E30 v E36

[Brianmoooore]

For those of you out there who think the E36 is an "improvement" over the E30:
Just lifted from the Yahoo E36 group site!

"In fact, i really dislike this car. I come from 6 years of E30, which i
still love. The E36 is totally unresponsive and uncontrollable compared
to the E30. It does what it wants, not what i want. But since my
girlfriend loves it, i must do something to start liking it a bit too "

[maxfield]

Depends on which way you think of the E36 is an improvement. Handling and fun factor no, probably the most satisfying of driving a car.

E36 is a step up in terms of speed, engineering etc

[Simon13]

my woman drives an E36 and she likes it!

I think they are good A-B cars a late 328i is a nice chariot

[DanThe]

my woman drives an E36 and she likes it!

Fashion statement......

[darkchild]

"The E36 is totally unresponsive and uncontrollable compared
to the E30. It does what it wants, not what i want. "

Maybe he thinks an E36 is an Escort.

Seriously though, this is petty to the extreme. E36 owners don't show this sort of contempt to E30 owners.

[Simon13]

Hardly it's 10 years old! it doesn't have a boot either so it's not even a proper E36. I tried to push for a 6pot coupe but she wouldn't have it as they are too big

[Andyboy]

For those of you out there who think the E36 is an "improvement" over the E30:
Just lifted from the Yahoo E36 group site!

"In fact, i really dislike this car. I come from 6 years of E30, which i
still love. The E36 is totally unresponsive and uncontrollable compared
to the E30. It does what it wants, not what i want. But since my
girlfriend loves it, i must do something to start liking it a bit too "

The ramblings of a cretin. Whether you prefer the E30, the E36 is a better car. You'll probably find the car is question is a J reg 316i with destroyed front balljoints and ruined trailing arm bushes.
I've got no time for idiots like this. I like the E30 and ultimately prefer it, but to say an E36 unresponsive and uncontrollable is just stupidity.

[darkchild]

For those of you out there who think the E36 is an "improvement" over the E30:
Just lifted from the Yahoo E36 group site!

"In fact, i really dislike this car. I come from 6 years of E30, which i
still love. The E36 is totally unresponsive and uncontrollable compared
to the E30. It does what it wants, not what i want. But since my
girlfriend loves it, i must do something to start liking it a bit too "

The ramblings of a cretin. Whether you prefer the E30, the E36 is a better car. You'll probably find the car is question is a J reg 316i with destroyed front balljoints and ruined trailing arm bushes.
I've got no time for idiots like this. I like the E30 and ultimately prefer it, but to say an E36 unresponsive and uncontrollable is just stupidity.

+ 1. Though you will become a better welder if you're an E30 owner

[Andyboy]

Depends on which way you think of the E36 is an improvement. Handling and fun factor no, probably the most satisfying of driving a car.

You've driven both, right?

[m-dtech]

as above, bmw has never made a poor car.

its when cars get on a bit and parts wear and shoddy repairs are undertaken that they turn bad !

[maxfield]

You've driven both, right?

As a matter of fact, yes!

Both not at the limit but pushed hard.

[m-dtech]

You've driven both, right?

As a matter of fact, yes!

Both not at the limit but pushed hard.

ahh it was you i seen on "police camera action"

[fowler]

e dirty six
good overall car but was designed when the car industry was in a bit of a slump so some parts over looked.
M powred cars totatl different kettle of fish
I have to say i have a soft spot for a e36 M3

[Andyboy]

Course you have.

I mean, you've driven thousands of miles on various different roads have you, enough to be able to form a worthwhile opinion??

All this 'E30's are better than the E36' stuff is for the brain dead IMO. You can PREFER an E30 (and many do), but BMW didn't spend millions developing a car to be worse than the old one. E30 owners drive an old, outdated car in the same way Morris 1000 owners do.

[hammoj28]

I prefer the E30 because i like the "less is more" factor. They are very positive cars and you can feel lots through them and i love the way they handle. They are so positive to drive.

I have never driven an E36.....but i think it would be good in many other ways that the E30 isn't. BMW wouldn't go and build a crap car. Id never buy an E36 but i wouldn't think its worse.

Each car probably suits different peoples needs. Il leave it at that.

[maxfield]

Course you have.

I mean, you've driven thousands of miles on various different roads have you, enough to be able to form a worthwhile opinion??

A public car park good enough?

Been a passanger for miles in both...

[Chris-W]

I've never understood why the enthusiasm for and enjoyment/appreciation of one thing has to preclude respect for another.

E36's are a decent car. There.

[darkchild]

You've driven both, right?

As a matter of fact, yes!

Both not at the limit but pushed hard.

That puts you in an excellent position to comment on the merits of both cars. How were the running costs for the 2-3 miles you drove? Whats the better motorway or B road car? etc, etc...

[old_skool]

Personally I think the E36 is a better car overall. Like Andyboy says, I simply prefer the E30 too.

In a few years time when all the whale tail and angel eye clad E36's are dead and buried then the E36 will likely step up to be the next E30. And yes, I have owned three E36's and more than a few E30's to be able to comment.

Just another opinion of course

[Turbo-Brown]

I drove my mate's E36 320i a few weeks ago.

It's not the best cared for example out there but, to be honest, I found it quite familiar (with the possible exception of the hand-brake being closer to the driver's side than on the E30)

In short, I quite liked it!

That said, I really don't push cars hard in any way so I'm unlikely to ever uncover any handling deficiencies in either car.

I even thought the throttle response was pretty darned good, allowing heal-and-toe down shifts which is my main criticism of modern cars: you blip the throttle.........and then the engine blips, by which time you're off the clutch and now you've transferred all the weight to the front wheels

Older cars with simpler engine management systems (or carbs) tend to be better in that respect so I was pleasantly surprised to find a relatively modern car enabling me to drive the way I like.

[Chris-W]

Just another opinion of course

Stop being sensible!

[Andyboy]

Course you have.

I mean, you've driven thousands of miles on various different roads have you, enough to be able to form a worthwhile opinion??

a) A public car park good enough?

b) Been a passanger for miles in both...

a) No, of course not!

b) Who cares?

I've reversed a Countach into a parking spot, doesn't mean I've driven a Countach. I've had passenger rides in lots of cars, but I couldn't hope to gain a perspective of how they drive.

Best handling BMW? To me it's the current E90 320d, standard suspension and tyres.

Why does the E36 handle better than an E30? It has a wider track and longer wheelbase (wheel in each corner) and the engine is much further back. It has sharper steering, better rear suspension geometry. The E30 does NOT have a 50/50 balance, never has.

Funny how E30 owners all want to put the E36 steering rack on. And 24v engines.

[Andyboy]

By the way we're not talking M3's. The E36 could have been brilliant but they ruined it with a stupid variable assistance rack. Try an E36 M3 with a standard E36 rack and Bilsteins and it's a whole new ballgame.

[maxfield]

a) No, of course not!

b) Who cares?

I've reversed a Countach into a parking spot, doesn't mean I've driven a Countach. I've had passenger rides in lots of cars, but I couldn't hope to gain a perspective of how they drive.

Best handling BMW? To me it's the current E90 320d, standard suspension and tyres.

Why does the E36 handle better than an E30? It has a wider track and longer wheelbase (wheel in each corner) and the engine is much further back. It has sharper steering, better rear suspension geometry. The E30 does NOT have a 50/50 balance, never has.

Funny how E30 owners all want to put the E36 steering rack on. And 24v engines.

Isn't it 52/48? Or something along them lines?

I'm sure your quote at Croft was 'E30's handle much better around the track'

[Andyboy]

No standard E30's got past me. A mate of mine was there with an E30 M3 and within 8 laps I'd reeled him in in my L reg shitbox but he was pussying about. An E30 M3 is better than most things around a track but you'll know yourself in 3 or 4 years..

[maxfield]

No standard E30's got past me. A mate of mine was there with an E30 M3 and within 8 laps I'd reeled him in in my L reg shitbox but he was pussying about. An E30 M3 is better than most things around a track but you'll know yourself in 3 or 4 years..

Can only remember he30 (Howard) being there with a 'standard' E30.

From what I could see you were doing pretty well in that turd.

I might have a bash at Croft next year

[m-dtech]

I might have a bash at Croft next year

yep the tyre wall has your name on it.

[old_skool]

Will you have the stabilisers and L plates off by then Max

[maxfield]

yep the tyre wall has your name on it.

Thanks for the boost in confidence

[maxfield]

Will you have the stabilisers and L plates off by then Max

I should hope so!

[m-dtech]

Will you have the stabilisers and L plates off by then Max

just "L" plates !!

[M5pilot]

I have a 328i Sport and have had alot of E30's in the past. I currently drive an E30 with Bilsteins, Eibach springs and H&R Anti Roll bars. The E36 is a standard 328i Sport.

I drive in excess of 100 miles per day and drive each car atleast 2 times a week.

My route consists of motorway and fast A roads with lots of fast bends.

The E30 is alot of fun and is a ncie car to drive.

The E36 if alot of fun and is a nice car to drive.

The E36 has far more grip and much better mid corner balance than the E30. Steering on the E36 is superior also.

As the speed rises and corners get tricker the E36 wins hands down.

I can drive the E36 far quicker and harder than I can drive any E30 other than the M3's I had.

The 2.8 M52 engine is shit loads better than the 2.7 Alpina.

It is clear where the millions have been spent on the E36.

What your preferences are in terms of what car you like is totally different to which one is a better machine.

Andy, totally agree with you on the E90, brilliant handling and grip.

[HairyScreech]

personaly i cant believe this thread hasnt been locked yet, its only going to go around in circles.

the e36 is still the technicaly better car than the e30 but every e36 iv been in/near has just felt soul-less and mass produced.

e36 is obviously better but id rather have a rusty e30 316 auto than an "e-dirty-six mate chav chariot" as they seem to be now.

[Simon13]

stop chatting sh!t Max and people will get off your back, offering opinions on how cars drive when your 16 is the height of stupidity. You'll see it one day and cringe i hope.

My sister has a proper pikey spec white 4 door E36 on a j plate with 1.6 M40 fitted and mint steel wheels until a while ago. It's still got cam, does 30 plus mpg all the time and has an excellent ride. It seems way way more modern than an E30 in every way, and not a million miles from an E46. It's only when you sit in an E90 that you realise the game has really moved on. It's a great plodder if a little slow at times but i find it doesn't bite you on the ass near the limit when the weather turns a bit sh!te. So it's perfect for my woman to drive!

I'm still getting urges to pick up a 328i touring and molest it a bit but it going to have to wait a while.

You can get E46 330i tourings now for as little £5500 for a fairly miley one. Alot of chariot for the cash! No 18 inch rims for me though

[M5pilot]

Glad you mentioned weather Simon as it's the one thing I forgot to mention.

I've not driven the E90 enough to comment.

If your driving in wet weather over country lanes in an E30 and your behind an equally powered E36 or E46 you'd better take a hard look at the rear of it as it's the last time you'll be seeing it.

Wet weather grip and handling are in a completely different league in the later cars.