looking to buy an m3

[Spaz]

hey everyone

i got a couple questions fist off about this m3.

1. any special problem areas on m3's that are different the e30's rust wise?
2. any tell tale signs of worn items i should look for?
3. what else should i know? (btw this will be my 3rd e30, and i'm a mechanic anyhow, just need some specfic info on m3's)

now for your opinon on this vehicle.

1990 M3 Alpine White
140, 000 miles

this vehicle has the following items extra

- oem 17' throwing stars
- Evo 3 Lip
- Evo Undertray with brake ducts...
- Evo hood seals and bumber seals.
- h4 headlamps, h1 highs
- reinforced sway bar mounts

the vehicles problems
- slight paint cracks in bumper
- curb rash on 3 of the rims
- has 4 stock baskets, but 1 is bent
- chipped mirror, and front spoiler
- selector shaft/output shaft on trans is seeping
- golf ball dent in roof
- tires are worn
- tint has faded, and is peeling
- evo 3 lip is cracked and bent upward.

the low down.

i was contacted by the owner seeing if i was interested in purchasing an m3, nataurally i was. so we exchanged emails and i went and viewed the car. check it over, there seems to be no rust besides, slight surface rust around the licence plat lights. i check over the floor boards, jack area, battery tray area, and along where the filler neck is. (i forgot to check the windshield)
but the windshield was original so i doubt it has be removed and replaced . the paint on the vehilce was clean, a few chips on the mirror, and front spolier, and the rear bumper is cracking. there is a tiny dent on the roof. the tint on the vheilce iw peeling off and fading. the car has the evo hood and bumper seals, and a evo lip (which is crakced and bent) and evo brake ducts and undertray. can the lip be repaied?
the car has new exhaust from eisenman. all bushings were aperaently replaced 1 year ago (waiting on proof), new rad installed, new clutch( waiting on proof), the car apearently was bought from po with gruppe n suspenison????? any way to check this? he is the fourth owner of the car and it has been local for the past 8 years. the car is serived by the owners friend which happens to be the po. that he bougth teh car off of. the vehicle interior is totally, mint no cracks or wear marks, but the owner is not selling the vehicle with the steering wheel shown, the deck, or the front speakers, i will have to install all my own items. he says he has all the stock parts, which i am hoping on.

mechanical wise the car starts uo fine, no rattleing or noises at all, possible valve adjustment needed, or maybe exhaust leak...or injectors are just loud. vehilce had recent tune up with new wires. owner did not know last time tb were synced. no smoke was present under any conditions. vehicle drove smooth, nice accel, smooth and clean. all other systems ((abs, ac) all work and check out fine.
some of my concerns are, the brake pedal is a fair bit lower then in my '90 325is, comon? is there adjustment? the clucth is a lot softer then my 325is too? normal? and finally the shifter rattles and i can hear a rattling noise when the car is in neutral, with the clucth out, but when it is pushed in the noise is gone. any ideas?

btw the owner is asking 16,000 usd.
and if you have carfax could you run this vin for me please?

wbsak031xlae33502

::edit::

the vehicle will not have a stero installed, or front speakers or panels, i will have to install those myself. also i most likely will have to install the airbag wheel agian as he is taking away the aftermarket on he has on there now.

opinons ?
thanks alot
-cam

[e30evolution]

$16,000 is a lot for that many cosmetic problems, and having that many miles...
you would be the 5th owner? for $16 i would expect to find lower miles, fewer owners, unbent/curbed wheels, and would expect the car to at least come with a steering wheel.... what wsteering wheel does he have on it that he wouldnt want to sell with the car?

[Spaz]

i don;t know thw wheel, but its nice, b-day present he says, anything is better the airbag wheel though

[Xmarksthespot21]

Yes, $16,000 is way too much for that car. Unless he comes down significantly, you probably should pass and find a better m3.

[Den]

Dunno 'bout Canada, but the range seems to be $10-$15k in US.
$15k for the nicer examples with lower miles. Many seem to be in need of a rebuild on the S14, apparently it doesn't rack up the miles like an M20 or M30, but that shouldn't be a problem for you since you are a mechanic. I would look for one with a clean body and interior and weak motor for ~$10k.

[e30evolution]

Dunno 'bout Canada, but the range seems to be $10-$15k in US.
$15k for the nicer examples with lower miles. Many seem to be in need of a rebuild on the S14, apparently it doesn't rack up the miles like an M20 or M30, but that shouldn't be a problem for you since you are a mechanic. I would look for one with a clean body and interior and weak motor for ~$10k.

weak motor means $$$$$$$$$$ the s14 parts are way to spendy, and if it is a weak motor becasue of a warped head of cracked block or something he would have been better off buying one cheaper without a motor and putting an ls1 in it... heh

[Court M3]

Only paid $11,000 USD for my car two years ago with 65,000 miles on the clock, one owner, no rust or mechanical issues.

[Chillywater]

just buy an e36 ///M3

[James Crivellone]

just buy an e36 ///M3

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHA

[Xmarksthespot21]

Well for 16k he should buy an e36.

[Blaster.]

No e30 M3 is worth $15,000. Most regular e30's arent even worth $5000. The average e30 M3 price is about 8000-11,000. 12,000 if your desprate. But thats just my opinion.

[hamann318is]

If it was a M3 with like 23k orignal miles, and in perfect condition, I could see that netting 15k easy. Don't say that can't happen, etiher. Some people buy those things with the intention to just save it, and not drive it. Don't ask me, but I've seen it happen.

[Chillywater]

The reason I say buy an E36 M3 is because a whole lot of people really try to screw you and charge WAY WAY TOO MUCH $$$ for e30's. I would never pay over 10,000 for an e30 M3 when I could get an e36 (a better M3) for about the same as some people charge for ragged out e30's that need work and are constant problems. I guess it's just me but i've never been attracted to e30 BMW's enough to pay more for one than an e36 that is just as good but probably better. Face it...e30's aren't worth the high price clowns ask for them

[James Crivellone]

e36 M3 is not a "better m3"

[hamann318is]

You can't find a "better" 4-cyl M3 than the E30. :P

That's why it's my favorite.