e36 m3 or e30 tubo

[JinormusJ]

It's seems like a recurring trend haha :nice:

[MR 325]

E36 M3 for daily, E30 Turbo for fun. :D

[azael325i]

Matt, you would know cuz you have both :)

[e30trooper]

Matt, you would know cuz you have both :)

thus

[smerfs]

e30 because e36 headlights require fluid changes every 200km. Not worth it in my books.

in all seriousness, i'd pick a swapped e30 over an e36m3 any day simply because i enjoy the go-kart feel of the chassis.

[matthugie]

Definitely e36 for reliability. Turbo cars take a fair bit of maintenance, and you're relying on someone else's work of unknown quality. Any cut corners means you have to figure out the turbo system they have installed and where the problems are, and if you can't afford to have the car down for a few days that presents a sizable problem. The same can be said of a swap car, but those tend to be a bit more reliable.

[nando]

I don't think I'd want to buy somebody's turbo project. 99% of turbo E30s are hackjobs. there are many that aren't but we all know who they are and they probably aren't going to sell them for a big loss. I think the choice here is pretty obvious.

I'm not an expert at all on this, but doesn't an e36 5 lug swap ruin the handling of an e30? I thought that e30 m3 was the way to go on an e30.

facepalm.jpg....

[Mr. Tasty]

why is this even being asked?

[BMWManiac]

If its a daily driver, E36 M3.

If its a toy car that can be broken a lot (and don't delude yourself that a turbo car will not require a lot of maintenance), E30 turbo.

I don't agree with this statement. More maintenance as in tightening 11mm t-bolt clamps every year? Replacing vac lines every couple of years? My turbo M3 hasn't required any extra "maintenance" in the past couple of years.

The problem is when 1) you don't know what is involved in a turbo setup and you're left guessing after it starts running rough and 2) you push the limits of the car/motor/turbo setup beyond the limitations (i.e. boosting past 8 psi on stock headgasket/bolts kind of thing.)

99% of the issues with my turbo M3 has been 100% my fault.

My vote would still be a nicely kept E36 M3/4/5; Make sure cooling system has been overhauled, CABs have been replaced and you'll be good to go for a while.