Discussion
Depends entirely on how well they are looked after. Well maintained, well cared for ones will hold their value. People who skimp on running costs, put crappy tyres on them or chav them up with repo wheels and body kits will find values plummet like stones.
Good, well maintained, unmodified ones will hold their value very well now i think
Good, well maintained, unmodified ones will hold their value very well now i think
GTiFrank said:
Wouldn't be suprised if I saw them at the same level as the E36 was a few years ago eventually (3.5k mark), E36 values are stronger now though.
Ditto. E36's are going to start rising as the s
tters are weeded out and scrapped/stripped/crashed. Once the only ones left are mostly good ones, that will be it for the cheap E36 M3.
v8will said:
You had a thread contemplating this didn't you? How's the car so far?
In a word - Great! Coming from an E46 320i, it's very familiar yet obviously a lot more powerful and involving. I know it's cliched, but it does feel like less than half the mileage, and TBH very surprised that everything works (so far!) and still feels solid - as i know what E46s can be like sometimes.I'm using it daily, doing around 10 miles a day on rural roads so it does me fine and as such fuel & insurance costs are quite good. I'm going to have to get new tyres quite soon, it's the only real big cost, but i'm aware there may be more big bills in the future - but it's worth it!
Apologies OP for the thread hijack!
TroubledSoul said:
Ditto. E36's are going to start rising as the stters are weeded out and scrapped/stripped/crashed. Once the only ones left are mostly good ones, that will be it for the cheap E36 M3.
Might just be a personal thing but can you really compare E36's with the E46? I thought E36's were generally viewed as a less successful M3... while the E46 bought the breed back up to scratch? Certainly in my eyes when things even out the E36 will never be as desirable as the E46. Sorry if I've offended anyone...tters are weeded out and scrapped/stripped/crashed. Once the only ones left are mostly good ones, that will be it for the cheap E36 M3.Just dont do it.. when the boot floor falls out or the SMG stops working or vanos cries enough and lunches the engine.. its just a joke how risky these cars are..
Plus it'll need a new steering hose, trailing arm bushes and a ton of other stuff no doubt.. none of it cheap.
over 10 years old stay away or get the floor pan at the back very closely examined by someone you trust..
I thought they were cheap too...
Plus it'll need a new steering hose, trailing arm bushes and a ton of other stuff no doubt.. none of it cheap.
over 10 years old stay away or get the floor pan at the back very closely examined by someone you trust..
I thought they were cheap too...
Adam_W said:
Just dont do it.. when the boot floor falls out or the SMG stops working or vanos cries enough and lunches the engine.. its just a joke how risky these cars are..
I ran an E36 M3 for 2 years and had none of the (over-hyped) Vanos issues. A friend owned an early E46 M3 for around 3 years and never experienced any transmission/suspension/engine issues of any kind. Both cars were driven in anger but maintained well, neither were garage queens. As for servicing, find a reputable indy and they're really not that expensive, IMO. I'm sure you'll find plenty of examples online of people who have experienced the quoted issues but they are far and away outweighed by ownership experiences with none of these problems.RE prices - Peaks and troughs. They seem to be going the same way as the E36 but, just like the E36, prices will begin to steady and then start creeping up.
jackpe said:
Might just be a personal thing but can you really compare E36's with the E46? I thought E36's were generally viewed as a less successful M3... while the E46 bought the breed back up to scratch? Certainly in my eyes when things even out the E36 will never be as desirable as the E46. Sorry if I've offended anyone...
The 3.0s were originally designed to be a "330i" - then some whizz at BMW thought that sticking the M3 badge on it would be a better idea.....The Evo's models were created to address the concerns that the M3 didn't really live up to the badge.
Dynamically, there isn’t much in it between a late Evo and an E46. Engine is bit more powerful in the E46 but then the car weighs a bit more. Brakes are better from standard. A few other general improvements but it’s not like the E46 is a quantum leap above the E36. Obviously it’s a newer shape and interior. The price differences are due to the age and mileage and the fact that it’s the newer model. Drive both models in good condition and there isn’t much to choose between them and will just come down to personal preference.
jackpe said:
Might just be a personal thing but can you really compare E36's with the E46? I thought E36's were generally viewed as a less successful M3... while the E46 bought the breed back up to scratch? Certainly in my eyes when things even out the E36 will never be as desirable as the E46. Sorry if I've offended anyone...
Less successful maybe, however my e36 Evo was quicker or as quick as any non CSL e46 at VMax when I went, so I guess it depends how you define 'success', was a hell of a lot of fun to drive too. I would love another good example of a e36 Evo and given the money & space I'd have one tomorrow. I may be biased but I think the e36 Evo will be real classic at some point as it's the last M3 without traction control etc.TroubledSoul said:
GTiFrank said:
Wouldn't be suprised if I saw them at the same level as the E36 was a few years ago eventually (3.5k mark), E36 values are stronger now though.
Ditto. E36's are going to start rising as the stters are weeded out and scrapped/stripped/crashed. Once the only ones left are mostly good ones, that will be it for the cheap E36 M3.eventually, as you allude to, the two models will become homogenous and you'll get good and bad of each, but an equivalent example e46 will always be worth more then the e36, it's a fresher car.
jaedba2604 said:
TroubledSoul said:
GTiFrank said:
Wouldn't be suprised if I saw them at the same level as the E36 was a few years ago eventually (3.5k mark), E36 values are stronger now though.
Ditto. E36's are going to start rising as the stters are weeded out and scrapped/stripped/crashed. Once the only ones left are mostly good ones, that will be it for the cheap E36 M3.eventually, as you allude to, the two models will become homogenous and you'll get good and bad of each, but an equivalent example e46 will always be worth more then the e36, it's a fresher car.
GTiFrank said:
jaedba2604 said:
TroubledSoul said:
GTiFrank said:
Wouldn't be suprised if I saw them at the same level as the E36 was a few years ago eventually (3.5k mark), E36 values are stronger now though.
Ditto. E36's are going to start rising as the stters are weeded out and scrapped/stripped/crashed. Once the only ones left are mostly good ones, that will be it for the cheap E36 M3.eventually, as you allude to, the two models will become homogenous and you'll get good and bad of each, but an equivalent example e46 will always be worth more then the e36, it's a fresher car.
tty examples that are cheap. 2 cars, one e46, one e36, both fsh, both reasonable mileage, both reasonable number of owners - comparable cars, which will fetch more?
I think it comes down to the look (of the car).
The E36 is so dated and unfortunately with the added M3 kit on the shape, makes it worse IMO (not intending to offend anyone with that) - more so the fact that most 318i models are dressed up this way too.
Whereas the E46 still looks fairly modern - or rather, it still looks good as it was one of the last 'traditional' BMWs before they were 'Bangle-ised'
Regardless of all of that, any M3 will always be sought after/desirable.
The E36 is so dated and unfortunately with the added M3 kit on the shape, makes it worse IMO (not intending to offend anyone with that) - more so the fact that most 318i models are dressed up this way too.
Whereas the E46 still looks fairly modern - or rather, it still looks good as it was one of the last 'traditional' BMWs before they were 'Bangle-ised'
Regardless of all of that, any M3 will always be sought after/desirable.
TEKNOPUG said:
but then it's all starting to go a bit off topic.
I think if you ask about the potential value of e46 M3 you're going to head in the direction it has, what else have you got to go off other than guess work and its predecessor?my concise opinion is they will drop a bit more, but if you buy wisely and keep it tidy then it'll hold firm at roughly 10-15% where they are now.
number of owners and service history will impact on its future value, as will the eventual outcome of the sub frame issue, stick with a manual if you wish to mitigate this risk as best you can.
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