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

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

Author
Discussion

D1on

Original Poster:

802 posts

185 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
As above,
Are these a future classic in your opinion? If so what variant... smile

Locknut

653 posts

136 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
D1on said:
As above,
Are these a future classic ...
The hard-top coupe certainly is!

TheEnd

15,370 posts

187 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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They will be.

They've out-lived the Calibra and Rover Tomcat and any of the other 90's coupes and are still popular now.

NiceCupOfTea

25,280 posts

250 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Look around. When did you last see a decent e36? They are either barried up or total sheds. For me, they are that useful age where they are old enough that you can work on them yourselves, and nothing is "dealer only plug in a computer", but they are modern enough to use every day.

I've got a pretty decent sub 100k 323 cab, it's not mint but it's a superb daily driver. My brother has a nice 328 sport and I just can't think of a better all round car.

TBH, I think the 328 sport is the pick of the range.

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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NiceCupOfTea said:
Look around. When did you last see a decent e36? They are either barried up or total sheds. For me, they are that useful age where they are old enough that you can work on them yourselves, and nothing is "dealer only plug in a computer", but they are modern enough to use every day.

I've got a pretty decent sub 100k 323 cab, it's not mint but it's a superb daily driver. My brother has a nice 328 sport and I just can't think of a better all round car.

TBH, I think the 328 sport is the pick of the range.
I agree. 328s are great machines. As good as, if not better than the equivalent M3 which has never really been loved.

Dannbodge

2,160 posts

120 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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Normal models won't be in my opinion.

However the 328i sport or 318 sport (more special models) will be.

The 328i sport has been going up in value the last few years

Leins

9,416 posts

147 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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Alpina B3s are still a bit of a bargain IMO (B8s less so)

Also, a nice 328i Touring Sport, in something like Avus or Techno, will get more and more desirable I think

LanceRS

2,171 posts

136 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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Up until January I still had a 328 sport that I had bought 9 years earlier with 66k miles on it. This year a car with the same sort of milage and condition would be worth the same.
Anything that can be going back up in value like that must surely be classic?
I put over 100k on mine a loved every one of them. It was reliable and easy to work on (on the rare occasion anything need doing).
In an age where everything is electronic, it was wonderfully analogue to drive and will only gain in popularity.

andyiley

9,105 posts

151 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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IMHO 100% yes, coupe especially.

Am I biased? 100% yes.

However it is already visible, in 2007 I bought a pretty good 328 coupe with 88k on the clock for £1600 & could not buy anything like it, for the same money, now.

Zod

35,295 posts

257 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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SidewaysSi said:
I agree. 328s are great machines. As good as, if not better than the equivalent M3 which has never really been loved.
In what way are they better than an M3? I can think of one: fuel economy.

Dannbodge

2,160 posts

120 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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Zod said:
In what way are they better than an M3? I can think of one: fuel economy.
Maintenance costs
More torque low down makes it easier to drive (don't have to rev the nuts off it)

Zod

35,295 posts

257 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Dannbodge said:
Zod said:
In what way are they better than an M3? I can think of one: fuel economy.
Maintenance costs
More torque low down makes it easier to drive (don't have to rev the nuts off it)
The first point is minor. The second is nonsense.

NiceCupOfTea

25,280 posts

250 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Zod said:
Dannbodge said:
Zod said:
In what way are they better than an M3? I can think of one: fuel economy.
Maintenance costs
More torque low down makes it easier to drive (don't have to rev the nuts off it)
The first point is minor. The second is nonsense.
They look far better, always thought the e36 m3 looks too try hard. 328iS looks great. Widely acknowledged that the sport is 80% of the M3 for 20% of the price/running costs.

And mirrors.

Vincefox

20,566 posts

171 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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Yound drifters with a deficit of talent are wiping them out.

Best buy is manual 328i coupe.

There's no other na rwd manual 2 door around 200 bhp for the money left.

Also, as rarity increases the lines of the car will become more attractive.

Vincefox

20,566 posts

171 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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Zod said:
Dannbodge said:
Zod said:
In what way are they better than an M3? I can think of one: fuel economy.
Maintenance costs
More torque low down makes it easier to drive (don't have to rev the nuts off it)
The first point is minor. The second is nonsense.
Have to agree with this, owned both. The 328 is an excellent car, but at no point, in any gear does it get anywhere near the m3. It's a huge difference in real world driving.

Edited by Vincefox on Thursday 27th August 20:52

4rephill

5,040 posts

177 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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NiceCupOfTea said:
They look far better, always thought the e36 m3 looks too try hard. 328iS looks great.......
Hilarious post! rofl

With the exception of different door mirrors, seats (if the M3 has "Vaders" fitted), lower front grille (mesh Vs. bars), and wheels (and to Me the 328i Sports BBS split rim alloys are much better looking than all of the E36 M3 wheels!), the 328i Sport and the M3 look identical!



Vincefox

20,566 posts

171 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
4rephill said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
They look far better, always thought the e36 m3 looks too try hard. 328iS looks great.......
Hilarious post! rofl

With the exception of different door mirrors, seats (if the M3 has "Vaders" fitted), lower front grille (mesh Vs. bars), and wheels (and to Me the 328i Sports BBS split rim alloys are much better looking than all of the E36 M3 wheels!), the 328i Sport and the M3 look identical!
An m3 trying too hard, earlier...


mark.c

1,090 posts

179 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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Vincefox said:
An m3 trying too hard, earlier...

Yours Vince?... That's lovely, I miss mine, I've not said that about many cars.

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Zod said:
SidewaysSi said:
I agree. 328s are great machines. As good as, if not better than the equivalent M3 which has never really been loved.
In what way are they better than an M3? I can think of one: fuel economy.
Finer steering and more exploitable balance on the road. With a engine slight tweak, not much in it performance wise. And they are a fair bit lighter too which for me makes a big difference. A 328 running 15" wheels is probably the finer driver's car.

I value chassis ability and balance over pure straight line performance so it's an easy decision for me. Furthermore, at current prices, there's little argument which is the more appealing car.

As an aside I can't remember ever seeing a road test from a performance orientated mag/journo really raving about the E36 M3. It's more M330/M330 CSI IMO. A more hardcore coupe of the same era e.g. Integra DC2 is infinitely more exciting to drive than an M3.

Vincefox

20,566 posts

171 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
SidewaysSi said:
Finer steering and more exploitable balance on the road. With a engine slight tweak, not much in it performance wise. And they are a fair bit lighter too which for me makes a big difference. A 328 running 15" wheels is probably the finer driver's car.

I value chassis ability and balance over pure straight line performance so it's an easy decision for me. Furthermore, at current prices, there's little argument which is the more appealing car.

As an aside I can't remember ever seeing a road test from a performance orientated mag/journo really raving about the E36 M3. It's more M330/M330 CSI IMO. A more hardcore coupe of the same era e.g. Integra DC2 is infinitely more exciting to drive than an M3.
Dc2 is fwd though. Nothing wrong with that, but an awkward comparison.