M3 question

[monkeyodeath]

Yeah, with price, not totally sure.

I want to spend the money now and not later - I don't want a project that'll suck up all my money. Thought I could get into this game for $15k, but every car at that price seems to be in need of either engine work or a repaint, which will be more $$ when all is said and done.

[reelizmpro]

There are pros and cons to both cars so it isn't cut and dry without seeing and driving both. My car had 77K miles when I picked it up but it needed a lot of work. It comes down to maintenance and work done. Personally, I don't get a hard on for a stock 25 year old car that wasn't driven unless it's in exceptional condition and even then you still can't drive it everywhere and be free with it so what's the point unless you are a collector. It's a cool novelty but chances are if untouched, it'll still need work and at 90K it's not exactly a museum piece. It's likely to be leaking fluids at 90K unless it was resealed. My other M3 has 174K but has had work done on it so it starts right up and doesn't leak a drop. Consider everything before making a decision.

[cramer]

Please, don't buy the stock example and turn it into the other one. If you're concerned about preserving the OEM nature if the car (and value), keep the original car mostly original. It' easy to trick out an E30 M3 into a boy racer example but don't use an original car. Fieats beater M3, there are plenty of those. There just aren't too many original cars left and this is where the real value lies.

That doesn't make any sense. If you start with a stock car and add bolt on parts, how is the value diminished? You can easily swap those stock parts back on the car and be all original when it comes time to sell.

[Vtec?lol]

I so thought this would be another "my friend found an M3 in someones back yard" thread.

I would go with the cheaper one. Maintenance>miles in my opinion.
Go down the list of importance.
From most expensive to cheapest to repair on an M3 typically is
1. Drive train, which has the best?
2. Paint and body, which has the least wear?
3. Interior
4. Electronics and misc.


I would go with the one that wins the first two votes. $5k price difference is hardly anything in the M3 world.

[Pantless Spency]

stock more than likely, but if the high miles one is really that good looking it may be worth it, and with the money saved full rebuild on the s14

[ak-]

Maybe the one approaching 100k is going to need a full tune-up soon?
Maybe the high mileage one just finished it's maint. and is ready to go?

Just go with your gut.

[325ix]

Haha, I did a shitty job with details.

OK:

Has really nice ACS type 1 rims.

Reason I was leaning towards the stock one is cause

a) Not really big on bling rims and carbon fiber stuff

Your statements are conflicting here.

[monkeyodeath]

Oh, I was just pointing out that the rims were nice, not that it was a huge selling point for me.

[Mercury[BKM]]

get the blinged out one as you called it, rip the s14 out....sell it... and put a better motor in its place. then maint history wont matter and that s14 will pay for almost all of your new swap =)

you can part the bling if you want, make some bank off of it, or keep it if its clean.

[monkeyodeath]

My biggest goal here is a car that I can just drive on weekends and do routine maintenance on the next few years.

All things being equal, the 170k car is probably going to need major work at some point. The owner seems pretty on-top of things and has had the car well-maintained, but it is leaking oil, and it seems like an s14 with more than 200k on it is a rare beast indeed.

If the 90k mile car has been well-maintained, I guess I don't see why it couldn't go another 90k before needing a rebuild. I've seen the 90k car in person and it's pretty immaculate, doesn't leak oil. Waiting to hear from my mechanic about the PPI, but it's been a garage queen/fun driver all its life.

Which, to me, is worth paying an extra $3-4k. Then I have a car that I can just enjoy without being worried about when the motor's going to blow up on me.

But, maybe I'm wrong? Is a 24 year old engine going to be in need of a rebuild regardless of mileage?

[monkeyodeath]

I dunno about the motor swap. I'm no purist and don't really give a shit about "defiling history" but I love high-revving 4 cylinder engines.

I'd rather swap an s52 or something into my beater-ass bronzit 4-door 325i and go stealth.

[jasonbk]

i would go for a stock one.. but again you can take out all the bling parts from example 1, sell them, and convert it to the stock.

[mikeedler]

buy the one that has less rust and is in better shape. You will end up lowering and putting nicer wheels on the stocker one anyway.

[reelizmpro]

There are many S14 powered M3's with 200K+ miles which is amazing for a high strung 4 cylinder. People drive them hard and that's how they are supposed to be driven. Some people rebuild them because they have to but believe it or not some do it to get more power or just for peace of mind (I did). If you want a swap car, just buy one. There's a nice black E30 M3 with fresh paint, Polished style 5's, turbo S50 selling for 20K on S14.net. The car is in Sacramento and on ebay as well.

[ZekeTheSneak]

stock, i prefer to build cars not buy them