Pro's/Con's.. Should I buy an e30/e36?

[CHIF8008]

German engineering FTW

[ScHpAnKy]

E36's suck, go e30 or e46

[InuFaye]

E30s if you want a slow POS.

[DrewSkii]

E30s if you want a slow POS.

Lol. I don't see why they're a POS, unless you treat it like one.. ;)

[87e30]

Lol. I don't see why they're a POS, unless you treat it like one.. ;)

I always thought that I just had a more rough around the edges e30, until I started seeing all of the other ones and realizing that mine was actually fairly clean. It's just - the cars are so old and so many are beat around the edges. I know several clean ones, but I know several more that are not. Just take your time looking and choose carefully (dont' buy the first one you see with out a comparison car) and you'll be fine.

[ChrisK]

Let me break this down for you dude-

You buy an e30, you own an instant-classic. You have a basically hand-built machine that turns heads, you can see every corner of the car, it's small, quick and well-sorted that is more mechanically oriented with simple electronics.

You buy an e36, you're an instant-douchebag. Nobody even notices your car unless it's immaculately clean, you have a better engine on a crap chassis, electronics that always malfunction and will drive you nuts, and basically more things to go wrong. You gain a tiny bit of comfort and power for a dramatic loss of style and reliability.

e30's are some of the most reliable BMW's ever made (besides the e34 535i) and will always get you where you need to go no matter how hard you drive them or neglect them(within reason). They are never perfect and you will always notice things you want to improve upon but why put more painstaking effort into a crap e36 when the most obvious rewarding experience is to fix an e30.

[Beastolizer]

Its simple. Follow the flow chart. e30--->heterosexual,cool. e36--->homosexual,not cool.

[mr2peak]

If you want to own a reliable classic, an E30 is a good start

[87e30]

I think it may be a little early to call this a classic, but hey that's just me...

[bmwstephen]

I think it may be a little early to call this a classic, but hey that's just me...

my old man said the same thing when he sold his old 2002tii for a 1987 honda civic back in the day. Till this day not only is he kicking himself in the ass but he's kicking me in the ass for being born and ultimately convincing him that he needs a more baby friendly car.

[87e30]

my old man said the same thing when he sold his old 2002tii for a 1987 honda civic back in the day. Till this day not only is he kicking himself in the ass but he's kicking me in the ass for being born and ultimately convincing him that he needs a more baby friendly car.

that sucks. But I'm not saying the e30 can't turn into a classic, I'm just saying at this point I wouldn't consider it one. Even in 5 years time I think my opinion will change.

[Mercury[BKM]]

If the OP is in highschool or a broke college kid, you're looking at the wrong car.


having a cafe racer or a bobber AND an e30 is how to roll properly imo

[Vince30]

Let me break this down for you dude-You buy an e36, you're an instant-douchebag. Nobody even notices your car unless it's immaculately clean.

Real talk

[mr2peak]

I think it may be a little early to call this a classic, but hey that's just me...

The first E30 was made over 25 years ago, thus qualifying it as a classic car :)

[87e30]

The first E30 was made over 25 years ago, thus qualifying it as a classic car :)

Just because it's a law doesn't make it true. There are plenty of e30s <25 years old and plenty on the road everyday driven by random people. A classic is a car that wouldn't exist unless properly cared for by a diehard fan of that automobile. Plenty of e30s on the road just because they are used as transportation.