Thoughts on the e36 m3

[BobombETA]

I have a 99' M3 Coupe. M50 manifold swap, intake, catback, coilovers. It's a fun car to drive. Very comfortable distance cruiser as well. I think they are a lot of car for the money.

Try and find the nicest starting point that you can.

[ebox86]

A 11k e46 m3 would be a nightmare

totally agree with this

[Kevinl]

A 11k e46 m3 would be a nightmare

I really love e36 m3's especially sedans
I still think about getting one but dont know why I need three BMW's

Subarus are very MEH to me I used to own a 04 STi They feel quick because of the gearing but don't really make much power even modded the handling is terrible in stock form with the engine sitting way out front like an audi and brakes on a regular wrx are nothing to write home about an Evo is 10 times the car a sti is

My dad owns a 11' wrx and it feels like a turd compared to my 335i in handling braking and acceleration

E36 M3's are decently quick with 0-60 in 5.5 and 1/4 in 14.0

[ebox86]

i just can't see spending 11k on an e36 sedan when you can step up to an e46 m3 for pretty much the same money. the later car is just so much better of a vehicle in every way and the same price to boot.

here is one local to me that is a much better deal:
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/4876201663.html

That's not compatible at all, auto trans wth a rebuilt title? That kills it's value

[flyboyx]

i just can't see spending 11k on an e36 sedan when you can step up to an e46 m3 for pretty much the same money. the later car is just so much better of a vehicle in every way and the same price to boot.

here is one local to me that is a much better deal:

http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/4876201663.html

[ebox86]

I was speaking about e36's in general.

Ah, yea true. I will say the fit and finish on the e36's is higher than that of the e30, but one would expect that with being a newer platform and being made of newer materials. I think the primary draw is that its an 'm' car, has potential to appreciate, is a well taken care of example, needs little to no work in the next year/2, and has a superior ride quality to that of his wrx

[itskingsteelo]

my girl has a 98 M3/2/5 its fun to drive, the drive is a bit more comfortable. if you its not an E30 then go with the E36

[reelizmpro]

I was speaking about e36's in general.

[ebox86]

I think it's a good buy upto $7-8k...beyond that I would seriously consider the leap to the E46 M3 which can be had in the 10-14k range. I wouldn't expect much appreciation from the least favorable US spec E36 M3.

Are you saying that because its a 98 or the options it has? Why is it the least favorable?

[phreshkid]

I have one. A 97 m3/4/5. It's not terribly fast, but it is fun in stock form.

Mine is completely stock save for the vader seats and lightweight wheels (didn't come standard on sedans).

It is a fun dd/commuter with the occasional canyon day. I've put almost 30k miles on it in the last 16 months, and she's stronger than ever.

I will look into a good set of springs and Bilstein Sports pretty soon though.


I like it a lot. I wouldn't have purchased a coupe; never really liked them. I like 4 doors. They are just so wonderful. And besides, I'm a good looking guy so there are always girls in my car.

I save the 2002s and other cars for my bro friends. They get top treatment.

[reelizmpro]

I think it's a good buy upto $7-8k...beyond that I would seriously consider the leap to the E46 M3 which can be had in the 10-14k range. I wouldn't expect much appreciation from the least favorable US spec E36 M3.

[RedReplicant]

I keep debating selling off my E30 and going this route.

[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.

[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.

[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.