E36. The BMW stepchild?

[h82crash]

Based on some of my research, the E36 has no respect in the automotive world. Still my favorite body style, but support is nearly non-existent. I've found no restoration threads on tear-down and rebuild. Does anyone restore these classics? Come on, there are no dedicated forum sites. As far as parts, they are more rare and expensive than 2002 parts. If I were to choose to replace all of the body rubber (which needs to be done), the parts, if I could find them, exceed the value of the car. I restored a 72 2002 and all of the seals cost what one E36 door seal costs.

So, is this body style destined for the crusher? Seems like 90% of the ads for sale are part-outs or some pos drift build.

I have a 74 Toyota FJ40. There are hundreds of build threads restoring these.

Can someone direct me to a parts supplier who specializes in E36s, or is that a unicorn?

[Twistytee]

People restore them, but usually with used parts. The vast majority of e36 models are not particularly valuable (with the exception of low mileage M3/Lightweights, etc.). So there’s not much value for money trying to restore them. Plus they made a metric sh*t ton of them so model rarity is not on the side of the collector.

Plenty of online euro part suppliers including FCP, ECS, Pelican, etc. Problem with interior bits and trim is many e36 parts are becoming NLA.

[fasteddie313]

??
I think the E36 is the most popular for builds.. Isn't it?

[Twistytee]

It’s definitely still a popular track and autocross platform. So plenty of track builds or turbo build threads.

[h82crash]

People restore them, but usually with used parts. The vast majority of e36 models are not particularly valuable (with the exception of low mileage M3/Lightweights, etc.). So there’s not much value for money trying to restore them. Plus they made a metric sh*t ton of them so model rarity is not on the side of the collector.

Plenty of online euro part suppliers including FCP, ECS, Pelican, etc. Problem with interior bits and trim is many e36 parts are becoming NLA.

I know about those resources. Thank you. But they want $300 for a window seal.

So, yes. They're throw away cars. Frustrating. When I say build threads, I don't mean "My E36/Merlin 61 swap thread".

A high production? Only a half million in US for the entire production run. Ford F150 exceeds that every year.

I was looking for a clean M3 to purchase, but if these are destined to go by the way of the dinosaur, I'll look for something else.

I'm actually heartbroken.

[ross1]

Right now it is just a cheap used car. Being quite popular with the boy racer set it's dignity and value suffer. At this time they don't merit a full on restoration, at least not in a financial sense.
1/2 M = low volume?
I'm sure it'll gain respect with more time, same as the E30 did.

[h82crash]

1/2 M = low volume?

Ford sold over 900,000 F-150s in 2018.

Yup, thinking of going back to an E30.

[ChuckDizzle]

I know about those resources. Thank you. But they want $300 for a window seal.

So, yes. They're throw away cars. Frustrating. When I say build threads, I don't mean "My E36/Merlin 61 swap thread".

A high production? Only a half million in US for the entire production run. Ford F150 exceeds that every year.

I was looking for a clean M3 to purchase, but if these are destined to go by the way of the dinosaur, I'll look for something else.

I'm actually heartbroken.

The door seals have cost $300 for years, they probably aren't going to get any cheaper. The E36 needs more time, you have to let that feeling of "you'll miss us once we're gone" settle in first. However, still today the majority of e36s I see on the road are smacked out and poorly modded. People buy them cheap and mod them even cheaper.

[h82crash]

The door seals have cost $300 for years, they probably aren't going to get any cheaper. The E36 needs more time, you have to let that feeling of "you'll miss us once we're gone" settle in first. However, still today the majority of e36s I see on the road are smacked out and poorly modded. People buy them cheap and mod them even cheaper.

Totally agree, My heart beaks every time I see one.

They call it the S__t car. ;-(

[ChuckDizzle]

Totally agree, My heart beaks every time I see one.

They call it the S__t car.

Yea and its awesome. I followed the entire evolution of Hoonigan's Shitcar and their LS-swapped e36 drift car.

[FRybOy]

Buy a warehouse buy all the ragged out e36 models you can find while you can get them for less than 500 bucks and 10 years from now you will quadruple your investment.


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[fasteddie313]

Clean E36 M3s are doing well..

[h82crash]

Buy a warehouse buy all the ragged out e36 models you can find while you can get them for less than 500 bucks and 10 years from now you will quadruple your investment.

Maybe, but you can't predict the future. If someone doesn't start producing soft parts at an affordable price, then enthusiasm won't grow.

Eddie, I hope they keep doing well.

[h82crash]

Yea and its awesome. I followed the entire evolution of Hoonigan's Shitcar and their LS-swapped e36 drift car.

tactical-facepalm_zpsc1331493.jpg

[FRybOy]

The parts are not coming down in price anytime soon I’ll tell you that. Realistically one day these cars will hit classic status and then restore companies will start producing but for now and probably for years to come these cars are the go to for track/drift cars and suppliers know it so it keeps these parts in high demand so as long as mfs keep cutting them up and getting them sideways the prices will never come down until the last chassis is destroyed.... its me I’m mfs....


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[h82crash]

I'm not a purist by any stretch, but I am a firm believer if you're going to build something you should build it right. I.e. putting undersized tires on oversized wheels and adding camber to get them to fit under the fender is like cutting a hole in the side of a submarine for fresh air.

Hey, want to meet us for Starbucks?
No, thank you.
Why, don't you like coffee?
I love coffee, that's why I don't go to Starbucks.

It's kind of like that with BMWs for me.

Sorry, just venting a little. I don't care what you do to your car, as long you are happy with it. Just do it correctly so you don't crash into me on the highway.

[spyderg0d]

The e36 hasent hit the "classic" car list yet like 2002. Too many are still being driven, maintained, titles traded ect. Parts are going to float in prices until the demand settles. As of right now, e36 are a niche sort of car in the car community with ALOT of haters. However, i find that EVERY honda boi with an ebay turbo setup in cny, wants to drop a light right after he attempts to insult my car.. The only thing I can figure, they are jeloues. There is a status of sort attached to the BMW logo, that when compared to the guy that successfully makes a $1000 honda turbo build, leaves honda boi feeling lowered in stature and a Need to size up to it. I find it misplaced the way the e36 is viewed, as it usually isnt stacked too badly in actual performance values on tracks, in the proper class, whereis the other owners car, usually are not comparable.

[h82crash]

The niche it's in is unfortunate. As you can see from my list of prior cars, I am an enthusiast. The E36 I have has been mistreated but is definitely not beyond bringing back. I would like to have its condition brought up to a level that can be appreciated by me and other enthusiasts. I'm not expecting the general population to even notice it. I have the skills and financial resources to do it. Its just disheartening that the cost of rubber parts alone could easily exceed the value. Never mind tossing the ebay coilovers and getting properly fitting wheels.

[spyderg0d]

I dont take kbb to heart, neither does my insurance company. They take data from title tax values in your area to determine local kbb values. Essentially, enough private sellers have halked off the private sale $3500 bmw as a $500 tax reciept, and the entire local market declines dramatically. Meanwhile the cars stay in circulation, being passed the same way, being maintained with eclensive parts, for it all to repeat. Raises the maintenance costs, drops the kbb value. And the 1 thing that is true, we bmw folk are cheap as we possibly can be. Haha

[wooooosh]

Does anyone restore these classics?

I understand what you are saying. I had an E30 for 3 years. There are hundreds of restore web pages. I worked off and on it for years. I just ran out of patience, time, and money. It spent more time on jack stands then me driving it. The value only keeps going up. Maybe you should try an E30. I've had my 96 318is for 2 months and I love this car. I'm still working on maintenance stuff, but plan on keeping it for a long time.

[h82crash]

Rant over. I'm glad there are lots of enthusiasts here. I love a nice E30 as well. I'm starting to get in deep into this E36, though. Going to be picking up a Koni/Eibach suspension and a M52B28 aluminum short block. I hear a non-vanos top end makes a strong, light combination. When I get going on this build, maybe a thread is in order.

[CblockM3]

There is a TON of support for the E36 and plenty of parts availability. Plus an INSANE amount of information about them scattered across the forums. You want to see some great build threads, go over to m3forums and check out the member's journal section over there. If this is the only E36 forum you have been looking at expand your searches.

Here is a great build thread for you to start out on, hopefully Joe doesn't mind me linking it here:

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=528484

[h82crash]

Thanks. Just wish there were more is all. E30s have R3Vlimited, E30tech, SocalE30, and StrictlyETA. Really surprised there aren't more for E36s.

[xxxxxxx]

OP I think you're being a little dramatic. E36 is just getting to the age where they're coming back into style and restoring them is becoming a thing. I can think of a couple amazing top to bottom restorations out there off the top of my head. I am in the process myself. Door seals have been 300/ea for at least 20 years. Sucks, but that's how it's always been. As for forums for the e36, the best seem to be bimmerforums and m3forum. Not sure what else you want. The E36 does not lack enthusiasts, parts or support.

[FiberFast]

Some of us have just about completely gone through our cars. As far as restoring them to OE specifications for the sake of posterity, that's a hard sell cause frankly they look like shit stock. A small drop and some spacers are almost a necessity to make them look right at all. The chrome trim, especially around the kidney grills makes me ill. I mean, I can understand doing it and why, but you are not going to convince me its somehow "Better" than a well modified car... and what does that look like? Its all perspective and opinion, although I would certainly agree that the newly converted Honda community beating these chassis into bantha fodder will do nothing but increase their value in the long term... In the short term it has left a shit stain on the reputation of the vehicle.