E30...or E36??

[Eric Devier]

im not sure if this goes in this forum..but it does deal with E36's. anyways, so i have a possibility of getting a 1998 328i sedan 5 speed. the catch is id either have to sell my 88 325i..or trade it to him for it. i really like the E36's body style..and i want a 5 speed. so my question is...which car is better..? well, on your thoughts..on a scale of 1-10..1 being the one you like lesss....10 being the most..what would you guys rate both of them?

thanks. im having a really hard time trying to decide if i should stick with my e30..or let it go : /

[PhilipWOT]

I love them both.

[jasonf860]

I agree with Philip. I love both cars, but I love them for what they are.

OP- No one is going to be able to answer this for you. It comes down to what YOU want in the car. Some things the E30 just won't be able to deliver, and vice versa. The 328i is going to be much faster, and handle a bit better, but it won't have the same "feel" that the E30 has.

Personally, I'd take an E30 M3 over ANY other 3 series, period. (Ok, maybe not the new M3, but you get the point.)

[PhilipWOT]

I agree with Philip. I love both cars, but I love them for what they are.

OP- No one is going to be able to answer this for you. It comes down to what YOU want in the car. Some things the E30 just won't be able to deliver, and vice versa. The 328i is going to be much faster, and handle a bit better, but it won't have the same "feel" that the E30 has.

Personally, I'd take an E30 M3 over ANY other 3 series, period. (Ok, maybe not the new M3, but you get the point.)

I'd take a 0-mile E30 M3 over a 0-mile E92 M3 in a heartbeat.

[BeRzErKaS]

BMW's get more comfortable and less fun to drive with every generation. What's most important to you?

The e30 drives like a go kart...

The e36 drives like a more comfortable, better looking and well balanced go kart...

The e46 drives like my livingroom with wheels....

The e90 drives like..... well, I'm sure you get the idea.

[Bimrpwr]

if i had my choice i might go back to my e30.

Why dont you just keep the e30 and buy the e36 and then you will have the best of both worlds..

[320what?]

id trade it in.

[Eric Devier]

thanks for the responses. and i would buy the e36 straight out..but im a junior in high school..working at dominos 6 days a week and with some bills i pay for. it would take a while to buy..but i know what youre saying. and i would also take an E30 M3 anyday..lol. so yeah thanks to everyone who has responded..and ill let you know if i end up getting it or not!

[odin328]

I wish I would have had this dilemma in high school.

[Admiral-Awesome]

I've owned both and I love them both for completely different reasons. I think you'll be happy with whatever decision you make. I deliver Dominoes in my e36 and it's been great.

[Eric Devier]

haha. how many miles have you put on your e36 since you deliever?

[Admiral-Awesome]

about 6k in the past few months - I also drive 360 mile round trips to see my girlfriend every other weekend + my daily driving, so I'm not sure how many of those were from work. I just know I'm pretty lucky to drive for a living when I have a BMW! :thumbup:

[Eric Devier]

lol wow. yeah i guess youre right. ugh, my email isnt working..so i havent been able to talk to the guy with the E36 : [


very disappointed.

[PhilipWOT]

If I had to commute as much as you do (360 miles twice a month :loco:) I would definitely go for the E36 for it's comfort factor. I'd rather road-trip my E36 than an E30 any day.

[whosyadadie01]

gota look at more then just body style also tho

whats the mileage on both cars?

condition of both cars? interrior, exterrior?

[Eric Devier]

true. yeah well my E30 has approx 150K on it..superior interior..and some small rear end damage by the passenger tail light. its sad to see on such a rad car. id rate mine as a 7 out of 10..for the condition. and the E36 has 101K..flawless interior..and its missing 3 trimmings on the outside..and some light damage to the front left bumper area. the fender is primer.but its only a color..but it they both run awesome..no problems on either.

[Admiral-Awesome]

The E36 definitely has interior door panel problems. Every panel in my interior has problems with it. The rear drivers side was falling off so badly it was removed, the rear passenger has been coming undone recently, the passenger side panel is starting to sag enough to where its catching a bit in the door when it's open/shut. The seatbelt doesn't like to snap in on the first push, nor does it roll up correctly when taken off - I shut my seatbelt in the door all the time at work.

It's a 15 year old car, though - and it's beautiful when you think of it that way.

The E30 had less interior problems, although I had the same seatbelt issues with mine and the leather seats tore easily.

I'm glad I'm doing long distance driving in my E36, though. It is a comfortable ride all the way through - which I can't always say was true for the E30. The cockpit feeling of the E30 was great for winding turns and quick acceleration, but the long straight-aways of the interstate make it kind of uncomfortable.

The E36 is perfect in the fact that you still get the feeling you are on the road (not like driving your living room like earlier stated about the E46, which is good) but you can remain comfortable in any driving condition.

Good thing about both cars: You never feel like you're floating on the road - which is exactly what I want...others may disagree.

[Eric Devier]

dang thats what i heard. and the only slight problem im having with my E30 is that the door locks..trying to get in..they suck. the passenger door doesnt work with the key like it wont turn (same vin and #s as the rest of the car) and the drivers side gets jammed and i have to work it for a few seconds. kinda annoying...but not that big of a deal.