Author Topic: E30 M3 and E30 318 comparison (Read 4554 times)

shellback · « **on:** March 28, 2007, 06:24:50 AM »

Hi everyone,
Like everyone here, I really enjoy driving my 318i, to the point I can put my 97 M3/4 away for weeks, and not miss it. Yeah, I know, you�re probably thinking I�ve lost it. But I really get a lot of enjoyment from the 318. The E36 M3 is a blast to drive, but there is something missing on the E36 that the E30 provides; I just love that connection - and feedback the E30 offers.

I�ve never driven an E30 M3. If anyone has, could you chime in and describe the experience? Could you describe it contrasting it to the E30 M42? I would really like to own an M3 but the only thing attracting me right now is the look. Does it handle good? Will I feel or notice an improvement over the 318? Will I loose that �318 feeling� we all love due to the higher performance the S14 generates? Please remember, I�ve never driven in an E30 M3, or even ridden in one, so please bear with me.
Thank you.
Chris

e9nine · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2007, 08:03:38 AM »

Granted opinions are VERY subjective, IMO an e30m3 is the best e30 out there period. I'd say to try see if there are any locals to you with the e30m3 for you to test their cars out.

Picture a more solid m42 that looks 100 times better, handles wonderfully, stops beautifully, performs wonderfully and that was purposely built with one thing in mind (racing) and neutralized somewhat for the street and that's an s14 e30.

I personally think the styling of an e30m3 is better than an m-tech II e30.

All the niceness of an s14 e30 comes at a co$t though

2002maniac · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2007, 01:08:27 PM »

When my cousin got his, I stole the keys and took it for a 3hr drive in the mountains and backroads of the central californian coast. It has most of the period correct mods by Dinan thanks to the original owner.

The driving experience is very similar to that of the 318is only with more power. I wish I could compare stock for stock, but my modd'ed 318is handles better than his M3 with all the dinan suspension goods. I can only guess that the weight makes the difference in this aspect. Our cars are 400lbs apart and it is noticeable.

The M3 is beautiful, but I think it is overhyped. Our 318's have the potential of being better in every way for a minimal investment (compared to the cost of M3 ownership)

Of course, the E36 M3 is very boring to drive so I dont blame you. The E36 is fast, but it is so smooth and soft that it feels slow. I just dont get excited about getting behind the wheel of an E36 (and I've driven several)

e9nine · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2007, 02:01:17 PM »

Obviously it's hard to get a stock-for-stock comparison because that's the only way to assess where each car is.

$ to performance ratio, for the acquisition price of an e30m3 in healthy condition you can build a lethal m42 to probably keep up with or pass an s14 depending on the drivers. But it's not fair as it's a modded car versus a stock car haha.

Overhyped - well that's the same thing the e36 guys say about our e30s

For racing, I am wondering what a full blown race m42 versus an s14 would look like $$ aside. I rode in an race prepped s14 powered m10 and this sucker HAULED :eek:

I don't think any of the stroker m42s on here see heavy competitive track use to see how they stack up against j-stock e30. I choose J-stock due to the relatively stock nature of the racing class.

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2007, 02:57:53 PM »

Well... hmmmm. I have only been in the passenger seat of an E30 M3 once, not in a track situation, so it seemed well, like our cars.

I will say this... weight wise, we are ahead of the E30 M3 --smaller diff, various other suspension parts etc. I love the lightweight feel of the 318is...

sigh, wish I had both....

e9nine · « **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2007, 03:00:54 PM »

Quote from: Febi Guibo;22381

I will say this... weight wise, we are ahead of the E30 M3 --smaller diff, various other suspension parts etc. I love the lightweight feel of the 318is...

sigh, wish I had both....

It has more power to compensate for the weight.
All the smaller items we have are "bad things" for track use but bearable for street use.

Just buy one

jpod999 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 28, 2007, 04:23:18 PM »

Personally I would love to have an E30M3 and my car both. I love the look of both cars, in my mind they are both beautiful. The M3 is a little more racey looking(obviously) so if you are going for a sleeper look...keep the M42.

Why don't you sell the E36 and buy an E30 and then tell us what you think?

scottiesharpe · « **Reply #7 on:** March 28, 2007, 08:14:26 PM »

Well, I have a 91 e30 M3 and a 91 318iC. I can tell you that the main difference between the cars is brakes and engine power. Just kind of what you'd expect.

The brakes on the M3 are very noticable over the smaller brakes on the 318. This is especially noticable because the M3 has much bigger wheels and tires. And the five-lug suspention has a wider stance, which you do notice, probably because the wheels/tires are wider.

However the biggest difference is the motor. There is very little comparison between the M42 and the S14. These 2 motors didn't share the same parents.

The S14 is kind of a mini M88 motor. It is raw. (I can only describe it the way Ferrari's are described in Italian: "nervoso") and noisy (chain and valve noise). And when the S14 revs up into the 6000-7000 range, it produces power in a feirce, raw kind of way.

On the other hand, the M42 is quiet, smooth and hi-reving. It feels more like a Japanese motor than a Bavarian one. (Although this difference is why I have fallen in love with my M42.) The S14 makes monstrous power compared to the M42. The S14 produces more power stock than an M42 can produce with major internal modications.

The M42 does not feel like a 10:1 compression motor, and I really don't know why. Perhaps it has conservative cams?

The M3 only gets about 18 mpg when I am driving it!!! My 318i is probably around 25-30 mpg.

The interior of the M3 has leather sport seats, and I think most 318i came with vinyl.

The trunk lid is much smaller on the M3.

ecpreston · « **Reply #8 on:** March 29, 2007, 11:03:11 AM »

Quote from: e9nine;22355

an e30m3 is the best BMW out there period

Fixed that for you :p

But yes, it is far cheaper to build a 325 or 318 that could keep up with or easily beat up on a stockish M3. And the engine would be far cheaper to maintain. I've only ridden in a track prepped E30M3, and with all the suspension, exhaust, cage, safety stuff, the experience is pretty similar to any prepped E30.

Alpine003 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 29, 2007, 11:06:15 AM »

Quote from: 2002maniac;22370

Of course, the E36 M3 is very boring to drive so I dont blame you. The E36 is fast, but it is so smooth and soft that it feels slow. I just dont get excited about getting behind the wheel of an E36 (and I've driven several)

Couldn't have said it better myself. One of the reasons why I "upgraded" to the e30 318is from my E36 M3/4.

vjlax18 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 10, 2007, 08:51:30 AM »

Quote from: 2002maniac;22370

Of course, the E36 M3 is very boring to drive so I dont blame you. The E36 is fast, but it is so smooth and soft that it feels slow. I just dont get excited about getting behind the wheel of an E36 (and I've driven several)

I've driven every E30/E36/E46 you could imagine and autocrossed them all too. The E30 318is is just a blast to drive. I love driving my 318is just as much as driving my E36 M3... but to make it fun to drive I've replaced everything you can think of and spent a fortune doing so. No matter how much less my 318is weighes, it will never touch the power of my M3 unless I put an S52 in it. My M3 is just as raw as any E30 I've ever driven btw...

D. Clay · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2007, 01:26:12 PM »

The 318is is better looking in my opinion. The M3 flares and deck lid look like the add-ons they are. Objectively speaking you have to know what an M3 is to find it attractive. Outside of it's historical and enthusiast context some examples are quite ricey looking and with a bunch of stripe tape go off the boy racer deep end. This is just my opinion so please don't burn me at the stake with forum flames.
Driving one is perplexing. The 318 you can flog and throw around without hesitation. They're cheap and not unique. The M3 on the other hand has me thinking "What if I wreck it?" Of course if you just don't care they're a blast. Maybe if I owned one....

e9nine · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2007, 02:58:38 PM »

Quote from: D. Clay;23418

The 318is is better looking in my opinion. The M3 flares and deck lid look like the add-ons they are. Objectively speaking you have to know what an M3 is to find it attractive. Outside of it's historical and enthusiast context some examples are quite ricey looking and with a bunch of stripe tape go off the boy racer deep end. This is just my opinion so please don't burn me at the stake with forum flames.

You're lucky I don't live in TX. :p

I LOVE the styling of the m3. I babysat my buddy's Henna m3 for a while and it is a true beauty of art. Comparing it side-by-side against a regular e30 was a nice experience that made me want one even more.

It might have something to do with me being in love with rallying growing up watching Audi Ur Quattros, Lancia Integrales and other cars with protrusive flares.

I can see how the DTM replicas are played out and equivalent to "riced out" categorization. However, it doesn't detract from my liking and I still see the e30m3 as the Bees Knees

Quote

Driving one is perplexing. The 318 you can flog and throw around without hesitation. They're cheap and not unique. The M3 on the other hand has me thinking "What if I wreck it?" Of course if you just don't care they're a blast. Maybe if I owned one....

Agreed and then again, I don't drive 10/10ths in my m42 and I doubt I'd do the same in an e30m3 in an non-competitive environment

RP Kennedy · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2007, 11:56:23 PM »

I owned an 88 E30 M3 from 1995 to 2001. Interesting car. I initially liked the flared fenders and rear spoilers, but grew less thrilled as I matured. I feel it is a "boy racer" car and somewhat overrated. On the street, the lack of low end torque was a bit disheartening, but the car really came alive on the track, though stock 944S2's would leave me behind out of corners. Miss a shift and it is a $100 tow and 3 to 4 grand worth of valve repairs. Did that twice. Evidently, I am a lousy driver. Also I got really tired of 16 year old kids in Mustand GT's blowing my doors off. And yes, I know it's not a drag racing car, but I often fell to temptation. Hope to secure a 318is in the not too distant future and enjoy tweaking it.

Author Topic: E30 M3 and E30 318 comparison (Read 4554 times)

vjlax18

RP Kennedy