e36 M3 vs. 135?

[~ILLEST 1~]

Hey all,

haven't posted on here in a while, been out of town mostly. Recently found a well equipped e36 M3 (brembos, HREs, stick) for sale at $23k. I don't know the exact mileage but I believe it's around 40,000. What are everyones' views on the e36 M3 compared with the 135?

Thanks,
Steve

[griptruk]

you didn't say what year, or if it was a coupe or sedan, that would influence my opinion because I've got a soft spot for E36 M3 Coupe and I really didn't like the sedan. If it was an original lightweight I'd go for it. As far as 135 vs e36 M3 it depends, I imagine the performance is pretty close, I don't know the numbers.

With the e36 you'll have a much more pure, simple performance car with lots of aftermarket support, a Limited Slip Diff and without all the bells and whistles and extra weight and cost.
With the 135 you'll have a warranty, lots more luxury and technology items, more comfort, more refined ride and a car that will likely not require any repairs in the next few years.

I could go either way but I've wanted the one series so long and I wanted to do european delivery and a car that was under warranty.

-Jer

[larryn]

E36 M3 is a great car, but it's 10+ years old now, with 10+ years of drivers treating the car in a manner that you do not know about. Prepared to be fixing things, regardless if it's been well kept or not. If you do go that route, upgrades are cheaper and much more readily available than for the e82 though.

Peace of Mind vs. ///M Nostalgia with similar amounts of performance.

[mastermav]

Are you confusing E36 with E46? American E36 only had 240hp.

[Ant]

I currently drive a 1998 E36 M3 (127K miles) and the 135i is the next car inline for me. I have not yet driven the 135i, but you can obviously get reviews of that here and of course you can test drive one anytime.

40K miles on an E36 is pretty good. I do see you having to spend around $1.5K right away to get at least an Inspection II service done, which involves things like replacing the rear-shockmounts and breaks/rotors. I purchased my E36 back in late 2001 (64K miles) and I've probably spent close to $10K on maintenance since then. I live in LA and rent, so that factors in the cost as well as I've never had a place to change my own oil and thus relied on shops to do that for me. Also, just this month my radiator neck snapped off and I had to get the entire thing replaced which set me back around $500. Finally, I'm now barely passing smog checks - I've already had to get my O2 sensors replaced which cost me $600.

So, expect to spend some coin (or time, which to me is the same as money) on fixing things on an E36. The HVAC control unit on all E36s pretty much die at around 75K or so, so you'll have to fix that as well. This involves some soldering, or you can ship the unit to the guy at bmwhvac.com.

Anyway, I love my car to death and don't mind small things breaking here and there. The motor is bullet-proof and the fun-factor will always be there. When clean, my car still gets the occasional complement, kinda like that blonde cougar that lives down the street

Here's my baby surrounded by a couple of her bigger brothers:



--tony

[TPLSM3]

I just traded in my E36 M3 for my 135i. Depends what you're looking to get out of the car. I wanted a newer car with newer technology, and warranty. My M3 definitely outhandles my 135i, but then again, I was on coilovers. The feeling of the M3 is so much more raw, even though the 135i is WAY faster. I miss my M3, but I definitely don't regret getting the 135i as a replacement.

[~ILLEST 1~]

sorry its a 1995 coupe

and thanks everyone for the comparos, if maintenance is that big of an issue then i would prefer to go with the e82. I've heard great things about the e36 but i honestly don't want to spend the time fixing the little things.

Thanks very much to everyone

[x97Melbourne]

i would personally never buy a 1995 car, even if its an M3, which is a sweet ride.
the 135i is so reasonably priced for what you get, that is what I would do. and you know its gonna hold its value...thats my opinion.

[blklacker]

+1... I heard BMW is rapidly slowing production for 2008 1ers to ready for 2009. It was a very limited amount of year of the one 2008 coupes produced so they should hold value pretty well.

[bman6074]

I have both a 99 M3 and just got a 135i. Have to say the 135i is much faster but the M3 is def more stable in high-speed turns. Don't get me wrong the 135i handles quite well it just wasn't designed to be balls to the walls handling like and M series cars are. M3 is much stiffer with a quick "point and shoot" where you want the car to go. Where the 135i is a softer ride, better daily type of driving but still can handle some fun. As mentioned in many reviews and forums if you change the suspension on the 135i to a stiffer setup it will def be close an M3 feel. But if that’s what you want then get an M.
Good luck in your choose. But 23K for a 95 M3 sounds a very high to me. I don’t think my M3 would sell for that and I have estoril with black interior (rare combo).

[OrientBlauZHP]

Originally Posted by bman6074

I have both a 99 M3 and just got a 135i. Have to say the 135i is much faster but the M3 is def more stable in high-speed turns. Don't get me wrong the 135i handles quite well it just wasn't designed to be balls to the walls handling like and M series cars are. M3 is much stiffer with a quick "point and shoot" where you want the car to go. Where the 135i is a softer ride, better daily type of driving but still can handle some fun. As mentioned in many reviews and forums if you change the suspension on the 135i to a stiffer setup it will def be close an M3 feel. But if that’s what you want then get an M.
Good luck in your choose. But 23K for a 95 M3 sounds a very high to me. I don’t think my M3 would sell for that and I have estoril with black interior (rare combo).

I had a Estoril/black interior w/ manual vaders; there are days that I miss that car.

To compare the e36///M3 to the e82 135i just isn't a fair comparison; the M3 is raw...in every way. It's torque, power, handling, are unrefined but never cease to put a smile on your face. I use to go back and forth between my ZHP and my M3, and every time I got into the M I would have a huge grin on my face. But I just didn't drive it enough, and really didn't need two cars; however, the first time I drove a 1 I knew I had to have one. It's an amazingly fun car to drive and the power is intoxicating, I would buy the 1 over an e36///M3 any day.

[bman6074]

Originally Posted by 1thirty5

I had a Estoril/black interior w/ manual vaders; there are days that I miss that car.

To compare the e36///M3 to the e82 135i just isn't a fair comparison; the M3 is raw...in every way. It's torque, power, handling, are unrefined but never cease to put a smile on your face. I use to go back and forth between my ZHP and my M3, and every time I got into the M I would have a huge grin on my face. But I just didn't drive it enough, and really didn't need two cars; however, the first time I drove a 1 I knew I had to have one. It's an amazingly fun car to drive and the power is intoxicating, I would buy the 1 over an e36///M3 any day.

I def agree the 135i is a fun car to drive and that is why i got it for the everyday smile to and from work and daily driving. But like you said the M just has that RAW feeling which def puts a huge grin on my face when i take it out. I feel i can get the M sideways and drifting much easier than the 1er. I love them both and always have a smile on my face driving either. :thumbup::biggrin::biggrin:

[whiplash]

I have a '95 M3 coupe and a 135 and I think bman6074 summed it up pretty well. The M3 was purpose built to be a flat out performer so it gives up a little of the 'civility' that the 135 has and like several have mentioned, it's now 13 years old. The 135 is faster and since it's new, it's also smoother and quieter and has all new technology. Like Ant said, be prepared to put a little money in the M3 right up front and also be prepared to continue putting money in it as you go. A 13 year old car is simply going to need more on-going maintenance than a brand new car will.

Having said that, I would hate to have to chose between the two because I love them both for different reasons. If I was looking for a great track car that I could drive on the street, the M3 would get my vote. If I was looking for a great daily driver that I could put on the track every now and then, it would be the 135.

$23K does sound pretty expensive though. If it's absolutely mint inside and out, it may not be too far off but it still sounds a little high. The ultimate decision is yours though, if it's worth it to you, that's all that matters. Good luck with whatever you get. Either way, you can't go wrong!

[bman6074]

Originally Posted by whiplash

I have a '95 M3 coupe and a 135 and I think bman6074 summed it up pretty well. The M3 was purpose built to be a flat out performer so it gives up a little of the 'civility' that the 135 has and like several have mentioned, it's now 13 years old. The 135 is faster and since it's new, it's also smoother and quieter and has all new technology. Like Ant said, be prepared to put a little money in the M3 right up front and also be prepared to continue putting money in it as you go. A 13 year old car is simply going to need more on-going maintenance than a brand new car will.

Having said that, I would hate to have to chose between the two because I love them both for different reasons. If I was looking for a great track car that I could drive on the street, the M3 would get my vote. If I was looking for a great daily driver that I could put on the track every now and then, it would be the 135.

$23K does sound pretty expensive though. If it's absolutely mint inside and out, it may not be too far off but it still sounds a little high. The ultimate decision is yours though, if it's worth it to you, that's all that matters. Good luck with whatever you get. Either way, you can't go wrong!

Nice pair you got there whiplash. Exactly why I bought the M3 as I had a daily beater (honda accord) at the time. It was bought to track and weekend fun durning the summer. Now I replaced the honda with my new 135i.:biggrin: yea wouldn't want to have to choose. :biggrin:

[griptruk]

Originally Posted by mastermav

Are you confusing E36 with E46? American E36 only had 240hp.

Who said anything about horsepower? I said performance, and when you consider that the e36 is probably a good bit lighter than the 135i, I bet the performance, as far as acceleration, is in the same neighborhood.

I could say more but it's pretty much all been covered by the other posts.

-Jer

[redwood]

I have driven a 135i twice (flogged both times) and owned a '99 M3 for several years. The 135i reminded me a lot of the M3, except with faster acceleration. Handling felt similar, braking in the 135 better, cockpit feel was similar, except slightly roomier. I loved it and the 135 is definitely cheaper than my '99 was. I would definitely not get a '95 M3 though and that price is way too high, no matter how low the mileage.

[larryn]

Stock e36 m3 vs. stock 135i... the 135i would eat the M3 alive on track, autocross, and be better a daily driving. You have a warranty on the 135i too.

I'll agree with the 1995 versus 2008/2009 argument as well. $23k for a 1995 M3 is a LOT. I'd expect it to be in like new condition, or very tastefully modified with newer components and with fairly low millage.

[325ise30]

Would the 128i vs e36m3 be more of a fair comparison? I have an e36m3 sedan and I am contemplating ordering a 128i, but I have been unable to locate one to test drive (they are all automatic). I want to see if it would be a step backwards peformance wise. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience on this?

-Scott

[~ILLEST 1~]

the seller gives the reason for his high pricing due to brembos front and rear, black HREs with a chrome lip, a CF rear spoiler, CF lip spoiler, pirellis, recaros, an intake and an exhaust, and an "HID lighting package"

but thanks again to all contributions, i am definetly leaning towards to 135i, but won't be making my decision

[~ILLEST 1~]

***won't be making my decision for several months

[adc]

Originally Posted by bman6074

But 23K for a 95 M3 sounds a very high to me. I don’t think my M3 would sell for that and I have estoril with black interior (rare combo).

The only 95 that is worth more than $20k - indeed more than $30k is the LTW in stock form.

I would not expect to pay more than $16-18k even with all those mods - frankly I would only want the Brembos and Recaros. Even with the low miles - actually some of these cars can get very funky when not driven regularly.


For half the price, or less than that, the E36 M3 is a worthwhile consideration because despite the age it's still an extremely enjoyable car. But then if you consider maintenance...

I would rather look at E46 M3's, IMO they're more special than the E36 and you can still get one with warranty/CPO. I've had an E36 before but just can't see going back to that.

[hbiscuit]

E36s are fantastic cars... but the 135i is better in every way imaginable... except for maybe carrying capacity.