Do I do the unthinkable? Switch to an E36?!

[NIX]

Right guys, I could do with some advice!

I have had my e30 since 2004. It's had a number of changes, improvements and headaches. But I still love it. So much so that I want keep it but take it a step further and go for a 5 series V8 conversion once I have given the bodywork a respray in gloss black and refurbed the sports leather. Including things like bigger brakes and deeper dish BBS, I'd be looking at £10k's worth of investment over the next few years, making it a car I'd no doubt keep forever.

BUT... I recently came across a really clean, low mileage example of an e36 m3. I've always thought e30's had stacks more character and never entertained the thought of buying an e36 but there's something to be said for a clean, unfettled example of an m3, not to mention the price of just over £4k from a fellow zoner actually.

My real dream car is a 993 911. I will buy one at some point but but 10k into the e30 will delay that for a while although I'd then at least have 2 great cars in my mini collection whilst the e36 would be more of an interim car and probably mean I buy the 911 that much sooner.

What do you guys think? Should i sack of project v8 e30 and go the easier and cheaper option?

Thanks,

Nick

[domkolo]

nick, it's a good thing you're keeping your e30 and not selling it for an e36, you'd be a bonehead.

but, having said that, e36 m3's have pretty much bottomed out in value at the moment so buy one in estoril or avus blue with cream or black leather. enjoy it and sell it for twice as much in a few years time when people start to remember them,

a worthwhile investment i'd say

[Quaser]

I take it the e30 will not be sold - i'd buy the m3, and maybe later you could use the engine out of that to put in your e30?

[sunnysr]

Spend the money on the e30 I have had 4 e36 s now and have came back to e30 do the conversion on yours it will be faster and look better .the e36s rust just as bad and the trim is a lot worse for falling to bits I went to view a few m3 evo s before I bought my e30 sport and most when you got up close were rusty trim was a joke in two roof lining falling down and another the windows wouldn't go up properly had the same prob on another e36 I had they also if your bothered about image it looks like you can't afford a e46 where as an e30 has a much more retro cool image ,having said all that they are very cheap for the car you get .

[NIX]

Thanks guys. If I were to go for an e36 m3 I'd sell the e30 to part fund it.

The e30 would be great if I can get it to where I want it but the e36 m3 is a quicker fix and still a good all round motor, but perhaps not something I'd keep peering around the curtain to look at.

[ross_jsy]

I would go for the e36 myself. They are cracking cars. Really quick, useable and handle great.

Plus if it is mint and a low miler, I see m3 prices starting to rise in the near future so could be a good investment

[suchy]

Depends how much you want to keep the car!!! If you really want to keep and do the stuff above then get a cheap smoker as a daily and do the E30 or save for a 911? You either want to keep it or not that bothered in which case sell it!!

[NIX]

The mrs has a car we can use as the daily driver. The car I'm most bothered about is the 911 but I won't have enough cash for one of those (given they start at £20k) for a long while to come, especially since we'll be buying a house next year.

The e30 project would keep me entertained till then but then so could the m3 - more a case of having the patience for something that could be really special i.e the e30 v8, OR sell out now and get the m3 a lot quicker than saving for the v8 stuff and have fun with that until I can afford the 911...

[suchy]

Fair point! The house will suck you dry for a bit then and I can see where you're coming from with wanting an easy fast car to tide you over. I find the E36 a bit souless personally and can give you a couple of nasty financial bills. But they do go rather well when wound up.
My money would be spent on a nice E46 330i with the Sport package or the diesel Touring with a remap
The E46 is a far nicer place to spend time in and the 330i does hustle along quite nicely

[tommygoldy]

Agreed that an E36 M3 is a good buy, and a good investment as far as any money pit old car goes.

You can buy a 964 911 or an 80s SC for less than 10k. I say if you want a Porsche, get a Porsche. Also worth considering a 944 or a 924s - they're all silly cheap at the moment and supposed to be great handling cars. If the recession ever ends they'll all go up in value.

Either way, sinking 10k into an E30 is money you'll never get back. If you buy the M3 and start saving, in a few years you can sell it and put the money into a 911.

[suchy]

A 944 S2 maybe. A 924?? No way!!!

I'd still go with an E46 330i over a cheap E36 M3! The M3 would want to be a clean Evo in a desirable colour to consider it an investment imo.

[tommygoldy]

A 944 S2 maybe. A 924?? No way!!!

924S

[suchy]

A 944 S2 maybe. A 924?? No way!!!

924S

Ok not as bad as a standard 924 but still built with nightime raids on the VAG parts bin!!!

A 944 is ok, but I'm guessing the OP is hankering after a 911 of some sort? I'd hold out for one of those!

[NIX]

Yep, 944's 924S's (def not standard 924) and even 928 would all be cool options if I had to start all over again and not have an e30 in the first place. But what I'm looking for now is either a car that's going to need minimal tlc and still be a great car i.e m3 or I stick with the e30 and turn it into a car I'll never end up selling.

The only Porsche I truly want and think I will someday afford is the 993. As for cars like an e46 330i, after years of trying to make my car better I told myself that the next car I get will be the best its range to avoid future tinkering e.g. if I got a golf it would be an R32, if I got a Merc it would be an AMG of some sort and if I got a 3 series it would have to be an M3... (all with money permitting of course).

[tommygoldy]

OK then. Get the M3.

[gooner1]

Nix, I,ll let you know on Sunday .....

[NIX]

What's happening on Sunday??

[Morat]

How do people view the long term prospects of the E36 M3? I have my doubts about it ever being as valuable as the E30 M3, it doesn't seem as special - at least to me.

Will they attract a cult status like the E30 M3?

[suchy]

How do people view the long term prospects of the E36 M3? I have my doubts about it ever being as valuable as the E30 M3, it doesn't seem as special - at least to me.

Will they attract a cult status like the E30 M3?

No, quite simply! They aren't special and don't have the same motoring heritage.

[harry_p]

they will never be worth as much as e30 m3s.

however, values have firmed up recently (yes there are still cheap ones about) but the sheddy e36 m3 count has dropped drastically over the last couple of years.

a quick look on pistonheads and there are 15 e30 m3s for sale, 24 e36 m3s, and 164 e46 m3s!

how many left has 347 e30 m3s still registered. 1315 e36 m3s, and 11812 e46s. i would have liked to have known how many e36 m3s there were at their peak, but i seem to remember them being everywhere!

e36s are still excellent cars, people who hate them just because theyre not e30s are idiots. buying one doesnt suddenly make you any less of a man

[NIX]

I have to agree. Gone are the days of seeing an E36 on every street (in London especially) let alone a nice clean, unmodified E36 M3. Much more likely to see an E46 these days. Am guessing a lot of them ended up rapped round lamp posts?

[harry_p]

i imagine a lot got stolen and / or crashed. worth getting a few insurance quotes before you jump in asthey can be pretty steep.

[Simon]

A lot of E36 M3's have just simply been broken up, they were a good money earner a few years back. I think Glenn did his fair share

[tommygoldy]

The E30 is an iconic design, more than the sum of its parts, and was just right for the 80s. Few would deny that it's a bona fide classic.

It's predecessor, the E21, paved the way but despite being a great car lived in the shadow of the 2002 and never quite achieved classic status.

I reckon the E36 will be a bit like the E21. But that means that in ten years time they'll have all but disappeared from our streets. Well preserved examples (especially M3s) will steadily rise in value and will fetch a premium.

I remember passing on a mint E21 323i for £300 in the late 90s...nobody wanted them. That wouldn't have been a bad buy. An Alpina B6 would have done me even better...

[NIX]

Do you think the type of E36 M3 will make a difference i.e. Evo or non Evo? Or do you think as long as it's clean and untampered with it should still hold it's own as a future classic albeit no where near as classic as something like an E30 M3, VW Corrado, Golf MK1/mk1 GTI etc?

[retroboyo]

How about a 924 Carrera GTS http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/ ... ?car=22913

[steve_k]

How about a 924 Carrera GTS http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/ ... ?car=22913

if you're going after one of those then at least make it the GTR (375bhp M31.70) to make it worthwhile

[retroboyo]

How about a 924 Carrera GTS http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/ ... ?car=22913

if you're going after one of those then at least make it\ the GTR (375bhp M31.70) to make it worthwhile

That would definately make it interesting

[Nick45]

Do you think the type of E36 M3 will make a difference i.e. Evo or non Evo? Or do you think as long as it's clean and untampered with it should still hold it's own as a future classic albeit no where near as classic as something like an E30 M3, VW Corrado, Golf MK1/mk1 GTI etc?

Corrado

[retroboyo]

I dont think the E36 M3 will ever be a classic tbh. There are plenty of not many left fast cars out there that arnt worth that much.