Moving from a newish car to an M3 Evo...
Discussion
Hi,
I currently drive a Mondeo ST220 and whilst I have really enjoyed the car im getting a bit bored with it now and looking for a change.
I have always lusted after a M3 Evolution (coupe) but am aware that these are now 10+ years old and was wondering what the pitfalls are with regards reliability, how they hold up with age and how the ride and interior will compare to my (more modern) mondeo.
I really fancy a calssic BMW that I can look after and will hopefully become a classic and not depreciate much.
Thanks in advane for your help
I currently drive a Mondeo ST220 and whilst I have really enjoyed the car im getting a bit bored with it now and looking for a change.
I have always lusted after a M3 Evolution (coupe) but am aware that these are now 10+ years old and was wondering what the pitfalls are with regards reliability, how they hold up with age and how the ride and interior will compare to my (more modern) mondeo.
I really fancy a calssic BMW that I can look after and will hopefully become a classic and not depreciate much.
Thanks in advane for your help
CarbonM5 said:
You will really like the EVO-great car.
Its worth paying a bit extra for a minter with bang up to date history and an ethusiast owner.
As he says.Its worth paying a bit extra for a minter with bang up to date history and an ethusiast owner.
It will be more expensive to run than your mondeo, but it should feel more special too. That engine is the jewel in the crown.
Thanks for your comments so far, your doing a good of convincing me its the right move!
Im on the look out for good clean examples. Im ideally wanting to straight swap my car to save on the hassle.
Does anybody know of any good resources to find information and problems/solutions with the E36 M3 Evo?
Im on the look out for good clean examples. Im ideally wanting to straight swap my car to save on the hassle.
Does anybody know of any good resources to find information and problems/solutions with the E36 M3 Evo?
CarbonM5 said:
You will really like the EVO-great car.
Its worth paying a bit extra for a minter with bang up to date history and an ethusiast owner.
Couldn't agree more. 2 months ago, I took an M3 Evo Saloon in part exchange against my TVR Cerbera. I was really worried going from an £18k 2000 year supercar with 43k miles to a £5.5k 1997 plate saloon with 101k miles. However it had a good service history - BMW up until 90k, with enthusiast owners. I viewed it as a means to an end and therefore a good way to shift the niche TVR for something I could easily move on. But you know what, I'm really pleased with the M3. So much so that I've decided to keep it. I could see that she had been well looked after with lots of work done, but for peace of mind, I had it inspected and it required £250 worth of work - nothing major, mainly some belts, a pre-tensioner, oil relief valve, and a new cam cover gasket. It drives well and is pretty quick. Yes some things feel and look old, but what do you expect for a 12 year old car? It puts a smile on my face when I drive her and that's what it's all about. Its worth paying a bit extra for a minter with bang up to date history and an ethusiast owner.
I've owned my Evo for nearly 2 years and now and honestly thought I would only keep it for a year and move on. It really has seduced me though and I can't part with it!
It turns heads and on many occasions complete strangers have approached me and asked me if I would sell it!
Thankfully it's been ultra reliable with only minor issues in my ownership - a leaky diff seal, a failed VANOS bolt (cheap as chips to repair) and a cracked drop link bush and a rear arm bush. All of the above were pleasantly quick and easy to repair as well as cheap
I'm also surprised that it performs as well as an e46 model too! (Mine does have a few extra goodies though as it has 341bhp!)
My advice to you is find one that has been properly maintained and loved - more often than not a cherished high mileage example will drive and perform better than a low mileage (polished but not used!) example. Buying a higher mileage one will also be cheaper too
Good luck and enjoy
It turns heads and on many occasions complete strangers have approached me and asked me if I would sell it!
Thankfully it's been ultra reliable with only minor issues in my ownership - a leaky diff seal, a failed VANOS bolt (cheap as chips to repair) and a cracked drop link bush and a rear arm bush. All of the above were pleasantly quick and easy to repair as well as cheap
I'm also surprised that it performs as well as an e46 model too! (Mine does have a few extra goodies though as it has 341bhp!)
My advice to you is find one that has been properly maintained and loved - more often than not a cherished high mileage example will drive and perform better than a low mileage (polished but not used!) example. Buying a higher mileage one will also be cheaper too
Good luck and enjoy
I have an M3 Evo Convertible and I can say that the interior is as good if not better than any "newish" car that anyone could get for less than £10k by miles. Alot of new cars I have sat in seem to have some quite dodgy plastics about. I sat in a lot in the London Motorshow and was left unimpressed by most. The radio is a bit weedy and I still don't get why people pay a grand to have something that is worse than a £100 TomTom wedged into their dash..
I do like quite dark / black interiors so I am loving mine at the moment.
I do like quite dark / black interiors so I am loving mine at the moment.
2 years later I am still loving mine. It's cost me less than a grand to run in all that time and that includes a set of rears.
Comprehensive service history is a must. The stamps in the book can be cross-checked with BMW customer services 0870 5050 160 then you can call the individual garages to see what work was done. Don't be put off by people shouting about failing VANOS systems (do a search) as it's an over-publicised fault.
Wonderful car that you will struggle to get bored of. There is nothing that you can buy for 6-7k (minter) that goes as quickly, handles as well and has 4 proper seats and a decent boot. Still looks good as well IMHO
Comprehensive service history is a must. The stamps in the book can be cross-checked with BMW customer services 0870 5050 160 then you can call the individual garages to see what work was done. Don't be put off by people shouting about failing VANOS systems (do a search) as it's an over-publicised fault.
Wonderful car that you will struggle to get bored of. There is nothing that you can buy for 6-7k (minter) that goes as quickly, handles as well and has 4 proper seats and a decent boot. Still looks good as well IMHO
My previous two cars were both 03 reg and I can honestly say that the M3 Evolution I now have the pleasure of steering feels better screwed together than either of them as it approaches its 10th birthday. (one of them was a Lotus product so I guess that's no surprise)
Mine is on coilovers and is one of the best around so I may have my rose tinted glasses on but if you tread carefully I don't think you'll be disappointed about stepping into an older car.
Mine is on coilovers and is one of the best around so I may have my rose tinted glasses on but if you tread carefully I don't think you'll be disappointed about stepping into an older car.
Definitely a worthwhile modification if you plan to venture on track.
Many options available, starting at £1k upwards.
PSS10s are pretty good, personally I've gone down the Intrax route, but might be upgrading to the 1K2 kit in the not too distant.
Other people swear by the KW Variant kit.
Many options available, starting at £1k upwards.
PSS10s are pretty good, personally I've gone down the Intrax route, but might be upgrading to the 1K2 kit in the not too distant.
Other people swear by the KW Variant kit.
Thanks for the replies. She seems to handle reasonably well, but I may have to replace the rear springs at her next service so really just thinking about possible options/upgrades to the whole suspension.
The Indie told me that the standard Bilstein units are pretty good and that unless I'm tracking her I wouldn't notice any real improvements with coil overs. Any comments on that statement?
The Indie told me that the standard Bilstein units are pretty good and that unless I'm tracking her I wouldn't notice any real improvements with coil overs. Any comments on that statement?
As others have said, get a mint one and you'll save yourself a few grand on repairs and a lot of headaches over the next couple of years.
I can't think of any aspect of the ST220 that would be better (apologies if that sounds a little aggressive) therefore you should be pleasantly surprised despite the age.
I'd expect the E36 M3 Evo to hold its value better than an E46 M3 over the next couple of years.
Hope you enjoy it mate.
I can't think of any aspect of the ST220 that would be better (apologies if that sounds a little aggressive) therefore you should be pleasantly surprised despite the age.
I'd expect the E36 M3 Evo to hold its value better than an E46 M3 over the next couple of years.
Hope you enjoy it mate.
Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff