e36s vs e30s

[quickervicar]

It doesn't take many readings of Tech Q&A in Bimmer magazine for one to pick up on the fact that Mike Miller is not impressed with the E36. Most of his griping has to do with the fact that everything made out of plastic on the E36 seems to fail (and everything seems to be made of plastic) much faster than something that worked just fine on the previous generations. That being said, my first experience with a BMW was driving a 328i. My mind was suddenly opened to the concept of chassis balance and throttle-steering. They are a nice, nice car to drive. Just don't touch anything or it could break off in your hand.

[10Toes]

Just get an E46 they are built alot better.

[quickervicar]

E36's are the Stephen Baldwin of the 3 series family. They barely hold everything together and they only sold a lot because of the popularity of their older sibling.

That is brilliant!

[briansjacobs]

I will preface with I love my E30, but for a daily driver I think I would rather have an E36. . Something about having a great AC and comfortable seats and and all the other things that make the E36 numb and boring in comparison to an E30. It is also easier to find an E36 in good condition than an E30 that is gaining cult status and getting harder and harder to find.
with that said:

To me the E30 is the nasty little slut everyone wants to fuck and nobody wants to talk about, where the E36 is the pretty girl that is lousy in bed, but you still want to hit and tell everyone. Just remember after you marry the pretty girl you will be thinking about the dirty little slut that we call the E30.

[10Toes]

E36=Fail

[Bimmerman325i]

I've had both (see sig). I like the E36 better as a daily driver, but the e30 has far more character. Post graduation I'm getting back in an E30. It's a more solid and complete car. The E36 is faster but with a more clinical and detached feel.

There are plusses and minuses to both cars.

[BillBrasky]

E36's are the Stephen Baldwin of the 3 series family. They barely hold everything together and they only sold a lot because of the popularity of their older sibling.

[xwill112x]

e30's are much more fun to drive than a e36. the e30 is a wild, agile, and potent beast, while as the e36 is a tame, docile, dead broke horse. if you just want to tur the key and go, get a e36. if you want fun, and endless smiles, then go with a e30.

[Jonny Cash]

Alot of people say the the e36 is a better car. But these are people who dont want what I love about a car.

Drive both cars hard, balls out. Step back, take a good look at both cars. Open both hoods, (youll see that one opens properly)... We wont even bring up the interiors..

Its a no brainer really. I dont care about superior e36 suspension. If you can drive that stuff doesent matter.

[BmveE30ftw]

haha i agree with that ^^

[SlapDash]

Plus, E30s look cooler, less streamlined...

[Jand3rson]

My sig says it all.

[Hartge_H27]

the e30 is a better CAR. i will agree the M20 is a weak motor. The best thing to do is get a solid E30 and do a 24v swap. Done. best 3 series u can have.

[llll1l1ll]

I feel in some ways the top end of the E36 motors are more reliable as the cam and valves are the weakpoint in the E30 M20 engines.

[asubimmer]

e36's have better motors and suspension although their interiors FALL appart. The germans discovered glue around the e36 era and decided to field test it on the 3. Unfortunately it was a miserable failure.