e36s vs e30s

[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!

[10Toes]

Just get an E46 they are built alot better.

[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.

[Bishop]

First BMW I got to drive was like a '94 325i. Drivetrain was in good shape, but there was some minor body rust, and like people were saying, the interior wasn't exactly tip top... Few weeks later I got to test drive an e30 and loved the little thing... Didn't end up with that one (lowered, semi-modded) so I picked up a stock 4 door (sig)... Test drive of that car was making me smile and laugh out loud. The e36 was a better DD, was softer and more comfortable, but the e30 was more fun to drive.... One day... one day down the line, I'll end up with an e36 track rat maybe... (though I'd much rather build a Subaru track rat)

[tehwickerman]

owned a 328IS for like.... 4 months then dumped it for my 318IS... so much more fun. and the interiors of e36s do suck fucking ass. door panels are a damn nightmare.

[Bimmerman325i]

I ended up selling my E30 because I never drove it. When given the chance, I always picked my M3. It was a no-brainer really. I liked the E30, I just liked the E36 more.

Had my E30 been swapped, I probably would have done the opposite.

[matthugie]

Personally, I loved my e36 M3. As others have said, it was a great DD, fairly comfortable all told and easy to drive. You don't get the same feeling as the e30, but I wouldn't call it close to "numb". I actually liked the steering feel better in the e36. The car was a blast to drive and easy enough to handle daily duties. When pushed, I have never driven a car that was more planted or stable, and on roads I have driven well modded e30's on as well, the e36 was a lot faster and easier to drive. Now, as someone else mentioned, BMW discovered glue and plastic for the e36, and it does suck. I can say though that the only actual problem I ever had with my e36 in the 3 years I drove it were small plastic clips in various areas of the car. I spent a lot of time replacing those little things, and spent the entire time cursing at the car, but at the end of the day I still loved to drive it. The only other thing was the door cards were starting to bubble, but I could live with that for a bit. An Altima took care of the car before I got around to fixing them.

As Bimmerman said, given the choice between a stock(ish) e30 and a stock(ish) e36 m3, it would be a no brainer for me as well.

[jeff_b]

My wife drives a 1998 318i sedan, autotragic, all stock. We bought it third owner, clean Carfax, 94K miles for $5K. One year, $3K, and 10k miles later, after rebuilding one front caliper, replacing the steering rack, oil filter housing gasket, control arms, tires, ICV, PCV, PCV Air/Water hose, spark plugs, coolant flush, it still ran like shit. I drive a 1991 325i coupe autotragic lowered on Racing Dynamics springs, otherwise all stock bought for $2200 in 2004 with 145k miles on it. Six years, $1k and 50k miles later, after replacing the steering rack, control arms, maybe a coolant flush, and a tire occasionally, it just clocked 199k miles today. It runs like a top, but it rattles. I'm afraid to open the hood, so as not to disturb its mojo. The 318i rolls down the highway nice at 90mph, but thankfully I just recently got rid of the shitty little "flutter" in the idle that had progressed to the point of nearly stalling when at red lights. Now I don't want to vomit so much when I drive that four-door piece of shit.

[lennon]

If you have to ask, get an e36. Save the e30s for us.

[b*saint]

havent we done this topic before?

[b*saint]

My wife drives a 1998 318i sedan, autotragic, all stock. We bought it third owner, clean Carfax, 94K miles for $5K. One year, $3K, and 10k miles later, after rebuilding one front caliper, replacing the steering rack, oil filter housing gasket, control arms, tires, ICV, PCV, PCV Air/Water hose, spark plugs, coolant flush, it still ran like shit. I drive a 1991 325i coupe autotragic lowered on Racing Dynamics springs, otherwise all stock bought for $2200 in 2004 with 145k miles on it. Six years, $1k and 50k miles later, after replacing the steering rack, control arms, maybe a coolant flush, and a tire occasionally, it just clocked 199k miles today. It runs like a top, but it rattles. I'm afraid to open the hood, so as not to disturb its mojo. The 318i rolls down the highway nice at 90mph, but thankfully I just recently got rid of the shitty little "flutter" in the idle that had progressed to the point of nearly stalling when at red lights. Now I don't want to vomit so much when I drive that four-door piece of shit.

Its that fucking M44. What did you do to rid it "seeking?"

[e30:)]

i have owned 3 e30s and never have i felt the desire to drive an e36. that sould say something, and im sure every one here has got numerous compliments on there e30 even if its shitty. i dont know, when i see an e36 i think cool, a bmw but when i see an e30 i get exited. some have different oppinions but i would say e30. there easy to work on and fairly cheap, also there very reliable if well maintained.

[Bishop]

...and im sure every one here has got numerous compliments on there e30 even if its shitty...

Some dude in a new-ish Audi S4 (dunno dick about Audi, so can't venture a guess as to year) came up on me quick just cruisin around town, slowed down and rolled next to me for like 1/4 mile, then rolled down his window, gave me the thumbs up, mouthed "really nice BMW," then sped away like a week ago...

[87e30]

I :rofl: at people thinking e30s gain them more respect from the rest of the population.

Get whichever one you like more. Drive them both.

[e30:)]

yeah things like that happen to me all the time. when someone sees a nice e30 drive buy there like " wow look at that old bmw" but an e36 is just so plain jane, to me at least.