STAY E30 or Go E36

[alane]

At the moment i have a nice white 325i E30 convertable in good condition but ive seen a E36 in white 328i convertable with hardtop low milage for 4K

Am i crazy to even consider it

[mattyb240]

In a word, Yes. 328i is a nice drive though

[Simon]

E36 with the M bodykit in white look great.

Ultimately, it's your decision, but don't think it's mad to consider it, it is a newer car after all, and I don't think you would loose any money on either car.

[alane]

What about the price bodywork is good apart from a slight ding on the front bumper ,hood is new good serv history and hardtop ?

[motorsport786]

i would definately have a good think about it.....

[griff87]

A bit more cash and your into e36 M3 money fella, they really are quite cheap at the mo, and thats a hell of a difference from a 325i. I have a 325 and am currently considering the e36 route

[hoshy]

Just out of interest what is your motivation for changing ??

[b4gga83]

DON'T do it, I have done and am itching to get back into an E30! The drive is just something else in a e30 compared to the E36.

Although, I do agree with griff87 about the M3 e36, it is a very nice drive but expensive problems with the vanos can make for a very big hole in the pocket, upwards of £1500 to get it repaired.

[alane]

I dont realy know what the motivation is ,it just looked nice in white which seems to be the colour of the moment again

[Rosc0PColtrane]

I understand your plight. I'm looking at tourings. E36's have just started getting my attention. Whether or not our baby seat fits properly, may be the deciding factor...

[SHAKEELE30]

Naa mate i wouldnt do it if i was you, but that depends on what interests you, the drive will totally be different, and the e30's handling is better than e36's in my opinion. but that all depends on what you are afer?

[Jeepster]

Out of the box the e30 will handle better, a few inexpensive mods, the e36 is a different car and will leave e30's sat in the corner without issue.

I have had 2 e30's and 3 e36's, I prefer the e36, but that's just my personal opinion, its also worth pointing out though, I grew up on e30's, for ages my dream car was a 325 sport. All said and done its all down to what you prefer, both cars have pros and cons when compared to each other.

As for the damage to the front bumper, is it repairable, if not you can get Mtech bumpers for around a ton, you will struggle to get one in white though. As is the case with the M cars, there are a few loons that pop up now and again, but there is not many verts in white.

[e30bmlover]

it wasnt that long ago i was looking at a e36 m3 with the intention of buying it. the galactic milage put me off though! i have only driven a standard 328 2 door and it went well, it was quite funny with the traction control button on.. you can feel it fighting... take the button off and there is some seriouse fun to be had
but im still e30 to the core!

[Jeepster]

The tractions rubbish, even on the e46's, I really don't like it.

In all fairness they are quite boat like when on standard kit, I have heard 328 sports referred to as sport barges, I couldn't argue with that at all as I think the same. Similar story with the M3's imho too.

But a drop on Eibachs and some power flex bushes, will have the grin factor massively increased.

[georgen]

I understand your plight. I'm looking at tourings. E36's have just started getting my attention. Whether or not our baby seat fits properly, may be the deciding factor...

What type of baby seat do you have Nathan ? Our's fits in everything from the E30 to my Sprinter !!

[alane]

thanks for that fellas will ponder it over the weekend .........

[Jeepster]

I understand your plight. I'm looking at tourings. E36's have just started getting my attention. Whether or not our baby seat fits properly, may be the deciding factor...

What type of baby seat do you have Nathan ? Our's fits in everything from the E30 to my Sprinter !!

I think BMW went a bit wrong with the e36, not sure about the newer ones, but the e36 is a right pain for baby seats.

[mrLEE30]

328 with 325 TB and chip goes like hell, the E36 is a better car as its newer and thus more modernised, but i still will have a E30 any day of the week.

But if you must stay well clear of an auto box, it makes the car a dog

mrlee

[maxfield]

My tutor has an E36, very nice too! And said he did have an E30 which he did really enjoy.

But he said he would have his E36 any day of the week.

Everyones opinion is different...

[Jhonno]

e36 is a great car, but ultimately never going to be as 'chuckable' as an e30.. Depends what you are after

e36>e30 for a daily..

[corkie]

e30 all the way ive had 4 over the last 10yr e36 doesent have the same build quality or good look's imo.

[he30]

I don't mind the e36, it has to be in coupe guise mind. I think the m3 and sport models still look good when looked after.

[Jeepster]

e30 all the way ive had 4 over the last 10yr e36 doesent have the same build quality or good look's imo.

I hear this a lot, I accept the point about the looks, well I do for the M3, but its all personal anyway. Build quality is not worse on the e36, I've no reason to believe that the e30 is built better, the e36's I've had have been much better built than my e30's. I know all the stuff about the e30's being better engineered, but the dashes are poor, the seats easily torn or worn out, lots of touring's have broken trim around the boot and that's not even going into the comments made by people in the one thread about an e30 doing 190 or 200, where many stated bits would start to fall off at about 150.

Whenever comparing the two cars I have always said that they both have pluses and minus, I really don't think you can compare the two cars on build quality though, after all you could be comparing a 9yr old car to a 22yr old car, which in most cases is always going to show the 9yr to be better. After all there's 13yrs less use, less exposure to the elements, more modern use of materials and more efficient engines.

It strikes me as a throw away comment people make without any evidence to back it up.

[corkie]

that's a fair point. but i wouldnt buy one .

[DanThe]

The only 'real' benefit E36's have over E30's is the engines.

BMW obviously knew this as they designed E36 engine mounts to be compatible with E30 subframes = perfection

Everything else is just ponced up a bit

E30's ARE better and you know it

[j3nks79]

Ive had an e36 cabby before but i much prefer my e30. Plus e36 cabbies are everywhere

[Rosc0PColtrane]

I understand your plight. I'm looking at tourings. E36's have just started getting my attention. Whether or not our baby seat fits properly, may be the deciding factor...

What type of baby seat do you have Nathan ? Our's fits in everything from the E30 to my Sprinter !!

We have a Silver Cross job, for a new born. The baby seat has a bit of a wobble when fitted, the seat belt catch seems to be too high. This was in the 'pina, which has Sports Recliner seats. Are the benches different between Sports and Comfort? Mine is quite concave, looks more like 2 seats than three, if you get my meaning. I'm unsure if there is a difference as I'm used to the cabriolet!

I think BMW went a bit wrong with the e36, not sure about the newer ones, but the e36 is a right pain for baby seats.

That's interesting to know. I'll have to have a look at a few cars with the seat in tow.

[kipper]

stay clear of any 328i pre 1997...heads go on them easy..some thing about the metal used in the alloy is not strong enough i think

[corkie]

what dan the man said .

[hoshy]

I dont realy know what the motivation is ,it just looked nice in white which seems to be the colour of the moment again

I hear you - white hasn't been on my car list for a while but after seeing the new e9x in white I've started to like it again.


Change is always good but if you're really unsure you might just regret it.

Can you afford to keep both for a while?

[DanThe]

stay clear of any 328i pre 1997...heads go on them easy..some thing about the metal used in the alloy is not strong enough i think

Not even close... The heads are not an issue.

[Jeepster]

^^ Aye, its nikasil, no point explaining here, just google it.

[alane]

i understand nikasil had it on a jag i owned
i love the e30 shape and as said its becoming rare these days

[Jeepster]

Its an odd one though, Nikasil has been used on bike engine linings for years without issue.

[gooner1]

Well, tie me to a stake and burn me, but the e36 cab,s and coupes are really starting to grow on me.
Much as i love my 86 cab, it needs a fair bit of money spent on it to get it up to scratch. Could really do with a respray and has some very minor rust just starting to show on a rear arch. Have been qouted £2000 for the bodywork and new paint,which in all honesty is money that would be better spent elsewhere.
Problem is, if you can call it a problem,she is mechanically sound and the engine ,which even now is only showing just under 98000 miles is sweet as, just puts a big smile on my gob every time i drive her.