e30 vs e36

speedblind wrote: This is a tough question. The car that sold me on BMW in general was an E36 M3 with Konis/Springs and some wide, sticky rubber. IMO, that's just about the perfect daily driver - enough room for 4 people for a quick trip, good trunk space, a good amount of power and enough refinement not to be punishing. Now, I've also owned three E30s - two 325i and one 318. I love the E30s, especially the one with freshenned bushings and shocks/springs vs. just the one with shocks/springs. But, there's no question in my mind that the E36 is an easier car to live with day to day. More refinement, physically bigger (though not too big) and a bigger trunk. Also a lot more sound deadening and fewer rattles. Either way, they're both great cars. I've been away from mine for about two months now, and I can't wait to get them shipped out to where I live. Something about those cars gets under your skin.

That in a nutshell is my problem. The E36 is just too good to dismiss. The E36 is the logical answer. The E30 is the emotional answer for me. Heart vs. Head.

My e30 is cheap, reliable, and a lot of fun. The only e36 I'd trade it for would be an M. I've been DD'ing it all summer. (I wish the A/C was a little stronger, though)

I sold my supercharged 2002 Civic Si (ep3) after finally tracking down a low mileage single owner e36 M3 in the right colors, options and condition. I drove the M3 absolutely bone stock for a year and one season of autocross.

This season I did the suspension w/ AST 4100s (525# F 620# R springs) Vorshlag camber plates and upper rear shock mounts, Mason tower brace, BMW X-Brace, BMW Euro F rotors, SS lines, Axxis pads, and 8.5x17 K1s w/ 245/45-17 RE01Rs so I could do STU w/ the Washington DC SCCA chapter and Autocrossers incorporated, as well as track events.

I generally don't finish last in STU class (where Evos and STIs have HP and driven wheels on me), it works great at track days, and it's a fast and exceptional handling street car.

All that said, a cheap e30 w/ the right stuff would be a lot less painful to write off if things go poorly at a track day. And Spec e30 has a lot more participation than Spec e36 thus far...

I'll go with the E36....but I guess I have a biased opinion

I prefer my E36 M3 to any of my prior E30 325is's. But I've never had an E30 M3 (and always wanted one), so so that could be the car to tip the balance backward.

Holy undead thread, batman!

I've only driven one E36, and it was a complete basket case, the E30 won hands down.

Bah I'm still keeping my eyes out for a decently maintained E36 M3. If I can find one in my price range that is.

I say that the market has changed and the e30, at least nice ones, have started to appreciate.

I shopped casually for a year and seriously for 3 months before pulling the trigger on a e36. I would have happily considered an e30, had there been any to look at. Everything was either trashed or ridiculously overpriced, and they all had 200k+.

There will be a handful who can chirp in with tales of the terrific deals they found on e30s, but if you want to find a clean, relatively unmolested car with roughly 100k - there are 15 e36s for every e30, particularly if you're looking for a 325is. Values have responded accordingly, so much so that I'll go out on a limb and say you get more for your money with the e36 these days.

I just bought my first E30.
To those of you that own them; what are the good boards?
Of course I know I can get questions answered here but I am looking to cruise through some FAQ's for answers to questions that I may not have even thought to ask.

jrw1621 wrote: I just bought my first E30. To those of you that own them; what are the good boards? Of course I know I can get questions answered here but I am looking to cruise through some FAQ's for answers to questions that I may not have even thought to ask.

Here.

R3vlimited I think it is?

E30tech

r3vlimited has a fair amount of nws attitude and content but there's a core of quality information and people which make it my default e30 site.

those e36 "twisty" skirts on that E30?

DILYSI Dave wrote:

Dave, 100% off topic, but how may post do you have to have to be an " UltimaDork"? How many "UltimaDorks" are there?

Back on the subject, go E30!

snipes wrote:

DILYSI Dave wrote:

Dave, 100% off topic, but how may post do you have to have to be an " UltimaDork"? How many "UltimaDorks" are there?

7500, and 2.

Sounds like good fodder for a "Showdown" type article to me.

snipes wrote: Dave, 100% off topic, but how may post do you have to have to be an " UltimaDork"? How many "UltimaDorks" are there?

To see the full "dork list", look at the top of this page.
Between the words "Subscribe" and "Sample"; just below you will see "leaderboard." Click there for the full world of Dork-dumb"

SupraWes wrote: Sounds like good fodder for a "Showdown" type article to me.

This is a good idea, compare a car of each vintage in similar or identical states of tune. Same power to weight ratio, level of suspension setup etc.

jrw1621 wrote: </cite...... I am looking to cruise through some FAQ's for answers to questions that I may not have even thought to ask.

Try:

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/e30/

No fanboi crap and a lot of good helpful info.

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/669554

Motomoron- if you're still around I'd like to pick your brain. Just bought a '95 M3 with 63k for a great deal. Very interested in Autocross etc in the DC area.

Actually, they did this article already. I think it was racecars, but I definitely recall an E30 vs. E36 vs. E46 article.

DILYSI Dave wrote: Actually, they did this article already. I think it was racecars, but I definitely recall an E30 vs. E36 vs. E46 article.

A four generation comparison test of M3s - I must have worn that issue out, as I can't find it at the moment.

Is it kosher to ask for a scan of a GRM article? I didn't subscribe in time to get that issue.

In reply to ansonivan:

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/issues/details/106/?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=480&width=700

Well, good to see this thread back. I sold my 1993 325i and bought 1991 325i. The price was not a steal but I thought it was very fair. Found the car in Augusta, GA. on CL.

Good: The car has a vinyl sport interior out of an 318is, 3.73 LSD, 145k miles, H&R Sport Springs, Bilstein sport dampers, new coolant hoses, rebuilt drive-shaft, fresh bushings (sub-frame, m3 control arm, trailing arm, engine, transmission), Ansa exhaust, newer rotors, recent timing belt and water pump, Z3 shifter with new bushings, functional a/c, and every electronic gadget works.

Bad: Small amount of rust in the battery box and under the rear tie-down hook. Needs some new tires and the wheels are 14in bottle caps. It is a bronze beige metallic car which isn't the most gorgeous color but not hideous either. It has a couple of dings and dents nothing major.

All in all, I'm very happy with it. Pulls hard and uses no oil. Gas mileage is about 19 mpg around town. Turn in is a little slow compared to the e36 but I plan to add sway-bars and adjustable front shock mounts soon. I also think I will get some Rota RB's in 15x7 et25 with good rubber for my street set up. The car is a DD I have a 1990 Miata for autoX and HPDE duty.