convince me into (or out of) an e36

[vespam5]

I'm in the same situation right now...I'm considering a well sorted and nicely upgraded 95 m3 to replace my 318is e30 In my book:

e36 Pluses:
Faster
effortless
comfort
noise
m50/s50 engines are great when maintained
A/C probably works well
better audio possibilities
Looks good, to me e36 are about the last true BMWs

e30 pluses:
Simplicity
Classic looks
solid electronics
lighter
m42 gas mileage++
4x100 has lots of wheel options

[Ryan...]

I
Looks good, to me e36 are about the last true BMWs

I'm guessing you forgot about these?

[dirtysix]

I've owned 3 e36s: a 98 328is, 98 M3, and 95 M3. I'll never own another e36.

Its not that they're bad cars, but I've never owned a more finicky vehicle in my life. I had issues with windows, heaters, seats, lights, anything electrical.. Cooling systems are good as long as they are maintained properly, I would replace EVERYTHING when/if you buy one.

Agree. And the later (updated) ones seem to be worse for electrical gremlins.
PITA.

[blackhawkimpact]

Only e36 I'd be willing to get instead of an e30 is an e36 M3

[Ryan...]

Only e36 I'd be willing to get instead of an e30 is an e36 M3

If you have big expectations for the e36 M3, you'll surely be disappointed in it. My old 328is with conforti intake, shark sofware, remus exhaust and fresh OE suspension felt much better than either of my stock M3s.

[blackhawkimpact]

^Interesting. But I'd still only get an e36 M3 over an e30.

[e30e]

I've owned 3 e36's, (93 325iS, 96 m3 coupe, and currently a 97 sedan) getting out of mine hopefully soon. I love the car but I'm sick of maintenance, I'm sick of bmw maintenance in general. An used m3 is usually 1-2k more and to me is absolutely worth it, the non m e36's have ugly bumpers and ugly skirts, m3 vader seats are sick, m3's come stock with 17" wheels, and the extra 40 hp is felt on the freeway.

The e36 is a car that is loved and hated for obvious reasons, its probably the last "basic" bmw to work on.

[Ryan...]

I've owned 3 e36's, (93 325iS, 96 m3 coupe, and currently a 97 sedan) getting out of mine hopefully soon. I love the car but I'm sick of maintenance, I'm sick of bmw maintenance in general. An used m3 is usually 1-2k more and to me is absolutely worth it, the non m e36's have ugly bumpers and ugly skirts, m3 vader seats are sick, m3's come stock with 17" wheels, and the extra 40 hp is felt on the freeway.

The e36 is a car that is loved and hated for obvious reasons, its probably the last "basic" bmw to work on.

Bumpers are easy and cheap to come by, so that never really bothered me. Same with rims, never owned a car with stock rims for longer than 1 month. 40hp is felt, but the e36 M3 is by no means a fast car by any modern standards.

[e30e]

Bumpers are easy and cheap to come by, so that never really bothered me. Same with rims, never owned a car with stock rims for longer than 1 month. 40hp is felt, but the e36 M3 is by no means a fast car by any modern standards.

Never understood why anyone would want to run poser bumpers and having to deal with painting them. Never said e36 m3's were "fast", they are though faster than 328iS, although a low 14 second car stock isn't exactly slow.

Still get better brakes, better door panels, traction control, and a better sway bar location with the m3.

All of which are swappable, but why spend the money and time to build a factory car you can buy for about a grand more.


1 more plus for e36's, is that they are safer.

[Ryan...]

Never understood why anyone would want to run poser bumpers and having to deal with painting them. Never said e36 m3's were "fast", they are though faster than 328iS, although a low 14 second car stock isn't exactly slow.

Still get better brakes, better door panels, traction control, and a better sway bar location with the m3.

All of which are swappable, but why spend the money and time to build a factory car you can buy for about a grand more.


1 more plus for e36's, is that they are safer.

My 328is didn't have M bumpers, just saying its an option for those that dont track their car and need the extra performance of the M3 compared to a standard e36.

[evandael]

i actually prefer the non-M bumpers. vaders look cheesy to me. also, i've gotten a citation in my eta. i don't need a fast car. basically the M3 is too boy-racer for me.

if you were to buy coilovers with M3 struts, M3 sway endlinks, plus the bigger 328is front bar and a stock M3 rear bar, it would handle really well.


seriously though, the only thing that bothers me with what's been said is the 'electrical gremlins'. my uncle apparently owned a 328is for a while and in talking with him, he didn't say anything catastrophic happened with the car. is it a luck of the draw type situation?

[Victell]

Why not get an e46? From what I hear, they seem to be sorted quite well.

[evandael]

I do like E46's but I've got a $5K budget of sorts.. for just the car, not the mods I want to do. I know E46's can be found at that price point but it would probably be pretty drab or beat to hell.


Plus my dad already has a ZHP, don't need redundancy now!

[RainierHooker]

I had an E36 325i for a few years. As I see it compared to the E30...

Pros:
-Much nicer cruiser. I drove the E36 across the country (Seattle to KC) in comfort twice.
-Quieter and more predictable ride (no random tail-out shennanigins)
-More creature-comforts (nicer stereo, AC etc.)
-More 'respect' in non-enthusiast circles (I got more compliments about my E36 from 'normies' than in any of my E30's)

Cons:
-Coolant problems galore (I chased 'em for about a year before I gave up and traded it in on my Mini Cooper-S)
-Interior that was as comfy as a Lexus, with the build quality of a Chevy Lumina
-Not a 'fun' car (no random tail-out shennanigins).
-Worse Gas-Milage than an eta (I was getting 27-28 average in my previous '88 S-Eta, and 23-26 in my E36 325i)

In the end the E36 just never endeared itself to me, it was just a 'car'. I can deal with idisyncracies and constantly tinkering (hell, I'm looking to buy another British car) as long as I can find a connection and 'personality' with a car, the E36 just didn't give me that. YMMV.

[BMC227]

E36's are great for daily driving and weekend car.