What Is The Best 3 Series? - BMW Forum

highrolla · 06-06-2005, 12:11 AM

Hello guys, im new to this forum and im also trying to choose a BMW to get...at first i was thinking maybe a '95 325is, and then i saw the 328i and also of course the amazing M3. I'm obviously not going to be getting an M3 unless i come up on some large amounts of cash so I was wondering what you guys would advise me to get as far as a BMW that had some potential to be tricked out. Also around the year of 1995, no newer than a '96...THANKS!
Andrew

BeachBunny · 06-06-2005, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by highrolla@Jun 5 2005, 10:11 PM
Hello guys, im new to this forum and im also trying to choose a BMW to get...at first i was thinking maybe a '95 325is, and then i saw the 328i and also of course the amazing M3. I'm obviously not going to be getting an M3 unless i come up on some large amounts of cash so I was wondering what you guys would advise me to get as far as a BMW that had some potential to be tricked out. Also around the year of 1995, no newer than a '96...THANKS!
Andrew

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Well, I got my '96 328is for a reason... cuz I think it's the best one around that price range... If you can spare the extra couple thousand, I say go for the 328... But that's just me. I personally like the look of them better and anything older seemed to be in worse shape. I think it all depends on what you can find out there. A beat up 328 would be worse than another 325 that had been well taken care off.

I'm sure there will be all kinds of opinions on this one.

24valve · 06-06-2005, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BeachBunny+Jun 5 2005, 11:27 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BeachBunny @ Jun 5 2005, 11:27 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-highrolla@Jun 5 2005, 10:11 PM
Hello guys, im new to this forum and im also trying to choose a BMW to get...at first i was thinking maybe a '95 325is, and then i saw the 328i and also of course the amazing M3. I'm obviously not going to be getting an M3 unless i come up on some large amounts of cash so I was wondering what you guys would advise me to get as far as a BMW that had some potential to be tricked out. Also around the year of 1995, no newer than a '96...THANKS!
* * * * * * * * * Andrew

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Well, I got my '96 328is for a reason... cuz I think it's the best one around that price range... If you can spare the extra couple thousand, I say go for the 328... But that's just me. I personally like the look of them better and anything older seemed to be in worse shape. I think it all depends on what you can find out there. A beat up 328 would be worse than another 325 that had been well taken care off.

I'm sure there will be all kinds of opinions on this one.

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Aside from the M3, I second the 328. With skirts and bumpers already color-matched and its lively engine with plenty of torque, I think it's the most fun to have. All BMWs cost a lot of money to "trick out," so it's nice to start with one that's already fun to drive.

BMWLotAttendant · 06-06-2005, 01:28 AM

The e36 M3 would be the best of the 3-series for e36s.

Fun and fast!

Avlany · 06-06-2005, 03:38 AM

Hello Andrew, and welcome to the forums. I would sugest a '95 325i (this is the car I drive) becouse I have this car for a reason as well as Bunny said. I love this car very much and if you have time and some money investments from time to time you can "trick" your car very much. It does have a torque and power for your disposal. My next car will be an M3 or ill keep my car (this body look the best in my oppinion) and swap for a new engine. Plus 325 is a good base for DIY.

This is just my 2 cents.

GoRan008 · 06-06-2005, 04:00 AM

1992-95 E36 = OBD I (318, 325)
1996-98 E36 = OBD II (318, 325, 328)

If I was you I would go for 95 M3, but of course that depends on how much you willin to spend. 325's are good just don't get anything wit high miles.

G

dutchbmw · 06-06-2005, 07:04 AM

The 318 is a very reliable car (my dad has one) and it is driving very well (don't know the autos btw). Go for a 328 if you have the cash though!

Hootie361 · 06-06-2005, 07:12 AM

My personal favorites, the E46 328 or the E30 325.

Fadec40 · 06-06-2005, 07:15 AM

Yea, if M3 is out of reach.....328 comes in second!

e36surge · 06-06-2005, 08:34 AM

1st choice: 1995 M3
2nd Coice: 1998 328is
3rd Choice: 1995 325is

93 325i · 06-06-2005, 12:15 PM

I say 93-95 325 5SPD. A $250 TMS Chip and it is faster than a 328. The 328's are OBD II which doesnt take as well to mods. Also the 328's are harder to work on. You cant reset any codes or even read them for that fact without a scan tool or going somewhere to ahve them read. OBD I cars you can read fault codes directly from the car. PLus the 325 will be a few thousand cheaper, leaving more budget to mod and do maintainence. Dont get me wrong the 328 is a beaut, but my vote is for 325...

highrolla · 06-06-2005, 03:32 PM

thanks guys, i think im leaning towards a 325i or is at this point. prolly like a 95. from what ive seen on here it seems it is the cheapest and easiest to work on. I'm not sure yet though, i will deffinitly look at some 328's for sure. thanks again, and if you guys have any more advice dont be shy lol

B_w. · 06-06-2005, 05:34 PM

go for the 328. it has more potential. there is no replacement for displacement.

9x16 · 06-06-2005, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hootie361@Jun 6 2005, 05:12 AM
My personal favorites, the E46 328 or the E30 325.

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E30 forever,baby.

Delmarco · 06-06-2005, 10:57 PM

THERE IS ONLY TWO ANSWERS TO THIS QUESTION:

The best NON-M3 E36s on the market now are the 1995 318/325 or the 1997 318/328 in terms of reliability, value and performance....and i'll tell you why.....read below....

A 1995 325i or 318i will be the best E36 you can buy now for under $6,000 if you are lucky. By 1995 BMW had fixed all the initial and trail bugs for the E36 line that debut in 1993...(yeah it took them 2 years)..1995 was a unique year because the first edition E36 peaked this year and had virtually no mech/electrical/systems problem like the 92-94 cars.

In 1996 BMW bought out the 2nd edition E36s along with the newer 328i car. Of course a few bugs on 1996 cars...but 1997 was a clean year and the 2nd edition E36s were perfected. So a 1997 328i is the best choice in the latter pack. 1998, 1999 E36s are still more pricey and tend to have more bugs than 1997.
I got this info from various sources from Consumer Auto Report Guides to this older guy at the BMW Dealership Collision center as he was explaining why my 1995 318i was a solid car for the E36 line.