fuel economy 318is vs eta

[///m42 sport]

just curious how these two compare.  Anyone have real life experience with etas?

[MikeDE]

Yes, I currently have(soon for sale) an '87 Super eta.  I drive with spirit and am still able to achieve very good economy, period.  Not 'very good economy for a 23yr old vehicle', as Germans are prejudiced against 'old' cars.  City ranges from 9.5-10L/100km, or 23.5-24.7mpg.  Highway, usually cruising from 120-130km/h(75-80mph) I am able to achieve 8.0-8.4L/100km, or 28-29.3mpg.  If I cruised at about 65-70, I could easily get 30+ mpg as many others Eta-owners do.  For a 2.7L, it is quite impressive.  The torque is primarily responsible, as I don't HAVE to rev it over 2500rpm, and it still accelerates with authority.  Hell, it will pull 4th from just over 1000rpm without complaint.  Oh, BTW the previous owner replaced the diff with a
3.25, original was a 2.93 which was better for economy but less exciting.
The touring I just bought is an M40B18, smaller but way less torque so I don't expect a huge improvement(if any) over the Seta.  But an m42/m44 swap is in it's future.

[///m42 sport]

seems like the eta is best the kept secret as far as cheap econocars.

[dvmotorsports]

Mine and my wifes cars have gotten roughly these results;

our M42 powered E30's have gotten roughly 27 city and 36hwy (as high as 42 on ocassion)

the m42 stroker is around 24 city 32-34hwy

E36 M42 got 34-38hwy. Never drove it in the city.

All speeds are approx 65-75 depending on traffic.

[wannam42]

I have an eta too, an 86 es at that (so it's not the super eta). I can confirm what MikeDE said about the 4th gear pull from 1000rpm. The torque on this thing is amazing and I still have the original 2.93 LSD.

Curiously enough, I'm planning to swap in an 09/95 M42 to replace the M20 eta then fit in an LPG kit. Of course, I have to rebuild the M42 first and get me a 3.73 or lower final drive.

[MikeDE]

seems like the eta is best the kept secret as far as cheap econocars.

They hold their value quite well here in Germany, routinely fetching more than ordinary 318/320/325i's.  Excellent examples are quite pricey for an 'old' BMW.  Some even qualify this year as classics, they can be easily brought to the States.  Check out the last few at this link....

http://www.autoscout24.de/ListGN.aspx?vis=1&make=13&model=1644&fregfrom=01%2f01%2f1980+00%3a00%3a00&fregto=12%2f31%2f1990+00%3a00%3a00&pricefrom=1000&powerfrom=81&powerto=110&cy=D&page=1&maxresults=500&results=20&ustate=N,U&um=True&sort=price&zipc=D&tab=price&mmvco=1&mmvmk0=13&mmvmd0=1644

I'm gonna miss my Seta.  I had toyed with the idea of another M20B27 in the Touring, but with the "i" intake mani/TB and leaving it otherwise Seta.

[///m42 sport]

wow, in the US you can get a eta for $500-1000 US.