AH so I don't know who even remembers me really, but I'v missed the community!

[Deanx2009]

Been attending AF bmt and now technical school since January 19th, still have until october 5th until I graduate from here. When i left I did some thinking in basic training and decided for my brothers 16th birthday Id pass on my E34. He has it now and has been doing very good things for it. already had some problems that he's worked through to earn the title of an e34 driver =p. But with 210k miles on the stock motor, swapped manual tranny, Bilstein HD's with 6k on them, and Vogtland springs with 4k on them, the car is driving beautifully. and he enjoys it as much as I did. And of course with his Auto shop teacher in high school being a Bimmer fanatic hes helped him out with a few things that i couldn't while a thousand miles or so away from the family.


Been browsing a lot again looking at potentials for when I get home and deciding between all the options I have, still reading more and more on every detail of my choices...I've decided im def going with a 3 series this time around, having enjoyed the five series for a while Id like something smaller.

The few options i've been heavily researching are the E30's and E36's, Some e46 interest, but Not sure im into them as much.

E30's with s50/s52 swaps are an option..

as well as E36 M3's.

Iv pretty much decided its one or the other, and since I trust the E34 community the most out of anyone, and I know some of you have driven these cars, im just looking for some opinions and fun criticism that every experienced member of bimmerforums is so good at.

Keep in mind I will have 10k cash as a budget up front with 1k a month for 1 year purely for hobbies..(fun money). then Il be off active duty training in november 2011 and begin ROTC at a local college..


So, throw me your opinions. try to stay on topic...I just got swithed to Midshift for class, working midnight to 9:30 am, and because of that i gt one day for a rest period starting tonight so i can begin tomorrow at midnight. so il be attempting an all nighter, lol.

[David325e]

Hey buddy, glad to hear you made it through.

I'd go with E30 over E36. Most E36s I see have been tuner owned. And I see E36s with problems that E30s have. Makes me wonder where they'll be when they've aged. For the kind of money you're talking you can have a nice plastic bumper airbag E30 with swap. And a budget to make it even nicer. Plus in terms of tools,time,bfc E30s are on the anything can be done level with E34s.

[Deanx2009]

Agreed^ thanks man. Honestly physical aspect of it wasn't tough besides lack of sleep. Mentally it was harder. Few hickups along the way. Graduated with Honor graduate however, which only the top ten percent of the 750 people who graduate that week get, along with marksman which was awesome. then I had my first stage of tech school in Keesler, MS. Got distinguished grad there in electronics principles where i earned a 99 percent totall avg on 6 tests of thirty questions each. Now im in shepard AFB, TX. hate it here.


Anyways, about BMW's. I do agree with the problems aspect somewhat, except the e36 id get would be in the 97-99 range..frm what i've been reading the majority of issues people have had were resolved by then. Now E30 has customizability I believe, however the e36 has a great range of performance as well...

[E34nication]

Congrats on the achievements. Sounds like you're doing very well.

If it's down to 10k I think a coilovered, obd1 s52'd e30 would be pretty doggone sweet.

[87shark]

s52 swapped e34?

[Deanx2009]

s52 swapped e34?

Maybe.. I love E34's styling over an e30 any day mainly because IMHO the e30 rear looks like an old Honda =[. The e34 is overall sexy, but shes also a heavier girl..and im not sure if i want to go back to the e34, but.. its always an option


Congrats on the achievements. Sounds like you're doing very well.

If it's down to 10k I think a coilovered, obd1 s52'd e30 would be pretty doggone sweet.


Thank you! im definitely glad I joined when I did.. I graduated, took one semester of college then when straight to bmt so I've been a busy kid.


Yess...a very attractive suggestion...My worries in that are just in the SMOG issues of california and how strict and homosexual they are. Your car is looking very well by the way!

[Binjammin]

Shit, if I had 10k coming my way and a steady job? I'd buy a house and a hooptie.

[e34moneypit]

this. this, this, this, this. (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1471699)

[Sam Son]

Congrats on the achievements. Sounds like you're doing very well.

If it's down to 10k I think a coilovered, obd1 s52'd e30 would be pretty doggone sweet.
this

s52 swapped e34?
or this are the two best options in my opinion...

[Deanx2009]

alright but do you all have reasons for the e30 vs the m3. solid ones, obviously the e30 is lighter to start off

[Sam Son]

the E30 is a better car than the E36 what more solid reason do you need? its like a mini E34 if that doesnt sell you I dont know what will

[Deanx2009]

the E30 is a better car than the E36 what more solid reason do you need? its like a mini E34 if that doesnt sell you I dont know what will

I believe that overall the e30 is a well built car yes. But everyone really puts down the e36's because it seems like its the popular thing to do. I want reasons thad fall under practicality, maintenance difficulty, driving experiences with each, parts failure, availability, etc etc...Of course itd help to have some people chip in who've owned or do own both cars for input. Because even I throw out comments towards other cars when sometimes I haven't even driven it myself..which doesn't help much.


as far as the mini e34 aspect goes...that really is a plus and something I have already realized being around my buddies e30.

[SpeedsterBek]

96-99 M3? Relatively quick from the factory, OBD II(for CA smog), good aftermarket support and holds its value well. Swapped E30s are nice and all but I don't think I feel safe in an E30. Besides, I'd rather buy unmolested stock M3 than engine swapped E30. Try troubleshooting a swapped car when there is an issue...

[Deanx2009]

96-99 M3? Relatively quick from the factory, OBD II(for CA smog), good aftermarket support and holds its value well. Swapped E30s are nice and all but I don't think I feel safe in an E30. Besides, I'd rather buy unmolested stock M3 than engine swapped E30. Try troubleshooting a swapped car when there is an issue...

another thing i was concerned with was safety, and going from a 94 e34 to an e30 I lose some of the safety features I had. which is important to me.

[Sam Son]

Ive driven my fair share of e36's so Im not making baseless comments...they just feel cheap overall, like they arent quality products...there were given some of the best engines which is the only reason to get one but you can have E36 engines in an E34 or an E30 so...why not?

that said one of the most fun cars Ive ever driven was a SC S52 E36...but that was because of the motor...

[janders211]

e36 M3 if you don't care about the 'image'.

For the price e36 M3's are going for now it would be hard to find a comparable e30.

[makaveli2k]

Grab an e36 with the lux package. Then it will feel Almost as nice as an e34.

The e36's have a cult following for a reason, they're great cars minus their quirks. If I had to do it over again at this specific point in my life. I'd go for an e36 no doubt.

But like Janders said, they do carry an image. I actually think the e30 image has gotten worse over the past little while too. But don't let that discourage you from getting an insanely fun car.

If you're going to consider any possibility of an e34. Go for the big V8, they're so perfect, not to mention fun for what the e34 stands for.

[pennpen]

didn't you make this thread before? i swear you did

[David325e]

Had awhile to think about this when a friend called me with a similar question today. Heres reasons I don't like the E36, and I consider them valid.
-Majority of the people that own them
-Newer car. Nice in some regards but more of the things that go wrong aren't just nuts and bolts repairs. Sensors the dealer has to reset, computers, etc.
-As I said earlier the ones I see are decaying more quickly than old school bimmers
-E30s, and E34s to a smaller degree have pretty inexpensive maintenance parts. And theres nothing short of major surgery that can't be done roadside with a well assembled tool kit.

As for E30/E34 debate I think you should drive a 540 or a swapped E34. M50 is good and would be my choice of motors but the difference in power makes the car feel smaller. Changing from my 525 to 540 was like a completely different car. And I love my E30, its the right car for me now. But I miss the tight and modern feel of the E34. I miss the community. And space. We're old enough that a coupe with a loud pipe at the teen hangout is passe but young enough that I'm moving stuff for college, weekend trip with buds, moving ish to sell etc. Coming home for the summer I had the E30 packed to the roof and against my body and still had to leave some at school. The E34 would have had room for a passenger.

[Deanx2009]

didn't you make this thread before? i swear you did

I did have a similar update thread on where i was at as far as my life in general was going about 3 months ago or so I think?

[Dumpy525i]

e34 m5

[Sam Son]

. We're old enough that a coupe with a loud pipe at the teen hangout is passe
:rofl

[David325e]

:rofl
HAha excluding the sonic meet of course.

[DOC540I]

get an E30... it'll be a fun project and with that kind of money you have, u can make it ride and handle ridiculously...go all out.

[AndrewH]

s50/2 e30 swaps are legit, but I could see the reasoning for the e36 with the additional creature comforts.

[Deanx2009]

Welp...42 days until graduation date. It's been a long road, still a bit more left. Very close to home now though. 7 months down 6 weeks to go. Still miss my car :(