Hi all. Im new to this lark also. Been reading the various advice etc. All very usefull. Im a fan of the car, and now in the position to attempt to secure one for myself.

Im after a standard M3, late model with aprox 50k miles, that has to be genuinly superb in condition ( are they out there :-). Colour is not a priority ( dont want Macau blue though).  I need to be buying within the next 2 months.

Has anybody got one ( or knows someone) out there that they wish to sell to a decent owner who will look after it. ??

Coments , advice on prices to expect to pay etc are hapily recieved.

Thanks

Steve H

If it's an E30 you're after I hope you have deep pockets, I've just had a look at cars for sale in this site and can't believe how much people are asking for E30 M3s. I could have bought my M5 twice over for the prices being asked

M3 Evo 90G 48K 10.5G upto M3 90 7K 20G (exsqueezeme yes 20 Grand)

Mind you I've always felt that you will normally get a better example from an enthusiasts magazine or website but they do tend to overprice them too, but that's just my opinion

Check out http://www.autotrader.co.uk">www.autotrader.co.uk for some cheaper models, about 8 cars prices ranging 5.5G (dont expect much for this price) upto 12G apart from some garage on the moon wants 23Grand for an M3 Evo Sport 90 34K

If you fancy some fun and a trip you can check out http://www.mobile.de">www.mobile.de a good bit cheaper. Be warned if you do decide to go to Germany, before you travel make sure you do your homework also try and have someone who speaks the lingo otherwise you could be in a lot of soapy bubble

another site to try is http://www.autotrader.nl">www.autotrader.nl unfortunately this site is all in dutch but if you memorise the layout of the uk site you can just about manage to get by.

I wish you all the best of luck and hope you get a good one

Stevie

I bought my old one from Holland from a very nice garage with lots of interesting cars, will try and find out what it's called. When he found out I would be taking it home he knocked off the £1k's worth of warranty as it wouldn't be relevant - worth remembering. Plus he sorted out getting transfer plates organised - top chap by all accounts.

There are some dogs in Holland though, mainly those brought over from Germany, don't forget that the Germans are coming over here to buy the good ones back. Mine was a genuine Dutch car and as such was in the same league as the gooduns over here. Worth asking the question I would have thought.

I'd say a good place to look would the back of the BMW mags, reckon £7.5k should get a fair one with maybe 75k miles, the 50k mile ones will be atrracting closer to 10k as they still have 50k to go beforeany sizeable bills will make their presence known.

Apparently anything down towards £3.5 and less are bought by specialists for breaking! Mainly for gearboxes was the story I heard.

FWIW I've just picked up a 50k miles Sport Evo for £12.5k from Moseley Motors and I believe he has others (Evo or otherwise) kicking about the place, good bloke to speak to anyway for general advice - Nigel on 01952 503992. I saw another Sport Evo at the Independant Car Co for £13k with 57k miles if that's any use!?

PS Munich Legends are quite expensive but good for advice too.

Where are you  based in the UK?, there are various specialist dealers around(I would not trust a non-specialist). If you can track a member's car down off the Internet thats good, but otherwise I would be very wary of private sale cars, especially as their prices are over inflated. I constantly see private prices exceeding specialist dealers!

It is a completely buyers market out there, prices have dropped and will keep doing so. So don't junp for the first thing and junt around for exactly what you want - if you hunt it out, you will get it. Don't comprimise. It may take a few weeks, becuase although it is a buyers market, you have to search out the really good condition machines, amoung the shagged.

There are some basics you need to know - but I don't know which model you are after? - but there is a lot of info on the net to help you through a quite easy minefield.

Personally, I would go find a specialist you are happy with and give him your specifications and order and he will source one for you. You will pay a bit more, but it will be worth it. Offical dealers are not hanging on to M3s, they are putting them very quickly out to trade, mainly these specialists.

There has also been some good buying stats/ideas on http://www.bm3w.com">www.bm3w.com - do a search on "stats". Some sad g*t has been analysing prices on Evos over the last few months.

As aI said, it is a buyers market, so hold out, don't comprimise and you will get a real peach.

- nigel.

Mine is a silver E36 with 43K miles.

full history

mint condition

with hard top

just renewed the warranttee for another year with BMW plus 12 months tax.

its a 99 car and is totally origional, i have a new promotion which means a car is included so i am going to change wifes car and my car for a new M3 or go back to my friends at Porsche lol.

stevie i would be looking for around £22k for the car if your interested.

i have a digitital cam if you are interested in some pictures.

  I HAVE A 1995 M3 E36  M REG 2 DOOR IN RED WITH A GENUINE 39000 ON THE CLOCK FBMWSH I HAVE HAD THE CAR ABOUT 2 YEARS FROM A MAIN DEALER IT HAS EVERYTHINK FULL BLACK LEATHER A/C CRUSE; PARKING DISTANCE,AIR BAGS,BMW HI-FI,LARGER BMW ALLOYS( DEEP DISH )  S/R,ELECTRIC SEATS HEATED SEATS,ARM REST,REAR HEADS,BOOT SPOILER WHEN I HAD THE CAR IT HAD 36215 ON THE CLOCKIT STILL HAS BMW WARRANTY UNTIL AUG 03 THE CAR IS IMMAUCLATE IN SIDE AND OUT NEVER HAD ANY PAINT OR PANLES ALSO HAS A TRACKER FITTED THIS CAR COULD BE A CONCOUSE IF INTRESTED I AM LOOKING FOR ABOUT £ 15000    EMAIL mailto:IAN_MATTHEWS@BTOPENWORLD.COM">IAN_MATTHEWS@BTOPENWORLD.COM  MANY THANKS IAN MATTHEWS  (MIDLANDS)

Buyers market in a way but it`s very hard to find a good one though so it`s more of a car "car condition driven market" if that makes sense :). if you want to pry a good one away from it`s owner you have to be prepared to pay for it. It not like the difference between a good ford escort and a bad one being just 500 quid.

I nearly sold mine back in October due to personal reasons (well, struggling with finding a decent paying job in IT). One of the viewers said that the previous 12 or so he had viewed they were all  sheds. Not long after hearing that I decided I would hang onto mine.  Pretty much had two probable buyers for it before I pulled out. Didn`t mess them about though IMO although one was a bit pissed.Had either of made an offer on the day they came I would of had to let it go. Instead they wanted to think it over first and I did warn them I could change my mind, in fact warned them before they even came to see it too.

Might consider selling it later for an Evo Sport. But is it worth selling something I know well and have put money into for an Evo Sport? Not sure about that, and I`m not sure if the extra premium for a Sport is worth it either although it would be the ultimate :).