why is it E36 M3?

Looking at buying a cheap e36(non m3the) and was wondering if they were "s-word" as the board macro would have me beleve? Also, not rolling in money for parts and such, are they expensive for up keep? Good daily family hauler/road tripper?

It is because the are the E36 M3, not just E36 M3.

What Evan said. We mean it in a Katt Williams ("That's my E36 M3!") kind of way.

theE36M3, when in good shape is THE ultimate road trip car. Long legged, reliable. and nimble in the twisties..

mad_machine wrote: theE36M3, when in good shape is THE ultimate road trip car. Long legged, reliable. and nimble in the twisties..

That's a bold claim, especially for the guys in the back seat.

Yeah, I'm on my second one. I can't find a car with better ratio of cost to performance and MPG. Maybe an E36 M3 with an LSX , but really... they are the E36 M3.

They don't absorb potholes like the subaru (I actually seek out potholes with the '02 WRX).

Will wrote:

mad_machine wrote: theE36M3, when in good shape is THE ultimate road trip car. Long legged, reliable. and nimble in the twisties..

That's a bold claim, especially for the guys in the back seat.

well.. the guy in the backseat can't be too long legged

Oh... Well that clears up alot lol

Well, heres the deal, im thinking when taxes roll around, finding a cheap 325i or 328i(didnt they make a 4hole e36?) Don't really care about performance (don't hurt though :LikeI said though, money is tight now, its not going to be much more free then, are old bimmers affordable for low income mortals?

Messed with an e30 years ago, but was alittle nutty for tuneup bits...

What ever i choose, well need to bee able to pick right up, and cart us(wife+3) from NC to Kalispell Montana and back, not cost me a leg and not break down

there was several 4 cylinder E36s.. the one you find that is well liked around here is the hatchback.. the 318ti

Here's hoping Teh will check back in on the thread, but the buddy of mine that owned one (an M3) says treat the cooling system like it's a consumable item. He also says on a non-M car, the rear subframe mounts need to be beefed up. Parts aren't bad, but the labor is hell.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-3971-e36-rear-subframechassis-reinforcement-kit.aspx

the cooling system is a consumable on E36s... too much plastic

i don't know anything about the cars themselves or what they are like in real world use, but i think they pretty much own all the Chumpcar races in the central division..

novaderrik wrote: i don't know anything about the cars themselves or what they are like in real world use, but i think they pretty much own all the Chumpcar races in the central division..

Yep. Apparently there are 500 dollar ones all over the place.

They're really, really great cars. Having ruined mine by making it a race car, I wanted another one to drive on the street. I got a manual e39 manual wagon instead which is more comfortable and practical and is really similar feeling but turned way down.

Probably better for myself but not for law enforcement.

e36s are at the bottom of the depreciation curve. There are plenty of cheap ones around. Northern cars are susceptible to rust - mainly in the rockers, front fenders and structure behind the front fenders. Cooling systems are wear items - at 60-80k intervals - about $350 in parts. Power steering hoses/reservoirs start leaking around then too - another $150ish. Also motor mounts and fan clutches. Watch out for cars that just need a new head gasket - been overheated, good odds on a warped head in addition to the gasket. There's other little stuff - headliner glue fails and the fabric falls down. Clips/standoffs for door cards come apart. Grease in the window tracks gums up and causes some problems. They are diy friendly, but the engine bay can be a little tight. Except for the ti, I would probably avoid the 4 cylinder versions. Good engines, but too much weight in the sedans to lug around to make them as much fun as the 6 cylinders. I would also bypass the automatics.

Good info by oldtin. They can indeed be cheap to buy and cheap to run, if you know what youre looking at and are willing to wrench on them yourself.

We bought this 325i last year for my stepson's GF for $1200 and it's been strong and relibale since then (other than a nail it picked up in a tire on the trip from Baltimore to Saratoga Springs, NY).

Other than being an automatic, it's a good first car for her, and surprisingly peppy.

oldtin wrote: I would also bypass the automatics.

I disagree. Easy to convert to 5spds or you can get the parts for them to rebuild them, since they are just a GM product.

interesting.......I always figured it was to make fun of bf.c's mental attitude of hating everything non-///M

If you find a running and driving ti for $500, buy it instantly, flip it here for $1000, and buy a sedan or coupe to drive into the ground......

BMW E36 automatics are GM? Tell me more about this, please!

Stealthtercel wrote: BMW E36 automatics are GM? Tell me more about this, please!

My trans parts books tell me they are 4L30's from GM/Hydramatic. Some of the parts you can't get readily, but if you have some cores laying around.....

Ranger is correct.....the old slushbox auto's bmw used were gm units.

Wonder how hard a 325is 5speed sedan will be to find

VG30_S12 wrote: Wonder how hard a 325is 5speed sedan will be to find

Doesn't exist. The 'i' suffix means sedan and 'is' suffix means coupe in e36 model naming.

What you are looking for is a 325i/4/5 (four door 5-speed) and they are not uncommon.

did they make IS sedans? I thought the sedans all had i designations.....thankfully e36's aren't like the e30's where the letters after the number made a big difference in what you got.

Edit: there will also be 328i sedans floating about.

Thanks, Ranger. I appreciate it. More info for the mental file.