Thoughts on the e36 m3

[ebox86]

Hi all,

I know this is mostly an e30 forum but my friend is really considering a 98 e36 m3 and is coming from the subaru world. He is liking more and more the BMW side of things now (as well as suby's) and has always liked my e30.

He has a 06 wrx with some mods and a tune and it gets him around town and to the mountains fairly well. Its pretty fast too and awd too.

He's got a bead on a really really clean 98 m3, link below:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/4871822955.html

So my question to the community is this, what are people's opinion of the e36 m3 in 2015 and what do people think about for the future. Obviously we're not talking e30 m3 here but is ~10k seem fair for a really nice example?

The example he is looking at is in really good shape and decent miles, 115k on the clock. Similar examples for a sedan in really good shape seem to go for around that money (10-11k). Does this seem too high? Prices for clean, stock examples have seemed to steadily increase from our research of lots of posts from the past 6-8 years to the point where 10-11k seems like the going price for what he's looking at.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

(i already told him to just go with an e30 and be done with it lol)

[Bglad]

I just bought a 95 M3, and I have no regrets. A lot more comfortable to drive than my e30. I think the price is a little high, but it's at a dealer, so that's understandable. Performance mods are super expensive for the e36, and really dont gain you anything. So if he wants a fast car to tune, this isnt it. Spend money on suspension and call it a day.

For reference, I paid $6800 for my 95 M3 coupe with 130k, 9.5/10 condition, all receipts since new.

[slammin.e28]

Basically buy the most expensive e36 M3 you can.

They're not bad unless you buy a neglected one. BTDT.

[ST1G]

People really like the e36 m3. It's not an e30. It's more modern and people often state the interior feels more cheap and plasticy. I personally really like the e36 m3. It's really the only e36 worth owning. I think it looks great and is very comfortable.

Now compared to a WRX with some mods I think it will feel a little lack luster. It's it designed a decade before the WRX and has a heavy motor, likely with less power. It doesn't have all wheel drive. My e30's just don't do that great in the snow, I would imagine the m3 does even worse with more power. It's apples and oranges.

Now for the value of that specific M3 it looks good. It looks to be well maintained and not owned by a boi ricer. The leather looks good, the wheels are stock and not all rashed up, trunk is clean, there isn't carbon fiber stickers all over everything in the interior. I would say it's a solid buy for the money. It seems that e36 m3 prices are holding steady. I think that they are at the bottom of what they will be priced at before they start to appreciate. When they will start to appreciate is a whole different ball game, but I think they are at their bottom end for price right now, so it's a good time to buy.

Basically buy the most expensive e36 M3 you can.

They're not bad unless you buy a neglected one. BTDT.

Also, This.

[kickinindian]

buy a good shape 318ti + DASC or s52 swap. buy donor m3 for all the body, and interior bits have an m3 hatchback!


at least thats what im doing...;D

[ebox86]

I just bought a 95 M3, and I have no regrets. A lot more comfortable to drive than my e30. I think the price is a little high, but it's at a dealer, so that's understandable. Performance mods are super expensive for the e36, and really dont gain you anything. So if he wants a fast car to tune, this isnt it. Spend money on suspension and call it a day.

For reference, I paid $6800 for my 95 M3 coupe with 130k, 9.5/10 condition, all receipts since new.

Well thats one of the hallmarks it seems from e36 m3 buying, is that the prices fluctuate drastically. For one, we've noticed sedans command a premium because about only 7k sedans were sold in the states compared to about 17k coupes. So thats one price driver, the other is year, while 95 seems to be desirable due to odb1, its also has some different interior bits and older climate control amongst other differences im sure exist (the 3.0 from 3.2 in the late models being one of them).

yea i have seen performance part prices that are way high, he doesn't intend to mod it much, just keep it stock and clean.

[ebox86]

buy a good shape 318ti + DASC or s52 swap. buy donor m3 for all the body, and interior bits have an m3 hatchback!


at least thats what im doing...;D

I love love love the 318ti, i have been (very) tempted several times to sell my e30 for one. The dash is simple and efficient, the size is pretty much perfect for getting around town/small hauling. Back seat folds down, parts bolt on from a wide range of models. Even has an 'm' version of it from the factory. I tried to get him to look into a ti, but he has m3 fixation now lol. We even saw a ti (sadly) at pick n pull the other day, even had a california ragtop too.

[kickinindian]

I love love love the 318ti, i have been (very) tempted several times to sell my e30 for one. The dash is simple and efficient, the size is pretty much perfect for getting around town/small hauling. Back seat folds down, parts bolt on from a wide range of models. Even has an 'm' version of it from the factory. I tried to get him to look into a ti, but he has m3 fixation now lol. We even saw a ti (sadly) at pick n pull the other day, even had a california ragtop too.

the ti is "my wifes" car and then i have my e30 too the ti is a great little family car for us since we only have one kid, they hold alot of shit for being so small! little underpowered but that can be changed

[jrossowvue30]

That price doesn't seem that high for a sedan being sold by a dealer with that kind of miles, not to mention OEM and very good condition. Private party sellers aren't asking too much less these days. I also think we have seen the lowest the prices for e36 M3's will be and now they are starting to rise. The cheap ones are junk and the good ones command a premium. I'm not sure how someone going from WRX to older M3 would be all that happy unless he is just looking for a clean and quick (for what it is) car.

As for ownership, I've had one for a few years, mine being a 96 OBDII coupe. I got it on the low (clean but high mileage) and it was one of the not well taken care of cars (maintenance) and I've spent some time and money getting it back to roadworthy. It isn't my daily so for me it is just a fun driver that I use on nice days. I could probably daily my M3 and be perfectly fine, but I don't have to so why? As long as you stay up on them and stay on top of maintenance they are reliable and won't bleed your bank account dry. Plus many have met their demise so parts are abundant and they're just e36's on roids so share some non-M3 parts with the rest of the e36.

I've seen a lot of Subie guys looking to make the jump to BMW e36 M3's, do Subie's not make very good DD's or do they just fall apart after years of use/abuse?

[ebox86]

the ti is "my wifes" car and then i have my e30 too the ti is a great little family car for us since we only have one kid, they hold alot of shit for being so small! little underpowered but that can be changed

Well i've always heard the ti being described as the 'girls car'. Hell, bmw even baked some of this into their marketing for the car back in 95-98. But i still like it, the dash is as modern of an incarnation of the e30 dash as you'll find. I still hold it to high regard as being one of the first cars that experienced a online web marketing campaign starting in 96. Jalopnik has a good article on it:

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/bmw...u-s-1548931850

[tak7]

The m3/4/5 is the only e36 I would buy, this one looks really nice.
I looked up their listing online and it lists the mileage as 122xxx, maybe nothing but struck me odd.

[ebox86]

That price doesn't seem that high for a sedan being sold by a dealer with that kind of miles, not to mention OEM and very good condition. Private party sellers aren't asking too much less these days. I also think we have seen the lowest the prices for e36 M3's will be and now they are starting to rise. The cheap ones are junk and the good ones command a premium. I'm not sure how someone going from WRX to older M3 would be all that happy unless he is just looking for a clean and quick (for what it is) car.

As for ownership, I've had one for a few years, mine being a 96 OBDII coupe. I got it on the low (clean but high mileage) and it was one of the not well taken care of cars (maintenance) and I've spent some time and money getting it back to roadworthy. It isn't my daily so for me it is just a fun driver that I use on nice days. I could probably daily my M3 and be perfectly fine, but I don't have to so why? As long as you stay up on them and stay on top of maintenance they are reliable and won't bleed your bank account dry. Plus many have met their demise so parts are abundant and they're just e36's on roids so share some non-M3 parts with the rest of the e36.

I've seen a lot of Subie guys looking to make the jump to BMW e36 M3's, do Subie's not make very good DD's or do they just fall apart after years of use/abuse?

Interesting point about the price and also maintenance. He does not intent to dd it, but use it as a weekend/going to the airport type car. Keep it nice and clean and up on maintenance. The prices private party are still confusing to me, i don't know why, if someone had the same car private party, why they would ask considerably less, unless of course they just wanted a quick sale.

And yes you basically hit the nail on the head with the subies. His wrx is quick and pushes you back into your seat, has a modified cat/back and a tune but it doesn't make a very good trip car. They make 'ok' dd's, and he will probably disagree with that and say they do but with his cat/back, its loud, bumpy, noise, and just overall the fit and finish and ride quality is what is pushing him towards the m3. As for mechanics, the ej255 is a great motor, in fact most ej boxter engines are really solid engines (sans the early 2000 ej25's and the hg's). He likes working on it and its not really given him much trouble but he likes that, basically out of the box, the m3 provides this nice, smooth, clean, driver-centric experience with great ride quality, smooth power across the entire band (no waiting for his turbo to spin up) and handles much better at higher speeds(can't hardly feel 80) out of the box.

[jrossowvue30]

If he doesn't plan to DD it then it will be a very nice second car. They are great driver's cars with good power and a great ride. I know there are many faster cars out there but I feel like M3's give a really good bang-for-buck experience. Plus it gets some respect, people give mine compliments all the time, not that I'm going for that but it is nice when others appreciate your car for what it is.

As for dealer prices vs private party prices, dealers are in it for the money and need to make a profit so they have to mark it up to cover all their costs.

As for the 318ti discussion, I had a 95 active and loved that car to death. I put over 50k miles on it in just a couple of years and eventually sold it with well over 250k to some asshole who promptly blew the headgasket and tried to part it out. I will own another one someday, and that someday will be sooner rather than later as they are becoming harder to find. I'd like to get one and really do it up, 24v swap, sport leather interior, etc and possibly use it as a DD. They are great cars, especially in the city and are not fast, but "zippy" so ou still get some fun out of them.

[M-technik-3]

Well i've always heard the ti being described as the 'girls car'. Hell, bmw even baked some of this into their marketing for the car back in 95-98. But i still like it, the dash is as modern of an incarnation of the e30 dash as you'll find. I still hold it to high regard as being one of the first cars that experienced a online web marketing campaign starting in 96. Jalopnik has a good article on it:

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/bmw...u-s-1548931850

That article is wrong since the US market also got 99's. I have a 98 and a 99.

[mr2peak]

They are nice. 10k is a bit high, see if they will settle around 9.

I also agree that they are at the bottom of the depreciation curve. So many being wrecked and parted out right now. At the very least he can drive it for free for the next few years.