My engineering-school buddies were split right down the middle on the kind of car they dreamed of buying after graduation: a 3-series BMW, or a Mustang LX 5.0.
Actually, since I graduated in 1989, we dreamed of this 3-series, as it was what BMW made then. But even on a young engineer’s comfortable salary, a BMW meant uncomfortable debt. Those who couldn’t quite finagle (or stomach) it ended up in the much less expensive, much easier to finance Mustang.
But I’m sure the aspirations of a budding young engineer changed little into the 1990s and cars like this remained droolworthy. Well, the coupe was droolworthy, anyway. In those days, who wanted a sedan? Today, of course, sedans are hot. BMW doesn’t even make 3-series car with only two doors anymore.
This one’s just how we like ‘em: a complete, original car that shows signs of ongoing use. Dig how the paint is fading off that bumper.
But that use has clearly been gentle. Inside, even the leather on the driver’s seat isn’t too roughed up. Is this somebody’s fun-times car?
Oh, and why the Mustang LX 5.0 and not the GT? Because the LX was lighter and, therefore, theoretically faster. That’s how engineers think: theoretically. It helped that the LX 5.0 was also slightly less expensive.
Related reading: Full-on CC on this generation BMW 3 series
I’d go Mustang, Not only less expensive to start with, but keeping the Ford purring is less of a money pit than the Bimmer! Pretty sound reasoning on LX 5.0 vs GT as well!
I don’t know what it is, but save for maybe the 850i, BMWs have never really appealed to me at all.
now I just find them irritating because pretty much any online car discussion eventually turns into a flood of BMW owners comparing dicks and nattering on about their “E” this with “N” that, and copping smug attitudes towards anyone who asks what an “E30” is.
LOL I’m guilty of using the generation designations myself but only out of internet survival instinct, so as to not get trolled by europhile BMW fanbois when I would otherwise say “oh yeah, the third generation 3-series”. Guess if you have acronymn soup car names you have to christen them with proper acronym soup designations for their generational updates.
I agree too, I do see the appeal of more BMW models than the 850 but I think they’re all quite overrated and very overpriced for what you get.
Yep, pretty much. I have no interest in the “ultimate driving machine” aspect of them and the bigger cruisers (i.e. 7 series) still have too much sports sedan in them. Some of the big coupes are pretty cool looking though.
I test drove a 2013 5 series the other day for the hell of it. Right off the bat, I couldn’t find a comfortable place to put my right arm-that clamshell middle console sucks. I know its a little thing, but its the kind of thing you have to “put up with” and why bother to put up with things like that considering the amount of bank you are going to drop for it (new at least).
Funny, the BMW was what young law grads lusted after four years earlier. I didn’t bite for the same reason as you – they cost too much. The law grads I knew often headed for Honda and Mazda sedans, or maybe a Volvo. Perhaps your choice resonates more with me because my mindset has often been more like a typical engineer than as a typical lawyer.
I’ll bet that gives you an interesting edge as a lawyer.
The mindset, not the Mustang preference.
To me, the E36 was the last one worth owning. Anything after this, the Lexus influence started to override the “ultimate driving machine”.
Then again, I’m spoiled. I had a black E36 four door. Yeah, it was an automatic, because my wife couldn’t drive a manual . . . . . but it was an M3!
And the wife put it in the body shop three times in the year and a couple of months I owned it. Hating to see the car get beaten like that, I traded it in for a Jeep Cherokee. Which she totaled three years later.
Every 3-series has been bigger & softer than the one before it. Granted this E36 was probably the most dramatic change, followed by the E90. The thing that I don’t like more now than I did then are the grey lower bumpers. BMW must have agreed because I think they changed them later.
I’m a bit younger than Jim, but I can relate to the appeal of the 3-series. Mind you the E36 325i was around $70k here, the 318i with steel wheels and no A/C was $45k so it was a little out of reach!
These Bimmers epitomized BMW in my mind during childhood – they were everywhere! They also were prominent in ’90s TV and film, owing to my lust for them when I was young.
The angular styling really stood out, and those taillights are some of my favorite of all times. The coupes and even more so the convertibles had the best proportions, but I liked the sedans too. Still wouldn’t mind finding a decent-condition convertible for a summer car!
The M3s were my favorites of this generation, the color keyed rockers bigger wheels and wing really made this bodystyle pop in both coupe and sedan form, which in standard 325 form looks a little cheap.
I’d take the LX 5.0 though. The BMW may be more agile and refined but the visceral feel of those 5.0 H.0. foxbodies is just something few modern cars can match, even then. Those Mustangs looked modern inside and out, had modern reliability and efficiency yet were two decades back in power delivery and overall feel, sort of the antithesis to the current ponycars cars with their skin deep only retro touches on otherwise legitimate BMW fighter chassis’.
I hate to say it, but if you pull the twin kidney grill off that lead photo, you have a generic mid ’90s grocery getter.
The ’89 version you lusted for is a vastly more interesting and distinctive car.
Count me in the Mustang camp on this one. Make mine the LX 5.0 as well.
The shape certainly didn’t look generic when it hit the market in 1991 though…a friend’s Mom bought a slightly used one in 1993 and I was quite jealous.
I’ve never driven one but a lot of folks seem to think of the E36 version as the definitive M3 also. More elemental, and lighter, than the E46, to say nothing of subsequent versions.
We had a 1994 325is in Mauritius Blue with light gray interior and we absolutely adored that car. It was a beautiful, excellent driving car and turned us into huge BMW fans. One of my favorite cars ever and I still miss it. It had a responsiveness that seems to be lost from their current cars. My wife’s current 535i is nice, but nowhere near as fun or special.
I had an ’89 BMW 325i, and I thought I was pretty cool and it was fairly fast until one day at a light with nothing but 65 mph highway beyond I deceided to try my luck against a slightly older LX mustang. Once he realized we were racing, he walked away. I guess twice the displacement was worth something, and he may not have been completely stock like I was.
No matter, the E30 was a fun car, the only one I could honestly chirp second in, and it had a backseat which became handy once it did it’s job and found me someone to procreate with.
I too have known a couple of people who opted for the 5.0 LX over the GT, for the reasons stated.
“That’s how engineers think: theoretically”
I hope not.
I have to disagree with the author’s statement there. Scientists think theoretically; engineers are tasked with applying science to solve real-life problems (preferably aspending as little money and time as possible).
My father is a retired engineer and always appreciated the engineering that went into certain cars. He always lusted after a BMW but we became a Volvo family in the late ’90s and have stuck with the brand since.
As an aside, when I was about 21 I attempted to take on a slightly-modified E30 325is with my stock 1993 Volvo 850. The Bimmer kicked my butt.
The E30 325i and the E36 3 series are the last BMW’s that really hold my interest. I think the E30 is a better built car, cost cutting began to be apparent on the E36. Such as weak cooling system parts and fading headlamp lenses. The handling and ride of the E36 is quite a bit better as opposed to the E30, but either one would be a good car, if you can do a lot of repairs yourself. The main thing that holds me back is perception of other people about BMW owners, even of older models. You are automatically perceived as being a bad/aggressive driver just because of the car you drive. Yes, I do see a lot of BMW drivers that do drive badly, which is part of the reason I would hesitate to own one. But the same is often said about pickup truck drivers, and I have driven them since I got my license 43 years ago, you are by some people perceived as being a road raging lowbrow, but I drive one (carefully) anyway. And if you are in an accident bias will often find you at fault even if not. I’m not sure the headaches would be worth the trouble. And a light car with RWD is not good in snowy/slippery conditions, although proper winter tires and some weight in the trunk would go a long way to help in these conditions. They also seem to attract vandals.
It wasn’t just engineering students that lusted after those BMWs. I went to San Jose State University in the late 70s and the Business school students assumed that a new Bimmer would be part of their graduation package. I was a psychology major who was riding a new Sportster and driving an old 57 Cadillac SDV, and I wanted one too. After graduation my brother bought a new 1980 320I. I really liked that car for it’s competence on the road, if not it’s speed. In those days a new Bimmer really fit in with the whole “dress for success” mindset. In my case, once I realized that I wasn’t going to be “that” successful I figured out I could save a lot of money on clothes and cars!
Someone is actually using the coin dispensers!
I know I use the ones in my Mark VII all the time, heck I’ve filled up the one for dimes countless times. I find it interesting that even in the 80s they realized that keeping pennies was pointless, so they only have one for nickels, one for dimes, and one for quarters (that I never really bother using).
My desire never was for a straight up E36, they came out when I worked at a BMW/Subaru/VW unlikely trio dealership. Working there let me test drive a used 1989-ish Mustang LX 5.0 Convertible, which also didn’t float my boat. I was sweet on the Corrado with the G-lader, and on the rare turbo Legacy in equal measures.
However, now that I’ve seen the videos on E36V8, I’d like an E36 with a blown motor and a wrecked Mustang so I can make the combination of the two work. But now I’ve got to convince the wife, which will probably never happen.
Around that time (’94) I was working for a VW BMW dealership. The owner while I was there got one of the first Kia franchises. No one would buy the Sephia, which was the only model available. The Sportage was not out yet, but on it’s way when I left. Sold 6 cars in a year, and had to give them away to do that. He quickly dumped Kia. Probably regrets this today. The most bizarre lineup I worked at was a VW/ Saab/ Fiat/ British Leyland (MG-Triumph but also serviced and sold parts for any older BL car, mostly Jaguar) around 1980.
My engineering classmates were fully in the LX 5.0 camp. One of them even dropped out, went to work for Ford on the line and bought a new black hatchback LX 5.0
I gritted my teeth and kept studying, never did get either the BMW or the Ford, but moved on to other interests..
Me neither. I’ve driven nothing but everyday family and economy cars. At first it was all I could afford. Now it’s because they’re inexpensive and therefore smart choices.
I never liked those dark grey plastic covers for the sills.
And now, that after all those years they have faded to a sketchy, blotty bright grey, they look even worse.
MB 190 of that vintage kept up their appearance much better.