Help, My brain is burning [e36/e46]

[gconry18]

Help is needed...

Some of you have seen I am looking for a Manual e36 328i to maybe replace my car rather that doing a manual swap.

Now. I love the E36 shape, it is so sporty and servicing and mods are a breeze.

But then... In my daily search to find a good one this damn E46 keeps popping up and taunting me. Its a manual 328i with decent km's and I keep thinking "well, why not?". I blame ChrisBrand for this. (Why, Chris, did you ever let me step into your car?)

I find the E46, although a modern looking car, to be more elegant than cool and sporty. Small mods that I would want, like the front camber I have on the E36, are not as easy to do.

I know I WANT an e36 so why is the E46 taunting me.

Talk to me guys. E36 vs E46 from fun to maintenance to modding potential (Without spending massive amounts) and everything in between. Its obviously going to be a daily driver (55+ km per day) that I will service myself (oil services and what not) but also my track toy a few times a year. I also do A LOT of sitting in traffic so tell me about the clutches on each.

Thanks Fanatics.
Poll Added.

 

[freerider]

take it from me, having owned 2 x e36 and 2 x e46, the e36 is a way more fun and engaging car to drive.

E46 is much quieter inside and more comfortable.

 

[gconry18]

take it from me, having owned 2 x e36 and 2 x e46, the e36 is a way more fun and engaging car to drive.

E46 is much quieter inside and more comfortable.

Thanks, thats +1 to the e36 on the poll.

 

[moranor@axis]

i was looking for an e36 when i got my car... i believe now it the time to buy in e46 before they start getting haggard... most e36 have already been destroyed... although if you look you can still find a good e36...

 

[jeff_denning]

take it from me, having owned 2 x e36 and 2 x e46, the e36 is a way more fun and engaging car to drive.

E46 is much quieter inside and more comfortable.

Thanks, thats +1 to the e36 on the poll.

Add another +1 on the E36
The feel on the E36 is much better for me compared to an E46.

 

[///MALCOLM325]

take it from me, having owned 2 x e36 and 2 x e46, the e36 is a way more fun and engaging car to drive.

E46 is much quieter inside and more comfortable.

+1 E36 in my opinion is the drivers car, depending on condition though. I owned a few 325's and all were in great condition, was always a fun car to drive. When we owned our first E46 it just didnt grow on me as fast as the E36's did. No dissing to the E46's, just opinion.

 

[Legacy]

E36 is 1 star Ncap rating... :fencelook:

Okay enough being stupid, go for the E36, we actually have a E46 328i in the garage and its like you said, its not sporty its more elegant and definitely not for track use. Also they only sold the E46 328i for around 15 months (talking under correction) so finding a good unabused one is very difficult, makes me glad you are not in PTA :fencelook: If you go with an E46 go for a 330i, probably out of your budget but hell start saving so long as the good ones will die out very soon.

 

[gconry18]

Where is spy with some elaboration on his vote?

 

[ChrisBrand]

E36 is 1 star Ncap rating... :fencelook:

Okay enough being stupid, go for the E36, we actually have a E46 328i in the garage and its like you said, its not sporty its more elegant and definitely not for track use. Also they only sold the E46 328i for around 15 months (talking under correction) so finding a good unabused one is very difficult, makes me glad you are not in PTA :fencelook: If you go with an E46 go for a 330i, probably out of your budget but hell start saving so long as the good ones will die out very soon.

Mmmmm not agreeing there :tease: What i find with the e36 its a very raw car. When u push it it means business. With the e46 u can still enjoy just going for a quiet drive but it has enough grunt if u want it. The only problem, and im gonna be honest here, with the e46 328i is that it was one of the first e46's. All the niggles and small problems were sorted with the N54 engines. Thats my only concern. When purchasing my car i had a choice between a e46 and e36. Thats all im gonna say

 

[gconry18]

With the e46 u can still enjoy just going for a quiet drive but it has enough grunt if u want it.

The e36 is still very capable of the relaxed city/open road cruise (granted though with a little more wind noise). I do it often around the end of the month when I start to wonder where on earth my petrol money went. But then again, mine is auto so I cant really comment accurately.

When purchasing my car i had a choice between a e46 and e36. Thats all im gonna say

Was the e36 not a 4pot though? Because then it was obviously a no brainer.

 

[freerider]

Funny you mention the laid back driving style at the end of the month gaz, I have always said that my driving style is directly proportional to the remaining funds in my bank account

 

[zabbo]

If you going to consider an E46 then it has to be a 330i if you want to enjoy it at all.

I had a E36 328 followed by an auto E46 330 and look, I returned to the E36 328 :=):

 

[328ii]

I drive 2x E36, some of my friends own E46. My opinion(s)...

You travel 55 km/day ~1100 km/month ~13200 km/year is not much.

E36 : The best - but spares are going to become harder to find.
Very hard to find good one - w.r.t. mileage and condition.
Probably more reliable than E46

E46 : Go for a 330 or 335(E90) model. Better chance to find a good one
Spares are easy to find and not a problem yet...
Not as nice looking as E36 (2me) and probably not as reliable
More modern and mainstream

Maintaining or modifying either, depends on you & your budget.

So, basically it is up to you to choose what pros and cons you prefer.

I suggest to buy the car you like - after all, you have to pay for it..!

*** It is rather pointless to buy something you do not like, even if it comes cheap ***

I must add i DO like the newer 125 & 135 - but they come at a premium..!

8?>

 

[Philip Foglar]

Finding "good" E36's these days is I imagine the problem - E46's of course are easier to find with decent mileage and condition.

 

[328ii]

Funny you mention the laid back driving style at the end of the month gaz, I have always said that my driving style is directly proportional to the remaining funds in my bank account

So true - well said..!

8?>

 

[gconry18]

This thread is helping me confirm what I already know. The E36 is for me. I wont really have a problem with spares soon though since cliftons has plenty of E36 stuff to keep these cars alive.

Guys, keep your ears and eyes open for any 98/99 328i with < 200k km for sale.

---

Funny you mention the laid back driving style at the end of the month gaz, I have always said that my driving style is directly proportional to the remaining funds in my bank account

lol. so so true. At the beginning of the month I was doing 12.8-14 liters per 100km. I'm on the last tank I can afford this month and doing 11.4 liters per 100km

 

[moranor@axis]

its true that the stock suspension settings on the e36 are closer to where they should be, but that is easily changed... the fuel consumption on the e46 is also better than the e36...

i dont think its easy to choose between the two i think they both equal if you can find a clean e36 then i dont really see any reason not to go that way... i would still look at the e46 also...

 

[gconry18]

its true that the stock suspension settings on the e36 are closer to where they should be, but that is easily changed... the fuel consumption on the e46 is also better than the e36...

i dont think its easy to choose between the two i think they both equal if you can find a clean e36 then i dont really see any reason not to go that way... i would still look at the e46 also...

Yea. I was also considering it because I know they are a little lighter on fuel. With the suspension though it was very easy to dial in some front camber on the e36 but you need plates for the E46.

I think I'm sold on staying with E36, I am a lot more familiar with it than the E46. But maybe I should just twist Chris's arm for another test drive and then maybe freerider will let me try the sponge. Should do it back to back on the same day

 

[moranor@axis]

dont worry about the front camber im working on it

 

[gconry18]

dont worry about the front camber im working on it

Why so slow? :rollsmile: