Discussion
I am looking at changing the E39 (528i Sport) but want to downsize engine wise and have been keen to look at an E36 (Quite like the look of them) but more the convertible sort for the summer?
Has anyone done this change and what were the biggest differences? I do have a small child (2yo) that may be in the car with me, this will be a second car so not the family run about - which is what the E39 is used for, i just can't help feeling the E39 is a bit overkill for what I need it for now, plus I have a speeding offence now and feel that the insurance hike on the E39 might not be justified. I do however really like the E39, but the fuel for the 8miles a day I do is a little unjustifiable and it doesn't really get warm enough to benefit. I also have a motorbike that I use in the summer/when i'm not on stupid shifts.
Basically, after wandering off there - What are the pitfalls and benefits about an E36 and has anyone changed an E39 for an E36
Has anyone done this change and what were the biggest differences? I do have a small child (2yo) that may be in the car with me, this will be a second car so not the family run about - which is what the E39 is used for, i just can't help feeling the E39 is a bit overkill for what I need it for now, plus I have a speeding offence now and feel that the insurance hike on the E39 might not be justified. I do however really like the E39, but the fuel for the 8miles a day I do is a little unjustifiable and it doesn't really get warm enough to benefit. I also have a motorbike that I use in the summer/when i'm not on stupid shifts.
Basically, after wandering off there - What are the pitfalls and benefits about an E36 and has anyone changed an E39 for an E36
I guess it depends on how much you would like to downsize, enginewise. I've often read on here that all the M50/M52 6-pots run in the same economy ballpark, so I guess you'd need to be looking at an E36 318 to justify an engine downsize for economy reasons.
But if you're downsizing engine size for insurance benefits, definitely do a few "test" quotes - a lot depends on how you appear to your insurers, but you may find insurance premiums actually *greater* for the E36 than the E39. I suspect the statistics may show more E36's getting driven through hedges than E39's or something
But if you're downsizing engine size for insurance benefits, definitely do a few "test" quotes - a lot depends on how you appear to your insurers, but you may find insurance premiums actually *greater* for the E36 than the E39. I suspect the statistics may show more E36's getting driven through hedges than E39's or something
Thats a good point actually, the one i looked at was an E36 318i Cab - As much as I love my E39 I HATE black, it might be a different story if I had the Imola Red E39 Sport I wish I had bought, but it's only a second car anyway so just need to throw the nipper in it every now and then as the estate is the main car.
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