88' e30 M3 with 27k orig miles! what's it worth?

[jmarch]

Guys I've owned both Porsches and BMW (including the holy grail E30 M3 with a 2.5 and all the EVOIII goodies - headers, cams, TBs, etc). I'm sorry, but IMHO there's no comparsion between the two. The e30 M3 was a nice car but the engine, even in 2.5 EVOIII form wasn't very fast. And, while it handled well even with trailing arm suspension, its steering was no where near as precise or involving as Porsche steering. I won't even mention braking.....

For the guy that thinks the E30 M3 is more fun than a 996TT, time to pull your head out. Of course, he sells brake upgrades which virtually every BMW needs.

And for the guy talking about 3 to 4 hundred hp S14s, go ahead and light the fuse. Besides a 996TT can be reliably upgraded to 600HP.

I'm not here to crap on E30s - I really like them and use one as a current DD. But let's be realistic - these are fun old cars. But at $30K there are better choices.

[Massive Lee]

Guys I've owned both Porsches and BMW (including the holy grail E30 M3 with a 2.5 and all the EVOIII goodies - headers, cams, TBs, etc). I'm sorry, but IMHO there's no comparsion between the two. The e30 M3 was a nice car but the engine, even in 2.5 EVOIII form wasn't very fast. And, while it handled well even with trailing arm suspension, its steering was no where near as precise or involving as Porsche steering. I won't even mention braking.....

For the guy that thinks the E30 M3 is more fun than a 996TT, time to pull your head out. Of course, he sells brake upgrades which virtually every BMW needs.

And for the guy talking about 3 to 4 hundred hp S14s, go ahead and light the fuse. Besides a 996TT can be reliably upgraded to 600HP.

I'm not here to crap on E30s - I really like them and use one as a current DD. But let's be realistic - these are fun old cars. But at $30K there are better choices.

Wow. You should be quoted for being the dick of the week.

[distorto]

I'm not here to crap on E30s - .

too late.

[Motorsports]

Guys I've owned both Porsches and BMW (including the holy grail E30 M3 with a 2.5 and all the EVOIII goodies - headers, cams, TBs, etc). I'm sorry, but IMHO there's no comparsion between the two. The e30 M3 was a nice car but the engine, even in 2.5 EVOIII form wasn't very fast. And, while it handled well even with trailing arm suspension, its steering was no where near as precise or involving as Porsche steering. I won't even mention braking.....

For the guy that thinks the E30 M3 is more fun than a 996TT, time to pull your head out. Of course, he sells brake upgrades which virtually every BMW needs.

And for the guy talking about 3 to 4 hundred hp S14s, go ahead and light the fuse. Besides a 996TT can be reliably upgraded to 600HP.

I'm not here to crap on E30s - I really like them and use one as a current DD. But let's be realistic - these are fun old cars. But at $30K there are better choices.

An E30 M3 Isnt a car that you can compare to a 996 TT. I really hate when people try to compare two cars that arent in the same leagues. The differences are too big. The cars arent from the same era. I think that if you want to compare a porsche with the E30 M3 it has to be the 944 turbo. in stock forms they can really go at it head to head. but i think people are missing the point. If a person is willing to spend 25k or more (i would) for a E30 M3 and not a newer car isnt because they couldnt buy something faster or with better handling. Its because they're really E30 fanatics and they going for the ultimate E30.

[jmarch]

Wow. You should be quoted for being the dick of the week.

Truth hurts. Like I said, pull your head out.

[jmarch]

An E30 M3 Isnt a car that you can compare to a 996 TT. I really hate when people try to compare two cars that arent in the same leagues. The differences are too big. The cars arent from the same era. I think that if you want to compare a porsche with the E30 M3 it has to be the 944 turbo. in stock forms they can really go at it head to head. but i think people are missing the point. If a person is willing to spend 25k or more (i would) for a E30 M3 and not a newer car isnt because they couldnt buy something faster or with better handling. Its because they're really E30 fanatics and they going for the ultimate E30.

The only comparison I'm making is on price. A good 944T wont approach $15K. If a $30K E30 M3 makes sense to you, great. My point was that at that price there are a lot of other choices Porsches, Lotus, etc.

[uofom3]

30k at least.

[e34john]

Truth hurts. Like I said, pull your head out.

Fast does not equal fun. The E30 is raw, it was built to win races and I think that is more fun, I know it will lose on the track to a car that is decades newer but I think the M3 would be a funner car. But I agree on the $ issue, except the E30 will be worth more later.

[reelizmpro]

The only comparison I'm making is on price. A good 944T wont approach $15K. If a $30K E30 M3 makes sense to you, great. My point was that at that price there are a lot of other choices Porsches, Lotus, etc.

We can go on all day about how many other cars are better for $30K but they're still not E30 M3's. E46 M3's can be had for less than 30K, Vettes, etc. etc. etc. The guys who buy these E30 M3's want one for different reasons obviously. To me, the E30 M3 was my dream car and I had to have one...just that simple. Would I pay $25K for a mint low mileage one? Sure, if I didn't already have one and had the money. Either you're into it or you're not.

I've seen a lot of people buy and sell for different reasons. I've found that there are essentially two different type of E30 M3 owners. The casual enthusiasts who were intrigued by it and gave it a shot and then the diehards. The casual enthusiasts will get one, drive it, mod it, later get turned off by costs, decide it would cost way too much to get the power they want so they do an engine swap OR just sell it to move on to bigger things. Their cars tend to switch hands a few times. I've found that most people fall under this category.

Now the diehards or purists (typically longtime BMW enthusiasts who were around when the car came out), embrace the history of the car, love the car for what it is and what it represents. It's a very special car to these people. They'll mod it but nothing that goes against what BMW was trying to do with the car. Interestingly enough, the true diehards/purists I know, aren't even on the boards (you may see them at club meetings and events) and tend to keep their cars or even get a second E30 M3. Some things are worth more to certain people.

[e30frosh]

My e30 is worth a punt in the family maker and finding an empty wallet when you wake. But, hey, you still have an e30.

[jmarch]

We can go on all day about how many other cars are better for $30K but they're still not E30 M3's. E46 M3's can be had for less than 30K, Vettes, etc. etc. etc. The guys who buy these E30 M3's want one for different reasons obviously. To me, the E30 M3 was my dream car and I had to have one...just that simple. Would I pay $25K for a mint low mileage one? Sure, if I didn't already have one and had the money. Either you're into it or you're not.

I've seen a lot of people buy and sell for different reasons. I've found that there are essentially two different type of E30 M3 owners. The casual enthusiasts who were intrigued by it and gave it a shot and then the diehards. The casual enthusiasts will get one, drive it, mod it, later get turned off by costs, decide it would cost way too much to get the power they want so they do an engine swap OR just sell it to move on to bigger things. Their cars tend to switch hands a few times. I've found that most people fall under this category.

Now the diehards or purists (typically longtime BMW enthusiasts who were around when the car came out), embrace the history of the car, love the car for what it is and what it represents. It's a very special car to these people. They'll mod it but nothing that goes against what BMW was trying to do with the car. Interestingly enough, the true diehards/purists I know, aren't even on the boards (you may see them at club meetings and events) and tend to keep their cars or even get a second E30 M3. Some things are worth more to certain people.

I think that's right. I feel the same way about my 993 as you do about the E30 M3. However, at some point cost does come into the equation. For example, no way I'd sell my 993 for $30K (or even $40K which would be top dollar and then some). The car is too special to me (plan to keep to forever). However, if someone came along and offered $100K if would be gone if only for the fact that at that price point I could get a 997GT3.

That's exactly what happened with my M3. I poured my heart and soul into its restoration and it came out really nice. However, after looking at what I could get if I sold it the choice was easy for me.

Of course, before I could go out and buy another Porsche, my wife got pregnant and I ended up with another BMW :)

[M635dude]

We can go on all day about how many other cars are better for $30K but they're still not E30 M3's. E46 M3's can be had for less than 30K, Vettes, etc. etc. etc. The guys who buy these E30 M3's want one for different reasons obviously. To me, the E30 M3 was my dream car and I had to have one...just that simple. Would I pay $25K for a mint low mileage one? Sure, if I didn't already have one and had the money. Either you're into it or you're not.

I've seen a lot of people buy and sell for different reasons. I've found that there are essentially two different type of E30 M3 owners. The casual enthusiasts who were intrigued by it and gave it a shot and then the diehards. The casual enthusiasts will get one, drive it, mod it, later get turned off by costs, decide it would cost way too much to get the power they want so they do an engine swap OR just sell it to move on to bigger things. Their cars tend to switch hands a few times. I've found that most people fall under this category.

Now the diehards or purists (typically longtime BMW enthusiasts who were around when the car came out), embrace the history of the car, love the car for what it is and what it represents. It's a very special car to these people. They'll mod it but nothing that goes against what BMW was trying to do with the car. Interestingly enough, the true diehards/purists I know, aren't even on the boards (you may see them at club meetings and events) and tend to keep their cars or even get a second E30 M3. Some things are worth more to certain people.

very well put. I will hopefully always on an e30 m3. To me they represent an era of cars that no longer exists and will never exist again. This car was built to be a drivers car, and to do it well. The connection and nimbleness really make this car feel so alive everytime I get behind the wheel.

Well I haven't really found out any information about this car yet. It's been sitting outside for years, first at a dealership and now at a gas station. $18,500 is the price on it. Hopefully I'll get a chance to head down this weekend and take a closer look, but no one there really seems to know anything about it and they won't say why it's there. And here are some pics....

[felonies]

gross. needs a makeover no doubt

[kronus]

North of 18K, I would think, depending on how well it would clean up.

18,500

What do I win?

[learningcurve86]

seats look to be in great shape! wear on driver left bolsters? or just dirt?

ps... gold door handles? really?