On my car the badge is there because I removed it and the paint is a different shade beneath so I put it back. it shouldn't have it on it. It is the exact same spec as m325i though save the extra 2 doors. As you can have all that from the factory with the m badge I sleep well at night knowing I havn't committed any heinous bmw crime.
I only put the wiki quote in as it backed up what I was saying. If you want to pretend that BMW didn't make a m325i for the NZ market, a 325i Sport also called a 325im for the UK market and a 325is for the South African market then go ahead. I have seen examples of all of the above in the flesh. This is a common argument NZ Australia, and UK BMW enthusiasts get from those stateside, so I'm used to being harangued, but unfortunately you are wrong.
Read this
320iS was a to get around portuguese / italian tax laws on cars over 2 litres, used an S14, deststroked to 1.995L. Came in a normal E30 shell - but could be optioned with 15" basket weaves / M-tec bodykit / options.., LHD only.
325iS was built to go group N racing in South Africa, against the Opel Superboss. Came in three iterations, the 325iS, which had alloy doors / guards / bonnet, 3.73LSD, full m-tec bodykit, leather or "uberkaro" check cloth, sunroof (option), powersteering, ABS, 5 lug hubs from the E30 M3, E30 M3 brakes, alpina sway bars, 15" BBS et30 BBS basketweave wheels, a mild 2.7 using a forged BMW crank from the E28 524 turbo diesel, alpina pistons and rods, a cam of unknown spec (milder than the alpina 262 degree unit), and modified BMW management using an Alpina chip.
The 325iS Evo came in two batches (known as the Evo 2 and 3 respectively), and had some slight changes compared to the Evo 1. These included a 3.91:1LSD, all alloy panels reverted to steel, a full alpina C2 2.7 motor and management, including the head which featured bigger valves on the exhaust side.
You are correct about the notation (lower case 'S') but it is easier to emphasise by making it upper case. Here is a friends SA, 5-lug, alloy panel, 325is with 2.7l m20:
Specs:
1990 E30 325iS Evo 1
5/1990 build
NZ New
Polaris Silver sticker on the tower, known as "Astral silver" in SA.
Full M3 suspension/wheels and 5 bolt hubs, Alpina roll bars.
Aluminium bonnet, door skins and front wings..
Car weighs 1147 kg with PAS, air con, electric windows.
3.7 LSD, engine is an Alpina C2 2.7 block but with standard 325i cam, 197 bhp.
Leather, OBC, PAS, A/C
270,000km
7er tool kit
Full bootlid liner
I live and breathe e30's all day every day. No life I know, but at least my g/f has finally come around and she too now owns a modified e30.
P.S> I love this game.