E30 --> E36 opinions

[KurtAZ]

Having owned a few Bimmers...88 325iC, 92 535i, 94 325is MTech, 85 635csi and now my 87 325is...my biggest regrets were selling the 325iC and selling the MTech. Not because it was a superior car or the fact that I loved the lines of the e36, just that it was one of the only 150 MTechs produced and I sold it because we were having our first kid. 4 years later and I am still kicking myself for that sale.

E36s make decent daily drivers, are heavier and as people have stated before, lack any real driver feedback. Much more electronically going on with them. Some of the issues I experienced were the plastic H2O pump impellers literally disintegrating and causing the cooling system to blow, little annoying electrical system gremlins (windows not opening and closing when the door is opened, just dropping all the way when the door was opened sometimes, etc) and the rear subframe is weak. I forget what year they fixed this in but many earlier models have had to had the subframe reinforced.

On the other side...did you mention you were considering an M3 with an automatic? That is just wrong...that's like...what..I don't know what to compare that too but it's just WRONG. Might as well get 4 doors at the same time.

[Hon2BMW]

On the other side...did you mention you were considering an M3 with an automatic? That is just wrong...that's like...what..I don't know what to compare that too but it's just WRONG. Might as well get 4 doors at the same time.

Actually I was considering getting a four door. all I've ever owned where coupes and hatchbacks, so it would make a nice change.

[Raxe]

I've always thought of the E36 as trying to be a new car. Like trying to roll in a new BMW but not having the dough, if you know what I mean. Ballin' on a budget. It's just a stepping stone for moving towards someday owning a brand new car. The E30 (and 2002) just scream "fuck it, I'm oldschool."

One reason I love the E30 is the fact that pretty much every single one of them is unique at this point. They're all worn differently and have different options or modifications. A lot of E36's look alike, especially the M3's and 318i's with M-Tech bodykits. Just another fish in the school.

[2002maniac]

a 4-door auto M3 is not worthy of it's badge.

[Skafrog]

a 4 door auto m3 will still whip an e30 into the ground in all aspects.
E36's kick ass, every thing on them is better.
However, they dont have the small tri box look like the e30's do, and since they are bigger, they dont have the same feel.
Of course, this whole thread is stupid. People who drive 2002's probably think e30's are sluggish, etc etc.

[gearheadE30]

I actually like the 4-door better. The 2-door seems oddly shaped at the rear, because of the brake lights. The e36 is a lot larger, but they are everywhere around here and they all look the same. I love the way the M3 looks and I'll probably own one someday, but they are big cars and really don't feel like an "M." The euro one probably feels a lot better. Of course, you could get an e34. Dirver feedback is way better, even though they are also heavy. 535i is the way to go, that or an M5.

[KurtAZ]

Actually I was considering getting a four door. all I've ever owned where coupes and hatchbacks, so it would make a nice change.

Go pick up an e34 M5 then. Or a 540i with a manual. Don't get me wrong...one of the models I want is an e36 M3 convertible in Estoril Blue. (A charcoal 507 and an AC Schnitzer S5 pretty much round out the list to buy if I hit the lottery :) ) There is a lot to be said about the M3 but seriously it is really up to you. I personally just think that an auto M3 sedan should NEVER have been made. Course I also think Chris Bangle ought to be drug out into the street and shot but hey, that's just me (and yes I realize they made this car prior to Chris's appointment).

[KurtAZ]

Here ya go...single owner in L.A.:
Edited for content...Needless to say there are some available in Los Angeles for less than $10k :)

[kommissar]

KurtAZ, not to sound like an ass or anything, but you're really not supposed to post up links to eBay, craig's list, or other websites selling cars unless you're the owner of the car being sold. The reason is that if one member was looking to buy the car, you've now potentially exposed the ad to many more people, creating the potential for a higher sale price, and screwing over the original buyer.

[bmw_e30]

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.

The 5-speed manuals are made by ZF on all E36 M3's....

[Ryan Stewart]

The 5-speed manuals are made by ZF on all E36 M3's....

No shit sherlock.

[bmw_e30]

I've tracked my E36 M3 for years now (12-15 times a year) and have tracked a E30 M3 a bunch of times also. I've also tracked my old E30 325i door when it was my track car.

The E36 M3 is a great all around sports car.

With mods it becomes a terrible DD and one of the best sports cars in history.....

I would spend the money and buy the cleanest one that you find.

Look to spend about 14-17 for a clean stock example to 16-20+ for highly modified ones.

I like both E30 M3's and E36 M3's. I just hate the owners........

[bmw_e30]

No shit sherlock.

My name isn't Sherlock.

[3SerieSensi]

Okay Ihave driven an AT e36 M and it was sluggish to say the least..... You cannot take the manual tranny out of a BMW, let alone M car, and have any sort of fun.... Sorry.

4 door ftw. In dark green, smoked lights and AC Schnitzer type II Racings. Would be nice?

We have a four door 328i in the family and before my sister stole it away it had clear lights and bilstein sports/vogtland springs. great car and very modern, hell of a torquey engine in the 328i. The more I think about them the more I want one, although I started this to put in a few words for the e30.....

I think a 328i or M3 would make a solid fun car, but like others, it would be hard for them to REPLACE a clean and loved e30.

[aaron325ix]

I love the e36 M3 might be getting a 99 soon actually, I drove my dads for about a year daily. However my heart belongs to the E30, most of it is probably nostalgia. I lived in D as a kid and my dad had 3 e30's, they are solid and you can make them into so much more. And I have to agree the 4-door is my preference, I just think they look better in sedan form, whereas I dont believe that with the E36. Especially if you have a dog etc. jUst get both :D. Cant go wrong.