E30 --> E36 opinions

[Hon2BMW]

Well, I was getting ready to invest a butt load of money in the E30, repaint, various ideas on body pieces (euro bumpers/ with mtech1, acs valence,or something similar) and I realized I 'm buying parts for a car that will cost more than the car is actually worth if I want everything done right.

Which got me thinking. I love e36 M3's. I love how they look, how they drive, and how good they can be stock.

So. I wanted to hear your stories, good/bad about E36 M3's, if you've owned one, or have known someone who has. What kind of problems are associated with them etc.?

Needless to say it will be my daily, it should be somewhat reliable, I have no problems keeping on top of things maintenance wise.

I'm aiming at picking one up this summer or next xmas. the money I've allocated for the E30 parts would be seed money for a savings account.

They go between 9k-13k out here for what seem to be good examples. Lots of slusho-matics, but since its a daily I think I might be able to deal.

I'd probably sell the E30, but its been almost rock solid mechanically so far and I don't want to go from something thats been pretty much hassle free to something thats going to give me major headaches.

[Jand3rson]

You're going to get SMEARED with shit from the E36 haters on this board, I'm one of the haters. But I do love E36 M3's. They make awesome DD's, and there are a few members on here that have had them as dailys (Jordan, uofom3, Mystikal, etc). I've driven a handful of them, and I did like driving them, but they aren't as much fun to me as the e30.

So I'll say this. I would rock one as a daily. But not in exchange for the E30.

[Mtriple]

I've owned 2 and while nice, I enjoy the E30 more...

[atomic]

You're going to get SMEARED with shit from the E36 haters on this board, I'm one of the haters. But I do love E36 M3's. They make awesome DD's, and there are a few members on here that have had them as dailys (Jordan, uofom3, Mystikal, etc). I've driven a handful of them, and I did like driving them, but they aren't as much fun to me as the e30.

So I'll say this. I would rock one as a daily. But not in exchange for the E30.

X2

[A.LACK]

I haven't owned either but I've driven both an E36 and E30, and i liked the E30 more.

[Ryan Stewart]

As a whole car the I6 E36s win out pretty easily. Better suspension, better brakes, more power, ect. For a cheap track beater the E30 rules though. Ball one up? Get another.


Id steer clear of a slushbox though. Not from a purist perspective, they just arent as reliable as the (supposedly less reliable than the Getrag) manuals. I personally dont think they are actually bad. Its just that people rock shitty mounts and listen to BMW when they say its got a "lifetime" fluid.

[Hon2BMW]

In a perfect world I'd like to find a way to keep both. But living in apartments really doesn't make a good case for owning two vehicles.

Right now the condition of the body work on the E30 is literally driving me NUTS.

I'm very OCD about paint and body, and every morning I love my car till I get about 10 ft away from it.

I'd love to have it resprayed and get all the kinks taken out, but I'm leary about investing that much money in it. To get it done right would probably cost well over 2k with bodywork + respray. Most of the good places I've gotten estimates from say they "won't work on a car" if someone else has done the body/prep work. I've got some connections but they never seem to follow through.

I love the way my E30 drives, it is the most fun out of the cars I've owned/driven. It's relatively cheap to work on and maintain.

Although I am kind of getting tired of 4x100. It seems every wheel that I want, and can actually afford is 5x whatever.

[IRON-E]

Well, I was getting ready to invest a butt load of money in the E30, repaint, various ideas on body pieces (euro bumpers/ with mtech1, acs valence,or something similar) and I realized I 'm buying parts for a car that will cost more than the car is actually worth if I want everything done right.

Which got me thinking. I love e36 M3's. I love how they look, how they drive, and how good they can be stock.

So. I wanted to hear your stories, good/bad about E36 M3's, if you've owned one, or have known someone who has. What kind of problems are associated with them etc.?

Needless to say it will be my daily, it should be somewhat reliable, I have no problems keeping on top of things maintenance wise.

I'm aiming at picking one up this summer or next xmas. the money I've allocated for the E30 parts would be seed money for a savings account.

They go between 9k-13k out here for what seem to be good examples. Lots of slusho-matics, but since its a daily I think I might be able to deal.

I'd probably sell the E30, but its been almost rock solid mechanically so far and I don't want to go from something thats been pretty much hassle free to something thats going to give me major headaches.

Homie like everyone else has said, never give up your E30. Down the road you'll find yourself shopping for one again!!!!!!!!

[Jand3rson]

Did you just call him "homie"?

[Jesse30]

like everyone else has said, never give up your E30. Down the road you'll find yourself shopping for one again!!!!!!!!

he's right, i didnt even last 2 months.

haha once the bugs gotten you, your stuck. dont sell it. your going to miss it. even though its driving you crazy, your going to feel like you just signed away your kid. trust me. ;)

[James Crivellone]

I've driven a bunch of them, and worked on quite a few as well.

Let it be said that I really hate the e36 in general, everything from the car itself to the motor, however in terms of driving them and working on them here is my list.

Early 95 production M3's need the valve retainers replaced, and obviously is the only OBD1 E36 M3 in the US..The E36 loves to eat window motors, and as usual balljoints and suspension components tend to wear out. Plastic Impeller waterpumps, and plastic neck radiators lock to destroy themselves over time. 96+ don't really have anything insane I'd look for.

The S50/S52 is just a basic stroked M50/M52 motor, so you really don't have any insane ///M parts that need to be repaired/replaced.

The handling is very neutral stock, however the amount of driver feedback is rather lacking, and I really hate how heavy they feel, however as a daily driver they are certainly an acceptable option.

While the E36 has a much newer suspension, and can out handle a modified E30 if setup properly, the driver experience really lacks, and the E30 is certainly a chassis that loves to be tossed around the bends as much as possible.

For a comfortable daily driver, I'd look at an E34 or E39 instead of an E36, however if you want one dual purpose car, the E36 M3 is not a bad place to look, especially as it is nothing but a glorified 330/332 in the US.

[s0urce]

Having owned both an e36s and an e30s the choice is clear. e30s all the way!

[garrett]

I recently switched up from E30 to E36. I was formerly a hardcore E36 hater. My E30 was near stock and my E36 is modified, but the E30 was ten times more fun. Like some others have said, the E36 is low on feedback. It just feels heavy and not tossable like the E30. That said though, I'm glad I'm in an E36 now; it's performance is higher and it just never feels like it's breaking a sweat.

Both are great cars.

[Jordan]

I sold my old e30 and used the money I made to by a cherry 99 M3 with money to spare. I kept the car for 10 months or so and spend about 10k modding and maintaining it. It was a very capable track car that you could drive around no problem. I loved the car in every way but its no E30.. and thats good and bad.

You have to face it, the creature comfort is a lot nicer in a e36, it has better brakes, suspension, handling, engine, etc. It is the superior car. That said... e30's are just more fun to drive. Even my little 318iS with blown shocks and struts is more fun to putter around town in.

Just after I sold my M3 the new owner (who became a good friend of mine) dropped the car back off with a AA TS SC kit and had me install it for him. Now the results of that made one hell of a car, I think all the e36 M3 needs to become a riot is just more power. AA claims 418bhp for that kit... and its nothing short of amazing what it transforms the car into.

[Turf1600]

I'd sell my e36 and never want another one. I've owned 3 e30s and 6 2002s. Coincidence? Nah.