Best E36 Years?? What do yo u think?

[kevinpuri]

Hi everyone!!!
Im brand new to this fourm, and it looks great! I finaly have enough to get my first car and the choice was easy... E36!!!!!
I was wondering if there are any specific years that are more mecanicaly reliable then others? I am very familiar with Mercedes Benz and know that this is true for Mecedes. Is it beter to stick to a late model E36 (like 97,98) beacause all bugs would have been worked out by then?

Any help would be great!!
thankyou!

[drz]

Yes, later model years will be more mechanically reliable. If you want OBDI for modding reasons, get a 95. I don't know that there were any big changes in models ranging from 96-98, but in general it will be better to get a newer E36 with mileage as good as you can find and preferably with service records.

Welcome to bmwkz!

[Hamfisted]

I would recommend '96 or newer because they had the OBDII system and I find it makes troubleshooting pretty easy. Other than that they are all pretty much the same.





Mike

[drz]

Originally Posted by Hamfisted

...Other than that they are all pretty much the same.

Many issues were not resolved until the introduction of the 1995 model year. Take for example the fragility of the 1992-94 E36 subframe. SpeedInfusion's craked a few weeks ago. Also, 1992 models are non-vanos.

[///M Power]

92 OBDI non vanos, weak subframe
93 OBDI vanos, weak subframe
94 OBDI vanos, weak subframe
95 OBDI, subframe fixed
96 OBDII
97 OBDII, upgraded front grill
98 OBDII


These are just really basic thigns about the 3 series. OBDII is easier to troubleshoot but a bit mroe difficult to modify. So if you want to modify, get a 95, if you dont mod then anythign 95+ would be ideal.

Also what model did you want to get?

318ti, 318i, 323i, 323iS, 325i, 325iS, 328i, 328iS, M3

[WALSRU]

One of these days I'm going to find a way to be optimistic about not having vanos

[thekid]

Originally Posted by WALSRU

One of these days I'm going to find a way to be optimistic about not having vanos

Wait until some ones Vanos breaks. Then you can be optimistic about not having to pay the money to fix it.

95 is the best year IMO. OBDII is much more restrictive with everything. Thus far I have had no trouble with any type of codes etc, so I can not atest to any "hard" troubleshooting.

[///M Power]

I agree kid. I was dead set on getting only a 95 5 speed. It took time btu I finally got it.

[Trob]

Ok I give up....What the hell is a vanos? lol

[rwall23]

I have a 97 318i and it has OBDI??? is that uncommon? people say everything after 96 was OBDII...

[97alpineM3]

ummm yea... cause you shouldnt have a 97 OBDI.... no way.. unless its european... because it couldnt have been made or sold in the US after 96 with anything but OBDII.

Les

[SpeedInfusion]

Originally Posted by Trob

Ok I give up....What the hell is a vanos? lol

VANOS (Variable Nockenwellen Steuerung) is an automobile variable valve timing technology developed by BMW. VANOS varies the duration of the intake valves by moving the fulcrum of the camshaft. BMW recently began offering "double" VANOS, which operates on the exhaust camshaft as well, on a number of its cars.

[97alpineM3]

Originally Posted by SpeedInfusion

BMW recently began offering "double" VANOS, which operates on the exhaust camshaft as well, on a number of its cars.

Well.... since about 95/96.... All european e36 M3s... and since production, all american and euro E46 M3s have double vanos.

Les

[Trob]

okay...and what advantage is that and why is it so much better?

[Furious]

trob you can read more about vanos in the FAQ forum ,there is a few good threads on it, and what exactly it does to better the car.