e36s vs e30s

[Emre]

I've owned both. I've got my current '91 E30 318is (with an M20 swap done many years ago) and used to have a '99 E36 323is. Both cars were bought brand new from the dealer. I think it's a fair comparison since both cars were the "entry level" models in their respective ranges. There's no point in comparing a $2000 E30 325i with 200K miles on the clock to a $15,000 E36 M3 with 75K miles on the clock: you need to compare like with like.

As others have said, the E30 is a lot simpler and more fun to drive. Overall, the level of quality feels better. I can't comment on how well the E36 ages since I got rid of mine within a year. It was a nice and smooth daily driver. Compared to the E30, it was faster and more stable at high speeds. But it was very boring to drive. I went back to my E30 (glad I didn't sell it!) and never looked back.

Since then, I've owned other cars (including a nicely tuned Lancer Evolution VIII purchased new in 2003). There's something about the E30 that just keeps me interested.

Having driven multiple examples of the E30 M3 and E36 M3, I would say the exact same thing holds for the "top-of-the-line" models in each range.

[b*saint]

Update: CEL back on. Still running......I honestly hate that fucking car.

Im thinking of swapping in an m52. I stopped over m-technik's place and he says you can find them fairly inexpensive now.

[th3blue]

I find my E30 more fun to drive, but I'm glad that I have my E36 for a daily driver.

I've noticed that nobody brought up lap times at various track for E30s vs. E36s... It's my impression that E36s with their superior suspension configuration and better motors will always win.

The E36, it's a better car, but not as fun.

[shiboujin]

What exactly is superior about the suspension in an E36?

[E-Thirty]

vs

[shiboujin]

oooh yay diagrams. that explains EVERYTHING.

[th3blue]

multi-link suspension > trailing arm suspension

[shiboujin]

lol it's still semi trailing arm though.

[E-Thirty]

Better geometry and adjustability.

[shiboujin]

Not by much...

[agent]

If you can get a NICE e30, go for it. Don't buy one that needs a ton of work.

I think this statement is only true if discussing purchasing a DD. I bought an E30 as a second - third if you count my wife's - car that needed (and still needs) plenty of things done to it. I'm just doing what I can as I can afford to, and the satisfaction of bringing it back to some semblance of its former glory is what keeps me motivated.

[E-Thirty]

Not by much...

Actually, quite a bit in comparison. And please explain how it's still a semi-trailing arm?

[shiboujin]

part #5 is the trailing arm. spring sits in it. doesn't give near macpherson strut efficiency. As far as I'm concerned, the only diff between that and an E30 rear end is that they separated the trailing arm into 2 parts and changed it's attachment point on the subframe.

You still get dynamic toe/camber. Not AS bad on the toe part. You gain easy adjustability but that's about it. Not worth it imo.

[rammstein]

E30s are like skinny chicks. Swap the engine, and they are like skinny chicks with big boobs.

[Lurker27]

And you can add adjustability to the E30. Some dynamic camber and toe gain is good anyway, if you live on the right part of the curve. People blame the E30 geometry when they break the camber/toe curves by lowering it, then don't fix it (<$200, might I add).