Reviving an E93 M3
Discussion
Hello all
Today I've been offered a 2008 M3 vert. It's owned by a friend of mine who bought it new from BMW of Manhattan in September 2008. Currently it has been sitting under a cover in a shed behind his mum's house on a trickle charger (very long story). It's been there since November 2011 and hasn't moved since. I saw the car today and it's immaculate inside & out. Interlagosblue, extended black leather, 19", edc, every option box ticked except dct. It's still on state of ny plates, which looks pretty cool but he already but he already went through the whole process of importing it so it's ready to register but he just started a new business and cant justify to register (around €4500 to register it and 1600 in annual tax) and run a car like this right now. It's got almost 30k on it and fbmwsh although the last service was done in december 2010 at BMW of Manhattan. I imagine it would need new front and rear light clusters, all fluids flushed including fuel, new tyres? He offered it to me at a very reasonable price and I could just about afford to run it without having to eat beans on toast. Always wanted a V8 M3 and this seems like a good opportunity. It kills me to see such a great car just sitting in a shed gathering dust and going nowhere. Do I go for it or walk away? Any advice very much appreciated!
Today I've been offered a 2008 M3 vert. It's owned by a friend of mine who bought it new from BMW of Manhattan in September 2008. Currently it has been sitting under a cover in a shed behind his mum's house on a trickle charger (very long story). It's been there since November 2011 and hasn't moved since. I saw the car today and it's immaculate inside & out. Interlagosblue, extended black leather, 19", edc, every option box ticked except dct. It's still on state of ny plates, which looks pretty cool but he already but he already went through the whole process of importing it so it's ready to register but he just started a new business and cant justify to register (around €4500 to register it and 1600 in annual tax) and run a car like this right now. It's got almost 30k on it and fbmwsh although the last service was done in december 2010 at BMW of Manhattan. I imagine it would need new front and rear light clusters, all fluids flushed including fuel, new tyres? He offered it to me at a very reasonable price and I could just about afford to run it without having to eat beans on toast. Always wanted a V8 M3 and this seems like a good opportunity. It kills me to see such a great car just sitting in a shed gathering dust and going nowhere. Do I go for it or walk away? Any advice very much appreciated!
Hi,
On top of the pre purchase inspection costs and any remedial work that comes out of that etc, have you looked into the importation costs? things like the shipping, any import duties/Taxes that are required? also, the cost of making the car road legal in Belgium? Do check those costs out - one luckier aspect is that the car is in NYC and shipping one way from there to Southampton in the UK is approx - 1300-1500. If it's the same price to get it to Dunkirk, Calais or even Ostende you could go for that, else a nice little drive from Southampton and the costs there you'd need to add.
If the car is being offered cheaply enough to factor those costs in and still present a sizeable saving from buying a similar M3 in Belgium, it'd be worth looking into further.
Cheers, Dennis!
On top of the pre purchase inspection costs and any remedial work that comes out of that etc, have you looked into the importation costs? things like the shipping, any import duties/Taxes that are required? also, the cost of making the car road legal in Belgium? Do check those costs out - one luckier aspect is that the car is in NYC and shipping one way from there to Southampton in the UK is approx - 1300-1500. If it's the same price to get it to Dunkirk, Calais or even Ostende you could go for that, else a nice little drive from Southampton and the costs there you'd need to add.
If the car is being offered cheaply enough to factor those costs in and still present a sizeable saving from buying a similar M3 in Belgium, it'd be worth looking into further.
Cheers, Dennis!
DennisCooper said:
Hi,
On top of the pre purchase inspection costs and any remedial work that comes out of that etc, have you looked into the importation costs? things like the shipping, any import duties/Taxes that are required? also, the cost of making the car road legal in Belgium? Do check those costs out - one luckier aspect is that the car is in NYC and shipping one way from there to Southampton in the UK is approx - 1300-1500. If it's the same price to get it to Dunkirk, Calais or even Ostende you could go for that, else a nice little drive from Southampton and the costs there you'd need to add.
If the car is being offered cheaply enough to factor those costs in and still present a sizeable saving from buying a similar M3 in Belgium, it'd be worth looking into further.
Cheers, Dennis!
It's already in Belgium has been for a long while, all paperwork done. It's ready to register! Still not sure about taking the plunge though!On top of the pre purchase inspection costs and any remedial work that comes out of that etc, have you looked into the importation costs? things like the shipping, any import duties/Taxes that are required? also, the cost of making the car road legal in Belgium? Do check those costs out - one luckier aspect is that the car is in NYC and shipping one way from there to Southampton in the UK is approx - 1300-1500. If it's the same price to get it to Dunkirk, Calais or even Ostende you could go for that, else a nice little drive from Southampton and the costs there you'd need to add.
If the car is being offered cheaply enough to factor those costs in and still present a sizeable saving from buying a similar M3 in Belgium, it'd be worth looking into further.
Cheers, Dennis!
Hi
It wasn't so clear from your initial post the car is already in Belgium!
So, it now comes down to you evaluating carefully if you can and are able to run the car. As ever, purchasing and sticking fuel into cars like this is the easy bit. The hard and potentially expensive part is running and maintaining the car. Only you know if your wallet is deep enough to run the car properly/correctly.
Based on that, evaluate and make a decision !
Cheers, Dennis!
It wasn't so clear from your initial post the car is already in Belgium!
So, it now comes down to you evaluating carefully if you can and are able to run the car. As ever, purchasing and sticking fuel into cars like this is the easy bit. The hard and potentially expensive part is running and maintaining the car. Only you know if your wallet is deep enough to run the car properly/correctly.
Based on that, evaluate and make a decision !
Cheers, Dennis!
E93 M3s in Belgium start around 30000 euro from independent dealers. Big engined cars face severe tax: for 155+ kW 5000 euro to register the car (goes down by 10 % for every 12 months the car ages) and for a 4 litre the annual road tax would be around 1700 euro. It all adds up, so either you need deep pockets or do little mileage per year.
I would say 18-20000 euro could make it an interesting buy.
Btw: I am in the Brussels area if you need a second opinion
I would say 18-20000 euro could make it an interesting buy.
Btw: I am in the Brussels area if you need a second opinion
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