Quote:
Originally Posted by wknddrivr
+1
I've had my E36 m3/4/5 for 5 years now. I got it by chance because my E90 was totaled and it was the only BMW I could find at the time that had a manual transmission in the area. I never liked the styling of the E36 prior to owning it, but when I went to check it out and took it for a test drive, I fell in love with how it drove. I've also come around on the styling, and its between that and my E39 M5 for my favorite design...Interestingly, they were both designed by the same guy, Joji Nagashima. You simply can have fun at normal speeds without going crazy and its just so enjoyable.
Since I got the E36, I leased a G30 530i (turned in, boring car), bought an E39 M5 (still have great daily), bought an E46 330xi (would be great but 200k miles and not well cared for so I've got a bad impression of it but it was cheap), and bought an E90 335i M-sport.
I still have all of those cars except the 530i, but the one that I enjoy the most and feel the most connected with is the E36 M3. The E39 M5 is a great all around car, but never gives you the emotional connection or road feel that you get with the E36. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to drive the E36 on a long trip...I've taken it from California to Colorado and my back was killing me...the same trip in the E39 M5 and I was way more comfortable.
Regarding reliability, the E36 has been the least troublesome out of all my cars. I have 160k miles, and aside from the clutch slave cylinder that also left me stranded, its been perfect. The Interior isn't the best quality, but aside from sagging headliner, I haven't had issues. I replaced the original headliner with Alcantara and it looks a lot more upscale with the black Alcantara headliner and Magma leather.
Cant say enough good things about the E36 M3, and out of the 4 cars currently in my garage, its the one I'd keep if I was forced to sell 3 of them.
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Nice garage. I have the same!
I've told this story before, but I had a 2013 e92 M3 (bought new), and added an e36 M3 in 2016 with only 73k miles. I started driving the e36 more than the e92. Although the V8 is intoxicating, I loved how light and toss able the e36 was. I ended up selling the e92 and adding an e39. I will never sell this M3. Yes, the interior door cards are falling apart and I still haven't fixed the glove box. But, I don't care. I just laugh and smile every time I redline it and take turns at ridiculous speeds and it goes exactly where you point it. It's the most underrated M3 and that's fine with me.