Re: 318 is a 4 cyl and the others are the small six. I

Right, to clear this up.

E30s have quite a number of models.
316 - M10 engine, 1.8L, carb'd, only available in prefacelift (although a RARE few where made in facelift shells)
316i - M40 1.6L injection
318i - M40 1.8L injection
318is - M42 1.8L injection. A modern interpretation of an M40, but 16v rather than 8v. Good engine.
320i - M20, Smaller of the 2 six cylinders. Bit of a slow 12v porker.
320is - S14 2.0L 4 pot. 16v. Smaller version of the M3 engine for places like italy and portugal. Rare as......
323i - M20, 6 pot, 2.3L only available really really early on.
325i - M20, bigger six pot. Roughly 171-180bhp when new. 2.5L, best engine.
M3 - 2.3L s14 4 pot.

There where others like the 325i with a 2.7 build for hartge and alpina.

There are haynes manuals for all the models, not just 6 pots.

Only american models had those gash aluminium bumper extensions.

Every manual E30 is 5 speed. The 318is is the M42 engine (most modern engine available) and contains some special goodies like the iS lip, m-tech suspension and sport seats. Considered to be one of the best E30s... but falls just short of a genuine 325i Sport.

Hope that clears some things up.

I'm in the market for 325, Which model is better? - mezzymarv 1973 2002 2009-06-16 11:29:23 (281 views) (1127 thread views)
- Re: I'm in the market for 325, Which model is better? - J. 2009-08-24 02:50:32 (150 views)
- check reggie'smotorworks.com for a nice 1989 - jims 2009-08-06 22:12:03 (185 views)
- 318 is a 4 cyl and the others are the small six. I - Roy in GA 2009-06-16 22:26:54 (258 views)
  - Re: 318 is a 4 cyl and the others are the small six. I - James, F'burg, VA 2009-06-19 10:32:16 (267 views)
    - Re: 318 is a 4 cyl and the others are the small six. I - Nay 2009-08-13 11:30:38 (171 views)
    - Good advice. The '91 m42 and 5 speed I put in my - jims 2009-08-10 20:14:55 (208 views)