Thinking of buying 98-99 E36 M3

[shanegtr]

Hi guys, been searching throu the forums for a couple of days looking for info. Im thinking about getting an M3, after the last of the E36's so either 98 or 99. Just wondering what common problems they can get and what to look out for. I've read a bit about the SMG and it dosent seem to get many votes here. Does anyone care to explain in a bit more detail what the problems with it are? Is it generally an unreliable setup or is poor maintance more the cause? I do all my own maintance on my cars(at least when ever possible), are the problems with the SMG fixable without "specilised" tooling/equipment?

Also, is there any good websites/links that you guys can recommend that are worth looking at for the potential buyer?

Cheers for the help
Shane

[shanegtr]

Noone?

[Ideotique]

I'd check out e36coupe.com

UK based forum so the information is much more relevant than US based forums due to model differences.

[shanegtr]

thanks for that, I'll have a look

[vex27]

Having recently sold my E36 M3 after owning it for 2 years I can tell you that they are fairly reliable. I did buy one with very low km's at the time and ended up selling it with only 85k on the clock so a high miler may have many more problems. You will want to make sure the service history is by the book as high compression motors do not like skipped oil changes. The only major problem I had was a broken power window (Still expensve) and the car wanted to stall all the time when the A/C was on. I could never get this fixed and was told that there are many M3's out there that have this problem so I just put up with it. I also has the Climate Control display turing off and doing its own thing near the end (fairly easy fix though).

Any M3 you are keen on buying I would get it properly inspected as even things like brake pads for a set of front and rear will be over $1000. As far as owning an SMG, I can only advise what I have heard as mine was a manual, they are very expensive to fix and can cost well over 7k to keep running.

Choose a popular colour when buying as well otherwise you will have trouble selling it later on, as most people will take an esterial blue over a dakar yellow any day.

[shanegtr]

Originally Posted by vex27

Choose a popular colour when buying as well otherwise you will have trouble selling it later on, as most people will take an esterial blue over a dakar yellow any day.

Well, I'd rather the dakar yellow - that just looks shit hot

[Raj]

yeah I guess colour doesn't really play too much of a part in the M3. All colours are nice IMO, it's just that I prefer some colours over others.
In any case, just find a car in good condition, in particular, mechanically it should be up to date with services, Inspection I, Inspection II, etc, etc.
Also, the overall condition of paintwork and interior should be one of your main concerns.
Try sticking with the regular manual. I know that BMW themselves were offering a retrofit from SMG to Manual (for a discounted price), back in the day. That probably explains alot about the SMG I system.
Remember, low kms don't necessarily mean that it's a good car. S50 and S52 engines can last and like the long distance runs, so a car with highway driving should run smoothly aswell.

Just get a good inspection on the car, perhaps from a good BMW dealer, or your preferred BMW mechanic. Make sure they check out the Vanos unit.
Like Vex said, you might find minor problems like faulty electric windows but overall it's quite reliable.

Good luck with the purchase!!

Also check out the E36 Registry.
BMW M Registry - FAQ E36 M3 3.2

[vex27]

I disagree Raj, with the colour choice not being important. I had trouble trying to sell mine with people commenting on not liking the colour Fern Green Metallic or the colour green in general. It is something to keep in mine when time comes to try and sell it as they are very difficult to get rid of for a good price.

[Raj]

Go fern green!!
My m3 is fern green aswell. Personally, I love the colour and I know some people who, if I were to sell, would buy at the drop of a hat.
I guess it's the demographics aswell. Some people like it, some people don't.
It's really the luck of the draw. I know many people who prefer darker colours in the m3.
Like I said, i don't mind any of the colours in the M3.

Vex, your M3 was mint buddy.

[Etez]

Greatest selling E36 M3 colour has to be estoril blue. Its funny how you see less E36 M3s than E46 M3s, they seem to be everywhere.

[morerevsm3]

Originally Posted by vex27

.
Any M3 you are keen on buying I would get it properly inspected as even things like brake pads for a set of front and rear will be over $1000. As far as owning an SMG, I can only advise what I have heard as mine was a manual, they are very expensive to fix and can cost well over 7k to keep running.

Choose a popular colour when buying as well otherwise you will have trouble selling it later on, as most people will take an esterial blue over a dakar yellow any day.

you can buy Bendix pads for an M3 for ~$100 for front, or rear, SMG is slow, unreliable and expensive though

Originally Posted by Raj

Try sticking with the regular manual. I know that BMW themselves were offering a retrofit from SMG to Manual (for a discounted price), back in the day. That probably explains alot about the SMG I system.
Remember, low kms don't necessarily mean that it's a good car. S50 and S52 engines can last and like the long distance runs, so a car with highway driving should run smoothly aswell.

Just get a good inspection on the car, perhaps from a good BMW dealer, or your preferred BMW mechanic. Make sure they check out the Vanos unit.
Like Vex said, you might find minor problems like faulty electric windows but overall it's quite reliable.

Good luck with the purchase!!

Also check out the E36 Registry.
BMW M Registry - FAQ E36 M3 3.2

no such thing as a non USA S52, euros are S50b30 for 3 litre, and S50B32 for 3.2.
book service means nothing, service intervals are far too long, and the 3.2 in particular, suffers vanos problems with dirty oil. I have owned my 3.0L for nearly 4 years, it now has almost 160,000k's on the clock, 90,000 of them very hard k's from me, i.e. towing cars on car trailers, drags (runs 12's), hillclimbs and circuit events...even enduros, motorkhanas usually sideways bouncing off 8000rpm limiter, and at pointy end of the field for all of them. car has been very reliable, broke driveshaft bolts at drags once, and have also had a fuel pump fail, I do all maintenance and modifications at home, and use quality parts only, hope that helps...and Dakar is awesome choice

[1q2w3e4r]

Originally Posted by Etez

Greatest selling E36 M3 colour has to be estoril blue. Its funny how you see less E36 M3s than E46 M3s, they seem to be everywhere.

$140k was a lot more money 10+ years ago, economy wasn't in as good shape either.

You don't see many 993 Porsches, Ferrari's or Lambo's of that era either.

[Etez]

Originally Posted by 1q2w3e4r

$140k was a lot more money 10+ years ago, economy wasn't in as good shape either.

You don't see many 993 Porsches, Ferrari's or Lambo's of that era either.

They probably brought less into the country compared to the E46 as well.

[MrBlonde]

E46 M3s are a plague on the earth ...

[Etez]

Originally Posted by MrBlonde

E46 M3s are a plague on the earth ...

I thought the E30s were? Btw - what are you replacing the 911 turbo with?