e36 touring vs e46 touring

[danryan]

in the summer i want to spend a maximum of £1500 on either of the above as my daily car. i want a 318 eitherway for fuel economy.

i take it i will get a rough high millage e46 or hopefully a top spec e36 good one.

any opinions on whats best? i would be happy to spend some cash on them over time, but my e30 touring would be having most of my attention.

[capri_rob]

Get a mint E36 touring. No argument.

You probably wont need to spend £1500 to get a decent 318i - whereas if you go for an E46 you'll be looking at very early ones that will have been to the moon and back.

I loved my E36 Touring - one of the best cars I've had.

[danryan]

i was thinking the same, some of the late e36 seem to have some nice spec. i recently drove a e46 318touring with 277k and it was a nice drive with just the front wings showing some rust.

i suppose i could be tempted in a 323, 325 if it was low millage. then i could use the engine at a later date for my e30 318 touring.

[capri_rob]

I had a 323 SE Touring - was a cracking car.

Although if you're going to go to the trouble of an engine swap at a later date you may as well get the biggest cc you can find - so a 328i is what you need

[danryan]

the engine swop would probably never happen but i supose with the e36 touring you have to buy with the bodywork in mind first. do they have the rust issues like the e30?

[capri_rob]

they do have issues but not as rampant rust as the E30.

If you buy a sub £1k snotter then yes you can expect problems - if you spend a bit more on a lower mileage example thats been looked after it shouldnt be a problem.

[danryan]

thats what i was thinking of doing. i just didnt want to go down the same road as the e30.

so if anyone knows of a nice e36touring with leather etc let me know for the summer

[danryan]

just seen a e36 328 sport touring on ebay looks lovely. strong money at nearly £1700. something like that would be ideal, but has to be in may/june time

[Simon]

just seen a e36 328 sport touring on ebay looks lovely. strong money at nearly £1700. something like that would be ideal, but has to be in may/june time

Strong money for a late 328i touring with the full kit and leather!?

That's a bargain! Only 102k on the clock too...

[danryan]

thats a good price for that then. i didnt know what they went for.

yes it had 102k and looks lovely. just needs a new battery and wing mirror cover.

i would imagine that this model would hold its value in the future.

[Simon13]

u find any 328i touring with 100k now let alone with kit and sport leather!

[pac1982]

just seen a e36 328 sport touring on ebay looks lovely. strong money at nearly £1700. something like that would be ideal, but has to be in may/june time

No such thing as a 328 sport touring, the only tourings which were graced with the sport title were a limited run of 323 sport tourings.

[Blitz]

You should be able to get a very nice 318i for that budget. Shame you were not around when Trevor (B7) had one for sale.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... light=318i

[danryan]

just seen a e36 328 sport touring on ebay looks lovely. strong money at nearly £1700. something like that would be ideal, but has to be in may/june time

No such thing as a 328 sport touring, the only tourings which were graced with the sport title were a limited run of 323 sport tourings.

i only went on what the ebay listing said

[lady-lumps]

Having owned both, the E46 is a far superior car in every way.

I had a 318 facelift with the 2.0 16v lump was a lovely car

I've had a few E36's 320/323/325/328/318is/318 etc interior build quality is rubbish

If you can afford a E46 then get one.

[pac1982]

Having owned both, the E46 is a far superior car in every way.

I had a 318 facelift with the 2.0 16v lump was a lovely car

I've had a few E36's 320/323/325/328/318is/318 etc interior build quality is rubbish

If you can afford a E46 then get one.

Well that’s a load of tripe, you don’t find E36’s with cracking sub frames and floor pans, which is a common problem on all models of the E46.







This is what the boot floor can look like when the carpet is lifted.







Also how can you say an E36 interior build is rubbish compared to an E46?? I too have experienced both and don’t really notice much of a defence if anything the older E36 feels more solid than the E46, I feel the E46 uses cheaper more flimsy plastic

[Blitz]

I find the E46 interior much better quality then the E36.

[pac1982]

I find the E46 interior much better quality then the E36.

Each to there own I guess, I know the E36 is a much better built car overall.

and having trimmed a few E36's and E46's I know the seats and door cards are much better made on the 36.

I lost count of the amount of door card repairs I had to do on the E46's due to them falling apart

I will admit the dash board feels better quality on the E46 but not so much so that the 36 feels rubbish

[Simon13]

e36 interiors are the worst quality BMW imo. The late cars are ok but if you've ever been in a cloth seats J plate one then you'll see where people are coming from!

[capri_rob]

The E46 cloth "comfort" seats look bloody awful

[bss325i]

I find the E46 interior much better quality then the E36.

Each to there own I guess, I know the E36 is a much better built car overall.

and having trimmed a few E36's and E46's I know the seats and door cards are much better made on the 36.

I lost count of the amount of door card repairs I had to do on the E46's due to them falling apart

I will admit the dash board feels better quality on the E46 but not so much so that the 36 feels rubbish

Now this is a load of tripe FFS!

E36 door cards are f*cking toilet compared to E46 ones, the clips break and they delaminate at the top!

E36 seats are a simpler construction to E46 ones but E46 ones are better and dont suffer from the foam crumbling away and exposing a metal bolster bar like E36 sport seats.

E46's are not as common for cracking rear sub frame mounts as the internet would have you believe and not all of them suffer from it.

The boot floor pan was revised in 2000 so its very rare for post 2000 E46's to suffer from it with it generally being abused SMG M3's.

E36's are a good simple car but do not come close in terms of build quality to E46's.

You've changed you tune now that you own an E36! Its not that long ago when you owned an E30 that E36's were shite!

[zaust]

Have owned a 328 e36 touring and hated it. Now own a 46 touring and. Love it. No contest between the two. And the 46 is so easy to work on too. But both do suffer from rust so

take your time looking.

[harry_p]

E36 rear subframe mounts corrode and crack too, the m3s got strengthening plates to stop it.

I find the e36 interior quality fine, it just looks a good 15 years older than the 46s, it really is pretty ugly!

Early e36 doorcards are notorious for crumbling and falling off, although they've been fine on the two 96 e36s I've owned.

[pac1982]

I find the E46 interior much better quality then the E36.

Each to there own I guess, I know the E36 is a much better built car overall.

and having trimmed a few E36's and E46's I know the seats and door cards are much better made on the 36.

I lost count of the amount of door card repairs I had to do on the E46's due to them falling apart

I will admit the dash board feels better quality on the E46 but not so much so that the 36 feels rubbish

Now this is a load of tripe FFS!

E36 door cards are f*cking toilet compared to E46 ones, the clips break and they delaminate at the top!

E36 seats are a simpler construction to E46 ones but E46 ones are better and dont suffer from the foam crumbling away and exposing a metal bolster bar like E36 sport seats.

E46's are not as common for cracking rear sub frame mounts as the internet would have you believe and not all of them suffer from it.

The boot floor pan was revised in 2000 so its very rare for post 2000 E46's to suffer from it with it generally being abused SMG M3's.

E36's are a good simple car but do not come close in terms of build quality to E46's.

You've changed you tune now that you own an E36! Its not that long ago when you owned an E30 that E36's were shite!

Wrong I never said e36 were shite an e36 was my first BMW and started my love for the make, show me a post where I have slated e36's.

You may well find plenty of me hating e46's though even while I had my e30 started off hating them due to not liking the shape then drove a few and seen first hand friends and family have issues with them ranging from my sisters 316, a close mates 330 and most recently a friends CSL all of who hated the cars and got rid in under 12 months. Quite surprised about the CSL tbh even I thought that was a funky motor what with me disliking e46

The cracking problem is more commen than you may think, let me guess you drive an e46?

[bss325i]

The cracking problem is more commen than you may think, let me guess you drive an e46?

Common.

And its now where near as common as the interweb would have you believe!

I have owned 3 E46's and 5 E36's.

Also, take note of my sig. I have literally worked on hundreds if not thousands of BMW's including many many E46's of varying ages, conditions, mileages and models so i think i'm more than qualified to have a realist opinion on the matter.

Let me guess, you've never owned an E46?

[pac1982]

The cracking problem is more commen than you may think, let me guess you drive an e46?

Common.

And its now where near as common as the interweb would have you believe!

I have owned 3 E46's and 5 E36's.

Also, take note of my sig. I have literally worked on hundreds if not thousands of BMW's including many many E46's of varying ages, conditions, mileages and models so i think i'm more than qualified to have a realist opinion on the matter.

Let me guess, you've never owned an E46?

Posting on my iPhone don't help and my spelling is bad at the best of times, never wanted to own an e46 and never will I've also worked on 100's of BMW's specialising on the interiors and seeing as that's the main thing under discussion here I would say I'm just as qualified to put my point across as you, let's face it one thing that's fairly good in most BMW's is the engine.

And thankfully no I've never owned an e46 and never will seen to many people have problems and simply don't like them I'm a big fan of boxey cars which is why I like older BMW's the e46 was one of the first bmws to start getting round

[jonb]

e36 interiors are the worst quality BMW imo. The late cars are ok but if you've ever been in a cloth seats J plate one then you'll see where people are coming from!

Yep.

Those horrible seats with that soft cloth, and the creaky door cards.

As you said, the later ones were alot better.

And personally the m3 vader interior is one of the best set of seats ever made.

[bss325i]

Sorry pac, fitting a few seat trim kits doesn't give a valid opinion on the overall quality of the E46 model including the sub frame issue.

Have you ever completely gutted and refitted an E46 interior?

[pac1982]

Sorry pac, fitting a few seat trim kits doesn't give a valid opinion on the overall quality of the E46 model including the sub frame issue.

Have you ever completely gutted and refitted an E46 interior?

Yes many times bar a full dash removal why do you ask?

[bss325i]

Sorry pac, fitting a few seat trim kits doesn't give a valid opinion on the overall quality of the E46 model including the sub frame issue.

Have you ever completely gutted and refitted an E46 interior?

Yes many times bar a full dash removal why do you ask?

Removing the seats and door cards (about 15 min work) is not gutting a whole interior. I'm talking every single part down to the last clip, screw and grommet.

If you haven't then to don't know how an E46 interior is put together and your opinion isn't good enough to be a judge of weather its any good.

You haven't even removed a dash.

[pac1982]

Sorry pac, fitting a few seat trim kits doesn't give a valid opinion on the overall quality of the E46 model including the sub frame issue.

Have you ever completely gutted and refitted an E46 interior?

Yes many times bar a full dash removal why do you ask?

Removing the seats and door cards (about 15 min work) is not gutting a whole interior. I'm talking every single part down to the last clip, screw and grommet.

If you haven't then to don't know how an E46 interior is put together and your opinion isn't good enough to be a judge of weather its any good.

You haven't even removed a dash.

Jesus man you've got a real malfunction of some kind didn't realise I had to have removed a dash to be considered worthy.

I think you'll find I can say if I feel a car is built well or not without having taken it to bits.

I've told you this before and I'll say it again get off your high horse and realise this is a forum where people express there peronal views based on there own life experiences.

Mine just happen to be bad ones as far as the e46 go and no matter how much pointless bleating and willy waving you do is not going to change that.

[bss325i]

Jesus man you've got a real malfunction of some kind didn't realise I had to have removed a dash to be considered worthy.

I think you'll find I can say if I feel a car is built well or not without having taken it to bits.

I've told you this before and I'll say it again get off your high horse and realise this is a forum where people express there peronal views based on there own life experiences.

Mine just happen to be bad ones as far as the e46 go and no matter how much pointless bleating and willy waving you do is not going to change that.

Ok, ill say it how it is.

This forum is full of people that are so full of themselves and talk shit without any real experience to back it up.

Pac, your opinion on the matter is worthless and making statements like,

Well that’s a load of tripe, you don’t find E36’s with cracking sub frames and floor pans, which is a common problem on all models of the E46.

I know the E36 is a much better built car overall.

The cracking problem is more commen than you may think, let me guess you drive an e46?

shows that you are among the ones that are full of shit.

[pac1982]

Jesus man you've got a real malfunction of some kind didn't realise I had to have removed a dash to be considered worthy.

I think you'll find I can say if I feel a car is built well or not without having taken it to bits.

I've told you this before and I'll say it again get off your high horse and realise this is a forum where people express there peronal views based on there own life experiences.

Mine just happen to be bad ones as far as the e46 go and no matter how much pointless bleating and willy waving you do is not going to change that.

Ok, ill say it how it is.

This forum is full of people that are so full of themselves and talk shit without any real experience to back it up.

Pac, your opinion on the matter is worthless and making statements like,

Well that’s a load of tripe, you don’t find E36’s with cracking sub frames and floor pans, which is a common problem on all models of the E46.

I know the E36 is a much better built car overall.

The cracking problem is more commen than you may think, let me guess you drive an e46?

shows that you are among the ones that are full of shit.

Does it really? They are just my views which I deem as correct, your the one trying to force his views down people's necks.

Face it I don't like E46's sorry to disappoint you now get your head out you arse and realise that the world is full of people with different views than you, the quicker you realise that the easier life will be.

Cheer up you grumpy old sod go out and get some pussy or something instead of spending all you life stripping cars down to every last nut and bolt which you clearly spend to much time doing already.

[bss325i]

Does it really? They are just my views which I deem as correct, your the one trying to force his views down people's necks.

Yes it does because your views are not based upon fact where as mine are just that, fact.

Face it I don't like E46's sorry to disappoint you now get your head out you arse and realise that the world is full of people with different views than you, the quicker you realise that the easier life will be.

That's cool, i don't care what you do or don't like but when you spout shit on a subject that i know a lot about then that's a different matter.

And yes, the world is full of people that chat shit like you, i realised that a long time ago.

Cheer up you grumpy old sod go out and get some pussy or something instead of spending all you life stripping cars down to every last nut and bolt which you clearly spend to much time doing already.

Well one thing you are right about, i do spend too much time working on cars but then as it's my profession i'm kind of stuck there.

[pac1982]

Does it really? They are just my views which I deem as correct, your the one trying to force his views down people's necks.

Yes it does because your views are not based upon fact where as mine are just that, fact.

Face it I don't like E46's sorry to disappoint you now get your head out you arse and realise that the world is full of people with different views than you, the quicker you realise that the easier life will be.

That's cool, i don't care what you do or don't like but when you spout shit on a subject that i know a lot about then that's a different matter.

And yes, the world is full of people that chat shit like you, i Arealised that a long time ago.

Cheer up you grumpy old sod go out and get some pussy or something instead of spending all you life stripping cars down to every last nut and bolt which you clearly spend to much time doing already.

Well one thing you are right about, i do spend too much time working on cars but then as it's my profession i'm kind of stuck there.

I think you'll find my views are also based on fact I didn't just wake up one day a decide e46 were poorly built its based on things I've seen with my own eyes.

I've witnessed a 2 cracked subframes/floor pans various electrical faults and shabby interiors, the leather used in e46's is also of poor quality I've seen e46's with less than 50k on the clock with more wear on the leather than my 20 year old 170k e30 had all fact nothing made up here.