Would a normal E36 be fun to drive?

[Bav///Man]

Not to sound snobby at all, but I often wonder what I would do if I broke/sold/wrecked my car. If I got another E36 without going FI, would it still give me the same joy?

Don't get me wrong, I drove an N/A E36 for a few years before going turbo. But would I always feel like something was missing?

Would it be time for a 5er or the like? (Not talking about your 5er, UrineMachine)

[Robstah]

Probably not. Once you go boost, you can never really go back. I don't know though. If you plan on sticking a euro S50B32 in, then NA wouldn't be so bad. ;)

[BMWManiac]

I wouldn't think so. I would think you would think that the car is way too slow...like something was missing, and that thing would be boost.

[///M3 CRAZY]

no. you will not have fun at all. that is like asking if when you had the non FI m3 if you would have been happy with a 318.. and please no one take offence but there is a difference.

[highboostingm3]

No!

My e39 M5 is barely enough to satisfy me daily. It is fun in the low gears for sure but top of 3rd and beyond it still lacks. A stock e36 M3 would be very depressing as a daily after driving a boosted bimmer.

[PrestoMB]

Well I guess the natural progrerssion for a bimmer fanatic that has a boosted e36 M3 would be to go with an M5. Its bigger and more luxurious as you get older and more "mature", it has Nice power stock just as an E36 M3 had for its time. THen you would just have to get an Area 51(DA) Supercharger Kit. Her is the link to a video of one owned by Josh Kalis:http://youtube.com/watch?v=HIWPE8fvJZI.

Although I think it would be cool to twin turbo an E39 M5. Maybe dual GT35r's? THat would mean that each turbo would be pushed by roughly 2.5l and 4 cylinders which is what it is when you put a GT35r on an STI, and GT35 STI's freakin move! So doubling that could only bring good things.

[fritzintn]

Like everyone else has said: Nope.

That's not to say it wouldn't be a great car...it just begins to feel more pedestrian. All those things you once lusted after when buying an M3 just feel bland. Once you've had your hit off the go-fast-crackpipe nothing is ever the same again.

My Euro motor'd car felt slow, the stripped out M3 felt even slower....so they got sold.

To be quite frank, if it weren't for the niceties offered by the E46M3 (newer interior, nav, bluetooth)....the S54 really doesn't do much for me anymore. Something will always be missing when you hit the go pedal....and that something is boost :)

[GGray]

I have aguys almost stock 95 M3 sitting in my shop for a starter...I drove it a couple of times..MAN its slow as dog poo.

SO it definatly will make other non boosted cars feel slooooww...

[techno550]

A stock car is extremely slow, but can still be fun. The power is only one of the fun qualities. An E36 is a fairly capable platform. With the right suspension and brakes its definately a fun car. The power side of things will be lacking, but with a tight enough road, its still fun. :)

My Spec E36 project is bone stock except for software and a wideband... and that motor can be relatively peppy with a little effort. If anything, it sounds kinda neat. :stickoutt