I know the E30 is the vintage BMW to have

"E90M3" (e90m3)
08/30/2019 at 23:08 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping with E90M3

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! When I was in high school, the car I really lusted after was an E36 325i with a 5MT. Well, maybe a 325is with a stick, which is probably one reason I’ve bought two modern BMW coupes. In addition, I wanted an alpine white BMW with a beige interior, which is exactly what this is.

I know that the E36 gets shunned in some BMW circles, but I really like it.

I really need to get a house and a place to park a few BMWs.

DISCUSSION (42)

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > E90M3
08/30/2019 at 23:12

It’s nice to remember I’m not the only person who loves the E36.

E90M3 > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
08/30/2019 at 23:15

I think I liked the ascetics on the E36 more than the E30 back when I was in high school. My dream car back then was a 1999 four door E36 M3, never thought I’d be able to get an E46 M3.

Chariotoflove > E90M3
08/30/2019 at 23:18

Why shunned?

E90M3 > Chariotoflove
08/30/2019 at 23:23

Not sure. I was talking to a coworker who took his E30 to “the vintage.” It’s a meeting of vintage BMWs and they weren’t letting E36s in.

MM54 > E90M3
08/30/2019 at 23:23

Something about the 4-door e36 has always looked off to me, but the 2-door is very good, especially in -iS or M3 flavor (my friend has a white e36 M3, it is good). I spent some time looking for one but they’re all either beat to death or overpriced.

Kinja'd!!!

E90M3 > MM54
08/30/2019 at 23:24

I’d overpay for the right one, mainly because I would rather spend a couple extra grand and get one that’s not beat to death.

Chariotoflove > E90M3
08/30/2019 at 23:26

Weird.

By the way, I finally talked to the guy in the next neighborhood who parks the old orange BMW next to his 60-something Mustang. The BMW is an E21. All stock and in excellent shape. He drives it regularly.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 00:12

For me they’re kind of incomparable (e30 v e36) as the e30 is very ‘old car’ while the e36 is solidly in the modern era in my mind. One’s aesthetics can only exist in a specific time, while the other is indicative of how good simple contemporary design can be

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 00:12

You and I would want the exact same E36. white is the right colour for these cars

E90M3 > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
08/31/2019 at 00:14

I wanted an alpine white E90 M3, but I couldn’t find one. I’d bought one new if I wasn’t in college when production stopped.

M.T. Blake > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 00:32

It’s just in retrospect the car that came before and after it were better, and prettier. It isn’t bad. It just isn’t as good as the E30 and E46.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 00:38

Yes. As a child of the 90's, o ne of these in either red with tan or green with tan is the car that comes to mind when I see BMW.

promoted by the color red > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 01:20

I saw an E36 vert earlier this week being marked for whatever local/state Cash for Clunkers program is going on right now. I was so tempted to stomp on the brakes, run into the Toyota dealer, and save the thing, but it could very well have been a convenient prop...at least that’s what I tell myself.

pip bip - choose Corrour > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 06:15

E36 M3 in Estoril blue is the only one worth having

MtekJosh > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 07:48

Ridiculous

E90M3 > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
08/31/2019 at 08:17

Now, when I think of BMW, I think of my cars, but before I had a BMW it was probably one of these or an e39.

E90M3 > M.T. Blake
08/31/2019 at 08:18

I haven’t driven an e46 in a long time and never driven either an e30 or e36, so I can’t really comment on that.

diplodicus forgot his password > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 08:32

You should import an e36 wagon, and then swap an s54 in. I saw a Craigslist ad for a BMW junkyard fairly close to me, supposed to check that out this weekend. The guy claimed when I talked to him that he has an e21 with an m30 so I definitely need to see that if it exists.

E90M3 > diplodicus forgot his password
08/31/2019 at 08:37

That would be really sweet, I would like to import an e30 wagon and do the same. This isn’t a realistic option for me now as I don’t have a place to do this.

diplodicus forgot his password > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 08:46

Ya I would like an s54 swapped e30 as well. That s50 swapped e28 that went on bat the other day was awesome as well. I know there's a guy on mye28 selling an e28 with an s54 swap as well but the engine has to be removed before being elligble for import I guess

E90M3 > diplodicus forgot his password
08/31/2019 at 08:47

I’ve got a colleague with an M52 swapped E30, he’s wishing he had just S54 swapped it.

diplodicus forgot his password > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 08:48

The e36 m3 I drove felt a lot like an e30 to me, just more power. I think the basic design of the front suspension is the same across the e30/e36/e46 the track width just grew a bit with each generation. I know some guys who lift their e30s run e46 control arms for more travel. The interiors are just much more plastic fantastic than the e30

E90M3 > diplodicus forgot his password
08/31/2019 at 08:54

I know that the E36 compact retained E30 rear suspension, which is an easy way to 5 lug swap the rear on an e30.

diplodicus forgot his password > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 09:27

Ya the m5x swaps have always seemed like a lot of work for very little gain to me.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 09:36

I had an E30, and it was a decent driver’s car. But I had a problem with space in the driver’s footwell when wearing my size 14 work boots. It was actually kin d of dangerous to drive because I needed to use just the corner of my foot otherwise I could hit all three pedals simultaneously with one foot.

I always wanted a E36 hatch with the M3 mechanicals. Seemed like a no brainer to me, and I always wondered why BMW never put that in to production

Joe Palmer > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 09:46

If you can find one get an E21 323i. six cylinder sharknose. Far better than a 2002 eve n the tii. Rare h ere in the US and guaranteed to appreciate. First 3 series with a very well sorted M20b23 engine

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > diplodicus forgot his password
08/31/2019 at 10:02

I’ve been eyeing up E36 wagons on a euro car site and they can be had for not much money. This is a good plan.

diplodicus forgot his password > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
08/31/2019 at 10:29

If you’re serious you might want to contact Ivo Christov, he’s known on both r3v and mye28 as a legit exporter. Username Ovide. I believe his prices include shipping/customs but I’m not positive on that. I know he can handle all that paperwork though https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-classified-forums/for-sale-wanted/cars-for-sale-wanted/388562-e30-touring-for-sale-thread-more-than-one-available

ihm96 > diplodicus forgot his password
08/31/2019 at 10:58

You can get fairly large power out of an M52 with a turbo or other setup, and when it goes bang you find another for 500 bucks as opposed to the 2-5k on a S52/S54. Plus no M tax on all the parts. Plus an S52 is basically a hot M52 in the US, no ITBs or anything. S54 is the first engine with Drive by wire, I don’t really like the feeling of it, I have it in my Z3 Coupe although its more of a hybrid. Idk if people convert to mechanical throttle, but if its still drive by wire throttle theres no way Id want it in my E30. The whole point of an E30 is the pure driving experience.

ihm96 > M.T. Blake
08/31/2019 at 11:00

To me the E46 is just a softer more comfortable E36 if thats what you want. It adds drive by wire, weight and a lot more stuff to go wrong. I really think the E46 gen is way overrated by anyone who calls it “the last real BMW” because its not the pure driving machine they imagine it to be

Captain of the Enterprise > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 11:07

I think they’re cool if you’ve got the funds to keep it going.

diplodicus forgot his password > ihm96
08/31/2019 at 11:27

You can turbo the m20...

M.T. Blake > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 11:33

The E30 (M3) sounds like a diesel at idle, and it’s terribly fast. They’re quirky 80s, there is a TON of visibility , and you feel tiny in traffic. The E36 is bigger, cheaper, and not a bad car, it just isn’t as good. Typical of the 90s.

M.T. Blake > ihm96
08/31/2019 at 11:37

T hat’s like going from a marshmallow to a puddle of goo. Softer is relative. There was nothing ‘hard’ about the E36. It was of a cheaper quality, we got the wrong M3 engine, and they’re not as visually attractive as the others. Again, not a bad car - just not as good. I applaud anyone taking care of their E36. My personal opinion is that I’d buy the other two first, especially considering the E36 will be the last to appreciate to a similar level.

wafflesnfalafel > E90M3
08/31/2019 at 11:52

They are a bit tight for me - head room - but I agree on the styling, both exterior and interior. I do really like the e36 m3, (maybe even better than those that came before and directly after... ) There is a guy with a purple e36 325is that I regularly see commuting with it - has an aftermarket exhaust of some sort and it sounds nice. I frequently hear it coming before I see it.

ihm96 > M.T. Blake
08/31/2019 at 19:33

The E36 also saves you a couple bucks tho, and I’d prob rather be in a nice e36 M3 than I would a 136 hp 325i that’s probably the same price. And sure the US M engine didn’t have ITBs but it was basically just as quick as the euro version and more bulletproof.

Looks are all subjective between the two. I like them both just as much in their own ways tbh

M.T. Blake > ihm96
08/31/2019 at 20:08

Depends on where your saving the couple bucks. If you want one now sure. If you want to keep it for a long time... probably best to spend a bit more to save a lot more later.

E90M3 > Captain of the Enterprise
08/31/2019 at 20:48

It’s more of a space issue than the funds.

ihm96 > M.T. Blake
08/31/2019 at 21:22

In terms of resale value? That’s not something I ever really worry about, which is why my clownshoe is closing in on 170k miles

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > diplodicus forgot his password
08/31/2019 at 22:00

I signed up for r3v; I’m going to reach out and see what getting an e36 320i touring may run. Thanks for the tip. I’m in no rush but I am curious.

M.T. Blake > ihm96
08/31/2019 at 22:23

I’m thinking potential for the future. You want to buy it when it’s 10k now or 40k in ten years?

Captain of the Enterprise > E90M3
09/01/2019 at 09:59

I’d say go for it then!