E30 91' Alpine Coupe restored vs E36 M3 Value?

[mbonder]

Do an s52 and 5 speed swap and that car is easily worth more than an e36 m3 and will be quicker than it too.

You won't be disappointed with that swap either, its lots of fun to drive. You will be disappointed, however if you sell that e30, really nice example, looks like my first car only with IS side skirts and without the loads of northeast rust.

[fiveightandten]

Yeah your right lol. I haven't gotten around to getting new bigger wheels since I want to finish doing my suspension work and replacing all the bushings. Wheels might be the last thing but a definite thing to do. As well as 5 speed swap.
It's just the fact of having an "M3" lol same time I can just have an "m3 engine"

Idk so many options lol

Not to discount the E36 M3, but judge the car based on its design, as opposed to any exclusivity that it may suggest from being an M car. Clean E30s are just as sought after at this point, and E36 M3's didn't get a real M engine. It's basically a factory modified M5x.

E36 M3:
More refined, more powerful, stiffer more robust chassis, better rust proofing, somewhat modern creature comforts, quicker steering, better brakes, higher handling limits, more planted rear end, needs less upgrades to drive the way most want it to. More expensive to insure, kind of caught between modern and classic. Higher performance means you can't fully enjoy it on the street. Very little actually sets it apart from a base E36 3'er (for better or worse). Consumables cost more, but it's a little less needy just due to the lack of a timing belt, lack of need for valve adjustments, and being newer.

E30 325i:
Significantly less refined. Chassis feels like a wet noodle, even compared to an E36. E30's need notable reconditioning and/or upgrades to drive and perform anywhere near your typical E36 M3 (engine, handling, steering, brakes). Rear end will always be less confidence inspiring. The E30 is arguably a better looking car, and has a bit more of a cool factor to your average non-car person (and to lots of car people too). Consumables and most parts are cheaper. The car car be maintained on a paltry budget, but you need a little more mechanical prowess to keep on top of aging parts.


The E36 is the better machine. The E30 makes trade offs in performance and refinement, but is somewhat of a canvas to work from for many people (in modern times). But the E36 is technically the better machine out of the box. E30 has intangible allure to it that can't be argued with, and that alone is enough reason to drive one.

When I get in my E36 M3 after driving the E30, the car feels like a god damned monster. It corners and brakes so damned hard, and it's less harsh while having just as much road feedback. I love it. When I get in my E30 after driving the E36, it feels like a soggy cracker, and all the driver inputs are looser and require more travel to perform their task. It's a slow rattle box, but I couldn't possibly care less. It's so much fun to drive, I don't need to wring out the performance to enjoy it. It's enjoyable just cruising down the highway doing 65. It's satisfying to carve corners in, without the need to being doing highly illegal speeds. Again, it's personal preference though, and you can't go wrong either way. Both have their merits, and have them in spades.

[nrubenstein]

$5,500 is a pretty good price with an auto and a tired engine (I assume that there is a reason why you want to rebuild it).

Fixing the transmission costs a thousand bucks if you aren't too picky about the parts and do it yourself. It's a major deduct in the value.

[Polaris15]

I think neither of these cars should be considered when your thinking about "down the road" investments. Both of these cars are extremely fun to drive in their own right. If your looking for a cheaper investment piece with great returns buy a 912 or better yet save your pennies and buy a duplex!

[Rouvld]

Every window and glass on the car is OEM ...EXCEPT the sun roof..

Where'd you but the glass?

[estoguy]

Just on esthetics, I'd go E30. Plus with work, you can make it as good as the E36. I agree with a couple other posts:

-5 speed swap
-S5X swap

Plus other refinements, you'd have a killer car.

Plus, chicks dig the E30. ;D

[jkma707]

do a 5 speed swap and keep the E30.

the E36 is definitely not a bad car. The M3 actually feels a lot like an E30 (small, nimble, stiff). But you already have a very nice E30, there's just not enough of a gap between them IMO for it to be worth selling yours and getting into something unknown.

Yeah true, its just the wait of saving $$$ and waiting for cheap prices/deals on parts then replacing parts..

I still want the change all the bushings to stiffer ones to make things a bit stiffer

[jkma707]

Where'd you but the glass?

If your talking about the Pop Out windows, I actually stumbled upon them at a local Pick N Pull two E30's had them but one pop out window was already taken so i just took the 3 that were left and all the parts that are needed including gaskets.
About everything at the end cost me $60ish for 3 pop out windows , gaskets, parts, etc. (on a Pick N Pull 50% off day)

[jkma707]

Just on esthetics, I'd go E30. Plus with work, you can make it as good as the E36. I agree with a couple other posts:

-5 speed swap
-S5X swap

Plus other refinements, you'd have a killer car.

Plus, chicks dig the E30. ;D

Yeah true, i hate the E30 steering rack ratio it sucks
So def M3 rack
but then it comes to M20 then turbo? Keep all original? Add trumpets that "wow original engine WITH turbo" and not the "oh a swapped E30"??

I might be eh about my car cause i miss stick shift so much... lol and my steering rack needs replacing

[Stanley Rockafella]

please post more pics of open windows. It'll help us get a better understanding of your cars condition.

[funcrew]

Seeing all these threads, I wonder if my zero-rust, mint-dash OEM 5-speed '91 ragtop with 70K is worth more than the $6400 I paid for it last year. I hope so since I keep sinking money into stuff like working A/C.

[e30onBBSs]

E36 m3 will never be the e30 m3 but I can't see a nice e36 m3 being a terrible investment. I love seeing a minty e36 m3, personally I think they look sweet and if you do too don't resist just if some people say the e36 is bad. Definitely go 5 speed. I think e30 will be more valuable though like most people

[abrokenframe]

I think neither of these cars should be considered when your thinking about "down the road" investments. Both of these cars are extremely fun to drive in their own right. If your looking for a cheaper investment piece with great returns buy a 912 or better yet save your pennies and buy a duplex!

912's are very expensive to get into and maintain at this point. It basically costs just as much to properly restore a 912 as a swb911 considering they share all parts minus the engine, but for a car worth half the price. What has happened to the Porsche market over the last 5 years kind of takes the fun out of it for me personally. Only an opinion here, but e10's are a more economical car from that era to tinker on. Waaaaay cheaper in every aspect and just as satisfying. I also think they have plenty of room to run up in value.

Actually e30's & e36's aren't bad investments at all. They will be labeled classics soon enough. The only thing working against them is how many were built.

And if you are really thinking about cars as investments, keep them as original as possible.

Duplex wins though. Just can't love and drive it.

Ryan

[jkma707]

E36 m3 will never be the e30 m3 but I can't see a nice e36 m3 being a terrible investment. I love seeing a minty e36 m3, personally I think they look sweet and if you do too don't resist just if some people say the e36 is bad. Definitely go 5 speed. I think e30 will be more valuable though like most people

yeah true. im trying to keep it as OEM as possible but adding a couple modern twists here or there.

[jkma707]

912's are very expensive to get into and maintain at this point. It basically costs just as much to properly restore a 912 as a swb911 considering they share all parts minus the engine, but for a car worth half the price. What has happened to the Porsche market over the last 5 years kind of takes the fun out of it for me personally. Only an opinion here, but e10's are a more economical car from that era to tinker on. Waaaaay cheaper in every aspect and just as satisfying. I also think they have plenty of room to run up in value.

Actually e30's & e36's aren't bad investments at all. They will be labeled classics soon enough. The only thing working against them is how many were built.

And if you are really thinking about cars as investments, keep them as original as possible.

Duplex wins though. Just can't love and drive it.

Ryan

Yeah i noticed keeping it stock as possible will help me in the long run. Keeping a freshly built m20 will be worth it and if i want power i can always add a turbo but mainly keeping the engine the same, not swapping.
As far as e36 m3's go, i want to grab one soon before the numbers of them left are slim to none