E30 Zone

Discuss

Here we go again!!!

Over the past 6 years I've owned two E30's and one E36. Overall, the E36 is the more polished car. Mine's quite a late one (1997 P plate) and it certainly feels more solid than either of the E30's I've had. It's very well built, rattle free and with absolutely zero rust. The early E36's get quite a bit of stick for dodgy trim quality but mine is finished very well. I've had the E36 for five years and 70000 miles and its been pretty much faultless barring one head gasket (quite a common fault on the M43 engine). It's now on 100000 miles and is quiet in a way my E30 320i can only dream of.

However, when looking for a second car, I knew I had to have another E30. It still puts a smile on my face everytime I drive it. Whilst the handling on the E36 is razor sharp, the E30 allows you to play the hooligan if you wish. It's the last of the "old skool" BMW's. For an old car, they're very well built, simple to fix and don't have the council image the E36 currently has. The only thing I don't like about my E30 is the rather long winded lock to lock steering.

To sum up: E36=refined. E30=raw driving experience.

So E30 > E36

E36 > E30

But and e30 is more fun.. Except when you stuck underneath one sorting all the 'problems'

Horses for courses,

I could have gone out and bought a different car instead of BMW if I wished, I didn't I went out and bought an E30, I personally wouldn't buy an E36 unless I was raping it for parts, which umm... I did!

My E30 isn't my daily driver, or even my second car. But is good enough in my eyes to be on my drive pride of place. Its my favourite car.

Danny_boykk wrote:So E30 > E36

It horses for courses really. If I was driving 300 miles I'd take the E36 everytime. It's more predictable and simply more modern. If you want a bit of fun and a backroad blast, the E30 will put a bigger smile on your face.

What are the e36 compacts like??

Jay07 wrote:What are the e36 compacts like??

Ok but IMO a cheapening of the BMW brand. The dashboard looks like its made out of recycled egg cartons and they simply have a budget feel about them (e.g using the E30 heater vents, light switch etc). It's quite clearly made to a cost which I personally don't think is what a BMW should be about. Nowadays, they seem a bit pointless. A saloon can often be had for the same price and simply drives rings round it due to the Z-axle set up. I'm also not a fan of the rather shunted from behind look. Saying that, theres a nice 318ti near me with the M-Tech kit that looks lovely. I'm led to believe that the later E46 compact is a better car but I've never driven one (still no excuse for it looking like a Rover from the front though!)

E36 is a better car.

E30 more fun and better looks.

Nice 1 darkchild - Yep im not feeling that front either! ... for a while i was thinking of getting one as theres a nice one round the corner from me too, but i hadn't heard anything about them so i though id ask...

Jay07 wrote:Nice 1 darkchild - Yep im not feeling that front either! ... for a while i was thinking of getting one as theres a nice one round the corner from me too, but i hadn't heard anything about them so i though id ask...

No problem. They're not a bad car, far from it in fact. It's just that when you can have a saloon that drives, handles, feels and looks better for the same cash, I can't see what sense they make now (bar the fold down seats!). Unfortunately it marked BMW's start of a car for every market that has left us with the horror that is the 1 series today

The euro only 323ti would've been a flyer but I expect BMW were worried it would steal sales from the coupe.

I hear you mate! Im not feeling the 1... though i wouldnt say no if BMW were giving them away!! ... oh well... gota be happy with what i've got for now!!

darkchild wrote:

Jay07 wrote:What are the e36 compacts like??

Ok but IMO a cheapening of the BMW brand. The dashboard looks like its made out of recycled egg cartons and they simply have a budget feel about them (e.g using the E30 heater vents, light switch etc). It's quite clearly made to a cost which I personally don't think is what a BMW should be about. Nowadays, they seem a bit pointless. A saloon can often be had for the same price and simply drives rings round it due to the Z-axle set up. I'm also not a fan of the rather shunted from behind look. Saying that, theres a nice 318ti near me with the M-Tech kit that looks lovely. I'm led to believe that the later E46 compact is a better car but I've never driven one (still no excuse for it looking like a Rover from the front though!)

Have you seen the pics of the Hartge compact??

IIRC, there was a thread a few months back which pictured the Hartge Compact and another lovely looking modded compact.

The word compact derives connotations of make up. Perhaps an indication of the target demographic?

The e36 is an evolution of the e30, so instinctively should be a step forward in evolution. By all accounts the early e36 were left wanting in some areas as discussed in this thread.

The e36 will need to be pushed harder to coax a playful response out of it when compared to the e30. So you'd have to say the e36 handles better too.

An e30 is an old car now. Depends on your reasoning behind the purchase. It could be to have 8 months of driving then consign it to the scrappy. Or it could be to restore and love as well as drive hard, in which case it's flaws must be considered. They are well documented on this site.

I love my e30. I can honestly say I've only once seriously considered chopping it in, that was for an e34 M5. It wasn't sensible so I never did it.

I'm not overly enamoured to the e36, although the coupe with all the trimmings is a fantastic looking car. It's currently going through the chav phase. Bespotted charvers are getting their hands on these things now, natures way of culling an aging car.

The e30 has nearly come out of the other side now. While the dealers will stock everything, for those with bottomless pockets, that's not an option for us who cannot afford this path. I'd assume the second hand market place for e36 parts would be far more abundant than the e30 too. Perhaps another tick for the e36 box?

ive had an e36 318ti compact. was a nice car but yes you can see the cost cutting efforts in there like if you use a hoover to clean the rear shelf the crevice tool leaves nasty marks on the fabric, my foglamps had a habit of falling out and dangling by the wires. i also nudged a wall at about 5mph and the front engine mounts popped, leaving oil everywhere. on my 5th e30 now. i feel that the e30 is more rewarding as it lets you know what its doing whereas the e36 is more comfortable and maybe less driver feedbackish ( is there such a word?!)
ive got a copy of bmw car mag which has an 318iS e30 versus e36 318iS feature in which is worth reading as it sums both cars up quite well. i might scan it and put it on the zone?

I have a 1996 328i Sport. Definately a better car in most respects especially when it comes to the engines and rear suspension.

It really depends on what E30 your comparing to the E36. The good 200+ bhp 2.7's are seriously fun to drive with the right suspension and 225 tyres all round.

If you can afford it have both.

Danny_boykk wrote:Discuss

E36 > E30

I like both but the E36 is a better car if perhaps lacking in the old BMW character. I think a really nicely modded E28 looks better than either.

maxfield wrote:E36 is a better car.

E30 more fun and better looks.

what????????????

surely fun and good looks is all that matters?

Karan wrote:surely fun and good looks is all that matters?

hehe we talking cars or women.... ??

id have an e36 328i coupe over any e30 except an e30 m3.

e36 318i was my first bmw and the e30 felt like i had taken a big step backward when i bought her as it felt like an old car.

i didnt buy an e30 cos it was better or worse than an e36 i bought it cos it was cheap! lol

m-dtech wrote: id have an e36 328i coupe over any e30 except an e30 m3.

Only for breaking

the e36 is a more refined car, handles more safely, puts power down better, steering lock to lock is better and is well poised

with this in mind I would never buy one.
I'll take the e30 with an m42 or s14, both have 2 sides, both are getting rarer, and at the end of the day an e30 gives me more driver satisfaction and I feel is more rewarding to drive.. so so the rear suspention is agricultural, the engines are slightly underpowered bar is and 325, the steering is long winded and the wheel is bigger than a bus's but having the raw buzziness of a 16v and hounding hell out of one just puts a smile on your face, it's I can I will happily just pour fuel into.. unlike a sierra - I wont go out tonight I might have to put fuel in it or even tax it!

Karan wrote:surely fun and good looks is all that matters?

Look at it from a mechanical point of view.

E36 don't have the rust issues E30s have.

put it this way asking whether an e36 is better than an e30 on an e30 forum is asking for trouble....

the e36 is more refined but the e30 being more raw and classic you get to feel the car more if you get what i mean.

Every so often a newbie makes one of these stupid threads, what sort of response are you expecting from an E30 specific forum!!!

Let me put it like this. Last friday and fella turned up at my door, with 8k cash, wanting my sport!! I tod him where to go, then he offered me 10k and guess what?? I told him where to go! He gave me his number and told me the day i was going to sell it, to give him a call!!

If you find a real immaculate E30, you will never want to let it go!!

tomtomiS wrote:ive got a copy of bmw car mag which has an 318iS e30 versus e36 318iS feature in which is worth reading as it sums both cars up quite well. i might scan it and put it on the zone?

i would be intrested in seeing this mate

dimebag_from_hell wrote:Every so often a newbie makes one of these stupid threads, what sort of response are you expecting from an E30 specific forum!!!

Let me put it like this. Last friday and fella turned up at my door, with 8k cash, wanting my sport!! I tod him where to go, then he offered me 10k and guess what?? I told him where to go! He gave me his number and told me the day i was going to sell it, to give him a call!!

If you find a real immaculate E30, you will never want to let it go!!

Would you accept it if the cash had any monetary value i.e. wasnt laundering because tbh who carries 10K cash around

Danny_boykk wrote:who carries 10K cash around

Somebody wanting to buy a mint Sport?

Danny,

Is it your intention to come on here and wind everyone up in the first few days of your joining the forum?

If you are serious about staying then may I suggest you try and be a little more restrained in you humour and concentrate on making more of a contribution. Alternatively, if you are here just to wind people then kindly don't bother.

If you have a problem with this then feel free to PM me.



Dameon.