Would you trade your E30 for an E36?

[02stu]

The e36 really reflects the cut backs BMW had to make once Land Rover started dragging on BMW's budjet. It seems like there are so many problems that plaque all e36s like the interior, the plastic impellers, the rear floor failure and rear bushings just to mention a few that are obvious signs of BMW cutting cost. E30s on the other hand have very few weak spots. Its funny I used to be a 2002 owner and they have the same conversation about 2002s vs. e30s.

[rThor432]

That sounds interesting. Got any links to the 2002 vs E30 threads?

[german g]

NEVER!!!!!

hell, im gonna buy an e36 m3 in a few months after i move for my DD and make the e30 a garage queen, just soo much more classic styling..

[AlarmedBread]

No way. Driven several examples of both, the e30 has a blissful simplicity that makes it a joy to drive.

Should do a reverse poll - Would you trade your e30 for an e21? ;)

[german g]

No way. Driven several examples of both, the e30 has a blissful simplicity that makes it a joy to drive.

Should do a reverse poll - Would you trade your e30 for an e21? ;)

now that is a more difficult question to answer...

[dinanm3atl]

The e36 really reflects the cut backs BMW had to make once Land Rover started dragging on BMW's budjet. It seems like there are so many problems that plaque all e36s like the interior, the plastic impellers, the rear floor failure and rear bushings just to mention a few that are obvious signs of BMW cutting cost. E30s on the other hand have very few weak spots. Its funny I used to be a 2002 owner and they have the same conversation about 2002s vs. e30s.

And you can tear out your rear sway mounts. The list is there for both cars. My manual sunroof crank is broken. So all e30s are pieces of crap? It is a known issue the early cars had interior issues. My interior is PERFECT in my 99 M3. I have factory reinforcements in my rear subframe. Nothing major has broken and it has 116,00 miles and 12 track days and 3 season of AutoCross. The issues you speak of are engineering issues. Not quality. The plastic impeller didn't work so they fixed it in later model cars. Someone down the line someone decided to try coil on plug. Damn that works good... Then someone decided to use ITB. That works great too. THen someone tried Double Vanos... that works great too. All of these could have failed and they would not be in use. The plastic impeller was a bad design. It happens. Having a thin plastic mounting bracket attached to the roof of the car and then installing your interior bulb holder(also plastic) into it is a bad design(how the e30 mounts). Because of this my headliner holds up the bulbs... I have to REMOVE the head liner to replace them. Another bad design. All cars have them :)

Wow your interior is clean, although you've got to admit that is not the usual e36 interior .How are your seats holding up, looks like you've had at least one of the bolsters replaced on the drivers side seat.

e30 interiors are not perfect ether, there are some very cheap parts. For example the console that holds the rear ashtry and e-brake, or the glove box. On my 318is even 2 of the seat belt buckles have been installed backwards from the factory.

I would say that is mostly on par with an e36 interior that is obd2. 96+ cars. Why does everyone say e36 sucks because the 92-94 is a turd?

I've owned a 2002, two e21's, two e30's, and an E36. I liked everyone of them except the E36. It's junk, the headliner fell down like an old Chevy, the door panels came apart, and it drove like a tank compared to my E30(thank God I didn't sell my E30). I kept it eight months and then sold it for a loss just to get rid of it. I kinda wish I'd kept it for an M50/5 lug swap.

93 325?



The hating of another BMW is crazy!!! I own both. Is the e30 a great car? Yes. Is my e36 M3 a better car? Yes. To the person who said with some coilovers your e30 325 will be better you are wrong. The rear suspension is weak, it flexes when cornering hard. It needs to be reinforced. It has 2 mounting points for a subframe. That is not better than 4. Yes the e36 has weakness's. YES I just bought an e30 for a DD so I could retire my e36 M3 to the garage/track days. However calling them crap boxes is far from the truth.

I do love e30s.

Continue discussion.

[euroshark]

At least the A/C works - more than most E30 owners can say.

Haha, not E28 owners though... I am still suprised at how shitty and abused E28s can look, yet still maintain every electrical and mechanical function. I bought the cheapest E28 in town, an '84 533i... Paint is shit, body is dinged up everywhere, but EVERYTHING works, I mean every last little thing. Interior is perfect except for the dash.

In terms of build quality, it goes like this:

E24 > E28 > E30 > E36

Thats the food chain

[dinanm3atl]

I don't know about that. Ken has had 2... errrr 3 of them and they all had issues...

Do a little drift and then it won't start back up after parked. Have to get out and plug sometime in. Window Regulators fell out. Most of it works most of the time yes.

[CleanAzzE30z]

Many people tell me that the 89 model is/was the last year that the overall quality was at its best. I also hear that its the one that everyone wants and the hardest to find. I don't know if this is exactly accurate being that E30's were manufactured throughout the 91 model year. Besides the addition of the airbag, the car didn't change THAT much did it?

No..I was saying the E30s are built like tanks, and they didnt change in build quality and materials.

[Jesse30]

e36's are just ugly imo.

[winstontj]

We chose our e30 over a 4-dr e36m3. Megan wanted the e36 because it looks more "new" and "round" OR not "Old and boxy". We chose the e30 because of me - I wanted an e30 for a few reasons. #1 - I like it, the styling, the construction, the simplicity (sortof), etc. #2 - to be fair, price... The m3 was almost double what we ended up paying to buy the e30 and finally #3 because I told Megan that this was the car I wanted to replace my 2002 DD with so in 3 or 4 years when we are ready to have two cars (married, house with garage, etc.) we will be in a position financially that I will buy her any new car she wants and I'll keep driving the e30 for the next 15 years! She bought it and we got the e30.

[Turf1600]

I'll trade for a 2002.

[BigD]

I'll trade for a 2002.

I wouldn't trade for one but I'd love one in pristine shape, in red. The guy I bought my S52 from has a MINT red 2002 (infact I bet it looks better than it ever did new thanks to advances in car wash/polish) and I loved it more than anything I've seen at SEMA.

[winstontj]

What I want to know is how many of you out there bought an e30 because it was the best BMW you could afford? Meaning if you had the money you would have NEVER gotten the e30......

[MR 325]

What I want to know is how many of you out there bought an e30 because it was the best BMW you could afford? Meaning if you had the money you would have NEVER gotten the e30......

A bought my first E30 because a friend of mine had a really nice 87 325is and I just liked it.

Now his car is the trailer seen in my sig. :)