M3's Too Much $$$$$

[Krueger]

Hey Everyone!! As all of you i'm sure do, I spend a lot of time on the net searching for cars, parts etc. and while looking around( being the BMW loving dreamer I am) I hope to one day own an e30 M3, But given how prices are now I can only imagine how much it'll cost me to get my hands on one later. My question is, do you think people are charging too much for their e30 M3's? I mean I look around and i see a lot of them for sale these days and most of them are up for 12k plus but for 12k what are you really getting? I'm no expert but I have Owned and driven all kinds of cars with all kinds of power and, don't get me wrong I love e30's, especially The M3 but Frankly its not exactly a rocket on wheels, or THAT much different than a standard 318is and i know all of you guru's are gonna name all these things that set it apart- and most of them i know but getting down to brass tax for about 3.5-4k i could get a good 318is, throw a couple thousand dollars, and time at it, i would have something that would satisfy me just as much as any M3. Sooo I mean can someone tell me why people are asking soo much especially in this economy and with them not being as rare as most prices might suggest? thanks for reading if you made it this far negative comments are cool i guess seems to be a lot of that on here ;)

Cheers- Krueger

[reelizmpro]

It's what the market will bare. Many have missed the boat on these cars. Now it's just enthusiasts who have dumped money into them and are holding them hostage for top dollar simply because they can! Demand is high while supply continues to dwindle. If they really want to sell it then they can lower the price accordingly. If someone really wants to buy a nice one that needs almost nothing, they can get that too without too much work but they'll have to pay a premium for it. With that said, it's not the car for most people getting into the game late unless you have money. M3's are getting expensive and swapped e30's are way more common than say 10 years ago. So unless you are a collector or embrace history, etc. etc the M3 probably isn't what you want for the money. For the money, you can have a very nice and fast E30 that will be better than the M3 in many ways and you can enjoy it without worrying about value but at the end of the day, it's no M3. Whatever that means to you, will decide if you should get one or not.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Less than 20,000 worldwide m3's, compared to hundreds of thousands of worldwide e30's.

[will61]

If you want an outright fast car, you don't want an e30 m3. An e30 m3 is about balance, feel, and history. Get an e36 they're everywhere and you can get a good example relatively cheap.

[VinniE30]

If people were charging too much for them then they simply wouldn't be able to get anyone to buy it. If someone charges more than what you think it's worth and someone buys it then that's apparently what it's worth. It's all just based on supply and demand.
And how fast a car is doesn't usually have much to do with how much it's worth because not everyone much so much value in a car's acceleration.

[nrubenstein]

Here's a hint: A $12k E30 M3 is usually a shitbox these days. A good one is now in the $20-30k range.

But yes, if you are shopping on a spec basis or a value basis, the E30 M3 is not your car. Period. End of story. But, really, how was that not obvious to you before you posted this inane question?

[F34R]

E30 M3 is for true BMW lovers, it is more for the people that understand the history and the almost perfect balance of the s14.
Like above guy stated, go for a e36 M3 is you want some nice power with handling.

WRX or an STi, you can get an Evo 8-9 at a good price.
It seems you want more power than what the s14 puts out, so I suggest you buy an e30 318 or 325 and swap the motor for 24v and be happy =)

325is with a s52 swap and 5 lug is hard to over look.

[bowtie2bimmer]

I've only been on this forum for 3 months now and i've seen this post countless times.

Yes you can build a 318/325 faster than a M3.

Yes you can do it cheaper

But at the end of the day its still not a M3.

Its the heritage, the limited production, the incredible technology for its time, its unique looks, and its ambiance as a whole. Some people understand these things (I do) others don't. You lookign for a balls to the wall racer for 8k? Buy something else. Wanna roll to a show or track day and have jaws drop even though your car isn't the fastest there? Buy an M3. As for 12k for an M3? that's on the cheap side man. I've seen SEVERAL for 20k+ and a few 30k+.

[VinniE30]

To add to what the people above me said:
If all you care about is the specs then you could get a brand new Subaru BRZ for the same price as a nice E30 M3 which has almost identical specs to the E30 M3.
It really has basically the same specs:
around 2700 lbs
around 200hp from a 4 cylinder
rear wheel drive
manual transmission
near 50/50 weight distribution

[Krueger]

If you want an outright fast car, you don't want an e30 m3. An e30 m3 is about balance, feel, and history. Get an e36 they're everywhere and you can get a good example relatively cheap.

^Duh, Fast Is not it at all



"
Here's a hint: A $12k E30 M3 is usually a shitbox these days. A good one is now in the $20-30k range.

But yes, if you are shopping on a spec basis or a value basis, the E30 M3 is not your car. Period. End of story. But, really, how was that not obvious to you before you posted this inane question?"

^ 12K For a clean M3 isn't bad. shitboxes, M3 or not shouldn't pull that much especially if for example there is no interior, or the role cage is welded in etc, i feel that takes away from the car. and i just don't think that M3's are in the 20k+ range or at least not with as many as i see for sale these days.

[Krueger]

I've only been on this forum for 3 months now and i've seen this post countless times.

Yes you can build a 318/325 faster than a M3.

Yes you can do it cheaper

But at the end of the day its still not a M3.

Its the heritage, the limited production, the incredible technology for its time, its unique looks, and its ambiance as a whole. Some people understand these things (I do) others don't. You lookign for a balls to the wall racer for 8k? Buy something else. Wanna roll to a show or track day and have jaws drop even though your car isn't the fastest there? Buy an M3. As for 12k for an M3? that's on the cheap side man. I've seen SEVERAL for 20k+ and a few 30k+.

30K is a little out there, was it gold plated? the rest i pretty much agree with although i don't go to many car show or anything but even being stock mostly my e30's draw a bit of attention but i think thats just e30's for you

[VinniE30]

i just don't think that M3's are in the 20k+ range or at least not with as many as i see for sale these days.

So I don't think classic mustangs and other old american cars are worth what they go for.. because they're not worth shit to ME. But that doesn't change the fact that that's what they are worth, because not everyone has the same taste as me.:idea:

[nrubenstein]

^Duh, Fast Is not it at all



"
Here's a hint: A $12k E30 M3 is usually a shitbox these days. A good one is now in the $20-30k range.

But yes, if you are shopping on a spec basis or a value basis, the E30 M3 is not your car. Period. End of story. But, really, how was that not obvious to you before you posted this inane question?"

^ 12K For a clean M3 isn't bad. shitboxes, M3 or not shouldn't pull that much especially if for example there is no interior, or the role cage is welded in etc, i feel that takes away from the car. and i just don't think that M3's are in the 20k+ range or at least not with as many as i see for sale these days.

Well, find me a genuinely clean M3 for $12k. I'll buy it and I'll pay you $500 on top of that.

[Big Unit]

I was in at classic car dealer to jump start a ML63 for them a couple months ago and right next to the ML was a red E30 M3, it was original and pristine had about 135000kms on the clock. The salesman told me he had just sold it for AUS $50,000 I was gobsmacked. I gues the price of these are only gonna skyrocket.

[nando]

Less than 20,000 worldwide m3's, compared to hundreds of thousands of worldwide e30's.

over 2.5 million, actually. :)