91' 318is - BMW Forum

sexydylan05 · 05-14-2006, 07:46 PM

ok guys i was on auto trader and i saw this 91 318is and it looks like its in really good condition. it has 118,000 miles, new tires, new brakes/ rotors and they want 3,400. i had an 86 325es and i fell in love with bimmers!! so my point to is how good are the four cylinders, what is the stock horse power for them, what do you guys think of their power and handling i know E30s dont have alot of power but are the 4s that much differnt then the 6 cylinders? and if anyone know a site where you can see the stats of the old E30s i think i saw it on here at one point. i guess my overall point to this post is to see what you guys think of the 318is is it worth 3,400 hunder?

thank you so much and sorry about my rambling

dylan

Scotsman · 05-14-2006, 08:19 PM

If I remember correctly (not in exact numbers) the 318's don't have great hp/tq numbers. The 2.5's are quite a bit stronger running, both in the "E" and the "I" version. Of course, the "E" is more tq, the "I" has more overall HP, and a higher rev limit. I'd have to say, from a performance standpoint, I don't think I'd opt for the 1.8 liter four cylinder. I'm sure there are performance mods out there by the dozen for them, but I'm guessing there are about twice as many for the 2.5 "E", and three times that for the 2.5 "I".
On top of that, I'd be fairly certain that you could find a 2.5 (either "E" or "I", your preference) out there for around the same price, with good miles. my opinion though, so take it with a grain of salt.

triggrhaapi · 05-14-2006, 08:24 PM

Actually, the later model 318s have the M42 engine which produces 150bhp, only 20 short of what the i engine produces and more than the 125bhp that the e or "eta" produces. They are quite quick, and much lighter than their 6 cyl brothers.

sexydylan05 · 05-14-2006, 08:29 PM

triggrhaapi are you sure because if so then im going for it. scotsman thanks for your response! and help is welcome thanks again guys!!

Scotsman · 05-15-2006, 05:52 AM

That's funny, everything I can find on the '91 M42 engine states that it carried 134bhp, and 128 on the tq side. Now, with my '90 cabrio having 168 stock from the factory horses, that would be a net difference of 34 horsepower. I didn't say they were a bad engine at all, what I said was, from a performance standpoint, there's no replacement for displacement.

triggrhaapi · 05-15-2006, 02:43 PM

Ok, 150hp with a chip, but what's the problem there? I'm telling you the M42 engine is much much much much much lighter than the M20 engine, makes a very useable amount of power and the car handles beautifully. It's leaps and bounds faster than the E36 318is, which has an extra 500lbs to drag around.

Scotsman · 05-15-2006, 05:54 PM

I wasn't disputing the handling potential of the M42 equiped E36 VS. the M42 equiped E30. Nor was I disputing the fact that the M42 makes decent numbers for the size of the E30, or the fact that it is lighter than the M20 6 cylinder. All of the above are undisputed fact.
The guy was asking for performance "Opinion's". My opinion is what I stated. You can't replace displacement. Stock from the factory, the M20 "I" six cylinder will out number the same car with a stock M42 4 cylinder any time you want to put them on the dyno. His question was "is there much difference." I'd say that 34 horses and torque is "much difference".
You say that with a chip, the M42 can hit 150 horses. OK, I'm with you. BUT.....add a chip to an M20 "I", and it can go from 168 to a conservative 183...still 33 above the M42, for around the same price. Nothing has changed difference wise. Add to that a set of cheap 19lb injectors, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, and a decent exaust, (on either car) and you're going to get better numbers out of the 6 cylinder. Displacement wins again, and it always will unless you start using forced induction on the 4 cylinder...and even then, if you use the same boost on the 6, you're going to get better numbers.
Listen man, I'm not trying to start a pissing contest with you on which engine is better suited for racing or blah blah blah, I was stating my opinion, which is what the guy asked for to begin with.

Red_Rocket · 05-15-2006, 05:59 PM

BUY IT!!!!, you wont regret it no matter what the numbers actually are, or no matter what the opinions of the members here are

sexydylan05 · 05-15-2006, 09:49 PM

the fucker sold it im pissed i guess i should of called him sooner thanks guys if any of you know where i can find a 325IS 89-91 let me know i wnat one so bad!! needs to be in good shape cause i dont have money to fix it up, low miles would be great. thanks again guys