Contemplating an M3
Discussion
Hi all, first of apologises if this topic has been covered relentlessly, but I tried searching, flicking through the threads and was only able to find a few answers.
I am currently in the process of selling my VR6 Highline Golf and in the current climate, a straight sale is looking highly unlikely. However, I have been offered a Dakar Yellow 1994 "L" 3.0 M3 in exchange for my golf + some cash their way (obviously).
I am completely new to BMW's and have quite a few questions if anyone would be able to answer them I would greatly appreciate it.
1. Having read a few threads, it seems that the 3.2 Evo is greatly favoured over the 3.0. Is it a massively superior car? Or is the 3.0 a good car all the same?
2. One of the reasons I want to sell my Golf is due to the fact that it is more in the vain of a "show car" and cannot justify driving "enthusiastically" or tracking it...which is my intention for the replacement...does the 3.0 have much of a deficit over the 3.2, as that seems the more favoured on here and a few other places.
3. The car will be a daily driver (despite not covering more than 6,000 miles a year) what are the likely running costs (major failures aside) just general servicing etc....
4. Are there any useful forums out there? - Did try Google but could only find USA sites.
5. Are there many specialists out there in the Northwest? From experience with my Golf, they are more trust worthy than the official garages.
6. Is 6k a lot for a 1994 non evo car with 111k on the clock? It has full service history etc and quite a sizeable spec list as well as some after market items. I have tried gauging the market, but it is just so varied.
7. What are the most common faults etc with them? Have read about VANOS failure, but then another post saying this is an overhyped failure.
8. Are there any areas on the car susceptible to rust? I am aware of one or two surface scabs on the car, but they are not much of an issue.
9. Can anyone recommend a good specialist insurer? Had one or two quotes that range from reasonable to ridiculous, I appreciate that Insurance is a very subjective issue, but recommendations would be brilliant.
Apologises for all the questions, however this would be a big commitment and don't want to pay over the odds for a car, as I'm sure no-one would.
Any help would is very much appreciated.
John.
I am currently in the process of selling my VR6 Highline Golf and in the current climate, a straight sale is looking highly unlikely. However, I have been offered a Dakar Yellow 1994 "L" 3.0 M3 in exchange for my golf + some cash their way (obviously).
I am completely new to BMW's and have quite a few questions if anyone would be able to answer them I would greatly appreciate it.
1. Having read a few threads, it seems that the 3.2 Evo is greatly favoured over the 3.0. Is it a massively superior car? Or is the 3.0 a good car all the same?
2. One of the reasons I want to sell my Golf is due to the fact that it is more in the vain of a "show car" and cannot justify driving "enthusiastically" or tracking it...which is my intention for the replacement...does the 3.0 have much of a deficit over the 3.2, as that seems the more favoured on here and a few other places.
3. The car will be a daily driver (despite not covering more than 6,000 miles a year) what are the likely running costs (major failures aside) just general servicing etc....
4. Are there any useful forums out there? - Did try Google but could only find USA sites.
5. Are there many specialists out there in the Northwest? From experience with my Golf, they are more trust worthy than the official garages.
6. Is 6k a lot for a 1994 non evo car with 111k on the clock? It has full service history etc and quite a sizeable spec list as well as some after market items. I have tried gauging the market, but it is just so varied.
7. What are the most common faults etc with them? Have read about VANOS failure, but then another post saying this is an overhyped failure.
8. Are there any areas on the car susceptible to rust? I am aware of one or two surface scabs on the car, but they are not much of an issue.
9. Can anyone recommend a good specialist insurer? Had one or two quotes that range from reasonable to ridiculous, I appreciate that Insurance is a very subjective issue, but recommendations would be brilliant.
Apologises for all the questions, however this would be a big commitment and don't want to pay over the odds for a car, as I'm sure no-one would.
Any help would is very much appreciated.
John.
the evo dakar is different to the non evo dakar. the non evo is a custardy yellow, the evo is a banana type yellow. the evo looks awesome in yellow.
e36coupe is now www.bmwowner.com
rust- on the rear arches, can be costly to fix properly
average mpg = around 23 mpg
servicing, over say 3 years, i would budget average 1k a year
the evo is slightly quicker, also has 6 speed box
e36coupe is now www.bmwowner.com
rust- on the rear arches, can be costly to fix properly
average mpg = around 23 mpg
servicing, over say 3 years, i would budget average 1k a year
the evo is slightly quicker, also has 6 speed box
You could buy an Evo model for that sort of money, probably an Estoril blue model with excellent service history.
Running costs arent significantly more, but it is more economical (6th gear opposed to 5 speeds in the 3.0), quicker and just looks a little fresher too (though that's down to the colour IMO)
Running costs arent significantly more, but it is more economical (6th gear opposed to 5 speeds in the 3.0), quicker and just looks a little fresher too (though that's down to the colour IMO)
The price seems high, but it does depend on what you are getting for your Golf. Taking a realistic value for you Golf, and I'd suspect that the M3 is lower than the £6k you say???
I did the same when I took a px on my Cerbera a couple of months back. I was also new to BMWs. I got absolutely top money for a private sale and managed to get the 97 M3 Evo on 101k miles for the equivalent of £5.5k. It's been well looked after with fsh (bmw upto 90k miles) and a good level of upgrades and current service condition (i.e. new discs, pads, and tyres all round, and inspection 2 service just done).
Depends on how desperate you want rid of the Golf.
As far as the M3 is concerned, get a good indie to look over it first. I had this done and she needed a few bits done - a couple of small oil leaks and a shreechy belt - total cost including the inspection was £300. Cheap for a complete peace of mind. I use it every day and it goes very well indeed. Apart from my wood interior, you wouldn't know she was 12 years old with 101k under her belt.
Oh insurance.... A-Plan came up trumps for my "modified" M3. However you will find that most require a tracker to be fitted and the theft excess is increased dramically. Luckily mine already had a tracker fitted (and active). Spose you have to factor in the £130 tracker subs onto your insrance premium.
I did the same when I took a px on my Cerbera a couple of months back. I was also new to BMWs. I got absolutely top money for a private sale and managed to get the 97 M3 Evo on 101k miles for the equivalent of £5.5k. It's been well looked after with fsh (bmw upto 90k miles) and a good level of upgrades and current service condition (i.e. new discs, pads, and tyres all round, and inspection 2 service just done).
Depends on how desperate you want rid of the Golf.
As far as the M3 is concerned, get a good indie to look over it first. I had this done and she needed a few bits done - a couple of small oil leaks and a shreechy belt - total cost including the inspection was £300. Cheap for a complete peace of mind. I use it every day and it goes very well indeed. Apart from my wood interior, you wouldn't know she was 12 years old with 101k under her belt.
Oh insurance.... A-Plan came up trumps for my "modified" M3. However you will find that most require a tracker to be fitted and the theft excess is increased dramically. Luckily mine already had a tracker fitted (and active). Spose you have to factor in the £130 tracker subs onto your insrance premium.
Edited by thegreengoblet on Thursday 25th September 12:47
rampz said:
rust- on the rear arches, can be costly to fix properly
How expensive roughly? I'm looking at one later with a small amount on one arch, otherwise it's mint. I'd have the spoiler take off anyway, so I could have the arch done at the same time as it would have to go into the bodyshop.duff said:
rampz said:
rust- on the rear arches, can be costly to fix properly
How expensive roughly? I'm looking at one later with a small amount on one arch, otherwise it's mint. I'd have the spoiler take off anyway, so I could have the arch done at the same time as it would have to go into the bodyshop.jamesm3 said:
duff said:
rampz said:
rust- on the rear arches, can be costly to fix properly
How expensive roughly? I'm looking at one later with a small amount on one arch, otherwise it's mint. I'd have the spoiler take off anyway, so I could have the arch done at the same time as it would have to go into the bodyshop.
jamesm3 said:
duff said:
rampz said:
rust- on the rear arches, can be costly to fix properly
How expensive roughly? I'm looking at one later with a small amount on one arch, otherwise it's mint. I'd have the spoiler take off anyway, so I could have the arch done at the same time as it would have to go into the bodyshop.
Edited by mpwr343bhp on Sunday 28th September 17:26
Trellis said:
Hi John,
having owned both, i can safely say the 3.0 is NOT vastly inferior to the EVO. The evo is faster point to point, but the 3.0 is more fun IMHO.
dont panic about vanos failure. its over hyped.
£6k is WAY too much for a 3.0 with 111k in yellow. its a £4k car.
good luck
What makes you say the 3.0 is more fun?????having owned both, i can safely say the 3.0 is NOT vastly inferior to the EVO. The evo is faster point to point, but the 3.0 is more fun IMHO.
dont panic about vanos failure. its over hyped.
£6k is WAY too much for a 3.0 with 111k in yellow. its a £4k car.
good luck
I personally found it a bit 'rawer' the engine was less refined, the handling more interesting, and it just felt more alive than the EVO which inspired more confidence due to superior handling, but somehow just felt a bit less exciting. The EVO felt more like a grand tourer to me, whereas the 3.0 a bit more of an animal!
All depends on what you are looking for, and the thing is now, with these cars all being of a certain age the differences between a 3.0 and a 3.2 probably pale into insignificance compared with the differences between a good one and a dog (of either type).
All depends on what you are looking for, and the thing is now, with these cars all being of a certain age the differences between a 3.0 and a 3.2 probably pale into insignificance compared with the differences between a good one and a dog (of either type).
Get the evo chipped, that will make it more of an animal. The torque is better on the 3.2, they brake and turn in better (with standard setup) only down side would be the 6 speed i suppose, as the first gear seems shorter that the 3.0, but other than that teh 3.2 is a very good upgrade to the 3.0. ;0)
mpwr343bhp said:
Get the evo chipped, that will make it more of an animal. The torque is better on the 3.2, they brake and turn in better (with standard setup) only down side would be the 6 speed i suppose, as the first gear seems shorter that the 3.0, but other than that teh 3.2 is a very good upgrade to the 3.0. ;0)
Both run the same ratios in gears 1-5, but the 6th gear on the Evo is an overdrive.yep £6k is to much, I payed £4.5 for mine at 114k over a year ago. I had £6k to spend too but couldn't find a Evo I was happy with at the time so went for a nice 3L instead, good bit more to choose from now but I bet haft will have doggy history's so check that before even to look at one and a Evo would of been £400 more to insure for no reason that i can think of 
as for differences between the 3L and Evo, have a read of this http://www.bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=15#4
Oh and the 3L has variable speed steering witch is bloody awful if you ever take on a track, belongs on a 7 series not an M3
changed mine for a standard e36 rack witch cost about £60 form a breaker.
as for differences between the 3L and Evo, have a read of this http://www.bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=15#4
Oh and the 3L has variable speed steering witch is bloody awful if you ever take on a track, belongs on a 7 series not an M3
changed mine for a standard e36 rack witch cost about £60 form a breaker. Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff