E36 328 Coupe Vs M3?

[Chris71]

Gents,

Noticed that the E36 M3s are starting to fall into my price range now and not that much more than a decent 328 coupe. What are the M3s like in general and how much better are they than the 328s?

Chris.

[POORCARDEALER]

Vastly different car to the 328, although the 328 is a nice fast car, the M3 has that wonderful engine for a start, crisper handling, and looks a meatier car, obviously running costs go up from a 328, but overall parts prices are reasonable for a 155 mph car.... Good Luck

[olliedrew]

i own a 328i and ive had so much fun in it but for the little money more an m3 is you would not believe how different it is. my 328 is 200 bhp yet an m3 is 320, the only problem you dont mind when your driving it is the m3 does look fu**ing chav

[aasc]

I have both in e36 guise (well OK the missus has the 328(auto)). The 328 is stunningly quick especially so for an auto. However I've just bought an M3 not really expecting it to be that much different but it has almost another 100bhp on the 328 & the difference is startling. Go for an M3 if it's in your price range (OK that sounds like the bleedin obvious!)

[big_xavier]

Hi there I was looking for a good 328 coupe to do track days but after you have bought a 328 and then done the suspension ,brakes and exhaust etc you will pay more than buying a good m3 that has it all as standard. i have just managed to buy an 1995 m3 with 70k miles and in stunning condition for £5,300 and it has great performance and handling and will allways be worth the money I paid, so your pennys and go for the M3
all the best

[mat205125]

Never driven a 328 to be honest, but have had my M3 for a while now and have to say it is a superb car.

Have a look at this link. Due to a change in job with a very large commute, I am forced to sell my M3 to get a diesel (joy!). It's up for a real bargain price, and is in superb condition.

Reply to [e-mail] for more info.

www.pistonheads.com/sales/105663.htm

Matty

[RobbieM-Evo]

You need to drive both back to back.

I went from the E36 325i coupe to an M3 Evo coupe then an M3 3.0 Vert (sadly now a Alfa GTV)

They are going for a song now, trouble is there are alot of dogs out there and you may need to travel around to find a good one.

IMHO forget the 328 and get an M3.

Good luck bud

Edited by RobbieM-Evo on Tuesday 10th October 10:18

[mat205125]

RobbieM-Evo said:

You need to drive both back to back.

I went from the E36 325i coupe to an M3 Evo coupe then an M3 3.0 Vert (sadly now a Alfa GTV)

They are going for a song now, trouble is there are alot of dogs out there and you may need to travel around to find a good one.

IMHO forget the 328 and get an M3.

Good luck bud

Edited by RobbieM-Evo on Tuesday 10th October 10:18

Most importantly, buy MY M3!

Have to agree with the comment about the dogs that are out there. In the past I have owned Cosworth Sierras and Escorts, and it's even harder to find good ones of them. Mine's an absolute peach, and a bargain at the money.

Matty

[Chris71]

Sorry guys it'd be next year before I actually bought one if I did

Sounds like the M3 offeres better value (buyer beware!) but I would immagine the stumbling block for me would be the insurance. I'm currently 23 and have found 328's surprisingly cheap to insure. Doubt that'd be the case for a car with the M3's reputation. Definitely worth a look though.

[mat205125]

You get what you pay for at the end of the day.

Not sure if you'd be able to or not, but you could see if you could insure an E36 on a limited mileage semi "classic" arrangement.

It'd be worth the extra money spent for sure.

[gad-westy]

Just bought a 328 Sport and would agree that insurance was a very pleasent surprise. I'm 25 with a 'ahem' questionable insurance record and insurance is coming in at less than £700. It was the reason I didn't go for an M3 in the end. I didn't want to pay over £5k either and found good M3's at this end of the market hard to come by. Ended up with a really good spec 328 in great nick. Alpina B3's also not much more on insurance if they take your fancy.

[Chris71]

gad-westy said:

Alpina B3's also not much more on insurance if they take your fancy.

Really? I didn't find anywhere that would insure one as an Alpina, all the companies wanted to do it as a modified 325 (or whatever the donor car is) and quoted me a fortune!

Would be quite tempted by soemthign a little more bespoke like that.

The Alpina tend to be a bit more comfort biased if I remember correctlty though? (say between the normal BMW and the M cars??)

[Gad-Westy]

Chris71 said:

gad-westy said:

Alpina B3's also not much more on insurance if they take your fancy.

Really? I didn't find anywhere that would insure one as an Alpina, all the companies wanted to do it as a modified 325 (or whatever the donor car is) and quoted me a fortune!

Would be quite tempted by soemthign a little more bespoke like that.

The Alpina tend to be a bit more comfort biased if I remember correctlty though? (say between the normal BMW and the M cars??)

Try Elephant, they quoted me about £200 more than a 328.

There were a few nice ones on autotrader

[Dino D]

Apart from improvements in the the areas including engine, suspension, brakes, bodykit, interior there's not much difference eh...!!

I have driven both 328 and M3. The M3is vastly supertior car if you are after performance...and don't forget it has a Limited Slip Diff...so if you are a part-time drifter the M3 is the only option!!

Although I would be wary of thye older ones-surely they will be a bit ahem 'used'. You want to be looking for beemer enthusiast who's selling theirs I would say.

[mat205125]

Here's the link to my car again!

Mod edit - Give it a rest please. Once is more than enough.

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Monday 16th October 16:13

[B3N UM]

Dino D said:

Apart from improvements in the the areas including engine, suspension, brakes, bodykit, interior there's not much difference eh...!!

I have driven both 328 and M3. The M3is vastly supertior car if you are after performance...and don't forget it has a Limited Slip Diff...so if you are a part-time drifter the M3 is the only option!!

the 328i had a LSD too, the bodykit was the same and suspension, brakes are crap but most e36 stuff is!
i had a 328i and it was fantastic, really awesome bit of kit, i was 20 at the time and it cost me £1000 to insure, i then went for a test drive in an M3 SMG and it was not that great, i went for a LHD MRoadster (mistake) but then managed to get what i wanted an estoril MCoupe, now on my second.

Also the M3 would have been £3k upwards to insure and the MCoupe was only £2k still a lot mind you i was 21, still costs me £1600 to insure at 23!

[xm5er]

B3N UM said:

the 328i had a LSD too, !

Only some of the Sport models have an LSD, a standard coupe is peg legged (its why I like gritted damp roads in the winter).

[markda]

xm5er said:

B3N UM said:

the 328i had a LSD too, !

Only some of the Sport models have an LSD, a standard coupe is peg legged (its why I like gritted damp roads in the winter).

Correct! It was a £1k or so option at purchase. I took one of these as an inherit company car back in 1999. It was a 98/S and it had been spec'd up with the no cost option of half leather, because the company car allowance couldn't stretch to full leather and the LSD A man after my own heart!

I would imagine with the VIN number BMW customer services could tell you....

Edited by markda on Monday 23 October 16:14

[Dino D]

markda said:

Correct! It was a £1k or so option at purchase. I took one of these as an inherit company car back in 1999. It was a 98/S and it had been spec'd up with the no cost option of half leather, because the company car allowance couldn't stretch to full leather and the LSD A man after my own heart!

I would imagine with the VIN number BMW customer services could tell you....

Edited by markda on Monday 23 October 16:14

1k option...bloody hell that is dear for an LSD..no wonder there arent many around and probably why they haven't even made it optional on the e46. A real shame..
Speccing half leather so you can get a lsd instead-good man (or woman)!..pity there aren't people like that around...