Re: When does the "s" stand for "sport"?

[SMILLER@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Wesleyan asks what "is" means:

>Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 21:55:49 -0500
>From: "Wesleyan Hsu" <wes@domain.elided>
>Subject: Re: Wheel fitment
<snip>
>Forgive my ignorance, but I thought a 325is has a sports suspension.
>Doesn't the 's' signify a sports suspension? Or do you mean you don't
>have a 'M' suspension? 
<snip some more>
>Thanks,
>
>Wesleyan Hsu
>'95 325i
>BMW CAA 162477 / NCC

This gets kind of confusing, and what better place to clear up confusion
than on the Digest, right?  Right?  Anyone?  OK, never mind, here goes:

The first use of "s" vs. non-"s" I can think of is with the 2 liter coupe in
the mid-'60s.  There was a 2000C and a 2000CS, where the CS had 2
carbeurators vs. one on the C (and maybe other differences).  But that
goes too far back, let's start in the mid-'70s.  I'm doing this from memory,
and a few minor details may not be quite correct, so forgive me.  All of
my comments apply to U.S. models, which may or may not be the same
as the models sold in other markets, caveat emptor, YMMV, etc.
 
The E21 320is was a (1978 through 1983) 320i with a slightly stiffer
suspension, sport seats, limited slip and a front air dam (kind of an ugly
thing, the air dam, that is).  It also had a rear anti-sway bar.  The rear bar
was standard on the 1977 320i, but dropped from the 320i from 1978-on.

The E30 325es was a 2 door 325e with slightly stiffer suspension
(including Bilstein HD shocks), bigger rear anti-sway bar, sport seats,
limited slip, front air dam, rear spoiler and a few other details.  Consistent
so far.

The E28 535is was a 535i with slightly stiffer suspension (don't know
about the sway bars), sport seats, front air dam and rear spoiler.  It is
also commonly thought that it came with limited slip, and most did, but
some didn't.  Nearly consistent, but not quite.

Now it gets a bit more confusing.  The E30 325is was originally a 2 door
325i with slightly stiffer suspension (bigger rear anti-sway bar in 1987
but not 1988, don't know about the other years; Bilstein HD shocks in
1987 but changed to Boge in 1988), sport seats, limited slip, front air
dam, rear spoiler, BBS wheels and a few other details.  That applied
from 1987 to 1990.  In 1991, they dropped the 325is, but made a "sport
package" with the same equipment available on both the 2 door and the 4
door 325i.  

Also in 1991, the E30 318 was re-introduced:  The 318i was a 4 door;
the 318is was a 2 door with slightly stiffer suspension (don't know about
sway bars or shocks), sport seats, front air dam, rear spoiler, BBS
wheels and a few other details.  I'm not sure whether limited slip was
standard or optional on the 318is.  There was no U.S. 318i 2 door, and
there was no 318is 4 door.

Then came the E36 cars, and things changed again.  The 318i and 325i
are 4 door cars.  The 318is and 325is are 2 door cars.  There are slight
differences in the suspensions between these models, but none had a
stock "sport" suspension.  The Sport Package became an option, same
as the 1991 E30 325i.  The Sport Package, with slightly stiffer
suspension (don't know about sway bars), sport seats and
basketweave wheels (15x7, same size as the 325i/325is stock wheels
but different style) and wider tires (225/55 vs. 205/60) was available on
all 318i/is and 325i/is versions.  Limited slip was an option, not part of the
package.  Later (1996?), the Sport Package wheel was changed from
15x7 to 16x7 (I think it was 7 inches wide), and the tires went to
225/50-16 (I think).

My understanding is that the E46 3 series will be done the same as the
E36, where the 2 door will (when it arrives) be called an "is", but the
Sport Package is a separate option on both 2 door and 4 door cars.

So, Wesleyan, your confusion is justified.  BMW has not been consistent
on what the "s" means.  To answer your question more directly, your
E36 325is may or may not have a sport suspension, and if it has the
sport suspension, it was part of the optional Sport Package, not stock on
all 325is's.

Sorry if this was more than you wanted to know, but it needed to be
cleared up.  (Huh?)

Scott Miller
Golden Gate Chapter
BMW CCA #44977
1990 325i/is hybrid (don't ask)

------------------------------