E36 or not to E36

[greentouring]

I have a strange pull towards their shape. Of course, I still love the E30, but am strangely aroused by the '36 on occasion.

Just how good is it with regards to build quality, tuneability (made that word up) and overall performance. For argument sake: the 325i?

[Jhonno]

better off with the 323 or 328 .. Moe tunable, ali block

e36 is a great car.. Moe grown up than the e30 tho. Build quality on my 328 is excellent, not a rattle to be found

[greentouring]

I recently saw a Ltd Edition E36 on ebay. I can't quite remember, but think it was a Racing Dynamics version. The Ltd Ed number was low and the car fantastic-looking. It went for just over £3,000 if I remember correctly.....not bad, if it was as rare as the owner made out.

[Ajay325]

yep, e36's are very good cars, i've had 4 in the family over the years. My personal favourite would be the 328i sport in muave purple . comes with nice bodykit and 2 piece BBS wheels, looks nice as it is and performance wise it is very good.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

325i inlet and a remap to free a few 328i horses!

[fozzymandeus]

I've got a late model E36 323 convertible and it's a great car. It's harder to make the rear unstick than it is on an E30 316i, so you can drive them very quickly with confidence.

The 325i M50 is a good engine, and they can be bought for peanuts. For maximum cool I'd search out a really early 325, like an H reg 'loon etc... if you can find a nice one it'll be really cheap, and in an E30 colour to boot!

[1an]

I've got a late model E36 323 convertible and it's a great car. It's harder to make the rear unstick than it is on an E30 316i, so you can drive them very quickly with confidence.

The 325i M50 is a good engine, and they can be bought for peanuts. For maximum cool I'd search out a really early 325, like an H reg 'loon etc... if you can find a nice one it'll be really cheap, and in an E30 colour to boot!

my 316 e30 slides around all the time. and that is with some toyo proxy tyres, and full suspension rebuild.

[darkchild]

They are a very underated car. I'd advise to go for as late a plate as possible. The early ones are well known for having dodgy trim (never as bad as some would make out) and quite a few are sporting scabby arches, rot around the bootlid etc. Mine is a 1997 P Plate and is superbly built and feels a lot more solid than my E30. Rattle free, silky smooth and just a lovely drive. The handling is razor sharp and their steering rack is a big improvement on the E30. It simply drives and feels like a new and more grown up car (whether you call that progress or not is up to you). The extra weight though does rob it of the character that the E30 has.

I've had mine for 5 years and 70K and its been by far the best car I've owned. Apart from regular servicing and the odd suspension bush it's cost me next to nothing to run.

A lot of the 325i's are fairly tired now. I'd ignore the 323i (smooth but not particularly quick) and go for a 328i. Add a 325i inlet manifold, BB throttle body and a remap and, for considerably less outlay, you've got a car that will give an E46 330i a nose bleed. A 328i Sport Coupe is still a stunning looking car.

[fozzymandeus]

I like my 323... and it's plenty quick enough for me!

[eko]

They are a very underated car. I'd advise to go for as late a plate as possible. The early ones are well known for having dodgy trim (never as bad as some would make out) and quite a few are sporting scabby arches, rot around the bootlid etc. Mine is a 1997 P Plate and is superbly built and feels a lot more solid than my E30. Rattle free, silky smooth and just a lovely drive. The handling is razor sharp and their steering rack is a big improvement on the E30. It simply drives and feels like a new and more grown up car (whether you call that progress or not is up to you). The extra weight though does rob it of the character that the E30 has.

I've had mine for 5 years and 70K and its been by far the best car I've owned. Apart from regular servicing and the odd suspension bush it's cost me next to nothing to run.

A lot of the 325i's are fairly tired now. I'd ignore the 323i (smooth but not particularly quick) and go for a 328i. Add a 325i inlet manifold, BB throttle body and a remap and, for considerably less outlay, you've got a car that will give an E46 330i a nose bleed. A 328i Sport Coupe is still a stunning looking car.

The 323 is a 2.5 anyway so just swap the inlet to let more power out

[greentouring]

No association and all that stuff..............

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AC-SCHNITZER-BMW- ... dZViewItem

[AndyTouring]

Sadly the E36 whips the E30 on just about every level - ride, handling, power, economy, durability, etc. Not surprising when you consider how much BMW spent developing it. Whether it's as cool or not is down to personal choice. The E36 seems to have attracted all the chav element that once plagued the E30. Good original cars are hard to find.

If you're interested, have a look at this unmolested Cabrio for sale. I wish I had the space for it as it seems a real bargain.

And no, I'm not the seller!

[darkchild]

I like my 323... and it's plenty quick enough for me!

They are a fantastic drive but the ones I've driven took some serious revs to get them to shift. All the power was at the top end. Sounded lovely though and was silky smooth. As Eko says, a few simple mods and you're looking at 190bhp and standard 328i power.

[Zerotonine]

The E36 is a great car. I have no regrets about getting mine. it has a few minor niggles but it is 12 years old, it is a good all round car. It they do look good, and a nice one will turn heads.

[m3mpower]

i use to have a e30 320i se and i loved, and i recently bought a e36 318is and it's lovely, i really like it, engine is smooth and powerful enough for me, however i still think that e30 320i or 325i has the best engine sound, it's just great.