M3: e30 vs. e36?

Fidhle007 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-21-2005, 09:48 PM

I've just joined a new band that is turning out to be rather lucrative and within the next year I've decided to buy myself a new car. I currently drive a '90 325is with some mods and I will probably keep it because I think it's worth more to me than it is in resale value. Soul is also a big part of the car for me. My e30 had great soul but an accident has kind of dimmed it a little. It just feels a little older now and I think another bimmer would do very nicely in the stable. I want an M3. I always have I just coudn't afford it and while I still can't I'm much closer than I was before. I have been told many different things about the advantages of e30 M3's verus e36 M3's and I was wondering what everyone here had to say on the subject. Outwardly I like both equaly as much and I flip-flop daily as to which one I'd rather have based on looks. Reliability and repairability is somewhat a factor but performance comes first. I know owning two e30s could be a bit much but I'm still attracted to the exoticness of the e30 M3. The practicality and modernness of the e36 M3 also has my curiosity piqued though. I'd like to hear some pros and cons of both cars and what I should be looking for when buying either one.

Thanks for you help!
~Brendan

Aradaiel · #2 (**permalink**) 11-21-2005, 11:10 PM

I think the e30 definately has a stigma to it. They are super rare, so are parts. The e36 you can get with very few miles and the parts are easier to get. I love the way the e36 looks, as well as the e30. I went for the e36 due to my infatuation with the e36 and the ease of obtaining oem/aftermarket parts.

newyorkm3 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 01:51 AM

E30 M3...The only real M3 BMW ever produced. It was designed, bred, and produced to do one thing; win on the track. Following generations of M3's would soften to meet sales goals for the company.

GERMAN · #4 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 12:22 PM

i have owned a 91 m3 and my current 95m3, both are damn reliable i never had any problems so far with either of them, the one that has the most soul and a lot better handling is the e30m3, i wish i wouldve never gotten rid of it, but i drove it till it had 150000, never had anything go wrong with it and i beat the shit out of it.as far as looks go i think my e30 was a little better looking.evan my mother who isnt really into cars liked my e30 more.whichever car you pick im sure you will be happy though.

ANDRÜ · #5 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 05:19 PM

Hate to say but it seem slike everyone has e36 m3s. I see way too many of those. I think it would be great to see some more e30 owners. I def. think the e30 m3 looks better, but the e36 seems more practica, and reliable. DO whatever you want!

Fidhle007 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GERMAN

...the one that has the most soul and a lot better handling is the e30m3...

Really? The soul part I'd believe but the handling? I mean I'd believe it but I thought the newer cars handled better. I'll probably upgrade the suspension anyway (if it hasn't been done already) but that would totally turn me towards the e30 if it actually handles better. I do like the idea of the "muscle" that the e36 has with it's bigger engine but it seems to me that that doesn't really matter in the end with the availability of forced induction options. For now handling is my biggest concern...

GERMAN · #7 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 05:48 PM

its up to you man, but in my opinion the e30m3 stock handles way better than the e36m3 stock.you can get coilovers then it might evan out but the e30m3 is a better handler period. www.e30m3therealm3.com has some good articles on the e30, but the main thing is you need to go out and drive both to decide for yourself everyone is different.

Fidhle007 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 05:59 PM

Good call. I have spent way more time in e30s than e36s so I have less to compare to there.

StreetRacr · #9 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 06:06 PM

well let me be the first to say, when at a stop light, and you are behind a E36 M3, you just know and feel, that it is a different beast altogether, i cant explain it, i own one and everytime i see one at a stop light, i sit back and just say whoa, i have that, now when you see a E30 M3, i think to my self......he knows whats up, he knows what hes got. Both are geting older every year, both are getting more and more miles put on them, personaly i refuse to buy a E30 with 150,000 on the clock, no way in hell, unless i have millions and i dont care about my money. The same thing will happen with my m3, will happen to everyone. I hate miles

Fidhle007 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 07:50 PM

Also I'd like to set a preliminary price cap at $15k but if I can find a car for less then I could put the money into mods. Is this a realistic goal for either car? My original plan was to get a 95 M3 (I've always had a thing for the 95s for some reason..) and put an Active Autowerke supercharger in right off the bat. I figured I'd try to find a car for $10k or $11k and get a loan for $16k so I can pay it off slowly and still put in the blower. The only problem I've seen with this plan is finding a 95 M3 with sport package and LSD (LSD is a MUST!) for under $15k seems impossible.

GERMAN · #11 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 07:57 PM

im selling mine for less than 15k but its in the shop i broke out one of my fog lights and some of my undertray stuff i hit a damn porcupine, so its all being fixed at a bodyshop, its red/black 5speed 1995 lsd sport package.

Fidhle007 · #12 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 08:13 PM

Ooh, Really? Damn, if only I could get my finances togther sooner... :-(

Fidhle007 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 08:13 PM

Got any pics?

Fidhle007 · #14 (**permalink**) 11-23-2005, 11:02 PM

Well, whatever I buy I'm keeping my current e30 as a daily driver/ winter plaything (four studded snows and LSD are a match made in heaven :-) ) so I may be leading towards an e36... My tech keeps telling me that e30 M3s are more expensive to repair but I've heard the opposite too, what does everyone here think? I know mods are more readily available for e36s but at the same time you see way more of them, not that that's a bad thing...

Fidhle007 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-25-2005, 06:04 PM

Or I suppose I could just do this to my current car:

http://www.speedoption.com/articles/4696/index.php?pg=6

I appologize if that's a repost, but it's the first time I've seen any decent pics of a standard e30 with M3 fenders which is another option I'm considering. I know some purists would not like me dressing my 325is up as an M3 but I would never stoop so low as to actually put an M3 decals on it. I would just do the bodykit. Maybe I should do that?