E46 m3 - values holding up well
Discussion
,Ive always loved and owned many m cars, but my fav by far was my e46 m3, so i thought now they are cheap why not buy one again for track days and weekend fun, but im finding it really hard to get a coupe manuel into my £5-6k budget, even the ropy ones are £5500, and i mean REALLY ropy, im guessing manuel coupes are in big demand like my 2nd choice e36 m3 non evo 3.0
So does anyone think these cars will get cheaper? Or are they fixed and on the up now?
So does anyone think these cars will get cheaper? Or are they fixed and on the up now?
Old saying. You get what you pay for in life.
Spend 5.5k then spend another 3k fixing and replacing and you will still most likely end up with a lemon.
Or... Spend 8-9k for a well cared for example from an enthusiast like on m3cutters. The latter is more likely to hold its value when you come to sell, as long as YOU look after it.
Good luck.
Spend 5.5k then spend another 3k fixing and replacing and you will still most likely end up with a lemon.
Or... Spend 8-9k for a well cared for example from an enthusiast like on m3cutters. The latter is more likely to hold its value when you come to sell, as long as YOU look after it.
Good luck.
Edited by Stingercut on Friday 28th December 20:00
They must be worth that in parts alone, so I can't see them dropping much below 5k. Ignoring the CSL (and possibly CS) I think prices will split with knackered examples fetching 5/6k, and cherished examples hovering around 10k. Can't see them increasing much beyond this, there's just too many about. They have to be one of the best used buys about imo bang for buck.
They will continue to go down in value for a while yet, albeit slowly - there are just so many of them. Your budget is very bottom of the market, I was looking for one earlier in the year and £7-8k will get a decent one. My preference was for a low owner car with good history, quite happy with 100k+ miles.
I don't rate M3cutters for buying - the emphasis seemed to be on CSL reps, angel eyes and carbon badges! Most were overpriced, nearly every thread had comments like "So cheap, can't believe this hasn't sold!" etc...
You'll get a very nice e36 for £5k - not sure why you'd want the 3.0 though?
I don't rate M3cutters for buying - the emphasis seemed to be on CSL reps, angel eyes and carbon badges! Most were overpriced, nearly every thread had comments like "So cheap, can't believe this hasn't sold!" etc...
You'll get a very nice e36 for £5k - not sure why you'd want the 3.0 though?
duff said:
I don't rate M3cutters for buying - the emphasis seemed to be on CSL reps, angel eyes and carbon badges! Most were overpriced, nearly every thread had comments like "So cheap, can't believe this hasn't sold!" etc...
Couldn't agree more with this RE:CuttersIf you're selling some ropey CSL replicas, you're golden, but if you have the real thing look elsewhere.
FeelingLucky said:
Couldn't agree more with this RE:Cutters
If you're selling some ropey CSL replicas, you're golden, but if you have the real thing look elsewhere.
I agree too. OP buy the best u can. That applies to any model. Also consider getting a pre-purchase inspection by a BMW Dealer which I did prior to buying mineIf you're selling some ropey CSL replicas, you're golden, but if you have the real thing look elsewhere.
Cheers guys, i think most like me prefer the manuel coupes, hence why the smg convertibles are cheaper, also the E36 M3 3.0 are cult, with much stronger values then the evo, in fact a convertible evo is the cheapest way to get into a m3
Im at 6k as then i got more to spend adding a few bits and bobs to make it a more fun drive
Im at 6k as then i got more to spend adding a few bits and bobs to make it a more fun drive
Well, yes the e36 convertibles are very cheap, especially in smg guise but a good manual coupe will always be more desirable and hence more valuable.
I can't say I've noticed any cult following for the 3.0 - most for sale proclaim the 3.0 is much better than the evo with it's nasty horrible vanos that'll implode at any minute in an effort to justify their over inflated asking prices. The evo has some small but noticeable improvements over the 3.0. I've had 2 and I think they're fantastic cars but as a daily I would go for an e46. I would seriously think about spending your upgrade money on the initial outlay though, there isn't much other than a suspension refresh that'll improve the car massively and you will have a better car to begin with that'll cost less in the long run. Good luck!
I can't say I've noticed any cult following for the 3.0 - most for sale proclaim the 3.0 is much better than the evo with it's nasty horrible vanos that'll implode at any minute in an effort to justify their over inflated asking prices. The evo has some small but noticeable improvements over the 3.0. I've had 2 and I think they're fantastic cars but as a daily I would go for an e46. I would seriously think about spending your upgrade money on the initial outlay though, there isn't much other than a suspension refresh that'll improve the car massively and you will have a better car to begin with that'll cost less in the long run. Good luck!
For your budget, I think you will struggle to get a car on m3cutters.
I do not feel the cars can go a lot beneath your budget though.
Looking at just breaking one will get you 5k with engines etc costing what they do on e bay.
I do think they are the performance bargain of the moment
If you do manage to get a car for your budget that does not need lots of service items doing you will not really lose on it over a year in my opinion.
I do however think you will struggle to find that car at the budget mentioned.
I do not feel the cars can go a lot beneath your budget though.
Looking at just breaking one will get you 5k with engines etc costing what they do on e bay.
I do think they are the performance bargain of the moment
If you do manage to get a car for your budget that does not need lots of service items doing you will not really lose on it over a year in my opinion.
I do however think you will struggle to find that car at the budget mentioned.
I'd avoid M3chavvers, don't get me wrong they're enthusiastic about the cars but as mentioned previously, the enthusiasm seems more aimed at smoking lights, putting replica wheels and "stance it bruv."
I bought mine as a BMW AUC 1 owner car 18 months ago and it's had pretty much all the niggly bits go wrong (RTAB, TPS + throttle actuator, parking sensors, control arms and bushings) but it's a relief when you can just drive it into the dealer, drive out in a nice courtesy car and pick up your car with all the problems sorted and documented.
I bought mine as a BMW AUC 1 owner car 18 months ago and it's had pretty much all the niggly bits go wrong (RTAB, TPS + throttle actuator, parking sensors, control arms and bushings) but it's a relief when you can just drive it into the dealer, drive out in a nice courtesy car and pick up your car with all the problems sorted and documented.
andymc said:
Does seem a good buy. Like many used private purchases, we only find out after a few months.
hopefully whoever got it got a good one.
Brother picked up a E46 M3 for 5k. Car is CAT D but it really does not matter as it was turned into a drift car straight away. It has 100k miles on the clock, everything worked, the repair was photo documented and performed to a high standard. There are bargains out there. If I was looking for a daily smoker E46 M3, I would certainly consider CAT D cars, provided they are in the 5k price bracket. After all, braking it for spares will get you near that anyway...
Like the OP I was looking for a looked after m3 of reasonable age / mileage, budget considered. Im not an enthusiast or someone who is going to remap, mod, fix etc etc it would be my daily driver
my budget was 7-8k which 18/24 months ago was starting to see looked-after 2002 with about 75k examples coming down into my range
same models/condition are now pretty much all 10,995
somethings happened in the last 2 years - dealers esp have bumped up most prices esp on 330ci's and m3s but so have private m3 sellers
Im guessing its a case of its worth what people are willing to pay for them and people must be buying
myself I am skeptical about a punt on an m3 as I feel a 10k m3 now is worth 5k max in 18/24months when petrol starts going quite high and the car is starting to get quite old. I worry in that time not many private buyers will be around for a car that will likely do 13/14mpg around town? and you will have to px it to a dealer for a stitch up amount
also, at that time I was seeing facelift e46 330ci with 65k miles, at about 6/7k at a dealer. I say a lovely blue cabrio for 6.5k. Same car today, 2 years older, is not being sold for 9k.
Anyone else noticed the bump in prices?
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