practicality of an m3

[armeN]

oh and just for curious this is the m3 I am oh so close to buying:

[parkerbink]

That is a very nice M3. I have driven many Turbo Dodges and they are very fast but there is no comparison between a fwd turbo & rear wheel drive na car. they are like comparing peaches & pineapples.

I really hate the New Dodge more so now than ever since a P.T. Cruiser hit my baby.

How many miles on the M3? what mods does it have?

[armeN]

1988 e30 m3
dschwartz, w/evo front end
B&B triflow, evo intake, RD strut bars/RD lowering springs/bilstiens
dinan ecu chip, sparco srd seats, alpina steering wheel/shift knob
alpina staggered wheels 16x7/16x8, startec taillights, custom 15" sub enclosure in spare tire well, component speakers all around.
chassis has 200k miles, motor has ~80k miles on rebuild

[armeN]

this is why when u guys say it'll break down every month I find it hard to believe a car so damn good looking like that and so well kept can break down every month. I dunno I really want it but I want to rational about this decision.

[parkerbink]

Based on Ryan's 100k you have 20k to enjoy it. It is very nice.

[Digitalwave]

Was the whole engine rebuilt 80k ago? Or just the top end? Because if it was just the head, I'd fear driving a 200k mile bottom end S14.

[armeN]

just the head the whole engine was replaced in 91

[Werksmini]

The engine was replace just a few years after it was new? What was the story on that. If you want a car like your dads that runs everyday why are you thinking about gettin an M3? But the SRT4 and be happy when it dosent break down a ton. With your budget I could see something bad and unavoiadable happening downt he road.

[parkerbink]

How many miles since 91? why did the whole engine need to go after a few years? Give me the vin (if you want) I'll run the NADA for you.

[screamingbmwe30]

do it.

[AdamF 88iS]

S14s are not unreliable. They just need to be looked after more often than a 325 due to the extra heat and vibration they produce. With careful attention to details, I've put 30k miles on mine daily driven and havent had any trouble with it. Having 2 of them blow up in a row is just bad luck. Plus, not driving it often enough it worse for it than putting miles on it because everything rubber will start to degrade, oil becomes acidic, silicon and sediment seperate out of the coolant, etc, as it sits. With all these collecters buying them and only driving them a few k a year, it gives them a bad reputation.

A set of fresh rod bearing shells ( 8 of them at $10 each) will add 100k miles of life to the motor. The top ends and main beraings never die. But if you get one that hasn't been maintained or driven you're in for a world of hurt.

[Ducati]

The seller is around west portal in san francisco if anybody knowledgable can check out the car for me I would very much appreciate it.

EDIT: This is armeN on ducati's computer... forgot to sign off =P

[SebSter]

If you never take risks, you'll always be wondering what could have been. The e30m3 at this stage will not depreciate in value, it will maintain its value or even increase as less and less get on the road. If anything you can sell it a year later and all you will not lose *that* much.

Jump in, buy the car, enjoy the hell out of it. Sacrifice some other commodities if you have to, to maintain the car. You only live once, if everyone did everything by the book, where would the excitement be?

[Digitalwave]

If you never take risks, you'll always be wondering what could have been. The e30m3 at this stage will not depreciate in value, it will maintain its value or even increase as less and less get on the road. If anything you can sell it a year later and all you will not lose *that* much.

Jump in, buy the car, enjoy the hell out of it. Sacrifice some other commodities if you have to, to maintain the car. You only live once, if everyone did everything by the book, where would the excitement be?

Or he could be realistic and not drive another precious E30 M3 into the ground.

[parkerbink]

Or he could take the risk & make payments on a great looking not running car while riding the bus...ouch!