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MattB106 
Senior Member II
Joined: 04-April-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 233
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 Topic: E30 320IS???
Posted: 25-April-2004 at 21:43 |
I'm sure there is a search facility i should be using, but i'm a combination of too tired & too stupid to find it!
Can anyone give me any info on the E30 320IS? A friend was telling me abot it and it basically sounds like a LHD 325 sport with an M3 engine? Sounds like a fantastic idea to me!
What sort of price do these cars go for in good to excellent condition? Are they easy to get hold of? What is isnurance like with it being imporated AND LHD?
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MattB
E36 328i Sport in silver
www.fotki.com/mattb106
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kbannon
Admin Group
E39 525i Sport Individual
Joined: 09-October-2002
Location: 64 Zoo Lane
Status: Offline
Points: 15508
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Posted: 25-April-2004 at 22:26 |
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Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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kevin
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Joined: 29-November-2002
Location: Camberley, Surrey
Status: Offline
Points: 3189
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Posted: 25-April-2004 at 22:28 |
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Matt, these are a nice motor and will be much cheaper to insure than an M3.
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Kevin
'04 E46 330Ci Convertible
'08 E61 535d Touring (TorqueMeister Towbarge)
’95 E34 M5
’89 E30 M3 (Cecotto)
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BMG M3
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 26-April-2003
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Posted: 25-April-2004 at 22:38 |
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www.320is.co.uk or German Cars in Kings Lyn as it's known, probably buys and sells most of these in the UK.
The engine is a 2.0 L version of the M3 engine due to the tax laws in Italy for cars over 2.0 L.
Plenty of people insure LHD M3's in the UK easily enough, so this shouldn't be any different .
Most seem to be priced between 2.5K - 5K
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m3Cecotto
Bavarian-Board Forum Sponsor
Joined: 29-September-2003
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
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Posted: 26-April-2004 at 09:50 |
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I'm in sunny Gemona (it is actually sunny just now, not like three weeks ago when it was sunny home in Glasgow and snowing here!) just now for a week on business. I'm keeping my eyes open and I'll let you all know if I find any.
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215m3
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 10-May-2003
Location: Bathgate
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Points: 2118
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Posted: 26-April-2004 at 10:13 |
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They also use the same steering rack as the M3 to give an edge on the 325i sport on where you point it.
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Jonners
Really Senior Member II
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Posted: 26-April-2004 at 11:15 |
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Frizzell (Liverpool and Victoria) told me they'd insure one for the same as a 320i
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MattB106
Senior Member II
Joined: 04-April-2004
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: 26-April-2004 at 21:17 |
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Thanks guys. Lots of help as usual. One day i will be on here to say i've actually bought a BMW! LOL
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MattB
E36 328i Sport in silver
www.fotki.com/mattb106
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Eamo
Moderator Group
Joined: 13-May-2003
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Posted: 26-April-2004 at 21:19 |
 215m3 wrote:
They also use the same steering rack as the M3 to give an edge on the 325i sport on where you point it. |
Im not doubting you but are you sure about that??
please dont take offence
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MattB106
Senior Member II
Joined: 04-April-2004
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: 26-April-2004 at 22:59 |
According to the M-registry:
What kind of steering does the E30 320is have?
Like the E30 M3, the E30 320is has a power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system with an overall ratio of 19.6:1.
How is the M3's steering different from that of a standard 3 Series?
Like all E30 3 Series, the E30 M3 has a power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system, but the overall ratio has been reduced to 19.6:1.
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MattB
E36 328i Sport in silver
www.fotki.com/mattb106
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215m3
Really Senior Member II
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Posted: 26-April-2004 at 23:11 |
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Matt cheers for confirming this info. I Knew it had the same steering, just could not remember where i got it from. The 320is only came in LHD, thae same as the M3 hence the same steering rack.
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Mark R
Really Senior Member I
Wimborne, Dorset
Joined: 24-February-2003
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Posted: 26-April-2004 at 23:36 |
I'm 99% certain the 320iS has a 'normal' rack ie same as the 316-325 rack, in LHD form. Thats what the ETK says anyway... Although i can't see why the M3 rack isn't used 
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Mark Roberts 
E30 318iS
Wessex Region Secretary
E30 Registrar & committee member
Someone left a note on my windscreen. It read 'Parking Fine' that was nice
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keego1ie
Groupie
Joined: 27-April-2004
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 77
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Posted: 27-April-2004 at 00:20 |
hi
the 320is was made for the itailian market as a subtitute for the e30 m3 which was subject to hgh taxes as it was over 2000cc how this helps and i got this info years ago but i thinks its spot on
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keego
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MattB106
Senior Member II
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Posted: 27-April-2004 at 08:47 |
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Just reading that the engien has a shorter strok eot reduce it's capacity down to 2L. How does this the characteristics of the engine over the 'normal' M3?
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MattB
E36 328i Sport in silver
www.fotki.com/mattb106
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Eamo
Moderator Group
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Posted: 27-April-2004 at 09:51 |
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so the etk says it is a normal rack but the bmwmregistry website says its the same. anyone know 100% sure???
its just that a rack from a 320is has come my way very cheap and I was thinking of buying it as a spare for my m3!!!
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215m3
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Posted: 27-April-2004 at 09:53 |
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What about a phone call to German Cars, maybe they would know?
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Eamo
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Posted: 27-April-2004 at 09:56 |
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so whos up for calling them - I cant really as Im in Eire!
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215m3
Really Senior Member II
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Posted: 27-April-2004 at 11:03 |
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Eamo
Called German Cars, but this is not conclusive evidence. The chap i spoke with has a 320is as a track car and says he fells the steering is not disimilar to the M3 and has driven both the 325i sport and M3 for comparison. The engine, gearbox, manifold and diff are as the M3, diff is of E3 spec.
The brakes, suspension etc are as the 325i sport.
More confused or not?
HTH
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Eamo
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Posted: 27-April-2004 at 13:00 |
215m3 wrote:
Eamo
Called German Cars, but this is not conclusive evidence. The chap i spoke with has a 320is as a track car and says he fells the steering is not disimilar to the M3 and has driven both the 325i sport and M3 for comparison. The engine, gearbox, manifold and diff are as the M3, diff is of E3 spec.
The brakes, suspension etc are as the 325i sport.
More confused or not?
HTH |
thanks v much for that  - but still confused - I might take a chance.
if anyone else can confirm it then great.
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m3Cecotto
Bavarian-Board Forum Sponsor
Joined: 29-September-2003
Location: Scotland
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Posted: 27-April-2004 at 15:02 |
I'd hazard a guess that the ETK is more likely to be correct than the bloke at German cars "feelinng that the steering is not dissimilar to the M3." :-)
I foresee a career in Holyrood for you, Toby.
"There is no conclusive proof of a significant improvement in the Scottish economy this quarter, but a man I met on the train says he feels as though he might have a wee bit more money to spend, but maybe not."
:-)
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E30 320IS???