95 M3

[nameisbradgreen]

Im goin to look at a 95 M3 tomorrow with 80k miles. What should I look out for? The pictures that they show on autotrader makes the car look mint.

[MR 325]

Make sure its not salvaged

How much? $$

[Ryan Stewart]

Hopefully the rear subframe is still attached. That is the only catastrophic thing I know of. The engines are pretty reliable. The misshifts people talk about are caused by undersized and usually worn tranny bushings. If the transmission seems akward look under the car and see if you can see the mounts.

[Jordan]

80k is when alot of shit starts to fail and break down. Have fun with it ;)

My mother hates her 80k mile 95 M3 right now, even more so that her free labor is gone.

[Charlie]

What sort of price range is it?

The 95's are the "Cheap" M3's, and as such are ones most likely to be ragged out. They're 10 years old now, and much like the m42 powered e30's, tend to be the wet-dream cars of forum kiddies. What this means is you're going to be finding a lot of 2nd & third owner cars with questionable maintence and rough driving styles.

Personally, if I were looking for an e36 M3, I'd be sticking to 98 & 99 models.

-Charlie

[e30sd]

check the build date. pre 10/95 = crappy valve retainers.

make sure the enitre cooling system has been replaced with alum. components (tstat housing, waterpump, etc)

check the RTABs (i guess thats what ryan was talking about)

rear shock mounts.

if i think of anything else, i'll post.

[nickmp0wer]

What sort of price range is it?

The 95's are the "Cheap" M3's, and as such are ones most likely to be ragged out. They're 10 years old now, and much like the m42 powered e30's, tend to be the wet-dream cars of forum kiddies. What this means is you're going to be finding a lot of 2nd & third owner cars with questionable maintence and rough driving styles.

Personally, if I were looking for an e36 M3, I'd be sticking to 98 & 99 models.

-Charlie

lol! i have a 318is and i also have a.......you guessed it

[nameisbradgreen]

Just found out the car was salvaged in 95. So that car is out of the question... but i have 5-12 grand to get a car... what should i look for?

[KenC]

Just found out the car was salvaged in 95. So that car is out of the question... but i have 5-12 grand to get a car... what should i look for?

911

[e30sd]

or part of one

[rwh11385]

EK B18C swapped with GCs and then a JRSC.

[grapedrink]

Just found out the car was salvaged in 95. So that car is out of the question... but i have 5-12 grand to get a car... what should i look for?

911

You got it. 911 SC 8)

[Charlie]

Just found out the car was salvaged in 95. So that car is out of the question... but i have 5-12 grand to get a car... what should i look for?

911

You got it. 911 SC 8)

You guys are so cruel.

After he finds a decent SC for 10-12k, where's he gonna come up with the next 6-7k for a new motor?

-Charlie

[uofom3]

Just found out the car was salvaged in 95. So that car is out of the question... but i have 5-12 grand to get a car... what should i look for?

911

You got it. 911 SC 8)

You guys are so cruel.

After he finds a decent SC for 10-12k, where's he gonna come up with the next 6-7k for a new motor?

-Charlie

yes.
I really like my 95 m3 and have had no issues with it (knock on wood). The suspension is a little more aggressive on the 95, and it weighs less. It is also OBD1, which is ultimately less costly than the obd2 equipped cars.

[Jon325i]

If your budget is $5K-$12K look at E36 325is and E36 328is. Not quite the performance of the ///M variants, but not exactly slouches either. Huge aftermarket potential with either of these.....much more so than the E30s. Lastly, a non-///M car will be cheaper to insure (if that is a concern to you).

For the budget you have in mind, you can get a very nice example if you're patient and wait for a good deal on something you like.

Jon