Subject: Re: Need advice on project car.... Author: derekva : member since September, 2004 : 7 posts Posted on: 2004-09-03 16:00:42

I've owned both a 325eS and a 325iS (1986 versus 1990). While the eS was lighter than the iS, I'd take the iS any day. Engine is much more enjoyable and the airbag is nice for reducing your insurance costs. The small 3-spoke wheel was nice, but the 4-spoke airbag wheel has a decent feel as well.

The M3 is probably the ultimate, with the 325iS and 318iS as close second and third, respectively. The M3 and 318 are a little harder to work on as they are dual-cam and more complicated (although the M42 motor in the 318iS is fairly low maintenance as long as the profile gasket has been replaced as they had a >85% failure rate which was very $$$ to fix). The M3 is a lot more expensive to maintain as well.

The first-year iS (1987) is quite nice and is about 100lbs lighter than the later iS models, but does have the fugly bumpers (they were standard until 1989), but the nifty spoiler.

How busted do you want to go? Do you want a car that is in good shape but needs some cosmetic and/or minor mechanical work, or do you want a beater than needs a full rehab?

Good luck with the project, when my daughter is old enough, I hope to do the same with her (she's only 1 now, so I have time to acquire better tools and better skills).

-Derek
'90 325iS (for sale)
'95 318i (new baby-hauler)

• Need advice on project car.... - visionman 2004-08-12 17:30:09 (934 views)
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  • Re: Need advice on project car.... - derekva 2004-09-03 16:00:42 (964 views)
    • U want project car talk to me - bmwfreak 2004-12-15 19:56:30 (824 views)
      • Re: U want project car talk to me - mrbill 2005-01-04 20:02:59 (775 views)
        • Re: U want project car talk to me - bmwfreak 2005-01-05 08:14:07 (814 views)
  • That sounds like a terrific father/daughter project. - DavidC 2004-08-16 00:38:00 (935 views)
    • newest is not necessarily the best - SnakeEyes325is 2004-08-29 23:00:34 (930 views)
      • Oh, and BTW, the rarest E30's are: (nt) - SnakeEyes325is 2004-08-29 23:09:21 (1113 views)
        • stupid enter key, here's the list: - SnakeEyes325is 2004-08-29 23:11:30 (931 views)