What is better...e36 318 or 320

[m_power 0]

not that i am in the market for a e36 right now...but i was just woundering which one goes better...the 318 or the 320...or 318is.

[E30stz 0]

well they all have there pros and cons but personally I'd go for the 318iS M42.

.. probably an idea not to go with a 318 prior to 1995 as they have hte M40 engines which are older technology that was used from 1988.

.. the 320's are known to guzzle a bit with the E30's I'm not sure whether that is reflected in the M50B20 in the 320i.

Maybe the following information would help.

Model - Engine Number - Cylinders - Horsepower - Top speed - Year range. (note hte year range is variable with other countries and is not necessarly reflected in NZ market).

316i M40 4 cylinder 100 HP 191 km/h 1990 - 1993

316i M43 4 cylinder 102 HP 195 km/h 1993 - 1998

318i M40 4 cylinder 113 HP 198 km/h 1990 - 1993

318i M43 4 cylinder 115 HP 201 km/h 1993 - 1998

318is M44 4 cylinder 140 HP 213 km/h 1996 - 1998

320i M50 6 cylinder 150 HP 214 km/h 1990 - 1998

323i M52 6 cylinder 170 HP 231 km/h 1996 - 1998

325i M50 6 cylinder 192 HP 233 km/h 1990 - 1994

328i M52 6 cylinder 193 HP 236 km/h 1994 - 1998

[cainchapman 0]

The 318iS, hands down.

Asking about whether the 318 or 320 motors are better is like asking if you'd prefer to sleep with Ruth Richardson or Helen Clark

[Docile 64]

The 318iS, hands down.

Asking about whether the 318 or 320 motors are better is like asking if you'd prefer to sleep with Ruth Richardson or Helen Clark

PHAHA !!!

[m_power 0]

PHAHA !!!

ok thanks...but what does the e36 320 go like compared to a e30 320?

[E30stz 0]

The E30 320's are 129 horsepower whereas teh E36's are 150 horsepower so you'll have a bit more push. The E36's are the M50 vanos engine which are good engines I'm told.

Go out and test drive a couple, it never hurts. Its good to get a gauge of what condition should be expected with BMW's as there are alot of crappers that have been imported and sold off cheap and fewer nice ones about these days.

As Cain said, the 318iS soudns like a good option, tis a fair bit lighter with a smaller engine than the 320i.

In saying that you'll probably get no better fuel economy when buying a 320 over a say 323 or 325 so keep your mind open to more powerful options as they're not that much more expensive.

[cainchapman 0]

OK, the 318iS has better performance and is a better balanced car. But it needs to be flogged to get it moving and struggles to pass wind.

I'd look at the torque figures rather than the horsepower.

A good E30 318iS is a much better buy, but they are like rocking horse sh*t.

[Docile 64]

well ive driven both a 320i e30 and own a e36 320i..

what can i say... e30 is much lighter and nible than the e36. but lacks the interior comfort the e36 gives..

personally i would go for the e36, it feels more stable and safer than an e30 especially in the motorway. ( i know some e30 members might think otherwise though).

[Yuen 16]

well ive driven both a 320i e30 and own a e36 320i..

what can i say... e30 is much lighter and nible than the e36. but lacks the interior comfort the e36 gives..

personally i would go for the e36, it feels more stable and safer than an e30 especially in the motorway. ( i know some e30 members might think otherwise though).

I drive a Helen Clark I would test drive the E30 318/320 and E36 318/320 and choose from those. IMO, E36 320 is not a good buy, if you really want a 6 cylinder E36, go for at least a 325. Preferably 328 or M3. I've sat in E36 325s and the butt dyno feels much difference.

Btw, my 320 is a 1992 non-VANOS. Later M52 320s had VANOS.

[m_power 0]

iv heard from a couple of people that the 320 e36 doesnt have enough power...because of its weight...i would love a 328 but how are they on gas?

[Jammasterjames 0]

iv heard from a couple of people that the 320 e36 doesnt have enough power...because of its weight...i would love a 328 but how are they on gas?

320i E36 Vanos:

Take out tha rear seats, unnessecary interior, and put a "NO FAT CHICKS ALLOWED" sign on tha window, plant your gas foot to tha ground at all times and she'll run like a black man on fire......

....well it feels like you're going fast anyways....

[Docile 64]

OH man ur a crack up G LOL !!...

a 325i consums just about the same as a 320i.. but has more horsepower.. 40 more horsepower to be exact...

just dont leave your lead foot planted on the gas pedal too long haha

[m_power 0]

OH man ur a crack up G LOL !!...

a 325i consums just about the same as a 320i.. but has more horsepower.. 40 more horsepower to be exact...

just dont leave your lead foot planted on the gas pedal too long haha

yeh my foot is made of lead...haha...but i still like having power there when u need it...(phia roads)...but being stuck with a 316 i surpose my foot is always planted

[318isCoupe 0]

I have an E36 318iS and have driven an E36 318i Sedan, 320i Coupes, 323i Vanos Convertible and 328i Vanos Coupe.

The 328 will actually push you into your seat off the line. I can only compare it to the feeling of driving a 2L turbo when you hit boost.

The 323 doesn't really get moving until you're above 3500-4000rpm.

The 320 had crappy response and didn't feel like it had any guts at all, probably a little quicker off the line than a 318iS, But not by much. And the 318iS will catch it by the time you've got to 30k. The Vanos one didn't do a whole lot better.

The 318i Sedan was more responsive than the 320 Coupe and FELT faster, although it wasn't.

The 318iS feels like driving something sporty. Which I didn't feel in anything other than the 328i, it has good throttle response, feels lighter and more nimble, doesn't really move until you're above 40k/4500rpm but once its there it goes alright.

My choice between an E36 320i and a 318i would be the 320.

But I'd pick a 318iS with a handful of m-sport options and decent brakes and suspension anyday. The M-Sport suspension option is pretty decent, sits nice and flat through the corners and has about a 30mm drop over standard. I'd pick the 1.8l M42 over the later 1.9L M44 also.

There's a few around on trademe for around the 10k mark with around 100,000km. Even a couple of manual ones about.

Thats just my opinion.

If I could have a 328 coupe that looked and handled like my 318iS, I'd get it in an instant. felt so nice to drive. The one I drove had brembo's and 18" bbs wheels and an m3 bumper etc.

Guess I needa drive an M3..

Edited November 14, 2006 by 318isCoupe

[m_power 0]

I have an E36 318iS and have driven an E36 318i Sedan, 320i Coupes, 323i Vanos Convertible and 328i Vanos Coupe.

The 328 will actually push you into your seat off the line. I can only compare it to the feeling of driving a 2L turbo when you hit boost.

The 323 doesn't really get moving until you're above 3500-4000rpm.

The 320 had crappy response and didn't feel like it had any guts at all, probably a little quicker off the line than a 318iS, But not by much. And the 318iS will catch it by the time you've got to 30k. The Vanos one didn't do a whole lot better.

The 318i Sedan was more responsive than the 320 Coupe and FELT faster, although it wasn't.

The 318iS feels like driving something sporty. Which I didn't feel in anything other than the 328i, it has good throttle response, feels lighter and more nimble, doesn't really move until you're above 40k/4500rpm but once its there it goes alright.

My choice between an E36 320i and a 318i would be the 320.

But I'd pick a 318iS with a handful of m-sport options and decent brakes and suspension anyday. The M-Sport suspension option is pretty decent, sits nice and flat through the corners and has about a 30mm drop over standard. I'd pick the 1.8l M42 over the later 1.9L M44 also.

There's a few around on trademe for around the 10k mark with around 100,000km. Even a couple of manual ones about.

Thats just my opinion.

If I could have a 328 coupe that looked and handled like my 318iS, I'd get it in an instant. felt so nice to drive. The one I drove had brembo's and 18" bbs wheels and an m3 bumper etc.

Guess I needa drive an M3..

yeh sounds like the 328 would be the car for me-or 325...just means i will be saving for longer, would love a manual 328 but way to much for me...haha

[Docile 64]

dont rush into buying a car man.. if you can save up a bit longer say 2 or so months.. im guessing you can probably get to save up for a 325i or 328i .... and maybe along that time someone might need to sell their 325i or 328i in a hurry. (HAGGLE TIME!!) ive seen e36 325i in a fair condition for about 8kish.. 328i for about 8 - 10kish..

[Turning_Point 0]

dont get a m40 318i if your looking for performance..or anything related to speed hahaha.

mind you..it DOES go up hills, so its not the worst car haha.

[330itis 15]

I drive a 96 318IS with the m44 1.9L motor

I have two of these at the moment but one seems to go ALOT fater then the other. (no idea why) the fast one is curently for dale by the way..

The 318IS is defenetly the way to go but only if Its the 1.9L

I cain 320s and 318s in my green IS wich is the slower one. I havent had a single one beat me yet. I even kept up with a 325 once but they had 5 people in the car.

But yeah your right you do have to keep the revs up atleast above 3500 rpm

and slush box or no slush box I reckon its an awesome car. just press the brake and the gas at the same time when you wana take off hehe

and also they are easier to work on as you have a little bit more room

in short GO THE 318IS M44!!!!

[lidistick 70]

I have a 328i and the economy is not bad on a highway but terrible for city driving.

I get 9L/100kms highway and 13.5L/100kms city.

But overtaking cars is piss easy. push the sport button and floor it. its a slushy but it does the job and did quite well at Taupo. There are 328i's on Trademe for under $10K. you'd have to look hard tho and some may require work to bring it up to standard.

My car is for sale but not for under $10K

Cheers.