WILL THE E36 EVER BE AS RESPECTED AS THE E30 IN TIME?

Post Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:14 am

In all honesty the only E30's that are holding value or rising in value are M3 and 325i sport. A touring with a rust free shell and decent spec will fetch reasonable money but the rest are just old cars.Both M3 and the sport were built fairly small numbers,this is the key to their desirability.No doubt that E36/46 etc are 'better' cars,but also built in far bigger numbers.E36 M3 must be the performance saloon car bargain at the moment,but this was built,not to win races,but to win sales.If you wander around a field full of 'classic' cars at an old car event,just have a listen to what Joe Public is saying to Mary Public, 'I remember dad/uncle Fred/grandad driving one of those...' Nostalga,that's what classics are about.Me? I enjoy my E30's because they are fun,every trip out makes me smile,and,I can fix them myself...with zone help!

Post Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:44 am

fozzymandeus wrote:One day, decent E36s will be rare as you like. Nikasil will kill off all the pre 98 323s and 328s, (scoff all you like, but check out the number of E36s and E39s in scrappies due to "engine problems"), and the earlier models will die of neglect and probably cracked rear suspension mounts.

It's looking more and more dated as time passes, but it'll never be as good looking as an E30. However looks don't make a classic on their own.

Nikasil is hardly a problem for E36's today. Most of the 6 cylinders in scrappies with "engine problems" are ones with replacement blocks that have overheated. Blow a head gasket in one of these and its game over and new engine time.

Post Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:00 pm

steerfromtherear wrote:I have owned 4 e30s. 4 e36s and a few other bms along the way. I have yet to own a e30 that was "better" than any of my e36's. I really like e30s hence the 4 Ive bought and my membership on here but I dont understand the over inflated view some of you guys have of them.
They arent really old or cool enough to be "retro" yet. Ask any regular person on the street and they will say its just an old bm. They are a few years off being cool truthfuly.
They arent technically brilliant enough to be considered better than an e36 at anything they do, be it reliabilty, track work, day to day use etc.

A decent E36 still feels like a modern car, something you could never say about an E30 (though its old skool character is all part of its charm). E36's are probably just a little bit too refined for their own good but they're a cracking everyday steer. It's only when I've done a long journey in my E30 and then step into the E36 that you see just how far BMW moved the game on.

In 7 years of driving E36's I've only ever had one person comment on it, whilst the E30 attracts positive comments everytime I take it out.

Post Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:02 pm

People have said the e36 is ugly, Am I missing something? i think it looks stunning and definatley can become a classic.

vvv

Post Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:08 pm

griff87 wrote:People have said the e36 is ugly, Am I missing something? i think it looks stunning and definatley can become a classic.

A M-Tech coupe is a very attractive car IMO and the saloon is a far better and sleeker looking car that the fat E46 4 doors that replaced it.

Post Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:34 pm

Exactly, I dont see how this

isnt as attractive as this

Note how I fairly choose tidy sports with fancy wheels to compare.

Post Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:44 pm

steerfromtherear wrote:

Lovely car.

I get to drive daily an E36 328i sport and a E36 328i touring, both are very capable, good looking, and very well built cars.

E36's are very good value for money at the moment.

Post Fri Feb 06, 2009 1:06 am

Are those wheels on the e36 off an 8 series?

Post Fri Feb 06, 2009 2:46 am

I don't think the E36 will be as respected as the E30 but they have great potential to become classics when they are a rare sight on the roads. At the moment its the no.1 choice for being council ed.

When I see a nice unmolested E36 I think what nice car and how well its been looked after.

Post Fri Feb 06, 2009 4:15 am

DublinBMW wrote:Are those wheels on the e36 off an 8 series?

e39 5 series but same as on the 8s.

Post Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:48 am

In answer to the original post - Yes on both counts. As 328i Sports get rarer they will go up in value and gain more respect - no question. In 20 years time what else from the 90's are you gonna look back on fondly ? - A vectra SRI ? Mondeo ? no. Offerings from Audi and Mercedes in the 90's were similarly dull. The 328i Sport is a great car.

I've on my 4th E30 and have had one E36 328i Coupe - which was the most capable car I've ever had. Maybe it was because mine was quite a low mileage example but I had no issues with the fit/finish or interior build quality - everything worked and its was squeak/rattle free.

I like them - and unmolested good condition 328i Sports and M3's look great. Its the chavved up council 316i's with neons and "phat rimz innit" that I can't stand.

Post Fri Feb 06, 2009 9:22 am

An E30 is respected?

I mean, I know it is here, but that's pretty much a given. My mate and his mates (in their "redtop Calibra innit mate, could totally do a Ferrari off the line, nahmean?" wrongness) take the piss out of my E30s. Ordinary people just see it as a white car.

Post Fri Feb 06, 2009 11:07 am

i have no doubts that the e36 will be where the e30 is sometime in the future. . . but they are in the hands of w@nker$ at the moment... plus the dirty six weighs more than the e30... and dosent look as good as the e30.... the e36 in my eyes is too modern! although i do love the flared arches on the s3 e36... she's paying tribute to the e30 m3!! team schnitzer... sponsored by warsteiner........