E36 M3's - Loads about. Anyone know of any good ones...

[BillyB]

I am after an E36 M3. The classifieds is rammed with adverts and to be honest I have no enthusiasm for traipsing round the country looking at optimistically described, ropey examples. I find car-hunting no fun at all. So in the interests of my laziness, does anyone know of any nice ones for sale? You know, the usual thing, enthusiast owner, servicing up to date, new/recent clutch, suspension etc etc.

[BillyB]

Thanks for the suggestion. I am hoping to spend less rather than more sub £5k. Obviously the "Individual" is a good bit more than I am looking to spend, but thanks

[BluePurpleRed]

Under 5k is the price point where you start to get rotters I think. I'd say £6k up youd get more luck, and it will save the work / money in the long run..

[///Mike]

I agree with the above. I think you are going to find it very hard to find what you want for sub 5K

I sold mine in June for a lot more than that with 93K on the clock. It was a lovely example and I got a fair price. That was on original clutch and suspension.

[falkster]

There are plenty about which is both a good and bad thing. Between 4,500 and 5,500 is about right for a pretty good one....you still get some dreamers wanting 7k for a 5k car though but due to the amounts for sale you can afford to be picky.

I think I'd either go for a nice daytona violet evo if you're not concerned about the vanos issue (Ive just sold a vanos for £150) or get the best S50 in Dakar yellow. Mileage isn't an issue for the moving parts but sub 70/80k would give you a very nice clean car interms of bodywork and interior (some are very shabby)

Great looking cars

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1150038.htm

[ferrisbueller]

falkster said:

There are plenty about which is both a good and bad thing. Between 4,500 and 5,500 is about right for a pretty good one....you still get some dreamers wanting 7k for a 5k car though but due to the amounts for sale you can afford to be picky.

I think I'd either go for a nice daytona violet evo if you're not concerned about the vanos issue (Ive just sold a vanos for £150) or get the best S50 in Dakar yellow. Mileage isn't an issue for the moving parts but sub 70/80k would give you a very nice clean car interms of bodywork and interior (some are very shabby)

Great looking cars

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1150038.htm

As above 5k is enough for a nice car in my opinion, based on what I've seen. Plenty of decent 100k mile cars at £4,500 or less. £6,000 should be enough for a very nice 80k mile car. Be prepared to pounce - good ones of the right spec are selling very quickly.

[finmac]

jz325i said:

You never said what your budget limit is... check ebay item 140344251996, which is in the Herts area (same as your profile) :-)

1999 BMW M3 EVOLUTION IMOLA INDIVIDUAL E36 GT2 - EVO GT
Item location: Herts, United Kingdom
£8,995.00

That is WAY overpriced and E46 money. E46 a MUCH better car than E36 Imola edition or not (and yes I have owned an E36 Imola and 2 x E46 M3's!).

[BillyB]

ferrisbueller said:

There are plenty about which is both a good and bad thing. Between 4,500 and 5,500 is about right for a pretty good one

Ferris...I spotted on another thread that you have just got yourself one of these. Mind me asking how much it cost, spec etc? It would be very useful for my market research Email would be fine!

[ferrisbueller]

Have a look at the classifieds (and autotrader)and see which cars have sold to get some points of reference-

e.g.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1189334.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1203458.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1181576.htm

There have been others but the sellers have taken the ads down. Good cars sell very quickly (one car effectively sold in an hour - I was second in the queue). Don't assume people are paying the asking price - it's a buying market.

Away from PH, I've seen two cars at 100-110k selling at £4,500 and also a 98 showing 85k with a comprehensive history (which I would have bought I think but was too slow) that went for £5,800. The one I bought was the 4th one I looked at in 3 months worth of looking.

You have to travel to find the right car - the further you travel the better the deal i.e. Scottish and Irish cars seem to fetch less. Depending on the specs and miles you're after, and don't shy away from miles - buy on conditiona and history IMO, it's not easy. Or you can pay someone to do it for you Like I say, there's a lot of st out there.

Of those that are out there now I'd take a look at these:-

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1150038.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1204580.htm

Keep an eye on some of the other BMW threads. We tend to unearth most of the good cars out there.

[J888SXY]

I've just bought this one. Pick it up next weekend when I return from Singapore.

ferrisbueller said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1204580.htm

Keep an eye on some of the other BMW threads. We tend to unearth most of the good cars out there.

[BillyB]

That will be why the seller isn't responding to my emails then

Just out of interest, did you buy it unseen then?

[J888SXY]

Nah, I only live a few miles away from him and the car is known locally as a good 'un.

[BillyB]

Ah. That makes it a bit more straightforward.

Congrats on the purchase, by the way.

[BillyB]

Do 3.0's sell for less than similar spec/condition 3.2s, by the way?

[ferrisbueller]

BillyB said:

Do 3.0's sell for less than similar spec/condition 3.2s, by the way?

Yes. They're older for one thing.