Thoughts on E36 328i Sport..

Post Sat Jun 13, 2009 5:40 pm

A good friend of mine is torn between getting a 325i Sport E30 or an E36 328i Sport. Obviously Im biased and have advised him to buy the E30. However, he has made some good points for the E36...

He has viewed a few E30's and its a minefield as we all know. Some dog rough, rusty sheds demanding high money. For the same money if not less, you can pick up a 1998 328i Sport with lower miles, fewer owners, better perfomance and none of the rust issues you get with an E30....

For me, E30 ownership is all about this 'thing' which puts a smile on your face evrytime you start up the M20 and hear the 2.5 howl.....Iv never had the 328i sport personally, I did once own a nice E36 M3 Convertible which was very very very fast....but I could understand why he would go for the E36 with the points highlighted above.

Again, I know views will more than likely be biased but would be interested in your thoughts??

Stu

Post Sat Jun 13, 2009 5:42 pm

The E36 is a better all round car in every respect.

The E30 makes you feel better though

Post Sat Jun 13, 2009 5:50 pm

I like them, have owned about 10 e36's and a few 46's they are great on long journeys.

the 328 is good fun in the coupe shape but for me they lack personality and seem boring after a while

I have noticed a massive price drop in e36's this includes the soft tops

Post Sat Jun 13, 2009 5:53 pm

mmm the injection sport... yeah definatley nice cars.. when they are running alright.....

Post Sat Jun 13, 2009 5:57 pm

E30BeemerLad wrote:The E36 is a better all round car in every respect.

The E30 makes you feel better though

Better all round. Are you sure on that statement?

Post Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:07 pm

Have owned both, the e36 2.8 is an awesome engine and sounds like it is sucking in small animals when fitted with a Dave F induction kit. Much quicker than an m20 standard and with a lot of scope for more power with relatively simple & affordable tuning. But can't say i'm a great fan of the e36. Just not built that well. And is not as much of a drivers car as the e30.

Have since gone back to an e30 and am loving it, just missing the power! Half tempted to lift the lump out my 7

Post Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:29 pm

In basic terms,the E36 328i will make a very good engine donor for a 'proper' car...

Post Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:27 pm

The E36 is a better all round car in every respect.

+1

Better handling, smooth engine. Suprising performance compared with even todays standards.

A few mods and it is as quick as a E36 M3!

Post Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:32 pm

Does make one a very tempting buy....some nice looking examples around for £2500....

Post Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:49 pm

jamie325isport wrote:
E30BeemerLad wrote:The E36 is a better all round car in every respect.

The E30 makes you feel better though
Better all round. Are you sure on that statement?

Of course not, his E30 has been laid up for years! I bet he cant remember what its like to drive an E30

The only good thing a boring old E36 is good for is, as daimlerman said, an engine donor

Post Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:55 pm

i've been a passenger in one,
then had a drive in it myself.

very quick car,but fuel light came on

Post Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:59 pm

magpie wrote:i've been a passenger in one,
then had a drive in it myself.

very quick car,but fuel light came on

Modify the engine, then drop it in an E30 and tell me you still like the E36

Post Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:09 pm

just liked the speed of it only if in the short term,[owner had no fuel in it].

that lump in an e30

Post Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:21 pm

Or how about he goes for an e30 with a 328i engine in it :p?????

Post Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:33 pm

Rickz wrote:Or how about he goes for an e30 with a 328i engine in it :p?????

spot on,
but who'd sell one.

Post Sun Jun 14, 2009 3:05 am

E30BeemerLad wrote:The E36 is a better all round car in every respect.

The E30 makes you feel better though

I'd say an E36 is horribly shit in every respect

a 328 sport is supposed to be a good car.. A std 328 must be better than a 325, but take care when buying an M52 powered car & do change the linlet manifold for the larger 325 version.

big power to be had from the 2.8 but I'd prefer one wrapped in an e30..

Post Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:54 pm

I upgraded my daily from E30 Touring to E36 328 Touring couple months back and its a more comfortable car no questions for me. The better refinement and handling makes it feel more stable and planted compared to E30 your always on edge even at 40mph feels like your doing 80mph because its old

The 328 has plenty of torque low down which makes it feel beefy and effortless but make no mistake it's still a slow old thirsty turd and it sounds like a dyson

Post Mon Jun 15, 2009 4:13 pm

e30_singh wrote:
The E36 is a better all round car in every respect.
+1

Better handling, smooth engine. Suprising performance compared with even todays standards.

A few mods and it is as quick as a E36 M3!

No it isn't!

Post Mon Jun 15, 2009 4:13 pm

E36 is the better car...

They are however heavier and disconnected compared to an e30.. Depends what he wants from the car

Post Mon Jun 15, 2009 8:31 pm

E30 has more soul.

Post Mon Jun 15, 2009 8:40 pm

Blitz wrote:E30 has more soul.

So does Barry White.

Post Mon Jun 15, 2009 8:48 pm

I'd have an E30 over an E36 all day long. I HATE my E36.

My E30 actually feels faster and does more to the gallon.

The girls prefer my E36 to the E30, though. Ho hum!

Post Tue Jun 16, 2009 9:16 pm

Not sure if it was just mine, but my 328 felt like it was always trying to kill me, the (on the limit) handling was no where near as predictable as my e30.

Would never consider buying another one unless someone was to dangle some m3 keys in my face for silly money.

Post Tue Jun 16, 2009 9:20 pm

I agree with Stu. I didn't know how to write it at the time of writing my other post so left it out, but it handles like a bag of sh!te. Bloody twitchy one minute then spongy the next. Piece of crap.

Post Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:18 pm

only place an m52 is right is in an e30 shell and even then it's slow.

Post Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:32 am

Bob_S wrote:only place an m52 is right is in an e30 shell and even then it's slow.

Compared to an M20 2.7 obviously...

Post Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:44 pm

Let's face it, the difference is that e30 values have bottomed and are back on the rise, albeit slowly for the lesser engined variants. E36 values are close to rock bottom so they represent good value at the moment - the convertibles still have some way to fall though IMO.

An e36 is probably the 'wiser' buy at present - they are more car for the money if you are just trying to tick boxes or play top trumps - but my enthusiasm for e30s is about intangibles. I just like them, whereas I think e36s are just a car. They do have their fans though.

Post Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:17 pm

As an everyday car, especially if you do plenty of miles the E36 328i in sport or standard coupe form is a very nice and very capable car. They still feel pretty modern and good ones will still drive well.

Unlikely they will ever attain the desirability and "classic" status of the E30 325i Sport though.

As djk says the E36 is very much "just a car" rather than the E30 which people like for many reasons that they can't explain