Reliability M42b18 Vs M20b25

[I_like_bimmers]

Hello guys, I was wondering about the reliability of 318is with m42, and 325i with m20b25. I know that 325 is more powerful, but 318is is pretty light. So, what is better in maintenance? thanks for your reply's




P.S. like my new avatar :

[Speedy-325is]

the 318 is, and will always be an extremely dependable engine. it is the work horse, and is pretty hard to phase.....its simpler with less working parts, it takes up less space, its easy to work on....and if u chip it, its a pretty fun little engine that can! it also gets better mileage.

the 325.....
werd......dependable if u take care of it, same as above...more pwr, bigger, but still not terribly complicated........and faster.....

[I_like_bimmers]

Lately, I was thinking to get 318is instead of 325i. But the power barrier holds me on 325i. I don't have the money for repairs, but as soon as I start working, I can try to do some repairs. I need a bimmer that would ride right after I bought it and won't need any repairs. I know that's maybe too much for 14-15 year old car, but it's not Ford Escort, right?

[I_like_bimmers]

.....if I'd go with 318is, (I know it's bimmer board, and I don't expect good reply's about it, but...) how would you compare '91-'93 240sx to E30 318is (m42) performance/reliability issues

[All wheels rolling]

I think it really depends upon what you are expecting to get out of the car. The drift craze will put you into a 240 but the classy drift and raw power will be in the bimmer. persoanlly I like both. They both have their individual qualities and serve a different purpose. I'd say for the reliability... go with the BMW. I rolled my 325ix on a snowwy highway lkast year... did some minor body work and the thing is brutally straight now and runs like nothing I've ever had. nothing's buiult better then a BMW. I've been doing all my own work on it lately and because the engines are all hand built in those years the engineers made them very easy to work on and accesable. BMW all the way.

Preston

[I_like_bimmers]

thanks all the cars I went through... bimmer always wins. I guess, I'll go with a bimmer, that's my final decision

[WarNox]

i have aslo wanted to get a bmw for a while now. my first thought was to get a e30 325i for its 170hp and yeah pretty much its power. but then the idea of how much fuel it would waste came to mind and now i will most likely get a 318i, which is not excetly slow but it will use up much less fuel.

and i've been going from different cars but i always came back to an e30, i've considered a GTS skyline, mitsi galant and some other shit like that but yeah nothing compares to a bmw!!! )

[MrM3]

Originally posted by WarNox@Nov 28 2004, 04:49 AM
i have aslo wanted to get a bmw for a while now. my first thought was to get a e30 325i for its 170hp and yeah pretty much its power. but then the idea of how much fuel it would waste came to mind and now i will most likely get a 318i, which is not excetly slow but it will use up much less fuel.

and i've been going from different cars but i always came back to an e30, i've considered a GTS skyline, mitsi galant and some other shit like that but yeah nothing compares to a bmw!!! )

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my family has owned a 87 325is and a 91 318i at the same time, and fuel cost were around the same. the m42 doesnt get that much better gas mileage when you drive conservatively and i think (not positive) that the m42 requires a higher fuel grade were as the m20 can run fine on 87.

[WarNox]

how can a 1.8L car and a 2.5L car have the same mileage, an engine with 6cylinders will waste more fuel than an engine with 4cylinders!?

the 2.5i 6 cylinder is running at 12.8 ltrs per 100 km around town.
It runs on open road at about 6.9 ltrs per 100 kms.

The current 1.8 4 cylinder is running at 10.0 ltrs per 100kms around town
and about 8.0 ltrs per 100kms on open road.

as u can see its 2.8L diff per 100kms.

oh and the m42 engine was used in the 318is and not 318i, the 318i has the m40!

[guywithblack88e30]

Its all about the 1988 325 not 325e the 325 damn straight the SUPER ETA(thunder sounds)

[MrM3]

Originally posted by WarNox@Nov 30 2004, 10:24 PM


oh and the m42 engine was used in the 318is and not 318i, the 318i has the m40!

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your right for the most part; the late 318 cabrios were badged 318i and used M42's. i guess i shouldve posted 318iC instead :wink

also, you cant just compare cylinders when considering gas mileage. there is a big power difference between the M42 and M20, and the 318is and 325is use different gearing. so the M20 is likely to burn a little more fuel when cruising or driving on the highway, where as the m42 will require a little more fuel to be burnt under acceleration.

i have the 325is and my dad had the 318iC, and i was getting better gas mileage with the m20 just due to my driving habits. however i found that when i drove the 318 i was able to get slightly better mileage than i could with the 325.