Is now the time to buy the M3?

[E30fan]

I don't hang on this forum much, but these guys are definitely the experts.
My E30 is super clean, even with 138K miles, and performs flawlessly. The previous owner handed me a two pound stack of maintenance records, and the car has been great, though I did spend some money and a lot of time removing tints and detailing the paint(Alpineweiss). I could sell it for a $4500 profit right now, and I only bought it less than a year ago (i did get a good but not great deal).
NOW IS THE TIME!!! Sounds like you have a good income, so do it!! I have a Ferrari 355, and per dollar spent I have more fun in the M3. Not only that, but there are like a hundred 355's for sale out there, and only 15-20
E30 M3's. Seriously, do it NOW, next year the prices will be ridiculous, and these cars are obviously rare. There is a dealer called Enthusiast Auto on autotrader that has 6-7 E30 M3's for sale right now, asking a lot for all of them, one is over 25K if i remember correctly!
Unlike any other car I've owned, when you do find someone who is a true fan, they are always a rabid fan, and will do anything to let you know your car is da bomb, including pedalling their bicycle 8 blocks out of their way to catch up to me. true story, and if I didn't care about boring everyone into oblivion I would tell you a dozen more. Good luck!!

[Wolke9]

I've been more of a lurker here than a poster. I think the point that these cars are appreciating in value makes a very good "business" case (to the wife) for a weekend/track/fun car. I previously was thinking of putting in e36 power but have since nixed that idea. I think the 2.5l stroker kit would be a great for what I am looking for.

I have taken people's advise on this board and have been doing more reading than posting. My only ? is. . WHERE CAN I DRIVE ONE OF THESE? . . .or at least take a ride? In good conscience, I cannot/will not buy a vehicle with at least seeing how it feels/handles/drives. Is there anybody in the Richmond/Williamsburg/Va Beach area that is willing to help me out on this?

I'm sorry for hijacking the thread w/ this. I was just trying to keep from posting a new thread as most of you want "newbies" not to do.

I'm looking @ spending $11k-$13k as I will probably want to save some cash (can you even do that w/ this car?) for some tasteful mods power and handling wise. .

This is a great forum and thanks go to all of you who have provided your wealth of information and experiences on the E30 M3

[///M3 Terr]

11-13K will get you a decent example (2.3l), not great, maybe not even good. I think for a good example (inside and out) that needs nothing but basic maintenance, you're spending $15K. Of course it really depends on what kinds of things you can do on your own. Are you looking for a car that you can mod yourself, or one already modded? It will be difficult to find a 2.5l car for 13K.

[///MCon]

If price is on the mind E30 M3 not a smart choice, it is 20 years old.

Collector car why? Its a drivers car and thats how it should be!

[OnrailsM3]

Of all the cars in your collection I bet this one will be the most fun below 80mph.


FWIW: Screw the stock garage queens, what you want is a pretty whore you can take out and whip like the family pig. Get a car with a JStock or JPrepared setup that can still be plated and get your ass on a racetrack in one of these puppies.

Buy a Hemi 'cuda for an investment, those drive like shit but appreciate like nobody's business.

These cars are for driving, buy one that's clean and run up the miles.

[allmotorking]

I just got one w/ all the suspension upgrades and can't wait to beat on it this weekend after replacing the brakes. hehe.

[NSXM3]

"I'm looking @ spending $11k-$13k as I will probably want to save some cash (can you even do that w/ this car?) for some tasteful mods power and handling wise. . "

You can do this with these cars, but may spend a several thousand getting it up to speed. (ask me how I know) As far as power mods go, I just added a Turner chip. Good bang for the buck & really helped 2000-4000 rpm range (gave the car some mid range, what it needed most IMO) & lightened fly wheel makes it rev more happily. (just went from 19lb stock, to 14 lb) This is one of the worst cars out there bang for the buck wise to add HP. Your looking at 5k-15k+ just to get started...... And in the end, your still probably not going to put down 250 to the rear wheels.
The factory did a pretty good job. Anything reliable on top of that is big bucks. With a little susp work, its like adding 100hp. But it only comes out when your going around corners.

Just my humble opinion after a yr of ownership.
Very helpful group here, saved my bacon many, many times...........

[Wolke9]

If price is on the mind E30 M3 not a smart choice, it is 20 years old.

Collector car why? Its a drivers car and thats how it should be!

Unfortunately, I'm not one of the many millionaires (possibly on this board) who have tons of cash to throw around on several toys. I do have some extra $$ to spend on ONE toy. And who ever said a a collector's car can't be driven. This isn't going to be a trailer queen!

Let me make one thing clear here. . I'm not going to be beautifying my garage with this car. I am going to be driving it every weekend weather permitting. And I'm not a badge whore. If I were I wouldn't be spending my bucks on a 4cyl BMW. Above all else I love to drive and do not plan on letting the grass grow underneath of it

I'll have to watch and see what I can find for my budget. For those of you that are able to put $1k's of bills into a car each year, more power to you. I choose not to live beyond my means but that shouldn't preclude me from having one of these M3's.

I think I should be able to find a decent example to drive the stink out of. I'm hoping that it will still be somewhat of an undiscovered "collector's" vehicle into the next 5 years or so. I am somewhat mechanically inclined since my Pop had a Vette shop for 30 years. I know my way around most of the basics and plan on saving money where I can.

Again, thanks for the input

[NSXM3]

You sound like me. I paid about $10k for a stock, high fwy mi. good running, rust free example that needed a "few" things. Have put about $5-6k in it since purchase doing most of my own work. Your comment:
"I think the 2.5l stroker kit would be a great for what I am looking for"
is fine, but a rebuilding a 2.3 plus the 2.5 kit could easilly run well over $10,000.00

Food for thought.

[Wolke9]

You sound like me. I paid about $10k for a stock, high fwy mi. good running, rust free example that needed a "few" things. Have put about $5-6k in it since purchase doing most of my own work. Your comment:
"I think the 2.5l stroker kit would be a great for what I am looking for"
is fine, but a rebuilding a 2.3 plus the 2.5 kit could easilly run well over $10,000.00

Food for thought.

Roger that. .

It may not be in the cards for me right away to upgrade to the 2.5l kit. In the meantime I'll definitely work on getting the bugs worked out and get it running like it should. I guess I can always chip it and do some less expensive mods (relatively speaking) such as air intake, fluids, exhaust, and suspension. I'm sure that will keep me happy for a while. . . I just need to find someone in the area willing to take me for a spin/take their baby for a spin. . I'm even willing to drive a couple of hours.

I have no credit card debt but feel that may change when I get one of these M3's. Everyone's gotta have a hobby. . right!

[Dominic]

My only ? is. . WHERE CAN I DRIVE ONE OF THESE? . . .or at least take a ride? In good conscience, I cannot/will not buy a vehicle with at least seeing how it feels/handles/drives. Is there anybody in the Richmond/Williamsburg/Va Beach area that is willing to help me out on this?

Do you have a helmet? Come down to VIR during a driving school weekend. The next BMW club school (Tarheel Chapter) is March 1-2. Bring your helmet and get a ride with some instructors. There will be lots of E30 M3s (mine will be one of them, but I'm not an instructor so I can't offer you a ride).

After an instructor blows your mind with how amazing the E30 M3 is on the track, you can go home, take out your check book, and start scouring the internet until you find your new love!

Good luck!

[K otiK M]

I'd definately say that it is always the right time to buy an e30 M3

[///M3 Terr]

I have no credit card debt

Oh wow, what that must feel like. Everytime I get my cards down to zero, I chuck $3K at the car. It's an obsession for sure.

[kmicinski]

If you are going to be doing a 2.5 conversion and suspension mods, then I don't see any reason why you shouldn't buy a ratty one. People that take a fairly nice car and do that to it are just throwing money away. Really the only thing I would stay away from is rust because once it starts it just never seems to stop. That having been said mine is stock with 79,000 miles on it, with the only performance mods on it being Eibachs and Bilsteins because they needed to be replaced. I just couldn't see doing a whole lot else to my car even if I wanted to. Everyone can have a 2.5 conversion with custom exhaust, chips and a j-stock suspension setup. A car can only be original once. Every time I come on here and see someone talking about there new upgrades it makes me smile knowing my car just got worth a little more and I can still go out and have plenty of fun driving it in its stock form. This car is still a very competent driver in its stock form and it seems like people are starting to forget that more and more.

[Wolke9]

Do you have a helmet? Come down to VIR during a driving school weekend. The next BMW club school (Tarheel Chapter) is March 1-2. Bring your helmet and get a ride with some instructors. There will be lots of E30 M3s (mine will be one of them, but I'm not an instructor so I can't offer you a ride).

After an instructor blows your mind with how amazing the E30 M3 is on the track, you can go home, take out your check book, and start scouring the internet until you find your new love!

Good luck!

Thanks for the heads up on this event. I actually got an email from the local chapter recently and it completely slipped my mind. I'm already a member of BMWCCA and somehow overlooked this event in March. I would like to see if someone might be able to give me a ride sooner, but if nothing happens. . . it'll have to be that weekend. Seriously, if any of you reading this know of anybody near my area, I would pay for a tank of gas and lunch so that I can pick someones brain on these M3's.

The other ? I have is how hard it is to "relearn" how to drive. I've had FWD vehicles pretty much most of my driving life with the exception of my 1st car, a '68 Buick Skylark Convertible. I was too busy learning how TO drive in that car and not focused on actually "driving".

Obviously, I'll have to retrain my mind for oversteer instead of understeer. My concern is that the car is squirrely when you get on it kinda like the M roadster I test drove a couple of monts ago. The Mroadster has more power, I know, and is more like a little beast(not that the e30 M3 isn't a beast in it's own right). I guess I'm wondering how much the car sticks in cornering and how forgiving it is vs an understeering/torquesteering unbalanced Japanese coupe?

After watching Barrett Jackson tonight, I can see one of these rolling up on the block 20 years from now commanding the same kind of $$ that the American Muscle cars are now. . .

I guess I shouldn't wait!