Most Desirable M3 Year

[corwyn]

Yeah, if I were to do it all over again, I'd want another '97. I don't want the side airbags or rear headrests. I'd want to replace the M3 3-spoke (fugly, IMO) with the European 3-spoke like I have now, anyway. And I like the door panels of the lux package (but I'd still have to work on getting rid of all the wood trim). And beyond the engine troubles of the '95, I prefer Estoril to Avus, anyway.

[Loudpipe]

How hard is it to replace the 4 spoke steering wheel with the European 3-spoke?

[corwyn]

It's easy. You'll need a new switch bracket (I don't remember the part #, though) and you'll have to do a bit of creative wiring, but it's not hard.

[Lateral-G]

it really depends on how much you want to spend. Each and every generation of the M# has a car that it worth the money , time and energy. E30 to E46. or wait and save your pennies for the E90 M3. then you'd be hot shit.

[PBR]

Originally Posted by NSM

The problems you listed are all common and not too expensive to replace. The cooling systems on all e36's are weak and need to be replaced after 50k. The clutch is most likely from being beat on as well as the diff. Replacing brakes is a must on every car. The Diff comment I don't understand. I have only heard of a select few m3's blowing their diff's and it is usually from extreme use mostly on the track. A 100k mileage m3 isn't a bad choice. But I would look for a 75k m3. Stay away from the 95's as they are over 11 years old now. Goodluck!

wait... replacing the pads, rotors, fluids? or you mean the calipers too? I only ask because I just bought a '98 w/90k on it.

[TheNorthWaves]

I bought my 95 M3 for three reasons:

1) I knew the guy who bought it, brand new, and he lived on my street and never ragged on the car (literally, ever)

2) 51k miles + all records

3) sold it to me cheap

Overall I'd agree with most here.... find a newer model, say, 98-99, because even those are already 7 years old! Mileage is important, but a good stack of service records goes a long way.

[cessnapilot]

Here is a slight spin on finding an M3 that has not been beaten on. I picked up a 99 M3 Convertible. I know lots of you hard core guys think a convertible is for girls but I am VERY happy with mine and I am not a girl (not even close). The conv's were not beat on as much (most of the time not at all). They were bought by a different kind of person. The best part is they perform as well as the hard tops (unless you are hard core racing other wise you will never know). Also you don't see them as much as the hardtop. Well not where I am anyway (Maine).

I can tell you after test driving 30 different cars (5 were BMW's, 2 were M//, both E36 and 46) I picked the open top M3.

I know lots of you guys and going to rip my post to pices but I don't care. I can have fun at the Speed Limit (and Alot faster) where in a coupe you have to brake the law to have fun...

Some of the cars I test drove.

1999 Audi A4
2001 Audi S4
2001 Audi A6
2002 Audi A6
2003 Audi A4
1995 BMW M5
1999 BMW M3 Convertible (5 times)
2001 BMW 325i
2003 BMW 325i
2003 BMW 330ix
2006 VW GTI (3 cars)
2005 Mazda RX8
2006 Mazda Speed 6 (2 cars)
2002 Mercedes E430 Sport
2003 Mercedes C230 K (2 cars)
2001 Saab 95 Aero
2003 Porsche Boxter
2002 Ford Thunderbird (with 225 miles on it)
2005 Honda S2000

There were more but they don't jump out at me. Many of them I drove 2, 3 and 4 times. It took me months to find what I was looking for .I picked the 99M3 Convertible over everything on the list. With a budget of 30k I could have spent much more then I did. I only tell you this so you understand I think this is a good Sporting Car. I was looking for a hot rod and I found one.

[abradic]

Interesting thought on the convertibles. I think you have to look at it, and pay a professional you can trust to look at it. It's worth paying an hour labor to be sure. Also, all M3's are "driven", hard too probably, but as long as they weren't beaten with constant launching at high rpm, and not abused by not doing the oil changes, diff. service, filters, etc... It's a car we all drive to enjoy, but like anything you have to pay to play and need to maintain and service.

Cessna Pilot, nice tires! How do you like them? They really stick! I just put those on last week and we finally got rain here to try them out. I am impressed at the amount of grip leaving a light...I can idle out and go full throttle with traction off and no wheel spin.

[M13]

Originally Posted by cessnapilot

Some of the cars I test drove.

1999 Audi A4
2001 Audi S4
2001 Audi A6
2002 Audi A6
2003 Audi A4
1995 BMW M5
1999 BMW M3 Convertible (5 times)
2001 BMW 325i
2003 BMW 325i
2003 BMW 330ix
2006 VW GTI (3 cars)
2005 Mazda RX8
2006 Mazda Speed 6 (2 cars)
2002 Mercedes E430 Sport
2003 Mercedes C230 K (2 cars)
2001 Saab 95 Aero
2003 Porsche Boxter
2002 Ford Thunderbird (with 225 miles on it)
2005 Honda S2000

[cessnapilot]

Originally Posted by abradic

Interesting thought on the convertibles. I think you have to look at it, and pay a professional you can trust to look at it. It's worth paying an hour labor to be sure. Also, all M3's are "driven", hard too probably, but as long as they weren't beaten with constant launching at high rpm, and not abused by not doing the oil changes, diff. service, filters, etc... It's a car we all drive to enjoy, but like anything you have to pay to play and need to maintain and service.

Cessna Pilot, nice tires! How do you like them? They really stick! I just put those on last week and we finally got rain here to try them out. I am impressed at the amount of grip leaving a light...I can idle out and go full throttle with traction off and no wheel spin.

Thanks. Yah I really like them too. I found the same things you did. I really have to work to get them to spin. Good choice...

[cessnapilot]

Originally Posted by M13

Yah 225 miles on it. Guy who bought it (was old) never drove it EVER. He had Ford drive it to his house. He put it in a garage with a cover on it and that was it. This year he got real sick and can't drive anymore. He called Ford and said "come and get it". They drove it back to the dealership and put it up for sale. Everything was still covered in plastic. Cool car but did not like the handeling and no back seat. Boy people watched it go by.

Hey M13 you trying to steal my language?!

[broederm3]

I have a 99 M3 convertible and track it often. This car holds it's own on and off the track. I looked for a long time and came across one with 54,000 miles and no signs of abuse. Still had the new car smell. Don't be quick to buy, the more you look the more you will know when you find the right one.

[Oxygenthief]

I think its all been said already. But the important things to look at IMO are how many owners the car has had. Do a carfax report on any car you get for this reason. If you can backtrack through the owners and call them up to ask them questions about the car. There are a few services that will help you track down old owners of cars for this reason. Yeah, slightly intrusive, but its your hard earned cash, why wouldn't you want to do your research.

Next I would have to say that while a newer M3 might hold a higher resale value you really shouldn't be looking at that for the e36 models. They are in a classification all their own with regards to "near classic" status. They aren't old enough to be classics but because so few of them are on the road these days you have to look at it as an investment in a collectible car. Modded out or all stock, e36 M3's are head turners and competition PWNers.

Make sure the car is clean, meaning no dings or obvious structural damage and that the engine runs well and the ride is responsive. Anything more is just gravy baby.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

[Janissarie]

1991 Sport Evo is god of all M3s, only 600 made, and that is the real and original M3

[Mini4x]

Originally Posted by Oxygenthief

I think its all been said already. But the important things to look at IMO are how many owners the car has had.

Cheers

I think this is irrelevant.

Five fanatic owners are better than one neglectful owner.