What's the Best E30 BMW? Why We Think it's the 318is and not the M3.

What’s the best E30 BMW? Tim Suddard, Publisher Emeritus, has had a few, and he discusses why he feels the 318is is a better option than the M3.
#bmw #e30bmw #bmw318s #bmwm3 #ClassicMotorsports
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Host: Tim Suddard, Publisher Emeritus
Video by: Chris Tropea, Associate Editor
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[robertlevasseur]

I owned a 318is which I bought new in 1991 and kept until it was rear-ended and totaled in 1999. The car was brillant. We used it for touring and it handled like nothing else I have ever driven. Its composure on twisty country roads was remarkable, it felt so nimble and balanced. I have since owned cars with three times the power, but nothing has handled better than that little car. My wife and I still miss it to this day.

[svillagrasa]

I love mine! I've had it since 2006 and it's at 409, 000 miles now. Still a joy to drive and probably the cheapest to run of all the cars I've owned.

[kamilkazmierczak]

3:38 No Sir. E30 has a timeless style that will never get old. New models of bmw have no style.

[danmeifert]

I have had a '91 318is for 15 years. While it has been the most reliable car that I have owned rubber boots & hoses are old, at the end of their service life. Your sentiment has been echoed by others who owned the M3 at the same time as a 318is & found it easier to drive daily. What a shame that the M3 is so valuable now, they are one of the coolest ever.

[crashyyy]

These are the reasons why I (as a member of the younger generation of car enthusiasts) love the 135i. Sure it's not E30 light, but in a sea of heavy, heavy cars, the platform offers the short wheel base, interior, modern safety, incredible handling and wonderful hydraulic power steering (trust me, I have an Elise), and a host of factory configurations (NA, turbo, DCT, 6spd manual, iDrive/no iDrive, sunroof/slicktop) for whatever your use/modification case may be. It's the first generation of BMWs to have double wishbone rear suspension instead of semi-trailing arms (which as the E30 proves is not a dealbreaker, but it's nice to have) and the last to have hydraulic power steering. It keeps the signature BMW interior glow and speedo/tach layout, physical HVAC controls all while retaining its modern luxuries like bluetooth music, usable navigation, etc. It's a do-it-all chassis that takes little modification to be breathing down the necks of it's bigger M brothers like the E92 M3 and the 1M (while being smaller and lighter than the E46 M3 -- about the length and WB of an E30). And you can still work on it yourself, unlike the G chassis monstrosities!

(I have Ground Control camber plates on my 135i)

[joeleonard]

Bought mine for 8k 3 years ago. Completely restored it to stock, m-tech suspension and all. Such a joy to take on high speed corners and keeps up with way more powerful cars. I cook the brakes quickly but I need to brake less as the back kicks out and you have even more fun.

[stevec]

I agree 💯 about this E30. To me it was one of the best. Had a friend back in the day that bought one new and I always admired it. Wish BMW still made something like this today.

[siegfriedbarfuss]

best 3 series ever made - totally agree - the steering is so precise and without power steering most fun!

[gndesign]

I love the E30 models! I wish I had the money and the space for one.

[souzabaptista]

I had an E30 325i 1989 with full package from the factory. I mean all of the options available at the time. I just loved the car, very well built, very good on the road, confortable and beautiful. But the electronics aways had complications and the mecanics were I live (Brazil) don't have pacience to work on this cars. That car leaked all the time and no mather how much OEM/genuine parts I bought, the car was never free of problems. So I sold the car in 2018. If this car was a simpler car, maybe it would still in my garage to this day.

[benpullicino]

I've owned 3 e30s, the 318iS, a 325iS and a C2 2.5. For a daily drive to live with everyday the 325iS was by far the best. The 318iS was a great city car but for smiles on the dial the Alpina takes the chocolates.

[JefeBoss]

The 318iS is awesome but the best E30 is clearly the 320iS, which was a downtuned version of the M3 engine for the Portuguese and Italian markets due to their tax system at the time being based on displacement. Lighter and more discrete than the M3 and considerably more powerful, with better brakes and suspension than the 318iS.

[popcorny]

Contrary to what some think, I found this a great feature and shout-out. Thanks for the video.
Having owned the m3 version, 325, 318 etc. I personally think the 318 is decent. You can go on and on AND ON about the m3 but in the end, you can't ignore the value and realistic take on what you're getting for the money. m3 I bought more than 6 years ago and I still thought it was expensive for what it is, not to mention how stupid the price is today. There are plenty of great classics out there which also have context.. but most of the time people choose hype because they simply can't acknowledge their subconscious insecurities. Once you have handled, owned, maintained enough classics, both performance or otherwise.. you'd realise the e30 m3 is no big deal and definitely not worth its price tag. Especially when compared to other similarly driving-related, life-changing experiences you could have at the price bracket.
I sincerely hope the 318 remains at a low price point so that people who are open-minded enough will always be rewarded.

[dontbekurt]

I have a white 1991 E30 31oi. I agree with everything presented here. :)

[shehandesilva]

Had an E30 325i that I bought for 2 grand, sold it for 4x that amount with 300k miles on it and still solid as ever. As the video states these cars are so USABLE, the value just isn't there at $25k for a M42 car. If you can find an honest car for under $10k it's a sweetheart of a car you can build many memories with. At the ridiculous prices "clean" E30s go for these days there are just way too many other cars you could buy for the money that are objectively better vehicles that you could actually use and not feel bad about doing so. Apples and elephants, but once you're in E46 or E9X M3 territory it makes no sense. Best car I ever had, but at today's prices - no thanks!

[kairikkola]

E30 is the face of the BMW. I've had 3 of those, now only E36 318is coupe and Z3. For sunday drives. Last good ones.

[kushpaladin]

dang, that's a shame the m42 only came on late model 318's. i prefer the early model so i'll have to make due with the m10 until swap time

[sickssix]

E30i BMW, when they still made great cars, before the bean counters took over and the engineers were relegated to the back seat.

[janisshmagris]

My first BMW was 318iS, I bought it for aprox. 700€, and after a season, I bought 16 inch BBS (originals), for around 100€, but in that time, I didn't cnow, that 318iS special model, and BBS mesh wheels was totally not in "wibe", that time. After my bosses "propaganda", that I need something newer, I sold it and bought Calibra 🫣. I miss that car, really.

[POVShotgun]

30k usd for a 318is e30? what the fuck happened??