BMW E30/E36's - Talk to me

[bobbarley]

For the Motoscape rally one of the cars we're considering is a BMW, specifically the E30 variant if we can find one.  Has anyone on here owned a few, know much about them?  Looking for any weak points they tend to have?

When I was young I owned a 316i, was about 102bhp.  I remember it being very slow for the money, more of a cruiser than anything else.  Are the 318i and 320i engines much better?

[johnnyvr6]

buy either a 318is coupe or a 325 sport nothing else apart from m3 but they are 10k plus,the 318 16v dohc is about 140 bhp and they like to rev,the 325 sports are 3k plus but are donut machines

[barrym381]

have had a few e30s last 1 i had was the 325i sport an still miss it  
front wings and rear arches are prone to rust so are bootlids and rust under any bodykits on the sills  

[bobbarley]

Depeding on budget we might have to look at the E36  as well.

[barrym381]

Depeding on budget we might have to look at the E36  as well.

the e36 would be cheaper option as a good e30 will be expensive unless u buy a 318 e30 an drop the 3.5 from the e34 in it 

[johnnyvr6]

dont buy a e36 318 there gutless if you going for e36 buy a 328i sport for 1-1.5k and they are not far off a 3.0 m3 with the 325 inlet manifold and a remap,i had one there good cars get the early ones n and p reg had a lsd

[bobbarley]

I should point out.  The budget for the car for the rally is £333.  Their rules not mine.

[johnnyvr6]

haha sorry mate didn't realise you only had that probs get a 316 saloon rust bucket on ebay for that sort of cash

[rob.043]

For that budget best go E46, strip it out to make up the speed.

Good budget for an alfa 

[johnnyvr6]

For that budget best go E46, strip it out to make up the speed.

Good budget for an alfa 

333 quid for an e46 lol never seen one of them tell me where it is and i will buy it lol