Why are e36's so worthless

[Morat]

I can't see any reason for buying an E36 over an E46, especially the touring which is butt ugly at both ends. E30s are still around because they look nice and are fun to drive. E36 is uglier than a squashed dog sausage and may be quicker round a track but that is irrelevant on the road.
If you want refined and competent get an E46 and you won't have to tear your own eyeballs out in shame whenever you see that hideous snout with its stuck on kidneys and "YER BUY ONE YER GET ONE FREE, I SAID..." double glazing over the headlights. Ugly Ugly Ugly.

[Ian_M]

"YER BUY ONE YER GET ONE FREE, I SAID..." double glazing

Worst adverts on the planet, why did he appear in so many.

[eko]

Because people are too stupid to realise that the e36 was better in every measurable way than the e30, but don't like them because they're not 'cool'

It was both a massive sales success, and widely regarded as the best drivers car in it's class, yet some peoples e30 blinkers are so firmly fixed they don't understand progress.

very true

[E30BeemerLad]

I have to admit, the E36 is growing on me more and more

[Jhonno]

Because people are too stupid to realise that the e36 was better in every measurable way than the e30, but don't like them because they're not 'cool'

It was both a massive sales success, and widely regarded as the best drivers car in it's class, yet some peoples e30 blinkers are so firmly fixed they don't understand progress.

This.. Great cars.

A nice one is a fantastic car to own, esp a Sport or M3

[Fushion_Julz]

It is a testament to the forward thinking and innovative design of the E36 that it looks modern today, some 20 years since the first models appeared.

That modern look is, I suspect, the reason a lot of folk on here don't like it much...

The E46 is pretty much just a re-hashed E36 design for the late 90s.

Personally, I think my E36 328i 4dr is a stonking car for the money...It is a worthy replacement to my previous E30 325i 4dr...it is more modern inside, better equipment, generally better made and put together and it is more economical, faster (in general), comfortable, quieter and it handles better...

If your E36 doesn't handle well and predictably, the rear bushes are shot!

They were (and are) a lot more plentiful than E30s ever were, so there are many more left on the roads...The low-spec and unloved ones are now in banger territory, so will be showing signs of neglect.
But in another 5-10yrs I would expect to see all the rusty old dogs be littering the breakers yards and the ones left start to become more appreciated...much as the E30 cycle showed..

[ivqii]

I've had 2 E36's as daily drivers - carefully chosen for service history and low mileage

One did 127,000 miles costing me a starter motor - price to me in 1999 - £2000- sold it in 2005 for £2400 (yup really)

The other was till going strong at 91,000 having cost me a coil and a window scissors when a bus wrote it off this year . Price to me in 2005 £1100 - insurance paid out £900

Both had aircon,returned 30 mpg and were bloody fine drives

I have NO complaints about e36's

[bedumon]

Because people are too stupid to realise that the e36 was better in every measurable way than the e30, but don't like them because they're not 'cool'

It was both a massive sales success, and widely regarded as the best drivers car in it's class, yet some peoples e30 blinkers are so firmly fixed they don't understand progress.

+1. And by looking at the dash you would never guess you were in a 15+ year old car. Must have been very modern when it was released....A very nice place to be.

[Blitz]

I dont think the E36 will ever become as sought after E30. E30 represents the Old skool generation of BMW.

[johnt0709]

I dont think the E36 will ever become as sought after E30. E30 represents the Old skool generation of BMW.

+1 I had an E36 318is straight after my E30 and hated it - still dont like them, got an E46 and prefer my E30.

As you say for me its old skool

[Fushion_Julz]

As you say for me its old skool

well, an E30 isn't as "old school" (see, I'm, old school 'cos I can spell school) as

[johnt0709]

Nice - cmon get with it......... I was born in the 60s

[Ian_M]

How old is 'old school'? Is there a check-list somewhere? What criteria must be met to qualify?

Seeing as some of the oldest E36s are the same age as some of the youngest E30s do they count?

In 10 years time will people be going, 'Nah, don't like the E46, it's all about the old school..... E36 all the way.' ?

[Morat]

It is a testament to the forward thinking and innovative design of the E36 that it looks modern today, some 20 years since the first models appeared.

That modern look is, I suspect, the reason a lot of folk on here don't like it much...

The E46 is pretty much just a re-hashed E36 design for the late 90s.

Personally, I think my E36 328i 4dr is a stonking car for the money...It is a worthy replacement to my previous E30 325i 4dr...it is more modern inside, better equipment, generally better made and put together and it is more economical, faster (in general), comfortable, quieter and it handles better...

If your E36 doesn't handle well and predictably, the rear bushes are shot!

They were (and are) a lot more plentiful than E30s ever were, so there are many more left on the roads...The low-spec and unloved ones are now in banger territory, so will be showing signs of neglect.
But in another 5-10yrs I would expect to see all the rusty old dogs be littering the breakers yards and the ones left start to become more appreciated...much as the E30 cycle showed..

How to miss the point!

Noone is saying that the E36 isn't more modern than the E30. They are. Big deal. The E30 is loved for what it is.

The E36 is more modern but it is ugly as sin. It is a design with no balance, no poise and horrible detailing. Driving an E36 marks you out as someone who wants a BMW but can't afford one in the way that an E30 doesn't (unless it's a rusty shed ofc).

If you gave me an E30 I'd cherish it. If you gave me an E46 I'd drive it. If you give me an E36, it would be straight down the scrapyard.

[johnt0709]

for me old skool is an 80s thing........applies to cars and early dance music..........or am i losing it?

i think if your looking for a criteria then your kinda missing it......

[Ian_M]

No, I'm not missing the point, I get 'old school' but what does something have to do to qualify... Just be of a certain age? Of a certain era? Specific style?

Does something get so old it goes past 'old school'? I'm just curious as to what everyone thinks.

[town325i]

for me old skool is an 80s thing........applies to cars and early dance music..........or am i losing it?

i think if your looking for a criteria then your kinda missing it......

There is no criteria its just people opinion what old skool cool and whats not

[Simon13]

e36's rule take the blinkers off people and like them for what they are. A 328 in any guise is a brillaint cheap performance car that will give a real world 30mpg.

The Z axle is a real step up from the E30 and better in most ways imo over the trailing arm setup. you just need alot more power and speed to get it to behave like an e30.

e36 is great in the wet, much safer than an e30 but sideways still comes with a bootfull!

i like them both, i'm not a real fan of the look of e36's but the rest of the car is bang on. You can see in so many areas how they moved the game on in the right direction over an e30. they learnt from the e30s weaknesses

The fact a good e36 drives pretty dam on like a brand new car imo. e46 is just a fat e36 with more electronics and alot less DIY friendly, they drive no better than an e36

[harry_p]

Ugly as sin, no poise no balance, horrible detailing.

I'm so ashamed I have to put a bag over my head when I drive it

[Blitz]

The E36 is a very nice design. Just needs nice spec to look nice. Just like most BMW's.

This is so 90's.

[youtube][/youtube]

Tell me thats not gorgeous.

[oldroydsr4]

Because people are too stupid to realise that the e36 was better in every measurable way than the e30, but don't like them because they're not 'cool'

It was both a massive sales success, and widely regarded as the best drivers car in it's class, yet some peoples e30 blinkers are so firmly fixed they don't understand progress.

Fully agree, the only people who slag of e36's are people who have never driven them or owned one.

When I had my 328i sport in montreal blue, I would often get comments by randoms on how nice a car it was.

The well specced, well looked after e36s command good money and deserve it, for a daily driver an e30 can't really compete with an e36 (I own 2 e30's).

When most of the e30 owners realize that the underseal on 90% of e30's is hiding serious rot they may opt for a nice e36.

Looking at the picture below, how can you say they are bad looking cars?


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Kos]

most e36's you see today are rubbish but a nice one still looks fresh and certainly doesnt look 20 years old

All E36's and the disgusting 'compact' turd should be sent to china for scrap,

I am sure this is an era that BMW would rather forget....

forget the era that put them where they are today ?

there have been some key moments and cars in bmw's post war era. the isetta, the e30 and e36 are 3 main ones imo

[Martinaston]

I was offered this for £1400, 325 auto.
Just don't have room so i mentioned it to a friend who was all willing until he got a quote from the insurance,
£2700, THIRD PARTY

I didn't believe him so i asked for a quote and it came back as £270 fully comp
He then tried again and was told £1900 fully comp

Needless to say he passed on the car, but we still don't get why such a huge difference in the quotes.

It was a nice car and would look even better after a good scrub but i just wasn't feeling the attraction to it so kept a level head and resisted temptation.
Apparently it went in the trader and was there almost a whole day, so someone must like them

[SDM]

great thread, loving some of the blinkered comments too, like everyone loved e30's so much that they didn't buy one they just waited for the e36 to come out, brilliant!

E36's are better than E30's in every way (///M cars excepted of course ).

Yes, the image took a dip due to the mass production and the values crashing in the past few years. Similar thing happened to E30's a long long time ago, to most people it's still a drug dealers car.

E36's are beautiful, great machines, great engines too.
Selling my 328 sport is my biggest regret.

Hell, I'm getting so nostalgic I might put an S50 in my car

[bss325i]

...no poise no balance....

Please tell me your kiddin right?

[E30BeemerLad]

I think he was Barry

[oldroydsr4]

...no poise no balance....

Please tell me your kiddin right?

Think you missed the point Barry, he owns an e36 M3

[bss325i]

Its been a long day!

Oh and E36's rock!

[DavieP]

I seriously hated the E36 when it emerged in '91, because it had the look of a pre-87 Sierra, which was not a good look. "Perked up and blobby" were my first thoughts when I went to see them in our local dealers and I was shocked by the design as well as the build quality. I had an E28 at the time and couldn't justify trading that in for what appeared to me like a Ford on a bad day. In my view, BMW had come to the end of their run.

Time's have moved on and the E36 was tidied up. Now, there are some highly attractive E36s around including eko's silver beasty (ignoring the occasional scab) and a rather fetching red one (admittedly driving past at 40+mph) that is for sale just around the corner from here. I'll never, ever sell my E30 or give up on it in any way, but I'm starting to think about getting a 'run-about' that doesn't matter and without any irrational emotional attachment. A good E36 might fit the bill nicely.

[tomislav]

I've never owned an e36 and have had2 e30 325i tourings, still wouldn't mind an e36 m3 tho. Just look at how much car you get for ya money.

I know you've gotta look for a decent e36 if ya gonna buy one but the same applies even moreso to e30's now.

Estoril blue e36 m3? £4000? Whats not to like! (apart from maybe the repair bills lol)

[zaust]

For me old skool is car's that were part hand crafted and did not have electrics every where for driver aid and saftey. They had carictor too. They gave you good feed back from the drive and if you got it wrong then they bit you back. and they were easy enough for someone to maintain without the need of a tech unless really serious. The e36 was bm's first really modern dialed in car that you can just point and go. Very quick out of the box and no real talent needed to drive them. And if you do crash then your reasonably safe. But then they were built to a budget, and saftey standred's and more for making money than impressing the driver. (which is why I suspect so many e30 part's were copied on them) They all look the same too which does not help. + When you see one rip up the road only one of two word's spring to mind, And they both begin with a C ....


No offence ment to anyone who own's one on here as I have had a few through my own hand's.

[dips346]

They all look the same too which does not help. + When you see one rip up the road only one of two word's spring to mind, And they both begin with a C ....

so same as most e30s then tech1/2 with alpina/bbs ?? lol

[octanejunkie]

E36's are not regarded with the same fondness as earlier Beemers. All that trouble with the Nikasil, and VANOS units and various other quality problems early on in production means that many people are put off, and they just aren't attracting the enthusiasts yet.
They still get luke warm reviews by the press as well. Couple that with huge production numbers, and you'll struggle to get a good price, even for the best cars.
I'm sure we'll be singing a different tune a decade down the line, but for now, they're still considered bangers.....

[zaust]

They all look the same too which does not help. + When you see one rip up the road only one of two word's spring to mind, And they both begin with a C ....

so same as most e30s then tech1/2 with alpina/bbs ?? .

To be fair thats now true. And i think my built to a budget coment was a bit harsh, the design is an over enginered one. Which is what makes them boring. But you can make a 316 look the same as a m3 with a few bolt on part's. Try to do that with a e30 amd you get sussed in a second.

[iDreamBeemer]

I did look at a 328 before I got my current e30 and I was dissapointed, the e30 was not quick but feels like a go-kart and has such a lovely direct feel. The e36 felt like any current saloon and felt under powered and I really did not like the way it felt the footwell is ofset to the left.

I keep seeing loads that look good value and in the right guise I think they can look nice. I am often tempted to try driving a few more to really make up my mind.

Basically I want to like them but just not convinced, a grand or so more and you'll have the e46 with not much difference in mileage, extras but 5-10 years younger still.