Rostam

I had the chance to drive this car, and while it is missing some 80+ hp from the euro version, it remains a FANTASTIC car to drive. Ample power, great stearing, handling and feedback. Purely telepathic driving this car.

I want to trade my 97 e420 for an M3, is this possible?

the e is a good car, but the M3 is in different class. ]]]


looks better
drives better
better mpg
stick shift

Lancelot

Sure you can trade it in, but no matter what driving characteristics; I for one would really miss that star on my hood! Oh and even an e36 will develop rattles

ohlord

you might make a deal.The M3 will be hammered more then your 420 and at 240 h.p. will only be slightly more powerful then a E320,and it will spend more time in a shop then on the road,and if you are driving it telepathically it will end up like most young guys M3's wrapped around a pole.

Quadcammer

The car weighs about 400lbs less than an e320, not to mention it has a manual. The E36 M3 easily wastes both the e320 and e430. There is no comparision.

The car is reliable as a stone as well. Yes, they have some rear subframe issues if you really beat on them, but aside from that they are rock solid. I had a 95 M3 and it was one of the best cars I've ever driven. And it was not in the shop at all. I put 100k miles on that car, and It went to the shop for unscheduled maintenance twice. Once was a bad water pump, and the other was for an alignment due to nyc potholes.

The E36 M3 is one of the best cars ever built.

wmhjr

The E36 is indeed a very nice driver. While the S52 motor isn't up to the performance of the newer models, it's very torquey and still has a sub-6sec 0-60. The beauty of the M3 is not on the drag strip. It's on the twisties. Very few MBs will hang with a well maintained M3 on twisty back roads or on a road track. The newer M46 has the S54 engine, which is quite a bit nicer so long as all service bulletins have been observed. I loved my M3 - I just really wanted a different kind of car. The M3 isn't as "heavy" feeling as the MB, and is more tiring for the kind of driving I do now.

I can also say that ALL of my BMWs were at least as reliable (typically more reliable) than my MBs - though none have been bad. My M3 and M-Roadster were rock solid, with pretty much no maintenance whatsoever. My Roadster got a frayed wire in the trunk wiring harness once that needed to be replaced. That's it. They did rattle a bit more - but they were a stiffer ride and the roads around here are pretty rough.

Rostam

two things I miss when driving my e420


that "light" car feeling and stick shift. I thought I can live without it instead for the comfort of Mercedes Benz luxury, but no. I guess I am not that old yet. Got a few more years in me before the kids come.

OldNate

Definitely would be a good trade, but most likely you are going to have to add money for the e36 m3, especially to find one that hasn't been abused. An e36 m3 with 100k miles usually goes for around 11ishk, where as a 1997 e420 goes for how much?

johnny's E320

I had an E36 (1992) and ran that sucker into the ground. After it had 257,000 miles on the engine, without any major mechanical overhauls other than regular maintenance, I sold the car for $4500. Amazing how they hold their value.

I do often think of getting back into the E36 because the car was just so frickin' fun to drive. But like the last post, hard to find one that the owner hasn't hammered. You'll need to find a daily driver that some young gal owned to drive to church on Sundays.

I do remember, however, that the E36 killed me in radiator replacements. In the meantime, I continue to drive my big lunker....E320.

My car before I sold her. I painted the lower valances and added the Euro plate and bumper molding to accomodate the Euro plate.

donjuan45i

I think it would be a good trade, considering that is the direction you are wanting to go. Because they are different classes of cars. I had both an e36 and an e46, I have to admit that the e36 did not only feel more solid, I had less issues with the car as well.

altho I had a late model e36 and then traded it in for a first year facelift 99 e46. which as we all know, seems like germans are always in a hurry when they come up with another car and the first years well, have their share of glitches with them that they didnt work out.

but e36 were very good cars, both e46 and e36 had rear subframe issues, I think it was actually worse on the e46 but you do have to run the car pretty hard, as I never had issues with either one.

But either way e420 and e36 are both great cars, I dont think you can go wrong with either

ZedStyle

i LOVE those cars, and i would really like to get one in the next year or so as a daily driver. i am more partial to the four-door though for some reason, something like this:

http://www.bmwinfo.com/pictures/00864.jpg

mmmmm.....

Hellkat

first of all, wether it is s52 or s50 powered, the e36 m3 is not known for many failures. if you look around for one, chances are you will find one that already has the typical problems taken care of. plus its pretty cheap to swap out the wp and throw in an s54 radiator if you are concerned at all about the cooling. yeah the rear subframe has had problems, but only on very beat up cars, and it is not a frequent problem on well maintained ones. if you do get an s52 powered m3, you can get an s/m50 intake manifold, and software for less than $400 that will easily take it to 260+hp. and yes it will wail on most w210s with the obvious exceptions.

i have both a 97 e420, and a 95 m3, and i sold my other 97 m3 and bought the e420 i have now. it was over 2 years ago, and my m3 was highly modded, but I sold it for $17k @ 84k miles, and bought the e420 for MUCH MUCH less, in as perfect condition as i have ever seen a used car, 90k miles.

i love the m3 for spirited driving, and just having fun. the e420 is great for crusing, long distances, and driving with friends.

you will have to add some $$ to the trade, as most m3's i would suggest buying are $10k+. yeah you can find a deal on like ebay or w/e, but there are other factors in that equation. you will not find a nice example for cheap. go to bimmerforums.com and look @ their classifieds section to see what i mean.

if you need any help, more advice, ect please feel free to p.m. me!