Is the E36 bmw a future classic... - Non M Model

[PowerslideSWE]

SidewaysSi said:

I agree. 328s are great machines. As good as, if not better than the equivalent M3 which has never really been loved.

Agreed, loved my 328, although it was an automatic non-sport, but good looking, fast(ish) and fun to drive, turned out to be very reliable aswell.

I think the E36 M3 suffered some by looking exactly like an M-sport kitted 318i, they are fantastic to drive, with an equally fantastic engine, and they are flipping fast, you have to pedal hard to keep up with it with an E46 M3 tbh.

[Vince70]

I'm fairly a newcomer when it comes to E36 ownership as I bought my 1st one a year ago and on bringing it home I decided to pop into my fathers house on the way and I let him take it for a quick drive around the block...
He was so hooked on the car that he wanted it so that was the briefest time I've owned a car lol..

But it is a really nice motor and is absolutely immaculate with not a spot of rust anywhere and looks factory fresh..
So I decided I would find another good one and I always fancied a Ti with the M44 engine (can't afford an M and wanted a hatchback) and another came up last month which was also equally as good condition and the last owner had it 15years..

But it can be confusing now as both cars are in hellrot and look nigh on identical now he's suggesting he prefers a manual but he can keep his auto compact lol..

But I did already own a lovely Z3 which only gets used once in awhile hence why I quite liked another M44 engine and the E36 replaced an A3 of the same vintage and although I would say that the A3 is a better car for everyday running about in and all weathers and never seem to rust its nowhere near as driver focused.

The only problem I've got now is I bought my E36 compact as my everyday car but come winter I will be to scared now to take it out on the salty roads but I've coated the underside with wax oil and taped up the rear jacking points as I don't want any rot to set in underneath.

But the prices are starting to creep up now as about 6 years ago me and a few friends bought a lovely early SE model for £50 for doing a home to Rome expedition and it was still going strong years later being used by various people on road trips abroad so I guess that's why I've always wanted another..


It even came with a working torch in the glovebox which you don't get in the compact...



And here's my other E36/7

Edited by Vince70 on Saturday 12th September 17:18

[LanceRS]

I saw a red 320 coupe on the A40 yesterday, totally standard and could have done with a good polish but it looked great.

I'm enjoying the e46 but every time I see one of these I want one. It's definitely the better looking car.

[Leins]

LanceRS said:

I saw a red 320 coupe on the A40 yesterday, totally standard and could have done with a good polish but it looked great.

I'm enjoying the e46 but every time I see one of these I want one. It's definitely the better looking car.

I love every pre-Bangle 3-series design, and personally the E30 is my favourite. But in terms of pure aesthetics the E46 coupe is hard to beat, not just IMO but also according to Stephen Bayley too. I seem to recall him rating it as one of the finest car designs of all time

I firmly believe that it's just because of how commonplace these cars have become that they get easily dismissed as boring to look at, but give it 20 years and I think the E46 coupe will be regarded as a thing of beauty

I'm not knocking the E36 btw, they are lovely cars (especially the Tourers), just standing up for the much picked-on E46

[SidewaysSi]

Took my 328 for a blast this morning. It will get a full refresh and some upgraded bits over the coming months/years. But all I can say is...mmmmm oversteer

[Trind]

Hope they do go up! Brought my old convertible back a tidyish 328





Swapped to ambers now

[iSore]

The thing with the E36 is that it was so modern when it arrived in 1991 (Montegos, Cavaliers and Sierras....) and BMW built about 6 billion of them. That's why they aren't head turning in the way an H plate Sierra might be. I have a very early and very tidy H reg E36 saloon (dark grey bumpers) that will be 25 years old in January - but I'd still feel slightly awkward taking it to a classic car show and parking it next to a Morris 1000. It just doesn't look like an old car, even though it is.
I don't think they will ever be worth a lot. As much as I like the 328i Sport, I wouldn't be paying £6000 for one when the same cash buys a nice E92 330i Coupe*...........unless of course long term investment is your thing. Likewise, who the hell would buy an E36 M3 for 10 grand when the much nicer E46 model can be had for the same money? The E46 is slowly exiting the chav/drift/mismatched partworns/dhead phase and really nice ones are certainly firming up in value. The E36 M3, for all its many virtues, was slightly unloved when new and fall awkwardly in between the E30 and the E46.

E36 - classic? Maybe not, but as they slowly die off, an interesting old BMW that's easy to run and fix. Valuable? No.

• It won't be long now.

[Kawasicki]

iSore said:

The thing with the E36 is that it was so modern when it arrived in 1991 (Montegos, Cavaliers and Sierras....) and BMW built about 6 billion of them. That's why they aren't head turning in the way an H plate Sierra might be. I have a very early and very tidy H reg E36 saloon (dark grey bumpers) that will be 25 years old in January - but I'd still feel slightly awkward taking it to a classic car show and parking it next to a Morris 1000. It just doesn't look like an old car, even though it is.
I don't think they will ever be worth a lot. As much as I like the 328i Sport, I wouldn't be paying £6000 for one when the same cash buys a nice E92 330i Coupe*...........unless of course long term investment is your thing. Likewise, who the hell would buy an E36 M3 for 10 grand when the much nicer E46 model can be had for the same money? The E46 is slowly exiting the chav/drift/mismatched partworns/dhead phase and really nice ones are certainly firming up in value. The E36 M3, for all its many virtues, was slightly unloved when new and fall awkwardly in between the E30 and the E46.

E36 - classic? Maybe not, but as they slowly die off, an interesting old BMW that's easy to run and fix. Valuable? No.

• It won't be long now.

Back in 1991, I was blown away by the E36...it was so different to every other car.

I've had a couple of them in the meantime, and I really like them.

[iSore]

Kawasicki said:

Back in 1991, I was blown away by the E36...it was so different to every other car.

I've had a couple of them in the meantime, and I really like them.

This is the thing - the current F30 and previous E90 are really just updated versions of the 1991 car. The E36 though was radically different to the E30.

[Kawasicki]

I prefer grey sills without skirts on a white coupe...

[iSore]

Kawasicki said:

I prefer grey sills without skirts on a white coupe...

It'll be an old one without the sill covers. On the 1993 318iS I had a few years back I fitted sill covers and coded the black bits on the bumpers.

[iSore]

Kawasicki said:

I prefer grey sills without skirts on a white coupe...

It'll be an old one without the sill covers. On the 1993 318iS I had a few years back I fitted sill covers and coded the black bits on the bumpers.

[Olivera]

BGarside said:

Bought my 325i Coupe with 63k miles on it last year, and so far am enjoying driving it - have put 7k miles on this year. My only issue is the engine lacks grunt unless revved over 4000rpm so the car might be getting a 2.8 transplant in the future..

The early 325 iron block engine is more sought after than the 328 unit, it's more reliable and takes boost far better!

I really do like my 328, however they do need chipped, m50 manifold and short diff conversion otherwise they feel sluggish.

[Coker]

pat_y said:

I do hope they are still worth something. I have a 328 tourer with added M-Bling that i will be looking to move on later this year. They seem to be becoming rarer as a daily sight on the roads. 5 or 6 years ago you couldn't move for the buggers.

PM'd

[croyde]

Bought mine in 1998 when it was a year old. Despite other cars coming and going, the last one a 2016 Mustang GT, I still have my e36 323i SE.

A much used and abused daily driver with 121,000 miles now but still a joy to drive.

[e30m3Mark]

I missed out on a very tidy, white 4 door 318i manual yesterday. I wanted to build a BTCC styled track car as I have fond memories of Soper and Winkelhock back in the day. Early E36's have certainly aged well to my eye, but finding good ones is getting harder.

[Kettmark]

My 1993 318is came out of hibernation for a trip to the mot station today. Still as tight as a drum with just 25k on the clock. Great vehicles.