E34 M5 3.6; Is it the ugly duckling?

[ASBO]

'Morning all,

What are your thoughts RE the above? Is the 3.6 genuinely unloved or is the 3.8 stealing too much of the limelight?

I note that the 3.6's are a good deal cheaper than their newer counterparts. Is there any specific reason for this other than the the loss of 200cc and a gear?

How does the 3.6 measure up to the 3.8 in the schnelle department?

Anything esle that I have missed?

Tar in advance,

Asberto

[GregE240]

I've not dirvne a 3.8; I've driven a well fettled 3.6.

It felt beautifully balanced, wonderfully built. And fast.

Ugly duckling? No. And it hasn't got that expensive Nurburgring suspension on it either.

[belleair302]

I drive a 3.8 and think the 3.6 is underated as a car. The engine in a well sorted 3.6 is great, the mods available on the suspension make the car a dream to hussle along at real pace and the gearbox is well sorted.

3.8's are more expensive to run with the EDC suspension and have usually done less mileage in addition to being 'newer' cars.

Find a good 3.6 and you will not want a 3.8.

[D_T_W]

Driving mine wasn't a good idea really was it

The bloke i bought mine off said the 3.8 seemed a little faster and smoother across the rev range than his previous 3.6, though in reality there is little to no difference, other than no silly suspension on the 3.6

[ASBO]

D_T_W said:

Driving mine wasn't a good idea really was it

The bloke i bought mine off said the 3.8 seemed a little faster and smoother across the rev range than his previous 3.6, though in reality there is little to no difference, other than no silly suspension on the 3.6

No you utter barsteward!

look what you've done to me!

What say you to a road trip to see this beastie: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/218417.htm

[D_T_W]

ASBO said:

D_T_W said:

Driving mine wasn't a good idea really was it

The bloke i bought mine off said the 3.8 seemed a little faster and smoother across the rev range than his previous 3.6, though in reality there is little to no difference, other than no silly suspension on the 3.6

No you utter barsteward!

look what you've done to me!

What say you to a road trip to see this beastie: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/218417.htm

Sounds like a plan. Did consider going to look at that one before, but the interior wasn't really my kind of thing, bit 80's cream for me

Looks a nice one, think it's popped up on the M5 Board as well, need to do a bit of digging but from recollection it's supposed to be an alright one

[ASBO]

D_T_W said:

ASBO said:

D_T_W said:

Driving mine wasn't a good idea really was it

The bloke i bought mine off said the 3.8 seemed a little faster and smoother across the rev range than his previous 3.6, though in reality there is little to no difference, other than no silly suspension on the 3.6

No you utter barsteward!

look what you've done to me!

What say you to a road trip to see this beastie: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/218417.htm

Sounds like a plan. Did consider going to look at that one before, but the interior wasn't really my kind of thing, bit 80's cream for me

Looks a nice one, think it's popped up on the M5 Board as well, need to do a bit of digging but from recollection it's supposed to be an alright one

It's cheap and that's the temptation. I could buy that now and sell the M3 at my leisure.

Interior is rather err, obvious but I love the colour combo.

Moreover, I'd then have plenty of cash for an E30 M3 track whore

Discussion at pub on thurs night beckons. I'll dig this avo and contact the seller tonight.

[ASBO]

As an aside,

Why isn't this one selling?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/262562.htm

[NS24]

ASBO said:

As an aside,

Why isn't this one selling?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/262562.htm

The last pic looks like a 924 or early 944.

£6250, 115k, N/reg - big bills looming or a decent buy...?

I've been looking at e34 M5's recently, having had an e28 M5 in the past, & a good one would be great - just need to find a good one!

[D_T_W]

ASBO said:

As an aside,

Why isn't this one selling?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/262562.htm

I suspect it has a checkered past like the other LE, it's come up for discussion a couple of times on the M5 Board as well, though its apparently a better one than the one at £9k.
They're an aquired taste, and they're not really an obvious performance car to your average joe, so they can take a while to sell. Mine had been for sale for almost 2 months with nobody going to look at it and it was regarded as a good one. Plus they're quite rare, which puts people off a bit i think.

[chippy17]

I am rather a fan of the original 3.6, I loved hugely covert style of the wheels, take the spoiler and badge off and it is truly the ultimate stealth machine:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/254045.htm

perhaps a tad overpriced, this particular example does look great, although again it has failed to sell, there must be something amiss!?

[belleair302]

NS24 said:

ASBO said:

As an aside,

Why isn't this one selling?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/262562.htm

The last pic looks like a 924 or early 944.

£6250, 115k, N/reg - big bills looming or a decent buy...?

I've been looking at e34 M5's recently, having had an e28 M5 in the past, & a good one would be great - just need to find a good one!

It has no real history, no bills and the chap selling it does not have a clue about M5's.

[belleair302]

chippy17 said:

I am rather a fan of the original 3.6, I loved hugely covert style of the wheels, take the spoiler and badge off and it is truly the ultimate stealth machine:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/254045.htm

perhaps a tad overpriced, this particular example does look great, although again it has failed to sell, there must be something amiss!?

Money is tight for cars like these at the moment, you could easily spend £5 k more on fettling and then you are looking at £3K a year running costs if driven on a regular basis. E34's are great cars but not rated except by those in the know. I would buy this one if I was looking for a decent 3.6, once I had seen it close up.

[chippy17]

belleair302 said:

chippy17 said:

I am rather a fan of the original 3.6, I loved hugely covert style of the wheels, take the spoiler and badge off and it is truly the ultimate stealth machine:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/254045.htm

perhaps a tad overpriced, this particular example does look great, although again it has failed to sell, there must be something amiss!?

Money is tight for cars like these at the moment, you could easily spend £5 k more on fettling and then you are looking at £3K a year running costs if driven on a regular basis. E34's are great cars but not rated except by those in the know. I would buy this one if I was looking for a decent 3.6, once I had seen it close up.

Assuming all is well I would be sorely tempted at about £4k, but, as you say, I could afford to buy it but it is the running costs that scare me. But will the 3.6 be the collectable one or will the 3.8 dominate?

[ASBO]

chippy17 said:

But will the 3.6 be the collectable one or will the 3.8 dominate?

[belleair302]

A well serviced 3.6 is not so expensive to run, with specalist servicing at around £55 per hour and loads of parts.

A 3.8 if driven hard will be very expensive...trust me when I tell you about my bills.

The 3.8 will always be the car the punters collect, because it is newer, has the EDC dampers and is safer, ie floating brakes, improved side impact bars and a six speed box.

The 3.6 is a better thrash and in many peoples eyes the better car to own due to its simpler running gear.

Buying either boils down to bills and service history over the last 30,000 miles.

[DP400]

Morning all

I have a very nice and tidy 3.6 im going to put up for sale very soon. Its a mauritius blue 3.6 with freshly refurbished staggered turbines and refurbished extended champagne interior. It also has a great big history file to go along with it.

If anyone thinks they may be interested pleae get in touch.

Please find some pictures below:
(These pictures were taken before the wheel refurb which is being done as I type this!)

Edited by DP400 on Wednesday 5th December 09:50

[D_T_W]

Here's a good comparison between the 3.8 and 3.6

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=...

[ASBO]

D_T_W said:

Here's a good comparison between the 3.8 and 3.6

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=...

Tar muchly kind Sir.

What shall I say to this chap about his M5 then? (the one based here in Scotland)

[D_T_W]

ASBO said:

D_T_W said:

Here's a good comparison between the 3.8 and 3.6

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=...

Tar muchly kind Sir.

What shall I say to this chap about his M5 then? (the one based here in Scotland)

Been digging around all morning (having put work aside, i'm in a bit of trouble after lunch ) i'm damned if i can find the thread it was in though. Depending where he is it might be worth going to have a look anyway, got a rough idea what to look for, i've found another buyers guide, along with a list of points to look out for, so no harm in looking is there
As i've read time and time again, it's all about condition, what the owner is like, and what work has been done in the past 30k/4 years.