Author Topic: How rare are '90 318is'? Difference b/w '90/'91? (Read 7206 times)

bmuser · « **on:** July 31, 2007, 10:47:09 PM »

Yea so i just found out that my recently acquired 318is is not a 1991 model as i originally thought, but a 1990. March 1990. I read that there were only a few made in '90, and the bulk made in 91. Kinda makes me feel a little special. But seriously, my main question is if there are any differences at all, and preferences, as little as they might be. I just want to know as much as i can about my car, makes me feel better and more secure about it.

Thanks guys.
-Vlad

Shocker · « **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2007, 12:09:27 AM »

Quote from: bmuser;30833

Yea so i just found out that my recently acquired 318is is not a 1991 model as i originally thought, but a 1990. March 1990. I read that there were only a few made in '90, and the bulk made in 91. Kinda makes me feel a little special. But seriously, my main question is if there are any differences at all, and preferences, as little as they might be. I just want to know as much as i can about my car, makes me feel better and more secure about it.

Thanks guys.
-Vlad

What country do you live in? From what I understand 91�s are USA models and 90�s were non USA models?

ose30 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2007, 12:24:21 AM »

M42 E30's were produced between 1989-1992 total of 41234 units. Nothing special on 1990 models. If i undestood correctly 1990 is the most common one, at least in Europe. Look for a 1992 model, that would be a collectors item.

bmuser · « **Reply #3 on:** August 01, 2007, 12:35:22 AM »

im in jersey USA.

Shocker · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2007, 12:47:00 AM »

Quote from: ose30;30838

M42 E30's were produced between 1989-1992 total of 41234 units. Nothing special on 1990 models. If i undestood correctly 1990 is the most common one, at least in Europe. Look for a 1992 model, that would be a collectors item.

1992 is an E36, are you talking about a convert in 92? I think the E30 Convert went to 94???

bmuser · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2007, 12:55:40 AM »

the vert went to '92. the coupe's stopped at 91. the 318 thing pretty much went from 90-92 (MAYBE a few verts rolled over to 93, but only a handlful)

peteM3power · « **Reply #6 on:** August 01, 2007, 09:07:22 AM »

As far as I was aware, the E30 318iS was built from March (or thereabouts) 1990 until November/ December 1991. Mine was built in late 1990 but never registered until some time in 1991. I didn't think that either year was all that much more rare than the other... as far as I thought there were no apparent changes between 1990 - 1991.

Pete

gearheadE30 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 01, 2007, 09:52:16 AM »

I have a '90 US-spec 318 as well, and it must be one of the only in america without central locking... Mine was also a march 1990 car

.

BTW I came close to buying a 1994 e30 325i convertible with a stick. That's proabaly the rarest of them all.

ose30 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 01, 2007, 03:24:11 PM »

Quote

As far as I was aware, the E30 318iS was built from March (or thereabouts) 1990 until November/ December 1991

Not correct. Most likely the first cars were built in 1988 ! Check out this example. This car is for sale in Germany. It is registered January 1989, so most likely it was built in 1988.

http://www.mobile.de/SIDIFUQejapNNvLrErSFznf7A-t-vaNexlCsAsCsK%F3P%F3R~BmSB11Iindex_cgiJ1186003108A1Iindex_cgiD1100CCarX-t-vctpLtt~BmPA1A1B20B16%81r-t-vCaMiMkMoQuRDSeUnVb_X_Y_x_ydcgerdsO~BSRA6D1100A9D3500BisBGND1990CPKWA0HinPublicA2A0A0A0A2NSchaltgetriebeD1985A0/cgi-bin/da.pl?bereich=pkw&sr_qual=GN&top=16&id=11111111269693174&

There are also other 1989 models for sale. I remember 318IS came to the Finnish market back in 1989, when i bought new 325I

Asserti · « **Reply #9 on:** August 02, 2007, 04:41:43 AM »

I have a november '89 built 318is

I've seen a timeline from the models but don't know anymore. I didn't think 318is was built in '88

peteM3power · « **Reply #10 on:** August 02, 2007, 04:41:56 AM »

Quote from: ose30;30883

Not correct. Most likely the first cars were built in 1988 ! Check out this example. This car is for sale in Germany. It is registered January 1989, so most likely it was built in 1988.

http://www.mobile.de/SIDIFUQejapNNvLrErSFznf7A-t-vaNexlCsAsCsK%F3P%F3R~BmSB11Iindex_cgiJ1186003108A1Iindex_cgiD1100CCarX-t-vctpLtt~BmPA1A1B20B16%81r-t-vCaMiMkMoQuRDSeUnVb_X_Y_x_ydcgerdsO~BSRA6D1100A9D3500BisBGND1990CPKWA0HinPublicA2A0A0A0A2NSchaltgetriebeD1985A0/cgi-bin/da.pl?bereich=pkw&sr_qual=GN&top=16&id=11111111269693174&

There are also other 1989 models for sale. I remember 318IS came to the Finnish market back in 1989, when i bought new 325I

Well there you go... possibly those were the years it was built and available to the Australian market then, one of the two... either way the vast majority I'm sure of were built between 90 - 91 inclusive...

Pete

thebigbadyeti · « **Reply #11 on:** August 02, 2007, 05:09:46 AM »

hmm... mine was built dec of 91....

ose30 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 02, 2007, 08:02:14 AM »

Quote

hmm... mine was built dec of 91....

And E36 models were already available, at least in european market.

robin · « **Reply #13 on:** August 02, 2007, 09:04:05 AM »

Quote from: peteM3power;30857

Mine was built in late 1990 but never registered until some time in 1991.

Same here. Mine has a build date of 11/90 but is titled as a '91 model. It was probably sold as a 1991 car, too.

christophbmw · « **Reply #14 on:** August 04, 2007, 02:13:02 PM »

in the US i think the "is" is pretty rare for the '90 model year.