E30 misconceptions or facts?

[Waynegro]

I always here people say E30's and prior BMW's are 'real' BMW's and everything manufactored after are a cost cutting 'sell out' design. This puzzles me. While the E30 has a much more raw and light weight feel, and is less electronically sophisticated, ect... which adds to the driving experience, but would seem to be far cheaper to build than say a E36 or E46 (inflation adjusted). So do you guys think about this? Are our beloved E30's the last real BMW?

[hamann318is]

Are you including M cars?

The E39s are straight-up gangsta.

[Rigmaster]

I always hate it when people make blanket statements like "this is the only REAL BMW....blah, blah, blah...."

BUT, what I can tell you from my experience is that there seems to be a huge difference in the quality of many of the parts used in E30's and E36's. Ever notice how quickly the door panels + interior panels in an E36 will deteriorate and start cracking?? For the most part, it DOES seem like BMW took some serious cost-cutting measures when it went from the E30 to the E36. To me, the E36 is a nice car, but it lacks the style and personality of an E30.

Think about this as well, the sticker price for a 1987 325is was close to $30k!! You can still buy a NEW pretty well-equipped 3 series these days for a little more than $30k. Some of that has to do with exchange rates, but it's still quite interesting.

Bret

[Blister]

What about e34s?

[Jordan]

Think about this as well, the sticker price for a 1987 325is was close to $30k!! You can still buy a NEW pretty well-equipped 3 series these days for a little more than $30k. Some of that has to do with exchange rates, but it's still quite interesting.

My 87 325iS sticker was $28,864 or so.

Take inflation into account to present at thats about $42,000 today.

[Jordan]

What about e34s?

540i Sport and M5 only.

[Iain]

No, E30s are not the last real BMWs. That kind of tripe is spouted by one-eyed fanatics who have a blinkered, sheltered view that does not include reality and progress.

These people also do not recognise the fact that BMWs are simply German taxis. They're nothing special, its just that the Germans build even their ordinary cars to high standards while other countries' efforts fall short. What we think is prestigious, the Germans see as ordinary.

[E30 Wagen]

I'm not that familiar with BMW's after the e30, but i'd defend that the e30 might have been the beginning of modern BMWs. The design is, in my opinion, profiled similar to e36s and e34s, and then on from there. Only E34s share a more similar four headlight configuration, however that setup seems to have lasted, just modernized. E30's got OBCs, ABS, Cruise Control, and power options. What more do new BMWs have, traction control? I have no experience driving newer BMWs, but i'd imagine they handle pretty good with added comfort. My perception is that things from the e30 have been improved over the years, but that's just because I like e36s

[Digitalwave]

I always hate it when people make blanket statements like "this is the only REAL BMW....blah, blah, blah...."

BUT, what I can tell you from my experience is that there seems to be a huge difference in the quality of many of the parts used in E30's and E36's. Ever notice how quickly the door panels + interior panels in an E36 will deteriorate and start cracking?? For the most part, it DOES seem like BMW took some serious cost-cutting measures when it went from the E30 to the E36. To me, the E36 is a nice car, but it lacks the style and personality of an E30.

Think about this as well, the sticker price for a 1987 325is was close to $30k!! You can still buy a NEW pretty well-equipped 3 series these days for a little more than $30k. Some of that has to do with exchange rates, but it's still quite interesting.

Bret

The thing is, people always compare late model E30s (i.e. they had 8 years to work out the bugs) to the brand new E36's (92-94) where none of the big issues were worked out yet. The only troublesome E36s I have encountered are the early ones, where stuff like the interior and the cooling system go sour.

I don't think its a very fair comparison.

[AppState325]

I think each car has its own seperate personality. The e30 seems to be more of a track car, while the e36 is the more modern luxury car

[equate975]

The thing is, people always compare late model E30s (i.e. they had 8 years to work out the bugs) to the brand new E36's (92-94) where none of the big issues were worked out yet. The only troublesome E36s I have encountered are the early ones, where stuff like the interior and the cooling system go sour.

I don't think its a very fair comparison.

definatly

x2

[Digitalwave]

I think each car has its own seperate personality. The e30 seems to be more of a track car, while the e36 is the more modern luxury car

What makes the E30 a better track car than the E36 with a much better suspension design and a larger aftermarket? The weight?

[Blister]

inflation theme...

Last year I had a 1985 MB 500SEL with an origional sticker price of about $82,000.

[AdamF 88iS]

What makes the E30 a better track car than the E36 with a much better suspension design and a larger aftermarket? The weight?

And the fact that they don't blow heads/head gaskets like the dual cam 6s. The head bolts on those things are like pencils; not as heavy duty as the older stuff.

[browntown]

in top gear once they called the z3 an "american car" and some talking about the american made bmw's built for the american, read: wrong, crowd.