RE: BMW M3: Marketwatch
Friday 9th May 2014
Determined to stay at the top of its game, BMW's definitive road car for the track has never stood still. M3 powerplants have evolved over time from four to six to eight cylinders, and now back once again to six - albeit with some turbo enhancement. And the personality of the M3 has changed over time too: starting off as a track-focused E30 coupe before maturing into the high-performance E46 road car and then the E90 luxury performance saloon and coupe. And of course BMW has seen fit to launch convertible variants too - where market demand saw fit.
Meet the new boss?No doubt the new F80 will move the game on once again, providing a new benchmark against which rival high-performance saloons and coupes like the Mercedes C63 AMG and Audi's RS4/RS5 will be judged. But some of the names have changed, with BMW rebranding the M3 Coupe and Convertible as M4s - leaving the M3 moniker with the saloon version.
BMW M3: Market Watch
We're about to drive the new M3; here's the state of the market for its illustrious forebears
Meet the new boss?
What M3 buyers really need to know though is which of these previous M3s is the best current buy? Are some gaining value? Which incarnation delivers the best value for money? And of course, which M3 is destined to become the definitive future classic?
Introduction
BMW M3 E30 (1985-1992)
BMW M3 E36 (1992-1999)
BMW M3 E46 (2000-2006)
BMW M3 E90/92/93 (2007-2013)
Many thanks to Gary Woollatt at Autobahn and the M3cutters BMW M3 Group Forum for their help with this feature.
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Discussion
Excellent car. IMO the E92 M3 is in many ways more thrilling than Porsche's & Astons.
Very usable every day car too and not too flashy in front of business clients.
Some of the comments on these forums surrounding the E92 M3 are however laughable. These range from "Too heavy" "Not enough torque" "Slow" "Rubbish brakes" and comments comparing it to Caterhams, TVR's etc.
I suspect these comments are often posted during half-term.
Anyone who has been in one will know that it's excellent for what it's meant to be. An every day car with a performance edge. It is not, and doesn't intend to be, a dedicated sports car. Therefore comparing it to a dedicated sports car is just all wrong.
Very usable every day car too and not too flashy in front of business clients.
Some of the comments on these forums surrounding the E92 M3 are however laughable. These range from "Too heavy" "Not enough torque" "Slow" "Rubbish brakes" and comments comparing it to Caterhams, TVR's etc.
I suspect these comments are often posted during half-term.
Anyone who has been in one will know that it's excellent for what it's meant to be. An every day car with a performance edge. It is not, and doesn't intend to be, a dedicated sports car. Therefore comparing it to a dedicated sports car is just all wrong.
Dion20vt said:
Never been a BMW fan, But the M3 has always been the benchmark for which Audi and Merc have aspired to beat!
Surely the last gen 3dr M3's will rise in value, as they would be "the last 3 door M3's" before the M4 takes over.
Doubt it to be honest, I'm hoping they don't! The market prices at the moment haven't gone up but they haven't seemed to drop THAT much in the last 6 months or so.Surely the last gen 3dr M3's will rise in value, as they would be "the last 3 door M3's" before the M4 takes over.
E65Ross said:
Dion20vt said:
Never been a BMW fan, But the M3 has always been the benchmark for which Audi and Merc have aspired to beat!
Surely the last gen 3dr M3's will rise in value, as they would be "the last 3 door M3's" before the M4 takes over.
Doubt it to be honest, I'm hoping they don't! The market prices at the moment haven't gone up but they haven't seemed to drop THAT much in the last 6 months or so.Surely the last gen 3dr M3's will rise in value, as they would be "the last 3 door M3's" before the M4 takes over.
richard300 said:
A Daytona Violet with Lotus leather, 3.0litre E36 (complete with amber indicators) for me..... Ideally a 'more door' with factory walnut interior trims.
I always wanted to take this engine and stick it in an E46 330ci facelift body...but you'd have to pretty much change everything so I concluded that buying the damn thing would be easier 
daveco said:
richard300 said:
A Daytona Violet with Lotus leather, 3.0litre E36 (complete with amber indicators) for me..... Ideally a 'more door' with factory walnut interior trims.
I always wanted to take this engine and stick it in an E46 330ci facelift body...but you'd have to pretty much change everything so I concluded that buying the damn thing would be easier E65Ross said:
daveco said:
richard300 said:
A Daytona Violet with Lotus leather, 3.0litre E36 (complete with amber indicators) for me..... Ideally a 'more door' with factory walnut interior trims.
I always wanted to take this engine and stick it in an E46 330ci facelift body...but you'd have to pretty much change everything so I concluded that buying the damn thing would be easier Cunning Punt said:
daveco said:
the E46 seems to only be in its element when you're ringing its neck.
The same might be said of the E30 M3, nein?PH hack said:
BMW has seen fit [...] where market demand saw fit.
Ugh.
Quote
E30 2.5-litre Sport Evolutions can fetch over £50,000
I think you are talking more £70,000 plus now for a decent example but this can be even higher.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Will this classic car bubble burst like the 80's??
If I had the money just now the BMW I would purchase is the 1M Coupe.
These are increasing on a monthly basis and will IMO hit the £50,000 mark in a couple of years if not sooner.
Future classic status is guaranteed.
E30 2.5-litre Sport Evolutions can fetch over £50,000
I think you are talking more £70,000 plus now for a decent example but this can be even higher.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Will this classic car bubble burst like the 80's??
If I had the money just now the BMW I would purchase is the 1M Coupe.
These are increasing on a monthly basis and will IMO hit the £50,000 mark in a couple of years if not sooner.
Future classic status is guaranteed.
BeirutTaxi said:
Excellent car. IMO the E92 M3 is in many ways more thrilling than Porsche's & Astons.
If you look closely here, I'm comparing it to a dedicated sports car.BeirutTaxi said:
Very usable every day car too and not too flashy in front of business clients.
Some of the comments on these forums surrounding the E92 M3 are however laughable. These range from "Too heavy" "Not enough torque" "Slow" "Rubbish brakes" and comments comparing it to Caterhams, TVR's etc.
I suspect these comments are often posted during half-term.
Anyone who has been in one will know that it's excellent for what it's meant to be. An every day car with a performance edge. It is not, and doesn't intend to be, a dedicated sports car. Therefore comparing it to a dedicated sports car is just all wrong.
Must be half term...Some of the comments on these forums surrounding the E92 M3 are however laughable. These range from "Too heavy" "Not enough torque" "Slow" "Rubbish brakes" and comments comparing it to Caterhams, TVR's etc.
I suspect these comments are often posted during half-term.
Anyone who has been in one will know that it's excellent for what it's meant to be. An every day car with a performance edge. It is not, and doesn't intend to be, a dedicated sports car. Therefore comparing it to a dedicated sports car is just all wrong.
mosc7pc2 said:
Still don't get why they are refusing to make M3 tourings.
I know there is the M5 touring, but Mercedes have e63 AND c63 in touring shape!
An E91 M3 would've been right up my street.
Because as much as people clamour for them... noone buys them!I know there is the M5 touring, but Mercedes have e63 AND c63 in touring shape!
An E91 M3 would've been right up my street.
The M5 Touring is a really bad seller.
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