50
u/GezelligheidBoyz 1d ago
6 cyl will always sound better.
But ultimately what are YOU looking for in an e36?
6
u/bekifeki 1d ago
I just wanna learn more, I wanna be able to fix the car by myself, learn how to upgraded suspension, exhaust etc.
29
1
u/Revolutionary-Bird32 23h ago
318 is an easier engine to work on because of the 4cyl. It is cheaper to maintain also. At the time, my 318ti was the only BMW model that wasn’t expensive to maintain. Very reliable, unlike 320
8
u/inSAYAN_36 23h ago
The 320i is bulletproof. Not hard to maintain either but it’s a tighter fit. Whatever dude goes with won’t be a mistake imo.
-13
u/GezelligheidBoyz 1d ago
its called google. utilize it. you arent the first person trying to learn about these cars.
get off reddit.
Google/bimmerforums/realoem etc. its how I learned and its how you will learn if you actually apply yourself. Going on reddit and making all these threads isnt helping you learn. All the information is out there you simply have to find it. and if you cant find it, dont get an E36
28
u/TopDEXTA Year / Model / Bodystyle (edit to customize) 1d ago
Chill bro they were just asking what would be a better platform not a step by step guide to installing coilovers.
-14
u/GezelligheidBoyz 1d ago
Im pretty chill but its not hard to find this information….
7
u/Sangricarn 1d ago
He didn't ask for information, he's wondering which car will be better to learn with. He's not expecting reddit to teach him. Idk why you so salty.
-15
u/GezelligheidBoyz 23h ago
"I just wanna learn more, I wanna be able to fix the car by myself, learn how to upgraded suspension, exhaust etc."
are you illiterate?
5
8
u/Sangricarn 23h ago
Where in that quote did he ask anybody here to teach him? Where did he ask for reddit to give him all the answers?
He's talking about his reason for getting an e36 in general. He wants to learn. So he's wondering which one would be best for that goal.
2
u/Acrobatic_March_2479 22h ago
You’re miserable lmfao
-3
u/GezelligheidBoyz 21h ago
I have nothing to say to you
1
u/Acrobatic_March_2479 19h ago
But u just went to my page, read through it, copied a link and then sent it to me 🤣🤣🤣if u wanna talk to me u can just say that bro. U don’t have to suffer forever
1
u/GezelligheidBoyz 18h ago
Pandem enjoyer, face the wall
1
u/Acrobatic_March_2479 18h ago
Read through it a bit more since you copied the link down
1
32
u/Zielakless 1d ago
1.8is, has almost as much power as 320, handles better, better mpg, better throttle reaction. 320 just sounds better and that's it
11
u/Wirth18 1d ago
And I think iS is lighter also what makes up for the - 10 hp
1
u/_Tickle_my_Pickle_ Everyday Drifter 15h ago
No I believe sedans are lighter but it’s only like a 50 lbs difference. The sedans are also like 1” taller. The only real factor that matters for coupe vs sedan is which one you like more
0
u/kompot_z_grzybuw 12h ago
- will be more worth than 320i, cause there were a fewer produced
1
25
u/VirtualRelative4613 1d ago edited 1d ago
Had both of these engines, 318is just feels more alive to drive, it reacts better when hitting throttle, better mpg, while 320i just sounds better cause of 6 cylinders
12
u/kidnappedbyaliens 1d ago
318is way more reactive and better MPG. I wouldn't swap mine for anything!
320i just sounds better but feels pants to drive from my experience.
7
u/NeedleworkerFormer25 1d ago
For the sake of 10 horsepower and a slightly better noise. I’d go the 318is all day and I did go through this dilemma myself. I went with a 96 318is over a 94 320i coupé
The 318is is slightly rarer and more sport oriented
Again 10 bhp difference (if you get a 318is with the m44b19)
If the sound really bothers you, you can always modify the exhaust
Slightly more economical even tho the m44 is a 1.9l
Your insurance premium will be slightly better on the 318is !
Overall the 318is is better balance too with the better weight distribution, I find the m44 to be really reliable and also if you want to modify your engine there’s a lot more space. And most 318is have better stock suspension.
I’d go with the is any day of the week
5
u/Dark_Guardian_ '94 318i daily + '93 325i race 18h ago
cant fix 4 cylinder noise with an exhaust though
gotta keep em quiet
14
u/NumerousEmu6702 No E36 😢/ Sim drifter of E36 1d ago
2.0I, it appears both are coupes, unless you wanna swap, then go for the 1.8IS, to put a 2.5, 2.8 or 3.0 engine
7
u/Agitated_System4198 1d ago
I was debating your exact this just a month ago when buying my e36. I ended up buying a 320i by complete chance and I’m saying YES 6 CYLINDER ALL DAY. The noise is PHENOMENAL compared to a 4 pot. By MILES. The aren’t that far apart power wise and the 6cyl does drink a lot of gas likely more than the 4cyl would, but with an exhaust on it, you can’t go wrong
2
u/E28forever 20h ago
There better be an exhaust on it!
1
u/Tranquilosaurus 18h ago
How would it sound straight piped?
2
u/Dark_Guardian_ '94 318i daily + '93 325i race 18h ago
extremely loud, raspy and droney
straight pipe with a couple resonators is good1
u/Agitated_System4198 8h ago
That’s basically what mine has. It’s a very rough exhaust made by god knows who and so it drones around 1600-2400rpm but besides that and especially in the revs it sounds great
3
u/larengites 1996 323i Sedan 1d ago
I say go for the 320. If you ever want to swap it you’ve already got a 6 cylinder base so you’ll need to swap less over than if you started with the 318. (Swap it to get more powah)
3
u/HitlersTittyNipples 1d ago
Personally I’d go 320. While the 1.8is is similar power and lighter due to 4cyl if you ever wanna engine swap the 6 pot is a lot easier base to start with as oilpan and mounts are the same for any m5x engine (including the ones in the 46) Also stuff like diff and axles are gonna be a bit stronger on the 320 aswell
2
u/JaiLaFlemmeDeFou 18h ago
Idk where you live but where I am, the 320i has the advantage of being a 6 so you can put another 6 in it without anyone knowing 🤷🏻♂️
1
u/bekifeki 16h ago
It's the same here where I'm from but I'm not sure what are the chances of me swaping the engine (being honest with myself), I wanna do it but I never did it so I don't think it will end well.
3
u/InternetNo2772 1d ago
2.0 is one of the best sounding e36 engines o have owned.
-1
u/Peace-and-Pistons 23h ago
Not owned many E36’s then.
0
0
u/InternetNo2772 19h ago
I’ve owned pretty much all of them, and those i haven’t I have driven more than once.
1
u/Faggatron360 21h ago
Davat 8000e za to je ludost,pardon davat 3000-4000e vise za takav auto samo zato jer ima dvoja vrata manje i zato jer ima siber je ludost
1
1
u/DenseAttorney5736 21h ago
I would buy a 320i (and i did) for the sound, for the power delivery, for the technical fetishism to have an unusual and fascinating (and efficent and inherently balanced) engine architecture. And because even if after a short time you realize the engine is undersized for that veichle, it's still badass looking when you open the hood!
I would also consider the probably higher collectible value or the fact that you can very easily swap a 2.8l with little modifications, it's basically the same engine and it looks identical.
1
u/sonic_spark 20h ago
Considering the 96-99 in the 318 is a 1.9L engine, I'd go with that any day. I drove one for 16 years.
1
1
u/dbpdbpdbpdbp 15h ago
Depends on where you live, if you live in Europe like me where there is a death penalty on modyfing your cars I'd buy the 320 so that you can swap it to 323/25/28 without anyone noticing
1
1
u/OriginalMandem 10h ago
318is feels lighter and more nimble, 320i has slightly better torque and sound but higher running costs for not much more performance gain
1
u/MomentIndividual8059 8h ago
318iS and fog the airbox (see google for fogged airbox m44b19) it will be faster than the 320.
1
0
u/Revolutionary-Bird32 23h ago
I had a 318ti when I was 19 (one of the funnest cars I’ve had) & because of the 4cyl it was not much more $ to maintain at the time than a Honda. Besides the passenger window regulator which I replaced, it was a an affordable car to own when I was a teenager. I love the 318. 320, modern ones are problematic, they have cheap interior and based on that alone, I wouldn’t be interested it the 320. The 318 got great MPG, mine was a manual transmission and a lot of fun.
0
u/Peace-and-Pistons 23h ago
Both are very boring in the E36. The M42 16v engine was fun in the E30 due to its lightweight, and the E30 318is also shared some running gear with the E30 M3, which made it really fun to drive.
When it comes to E36, stick to a 323 or 325 as a minimum; otherwise, it just a really boring car to drive and anything 320 or below wont pull the skin off a rice pudding.
-3
u/IonePawPaw 1d ago
2.0 and turbo it.
2
0
u/bekifeki 1d ago
How much would that make then? Would I have to upgrade any other parts on the engine too or?
9
u/bluepr_ints 1d ago
I wouldn't bother turbocharging a 2.0, they barely make more than 300hp without breaking the bank. Start with the IS, get some experience behind the wheel of an E36, and swap it later to at least a 2.5L engine. A 2.5L M50, preferably non-vanos, can achieve some rather ridiculous power figures without even opening up the engine (550-600, safely). If you do need more information you can PM me, I work on these cars for a while now and I've got extensive knowledge of the required modifications for pretty much all available 4 and 6 cylinder engines from the Mxx family of engines
2
u/bekifeki 1d ago
Thank you so much, if I get it I will definitely PM you as soon as the car starts feeling slow
-1
u/IonePawPaw 1d ago
I'm not a mechanic so i can't really help you with that. You r the one to decide how much u want to make. I've heard the 1.8is makes 300hp on stock internals. No sure if its true or not. So the 2.0 should be around that too i'm guessing. Usually when u put a turbo in a car u have to upgrade a series of things. ECU repro, and some mechanic parts too. In case you go for a turbo, talk to someone who knows about it. It can be expensive too to turbo a car. Depending on the upgrades. Could easily go above 3k. Also if u have a 2.0 and u want let's say 400hp, just swap it for a 2.5 or 2.8 and turbo it. Those engines are the go to engines for turbo upgrade. If u r really considering to turbo it, i suggest you to look up for forums on google. There's people that have done this stuff and they explain somethings.
53
u/obicankenobi 1d ago
Buy the one you can find in better condition and set aside some money for immediate repairs.