Would you trade your E30 for an E36?

[Ryan Stewart]

unless everything has already been replaced as in my car. 8)

Besides, I will have about as much invested in my car as a cheaper (read: not mint) e36 M3 and it should beat the M3 in all the categories that count to me.

[rwh11385]

TJ, mine car only has ~125K. And one of the guys at the dealer has 160K on his 95 M3 if I remember correctly.

And one of the girls I work with has a 95 with more miles, again, and cannot afford the maintence almost and she works full time.

And the M3 tires are bigger....and cost more.

[Rob]

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...

I think I'll go ahead and disagree, on both points.

[SpencerM3]

Maintinence all depends on the car and owner. I've owned the car since 24k miles and it now has 60k on it. I haven't done anything out of the ordinary (filters, oil, tires, etc).

And tires are SO much cheaper on these E30's. I'm going to Auto-x the car, and am picking up some 195/60-14 Azeni Sports for around $45 piece.... :shock:

[rwh11385]

But honestly the question could be split into two types:
a) Those that drive it as their primary car and wanted to get a BMW.
b) Those that take advantage of the E30 chassis for the fun and performance.
c) Those that like the E30 as it is cheap to mod.

If people from a) answered no, they are probably biased that the E30 is the pinnacle of BMW's design. Maybe stuck on the BMW they can afford, not what is really better.

People in b) realize that maybe the E30 isn't the most comfortable or advanced car, but holds great performance potential for the price, and can make a good Auto-X/track car. There are a lot of people in this category. If they don't have the $$ to blow on a 95 M3, Evo VIII, or Noble M12.....the E30 is a neat little package.

People in c) are high school kids or in college mostly and want a car that is cheap and can be modded and have fun with. Sure the E36 have a better aftermarket, but a lot of things on the E30 are easily changed and improved for cheap. E30s can be budget modded cars, whereas E36s may take a little more.

Also, the E30 feels bare bones sporty car. Not too cushy, not too disconnected. It is just engine, wheels, and you. And people who want the E30 are similar to people who dig the S13 240 or whatnot over the newer models. Or like love for the eg civic. Old skool is cool, and easy to mod. And most things have been around the block, and projects are well experienced.

[rwh11385]

195/60-14 Azeni Sports for around $45 piece.... :shock:

Rob found them for $42

[Ryan Stewart]

Or maybe there are people who actually like thier cars and dont need to be qualified by being placed with a certian group. I always thought I prefered my E30 because I liked it better. Apparently you people know why I "say" that I prefer my E30 better than I do.

So, why do I prefer asian women? Cmon, you have to know the reason since you know me soo well.

Do I like chocolate ice cream better because its more complicated to make than vanillia or because I actually prefer the flavor? Somebody please tell me because I need to go buy a quart tonite.

Besides, this thread is about the E30 vs the E36 so saying its because we can only afford E30s is bullshit since an E36 can be had for the same or less. Shit E30 M3s go for as much as E36 M3s if you are comparing head to head.

Honestly, I drive an E30 because I cant afford a 280GTO or a Bugatti EB110.

[Rob]

thats right. you can get a e36 325 for the same price as the 'desirable' e30s (89+ 325is)

[rwh11385]

Mr. Plow, I was just trying to point out people drive/chose the E30 for different reasons. and tried to identify a few kinds of people.

Charlie seems to think that some people are defending E30s because they cannot afford more, and maybe for a few, but for most here, we drive the E30 because we like how they drive, how they are fun, or whatever.

[niq_nak]

i am 16 and my e30 is my first car. before i got my e30 i was really looking into e36's, i wanted one really bad because of the more modern look and mods available. my uncle had an old e30 that he didnt drive anymore because he has an e36 m3 and an expedition now so he offered me the e30. at first i was hesitant because i didnt like the way it looked, but then i started to get into the way it looked and of course, it was still a bmw, so i accepted the offer. my dad and i flew up to VA from FL and drove the car down and i started to fall in love with the bmw of it, not really the e30, but just the way everything was setup for driving. now after driving my stock 325is for a month or so, driving my friends modded 325, my other friends vr4, and another friends modded trans am, i wouldn't trade my e30 for any of them. i love the lightness of the car: the tossability, the feeling of slamming on the gas in first with some rpms and the whole car lifting back, and the overall feel of it. i also love the maneuverability of the small e30, being able to make u-turns like nothing and stuff. the raw feel of the e30 and the "big go-cart" feel of the e30 are amazing. now i could see how the car isnt very comfortable for daily driving, but all i do is speed around the city, i hardly ever do any real driving, so im fine with that.

so, i would never trade my e30 for an e36. i must confess though, my dream would be to drop an s50 in my car and track it, and have an m2 for daily driving when it comes out, but never an e36.

[bwanac]

I would not take any e36, lots of power or not.

They are too big. Not weight, just big. I really like the visibility I have in the e30 compared to the e36.
And as stated, the styling of the e30 is a classic and can be made to look really hot.

Just my .02 from someone who has driven many e30s and e36s.

[kylebes1]

I would go for a nice BLack 328 coupe, I have found out I am not into spending every weekend working on my e30. This may change after I get the car done. I would trade for a 328 coupe though considering I never have time to track the car, and it would be a commuter/date car anyway.

My e30 will have some potential but I will never have the oportunity to use it!

[hamann318is]

Um, no, I didn't buy this one because I wanted a e36, and couldn't afford it. I bought this one because I wanted a e30. E36s are just soft if you ask me, and again, the same version of mine as a E36 is just very lame.

[James Crivellone]

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.

That still does not get over the fact that I HATE the look of the car, and it seems cheap to me.


OBD2 is a problem in my eyes, then again I will be runing megasquirt on my motor

[///M42 sport]

NO b/c there's not a equivalent 325i mtechnic in a e36 that sets them off appearance wise.