at least half again the current asking price of the car. You can do quite a lot with these lumps but you need deep pockets. They can be stroked out to 2.1 or 2.2 with the right pistons. They can be supercharged although again, the cost is probably around 3k. The earlier M42 has iron block and can take large amounts of turbo boost compared to the ally block on the M44. The handling on the 4-pot cars is a whole load better than the 6cyl which is something of a well-kept secret/nasty fact that 6pot owners like to brush under the rug - although the fact a 6-pot 2.8 is that much quicker means that losing the handling edge when you upgrade from one to the other, is just about bearable. But I have always longed after a really well-modded 318ti or is. Actually I prefer the ti - in sport trim anyway.
People interested in seeing these engines tuned well should google 'Metric Mechanics M42/m44' - you should find some interesting material out there. I used to run an M44 powered 318ti and the only negative was that it didn't cope with extra weight in the car at all well. A very sprightly car when only the driver was in it, add a front seat passenger and the difference was immediately noticeable. 4up and you'd be overtaken by old biddies in a Honda Jazz - especially on any kind of gradient. This meant in terms of day to day usability, the 2.5 and 2.8s really have the edge. Oh and the gears in the is/ti are quite short. The car would benefit from a 6th gear for motorway cruising - 80mph sees you at around 4k revs which can be quite tiring on long journeys - not so bad on the standard car but if you have a sportier exhaust setup the noise and drone is seriously invasive compared to a 2.8
Yeah, the Compacts are underrated cars. Brilliant practicality with that big boot opening and you do feel the lighter front end in the weight of the steering and the turn in. They have short overhangs on both ends too so they can rotate quite tidily (weight is more concentrated within the wheelbase). But in the end owning one at the same time as a 328, I found the increased power, refinement and the composure of the better rear suspension justified the extra weight. While the TI does feel lighter I'm not sure I'd ever describe it as 'a whole load', it's noticeable but not massive. Plus, aside from getting a built NA motor like one of those massively expensive Metrics Mechanics ones you mentioned, anything you do to increase power is going to increase the weight at the front.People interested in seeing these engines tuned well should google 'Metric Mechanics M42/m44' - you should find some interesting material out there. I used to run an M44 powered 318ti and the only negative was that it didn't cope with extra weight in the car at all well. A very sprightly car when only the driver was in it, add a front seat passenger and the difference was immediately noticeable. 4up and you'd be overtaken by old biddies in a Honda Jazz - especially on any kind of gradient. This meant in terms of day to day usability, the 2.5 and 2.8s really have the edge. Oh and the gears in the is/ti are quite short. The car would benefit from a 6th gear for motorway cruising - 80mph sees you at around 4k revs which can be quite tiring on long journeys - not so bad on the standard car but if you have a sportier exhaust setup the noise and drone is seriously invasive compared to a 2.8
Edited by vsonix on Saturday 22 April 14:21
Edited by vsonix on Saturday 22 April 14:34
I replaced the TI with an MX5 which trumps it for being lightweight and nippy, without having to worry about ever slowing it down with passengers
MiggyA said:
vsonix said:
M44 is map rather than chip (M42 would take a chip) and Schrick cams probably cost at least half again the current asking price of the car. You can do quite a lot with these lumps but you need deep pockets. They can be stroked out to 2.1 or 2.2 with the right pistons. They can be supercharged although again, the cost is probably around 3k. The earlier M42 has iron block and can take large amounts of turbo boost compared to the ally block on the M44. The handling on the 4-pot cars is a whole load better than the 6cyl which is something of a well-kept secret/nasty fact that 6pot owners like to brush under the rug - although the fact a 6-pot 2.8 is that much quicker means that losing the handling edge when you upgrade from one to the other, is just about bearable. But I have always longed after a really well-modded 318ti or is. Actually I prefer the ti - in sport trim anyway.
People interested in seeing these engines tuned well should google 'Metric Mechanics M42/m44' - you should find some interesting material out there. I used to run an M44 powered 318ti and the only negative was that it didn't cope with extra weight in the car at all well. A very sprightly car when only the driver was in it, add a front seat passenger and the difference was immediately noticeable. 4up and you'd be overtaken by old biddies in a Honda Jazz - especially on any kind of gradient. This meant in terms of day to day usability, the 2.5 and 2.8s really have the edge. Oh and the gears in the is/ti are quite short. The car would benefit from a 6th gear for motorway cruising - 80mph sees you at around 4k revs which can be quite tiring on long journeys - not so bad on the standard car but if you have a sportier exhaust setup the noise and drone is seriously invasive compared to a 2.8
Yeah, the Compacts are underrated cars. Brilliant practicality with that big boot opening and you do feel the lighter front end in the weight of the steering and the turn in. They have short overhangs on both ends too so they can rotate quite tidily (weight is more concentrated within the wheelbase). But in the end owning one at the same time as a 328, I found the increased power, refinement and the composure of the better rear suspension justified the extra weight. While the TI does feel lighter I'm not sure I'd ever describe it as 'a whole load', it's noticeable but not massive. Plus, aside from getting a built NA motor like one of those massively expensive Metrics Mechanics ones you mentioned, anything you do to increase power is going to increase the weight at the front.People interested in seeing these engines tuned well should google 'Metric Mechanics M42/m44' - you should find some interesting material out there. I used to run an M44 powered 318ti and the only negative was that it didn't cope with extra weight in the car at all well. A very sprightly car when only the driver was in it, add a front seat passenger and the difference was immediately noticeable. 4up and you'd be overtaken by old biddies in a Honda Jazz - especially on any kind of gradient. This meant in terms of day to day usability, the 2.5 and 2.8s really have the edge. Oh and the gears in the is/ti are quite short. The car would benefit from a 6th gear for motorway cruising - 80mph sees you at around 4k revs which can be quite tiring on long journeys - not so bad on the standard car but if you have a sportier exhaust setup the noise and drone is seriously invasive compared to a 2.8
Edited by vsonix on Saturday 22 April 14:21
Edited by vsonix on Saturday 22 April 14:34
I replaced the TI with an MX5 which trumps it for being lightweight and nippy, without having to worry about ever slowing it down with passengers
After a run of really uninspiring sheds, this is quite a good find.....not sure the E36 will ever be worth as much as the E30 variants, but I could be proved wrong- a light build free revving four pot petrol in a BMW, buy one while you can.
I really should have bought the immaculate 1 owner 328i estate I went to visit a few years back...definitely the case of the one that got away....the E36 was a great 3 series IMO, a huge step forward from the E30. Perhaps the biggest leap forward that any 3 series variant made over its predecessor?
greenarrow said:
After a run of really uninspiring sheds, this is quite a good find.....not sure the E36 will ever be worth as much as the E30 variants, but I could be proved wrong- a light build free revving four pot petrol in a BMW, buy one while you can.
I thought it was quite interesting the contrast between this Shed and the ST170 Foous from a fortnight back.Much more positive reception for the 20 year old rwd BMW than the 12 year old fwd Ford, even though both were very good handling cars within their class.
Both similar weight but the downside of the Focus for many, a 4-pot that needs revving to extract performance, is seen as a positive here and the faster models within each range are viewed quite differently. The Focus was viewed as disappointingly slow ....whereas in the slower BMW it allows you to revel in the handling
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