A lightweight daily driver

Since that amazing second coming, Kivanc has put some 6,000 miles on his 318is.

“I use the car for commuting,” he says, explaining that he makes a seventy-mile round trip daily. The E30 hasn’t let him down yet, though he preventively replaced the water pump and timing chain to keep the little M42 four-cylinder running like a dream.

That ease of upkeep was why he wanted an M42 over any other motor, especially a high-maintenance M-spec S14 or even an M20 six-cylinder, which uses a timing belt instead of a chain and thus demands replacement of that part every 50,000 miles.

He didn’t want a show car, either, though the car he got is pretty darn close.

Aslaner’s E30 really does look like new, and I remember what these looked like when they actually were. The interior is pristine—not a rip in the leather, not a crack on the dash. Even the steering wheel feels like he’s been driving with velvet gloves. The switches and buttons still have that “clicky” feel, like they’re fresh from the factory.

It’s obviously a quality piece of engineering, and it should be considering that BMW charged a hefty $21,500 for this pocket rocket back in 1991. (Munich was never known for economy pricing.) That said, you got quite a lot of fun for your money, especially if you prefer light weight and nimble handling above all else.

At just 2,602 lbs., the 318is undercut the 325is by 242 lbs. and the E30 M3 by 263. That weight advantage makes up for a lot of horses, and it’s even more beneficial to handling. Plenty of the savings takes place at the front axle, where 318is carries 1,405 lbs. versus the 325is’ 1,507 lbs., and that endows the 318is with relatively neutral handling where the 325 is characterized by understeer.

Along with the rev-happy M42 engine, which hits its peak at 6,000 rpm, it makes for an amazingly fun-to-drive package, an agile little road racer that has understatement written all over it.