Jus looking for some BMW opinions (which car)

[Z32redondo]

BMW E30 or E36. No M3 just the body style. I kinda want to sell the Z and pay my parents back for buying me the car. It would be on a low budget but I want to start becoming a little more independent. Then out of my own pocket buy either an E30 or E36. Or better car.

E30-Its a nice oldschool. You can find them for around $1000 +- some cash. Not too many modified roaming the streets and if I had a clean one I think it would look pretty good. I also like the body lines.

E36-Newer, maybe less miles, but also more pricks that have them. We all know the stereotype of BMW drivers and How many kids do you see driving an E36. Or how many riced out ones do you see? Maybe not in ATL but there are quite a few riced out E36's in C-town.

Just some opinions on both please

My dream car has always been a nice E36 but lately I have been attracted towards the E30's for the above reasons.

[Z32redondo]

[SouthSide Tay]

without a shadow of a doubt I would go with th E36 or a E30 m3 style.

E36 much cleaner but cost ALOT more in comparison
E30 cost much less but not nearly as clean

[cooleyfresh]

GET THE E30 THEY ARE BETTER AND CHEAPER TO WORK ON. THERE ARE ALSO MANY MORE MODS YOU CAN DO TO THE E30 BODY AND KEEP ITS LOOK THAN YOU CAN DO WITH THE E36..... MY UNCLE HAS AN E30 I BELIEVE IT IS UP FOR SALE AGAIN FOR 3K BUT ITS A SEMI BUILT M3 MOTORAND TRANNY..... I'LL ASK HIM IF YOUR INTERESTED.....

[Z32redondo]

without a shadow of a doubt I would go with th E36 or a E30 m3 style.

E36 much cleaner but cost ALOT more in comparison
E30 cost much less but not nearly as clean

Well the thing is I dont really have the cash for the M3 in either catagory. I am only 17 (admin has given me permission to be on IA underage, as I have been here for almost 2 years.)

My parents just gave me the Z and I love it and appreciate it alot. Its just that I want to try my luck at going independent...or semi independent. I really dont like things being just given to me because I just feel that I cant be as proud of modifications and other things I do to the car because it dosent feel like the car is really mine. Plus I think I want to prove it to myself as well that I can start a life of my own and buying a car and paying for all the costs of it is part of that responsiblity.

I already pay for all the maintenance and stuff on the Z, and anything else I need for it. I guess most of this is me wanting to start being more independent.

[Z32redondo]

GET THE E30 THEY ARE BETTER AND CHEAPER TO WORK ON. THERE ARE ALSO MANY MORE MODS YOU CAN DO TO THE E30 BODY AND KEEP ITS LOOK THAN YOU CAN DO WITH THE E36..... MY UNCLE HAS AN E30 I BELIEVE IT IS UP FOR SALE AGAIN FOR 3K BUT ITS A SEMI BUILT M3 MOTORAND TRANNY..... I'LL ASK HIM IF YOUR INTERESTED.....

I was thinking that also and seeing as how I am finding them for the cheap cheap if something breaks there are many parts cars to choose from, or many upgrades.

[speedminded]

Seriously what's the budget?

[Z32redondo]

Seriously what's the budget?

However much I want to save up/sell until I want to start looking for a car. BMW's have just always been a favorite car of mine. I know they are expensive but I think if I can keep up the maintenance on the Z and still have some play money I can do it with a Bimmer. I was actually thinking maybe 1000-2500. Which dosent buy much. But at the same time im not looking for good condition either. Rips in seats, stained carpet is welcome. I would like something that I can put some money into towards making it nicer. Im not looking for a show car winner either. I have the money to spend on it and I have the play money to afford if something goes wrong.

Dont flame the hell out of me either. This is why im asking if anyone has any opinions about it. If you have somthing to say, then say it just dont be a prick about it.

And I know a honda would be a better choice because they are cheaper.

[speedminded]

However much I want to save up/sell until I want to start looking for a car. BMW's have just always been a favorite car of mine. I know they are expensive but I think if I can keep up the maintenance on the Z and still have some play money I can do it with a Bimmer. I was actually thinking maybe 1000-2500. Which dosent buy much. But at the same time im not looking for good condition either. Rips in seats, stained carpet is welcome. I would like something that I can put some money into towards making it nicer. Im not looking for a show car winner either. I have the money to spend on it and I have the play money to afford if something goes wrong.

Dont flame the hell out of me either. This is why im asking if anyone has any opinions about it. If you have somthing to say, then say it just dont be a prick about it.

And I know a honda would be a better choice because they are cheaper.

$1000-2500 is all you had to say silly. Other than maybe a 250k mile 1992 318/325 an e36 is below your budget but there are several decent E30's on Craigslist for under $2,000...

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/481481503.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/480424164.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/490285921.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/477608549.html

[Z32redondo]

$1000-2500 is all you had to say silly. Other than maybe a 250k mile 1992 318/325 an e36 is below your budget but there are several decent E30's on Craigslist for under $2,000...

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/481481503.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/480424164.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/490285921.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/477608549.html

Preciate that man there is actually a decent one in FS that I was looking at for $1200. I know electrical, have done systems, brakes, engine work, and more so I think I could honestly pull it off. Then down the road after a few months of owning the car if it isnt a lemon and dosent need too much money invested into it, a decent paint job and some nice wheels. But I want to give a few months after I purchase whatever it is I get too make sure everything is sound ya know. Before I go spending money of wheels and other goodies. During that few months though I will have some money going to an "emergency" account. So when its time for goodies if anything goes wrong I got stacks on deck.

Preciate the input bro.

[Logan]

E30.

A decent e36 is out of your price range. Try to stay away from the e models(325e) as they came equipped with the m20b27 which only made 121hp and 170tq. BMW made that motor with fuel economy priorities instead of performance. The e actually stands for efficiency.

1984-1087 are the least desirable because they have atrocious bumpers E30 guys like to call "diving boards".

325i made 170hp with slightly less tq, but it accelerated much faster.

Maybe aim for a 325is. Those come with sport seats, a different steering wheel, and possibly different bumpers?(Not sure on that)

GL with your search.

[EJ25RUN]

Back in Moscow 18 years ago, this was my FIRST favorite car!



might be too o; skool for you though! These can be had for real cheap.

[StraightSix]

^^ That's a good lookin' E21, too bad those bumpers weren't on the US cars. I miss my '81 320is.

To the OP, you really can't go wrong with an E30. Definately cheaper and easier to maintain than the E36s.

[speedminded]

E30.

A decent e36 is out of your price range. Try to stay away from the e models(325e) as they came equipped with the m20b27 which only made 121hp and 170tq. BMW made that motor with fuel economy priorities instead of performance. The e actually stands for efficiency.

1984-1087 are the least desirable because they have atrocious bumpers E30 guys like to call "diving boards".

325i made 170hp with slightly less tq, but it accelerated much faster.

Maybe aim for a 325is. Those come with sport seats, a different steering wheel, and possibly different bumpers?(Not sure on that)

GL with your search.

Ideally you'd want an '89 325IS: small bumpers, pre-airbags, sport seats, etc.

Insurance will be cheap but the 325e will be even cheaper then throw on a m20b25 head on the m20b27 block and you end up with a pretty stout engine with quite a bit more power...

[Z32redondo]

Ya cheap on insurance is also a +. Not really oriented on speed right now. Also I would ideally want to do the M3 swap in the future. Or a different swap. Are the 325E's pretty stout engines or are they prone to failure or having lots of problems?

[speedminded]

Ya cheap on insurance is also a +. Not really oriented on speed right now. Also I would ideally want to do the M3 swap in the future. Or a different swap. Are the 325E's pretty stout engines or are they prone to failure or having lots of problems?

lol @ M3 swap...it would be about the same price or less to pick up an E36 M3 S52 engine and do the conversion as it would be locate a stock S14 four cylinder engine from the E30 M3 Then an EVO III E30 M3 engine would probably run about the same as an E46 M3 S54, lol.

The the 325e's M20b27 is a strong engines but they are just a low revving with with not much top end. You could always put an M50 in one for a decent price...

[skillzilla]

$1000-2500 is all you had to say silly. Other than maybe a 250k mile 1992 318/325 an e36 is below your budget but there are several decent E30's on Craigslist for under $2,000...

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/481481503.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/480424164.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/490285921.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/477608549.html

That silver E30 is hot, usually I only really like them in black but the interior is perfect...

I say E36 for the obvious reasons, but I have seriously considered an E30, especially lately. One of the main things is maintenance, like was previously said.

[Roadster]

The situation with E30/36 3 series is a little wonky:

--Firstly, your E30 choices are the 325e, 325es, 325i, 325is, 318i, and 318is. I'm sure you've looked at them enough to know that by now. The "s" on the end of some of those models just stands for "sport". It gets you a pair of "Recaros", sport steering wheel, limited slip diff, and always means that it's a 2 door.

As Logan said, the 325i and 325is are the ones you want to look for. They're the fastest of the bunch. The 318s are both 4 bangers, and the 325e and 325es are relatively slow, as a few people mentioned.

The real engine differences between the 325e and 325i engines:

-Same bore, different stroke. The 325e is actually a 2.7 litre (longer stroke, hence the extra torque), as opposed to the 325i's 2.5. The 325i, however, has a MUCH better flowing head, double valve springs, and is tuned to breathe better up top. The 325e falls flat on its face above...like...4500rpm. It's sad. I had a 325e with a Dinan chip and some other little things. It was as quick as a stock 325i, but didn't have any potential to be faster.

The real problem here is, most people that have 325i's and 325is's know what they have, and they won't let it go for cheap. 325e's are everywhere. Tons of people buy them cheap, run them into the ground, and then try to sell them off after they've died completely and been sitting in the backyard for months. That's why they're all over Craigslist. But buying a cheap BMW just means you'll be doubling your money within the first few months trying to get everything to work right...

So, don't buy a cheap one. Buy one from an owner that's obviously cared about it and kept up with the maintenance.

Funny thing is, you can get an early E36 for cheaper than a decent E30 325i or 325is all day long nowadays. E36 prices seem to be dropping like mad. The E30 is starting to ease into classic status...whereas the E36 is still in that...ugly boring early 90's sedan with faded headlights category.

Between the two, though, E30. The E36 doesn't have any of the soul of the E30. Wait for a 325i or 325is with a straight body and a decent previous owner, and don't be a penny pincher. You're better off spending your money up front and getting a nice one than buying in cheap and having to have it towed once a week.

[cdhtang]

i think you should get the e36. My boss drives the e30, and i think the e36 is much better car.
But you have to be really careful, because the e36 have a lot of electrical problems.

[JSAP123]

E36...it looks better and it'll probly last longer cuz it's newer. Also I think the 36 comes with more powerful engine choices

[Kaiser]

I love BMW's, especially the E30/36 models, E36 has probably my second favorite motor of all time, the M50B28, even with the head-cracking problems if you overheat it a little. I'd say 36, but a really great one will be out of your price range. I know of a very cheap 318is without a running motor in it (Has a block but no head, missing a few other components) but even then it would cost you more than your budget to get her running well again. I hate to say this, but pass on the "I must be independent" thing for a while and work on saving some more cash. Keep the Z. It's a good car, will treat you well, and will do wonderful things for your self esteem if you learn to love it. Don't look at it as the car you were given, look at it as your car. Bond with it. Then, when you have a little more cash, start looking for another car then. You've got great taste, but the budget is just a little thin for you to really get something you won't be disapointed in.

Oh, and to whoever said E30's were cheaper to work on: Yeah, yeah lol they are. But the E36 has better style and the M50 engines, worth the extra cost to me.

[Roadster]

Meh, the E36 has a tad more power but a LOT more weight. A good 500lbs worth, give or take.

I've never heard anything particularly good about the M50 line. M30s (the big six), and the M20B25 = BMW's tough-as-hell engines.

And about the E36 having better style...I've never seen a non-M3 E36 that could look as good as a tastefully modded E30...