Green light on a m3

[SBN]

So I often look on autotrader and leave cars open on tabs that I like the look of. The wife then opens up said laptop to go on Facebook and says ohhh I like that which is a rare comment as most comments are thats a barge or a wardrobes on wheels (m5, s6 lol)

It just so happens I can afford a new car, currently got a e90 330i which is great but just doesn't feel very special.

Currently I have a budget of about 14 to maybe 17k and am torn between a e46 or e9x m3. What would you go for, fuel and running costs are not a problem but it will be used every day for a 30 mile round trip and occasional blast to see customers via the m25

[LC23]

You will get a very good e46 for less than your budget. I think you may struggle to get any sort of e9x for that money but I've not looked at the market on these.

[marting]

You're looking at early 20's for E9x M3's, I wish it wasn't true I want one too

[Gruber]

You could get a very nice e46 CS at that budget. It's where I'd put my money. Best all round car I've owned and (IMHO) better than the e92.

[Herbs]

Do you need 4 seats as a Z4MC is slap bang in the middle of your budget?

[SBN]

Needs four seats I'm surprised I got away with going from a saloon to a coupe so can't push much more lol

So, what's a good price for an m3 and what features/options are best/worth my money lol

[Gruber]

Slightly o/t but... I haven't been following e92 prices, but from a quick skim of the classicieds it seems that prices at the bottom of the market haven't dropped in 12 months... how's that!? Most odd. Especially with all the finance deals and discounts on brand new cars. An 08 plate car today costs about what I sold my 08 car for last year.

Bewildered.

[Gruber]

SBN said:

Needs four seats I'm surprised I got away with going from a saloon to a coupe so can't push much more lol

So, what's a good price for an m3 and what features/options are best/worth my money lol

If you go for an e92, EDC is definitely worth looking out for.

If you go e46, look for a CS. It's a brilliant all round package. I'd go manual, personally, although my CS was SMG and it's a great box on the open road.

[SBN]

Looking nationally there are quite a few dealers who stock m3s as if they are specialists?

Any recommendations ?

Quite like this

http://www.nickjohnsonmotorco.co.uk/used-cars/bmw-...

[Gruber]

SBN said:

Looking nationally there are quite a few dealers who stock m3s as if they are specialists?

Any recommendations ?

Quite like this

http://www.nickjohnsonmotorco.co.uk/used-cars/bmw-...

That particular dealer doesn't have a great reputation on here, so go in with eyes wide open.

If you've decided on an e46, you might as well buy privately.

There are still occasional e46s through BMW's AUC scheme, so worth keeping an eye out. You'll pay top dollar but you get the benefit of a year or two's AUC warranty.

[SBN]

Seen a few on the auc site, BMW Carrs have said they will source me one in the network so will take a look. Thanks for your advice?

I quite like the red interiors but am not a fan of the say Nav units and would prefer a sun roof

[neutral 3]

Find yourself a nice , non "go boyed " Manual E46 M3, they are a great drive. And don't bother paying the extra £ for a CS.

Loads out there and don't let a high mileage frighten you as long as the seller, ( very important ) the history and the car stack up.

[161BMW]

A really nice standard unmolested low owner low mileage E46 M3 Is within your budget

Not sure about E92 M3s but given is quite young and most have FBMWSH surely there shouldn't be too many problems to watch out for when looking at these .... Though some of the cheapest will be 07/57 Plate and high mileage ?

[Wills2]

Gruber said:

Slightly o/t but... I haven't been following e92 prices, but from a quick skim of the classicieds it seems that prices at the bottom of the market haven't dropped in 12 months... how's that!? Most odd. Especially with all the finance deals and discounts on brand new cars. An 08 plate car today costs about what I sold my 08 car for last year.

Bewildered.

The market is buying them at that price, once they stop the price will drop until demand picks up again.

20k-25 for the e92 m3 is a bargain plus the engine appears to be bullet proof with no real horror stories.

[Gruber]

Wills2 said:

Gruber said:

Slightly o/t but... I haven't been following e92 prices, but from a quick skim of the classicieds it seems that prices at the bottom of the market haven't dropped in 12 months... how's that!? Most odd. Especially with all the finance deals and discounts on brand new cars. An 08 plate car today costs about what I sold my 08 car for last year.

Bewildered.

The market is buying them at that price, once they stop the price will drop until demand picks up again.

20k-25 for the e92 m3 is a bargain plus the engine appears to be bullet proof with no real horror stories.

Indeed. Simple supply and demand. I guess I'm just surprised the demand is still so strong at a time when supply seems high, and there are new ones available with such big discounts and favourable finance terms. It'll be interesting to see what happens when the new one arrives.

You're right about the engine. It's a peach. The way it screams to the redline is a joy to experience.

[abidr500]

I bought my csl from nick Johnson.
Had no problems with him , quite the opposite
What exactly is his reputation like on pistonheads ?

[Wills2]

I think the e92 m3 is starting to be appreciated more than perhaps it was at launch, lots of talk about it losing its edge and not being as good as the e46 as an M car.

Its reliability record and that engine seems to be finding fans at this price level, I think the lease/PCP deals are another market all together and doesn't affect the 07/08 cars.

It's a perfect blend of performance/comfort and handling.

[Gruber]

Wills2 said:

I think the e92 m3 is starting to be appreciated more than perhaps it was at launch, lots of talk about it losing its edge and not being as good as the e46 as an M car.

Its reliability record and that engine seems to be finding fans at this price level, I think the lease/PCP deals are another market all together and doesn't affect the 07/08 cars.

It's a perfect blend of performance/comfort and handling.

You might be right about it being appreciated more as time goes on. All the same, I'm in the "e46 is the better M car" camp. As above, I loved the engine in the e92 and the refinement, but it felt like a big car - more of a cross-continent cruiser than a B-road screamer. And to my mind, that diluted a bit of the "M3" brand.

I agree that it's an exceptional blend of performance, comfort and handling, but it is exactly that: a blend and one that, pre-e92, was met perfectly well in the M5 (especially in e39 guise).

I'm probably being too picky. But I found it interesting that when I moved from e92 M3 to e28 M5, the old 5 series felt like the more engaging car... Nowhere near as quick, obviously, but more fun to chuck down a country road. I think I want an e30 M3 next...