Would you trade your E30 for an E36?

[brodee]

Now if I just had that 290hp engine out of my e36 to put in my 325is

[Avus_325is]

About the comment that many of us SETTLE for an e30 over an e36, this does not apply to me at all. I wanted an e30 since I was probably 12 or 13. My family is also pretty well of considering the cost of living in our area and even though I bought both of my e30's, my father has offered more than once to loan me money for an e36 and even when I told him the only e36 i'd want would be an M3 the offer still stood. So I deffinately don't drive an e30 because I couldn't afford and e36 but still wanted to be driving a BMW. These vehicles aren't a status symbol to me.

Although an e36 would be a better daily driver and is more baller to the average person than an e30, I get much more pleasure from running through the gears in my 325iS than I ever did when driving my buddies 328i. Even my friend love it when I let them get behind the wheel of my car and comment how it feels like a "big go cart".

So even though the blood, sweat, and time i've put into my car deffinately makes me biased towards it and has created a strong attachment, I don't think even stock I'd ever trade my e30 in for an e36.

[Ryan Stewart]

I'm split on this one. As a fun to drive car, I think the E30 is way more fun, but as a daily ride I think the E36 is a little more comfortable a car. How about a compromise...a 318Ti! The rev happy M44 similar to the M42 in my car, the E30's rear suspension, fairly lightweight, and not as many bells and whistles as its full sized bretheren.

Cool, then you can buy a 318ti and sell me your E30.

I wouldnt trade for an E36. The only non-E30 3-series I would move to would be an E46 M3. The only car I would realistically get rid of my car for though would be an E30 M3 2.5, I have just gone to far with this one to go back to anything else.

I don't think it seems that way, I'd say it is that way.

That sure as hell doesnt count for me. I have been driving the M3 a lot lately and I much prefer my E30 over it, even with the old engine. The only one I secretly worship is the 04 M3 while hating the rest of the E46s. To me the E36 is just another old used car that is going to have a lot of the same issues as my E30 but our M3 was just a 330is/332is.

[318daily]

I wouldn't trade, I'd just get both :twisted:

Some days are E30 days, some are E36 M3 days. Both cars are fun to drive.

[Charlie]

- E36 has a better steering feel. Yes this is aganist "typical" opinions but then again, my E36 is no where near stock in the suspension department either (full GC track setup). The E30 steering ratio is WAY too slow for my tastes. Maybe a track day in the E30 will change my mind.

- E30 bulid quality seems to be better. For a 17 year old car with a nearly shot suspension (except for new springs/shocks), it is a SOLID feeling car. The interior looks great as well. Except for a cracked dash and worn driver seat, it is flawless. Not something I can say for un-maintained E36's.

- I perfer the looks of the E36 M3 over the 325is. But, I must say I do love the look of E30 M3's. So its a toss up for me E36 M3 vs. E30 M3. This is pretty subjective anyways.

Overall, my E36 is a much faster car but I think the E30 is fun to drive, easy to work on, has cheap replacment parts and should work well as a daily driver/track car.

This is about the most valid post I've read on here so far.

I've always been confused when people talk about how much better the "steering feel" of the e30 is, the e30 steering rack sucks, no two ways around it. The E36 has a much nicer rack, better feel, and a much quicker ratio.

I'm kind of curious as to how many people have driven modded e36's, compared to their modded e30's. Everyone seems to compare the response of their e30 with #500 springs to their friends stock ragged out slushbox e36 325i. Stock for stock, the e36 blows away an e30, once you start heavily modding the cars, the advantage stays.

So why do I have an e30? SImple, I bought it in HS, just like most of you kids. I've held on to it for 7 years, It served well as a daily driver for 4 years until I had to start replacing stuff every weekend. At that point, it became a pain in the ass. It's now relegated to its primary duty, track rat. It works great for that. It's got a primitive enough suspension design that won't cover for any of your mistakes, and it's not fast enough to get you into serious trouble on the track in the way that something like an e36 M3 or the like would. It's also disposable. If I ball it up on the track, I can pick up another good example for 2k and swap over the parts. E36's aren't in that price range yet.

-Charlie

[spencers]

Hell yeah I'd trade my e30 for an e36.
e36's are just so much more updated looking.

Never ridden or driven in an E36. At that point my view may change, but I just prefer the looks of the e36.

[James Crivellone]

Nothing could convince me to go for an e36


they are too big
they are too heavy
they are too cheap looking
they have more computer bullshit
OBD2 on the later models
plastic EVERYWHERE


I want a small nimble car that is under 3000lbs

my e30 does that, plus I see so many goddamn e36's everyday, including over 5 E36 m3's every day.


I despise that model, only thing I like is the window switches and the engines :p, however I perfer the M20 from a heritage kidna thing

[Bokes]

yes. i'd prefer to have both though, e30 for track/auto-x, and an e36 for daily driving.

[Jonathan M3]

I don't think the e36 m3s feel disconnected from the road or anything, but I prefer the uniqueness and character of the e30 m3. Though the times when I'm just driving the e30 in the everyday commute, I would rather be in an e36 m3.

I would definitely buy an e36 m3, but not if I had to give up the e30.

[rwh11385]

Generally, E36s would be more comfortable daily drivers, but they really are not as simple as E30s. There is an overall feel to the E30 that makes it seem like it's you and the road and the engine. But with E36s, it seems like you are being driven, not driving.

The E36 M3 are great packages, and fun, and cool....but the 325/328s don't really excite me ever.

E46s are usually 323, 325s, automatic, and sedan. But some are fun and cool and feel as connected as an E30. The 330Ci, 330iPP, and 330 convert are three cars that I would take. As well as the M3, of course, even if it is heavy.

[e30Matt]

I said "No", because I've driven both, and the handling of E36s, although improvable with bolt-ons, still feels too heavy to justify having one. I love the light, tossable feeling of the E30, and I'll keep one unless someone GIVES me an E36.

[SpencerM3]

they are too big
they are too heavy
they are too cheap looking
they have more computer bullshit
OBD2 on the later models
plastic EVERYWHERE


I want a small nimble car that is under 3000lbs

my e30 does that, plus I see so many goddamn e36's everyday, including over 5 E36 m3's every day.

Its quite easy to get an E36 under 3000lbs. About every prep'd car in Street Mod is under 3000lbs while retaining most of the interior.

There is no more computer control, just more updated. About the only thing I can think of is on the later E36's with traction control, but that system was such garbage that most people take it out. On the other hand, the E46 has alot more computer controled features.

The OBD2 "problem" has been overcome for the most part. Tuners are learning the system and can tune them almost as well as OBD1 setups.

IMO, there isn't a better used car buy out there than the E36 M3 at the moment. You can pick up a 95 for under 14k easily these days and have a car that can drive you to work during the week and perform very well at the track on the weekends.

[Rob]

IMO, there isn't a better used car buy out there than the E36 M3 at the moment. You can pick up a 95 for under 14k easily these days and have a car that can drive you to work during the week and perform very well at the track on the weekends.

bingo

[rwh11385]

only how much are replacement parts for the M3? granted it may be 5 years newer than a 1990 325is, but how much are the maintence parts? and tires, etc?

I would love a double duty 95 M3, but the costs might rack up quickly.

actually, one of guys in the CCA's bill was HUGE before hitting the track this spring. just things like brakes, tires, etc. Althought insurance, maintence may be double, I still think track rat + daily driver would be a good idea.

[Digitalwave]

only how much are replacement parts for the M3? granted it may be 5 years newer than a 1990 325is, but how much are the maintence parts? and tires, etc?

I would love a double duty 95 M3, but the costs might rack up quickly.

I would think you'd be replacing stuff less often on a < 100,000 1995+ car, than on a 150,000+ 1990- car. And tires cost pretty much the same as they do on E30's...