E36 M3 - Should I?
Discussion
Hi,
So, I'm thinking of getting an E36 M3 Coupe. I'd probably rather have an Evo, for more power and I prefer the steering wheel and other little changes.
First question is - would £3.5k get me a decent one? I'm not looking for mint, something that needs little jobs doing is fine.. I just don't want a shed.
Secondly - what are they like to run? I've ran an E39 M5 for a year, which I sold about 3 months ago, as it was costing quite a lot to run (I spent about £3k on it having the Vanos rebuilt, bearing shells done for preventative maintenance, water pump, thermostat, and a few other bits). It was an awesome car, and I kind of wish I'd kept it, even if it was so expensive to run!
I would imagine the E36 would be a fair bit cheaper to run though? Smaller engine, two less cylinders, lighter (and so easier on consumables), consumables look to be cheaper from what I've seen (a set of discs and pads on an M5 was about £600, whereas by the looks of it, it's about £200 on an M3), and they're a similar age as well (my M5 was a '99).
Obviously I know it's not going to be anywhere near as cheap as my Clio I'm running at the moment, but I wanted to know first hand from people who have run them, are they reasonable? I should add, I'm fairly competent with the spanners, so I can do most of the stuff myself (although I had Mr Vanos do the work on my M5, as I wasn't about to go ripping the Vanos apart myself!)
Cheers
So, I'm thinking of getting an E36 M3 Coupe. I'd probably rather have an Evo, for more power and I prefer the steering wheel and other little changes.
First question is - would £3.5k get me a decent one? I'm not looking for mint, something that needs little jobs doing is fine.. I just don't want a shed.
Secondly - what are they like to run? I've ran an E39 M5 for a year, which I sold about 3 months ago, as it was costing quite a lot to run (I spent about £3k on it having the Vanos rebuilt, bearing shells done for preventative maintenance, water pump, thermostat, and a few other bits). It was an awesome car, and I kind of wish I'd kept it, even if it was so expensive to run!
I would imagine the E36 would be a fair bit cheaper to run though? Smaller engine, two less cylinders, lighter (and so easier on consumables), consumables look to be cheaper from what I've seen (a set of discs and pads on an M5 was about £600, whereas by the looks of it, it's about £200 on an M3), and they're a similar age as well (my M5 was a '99).
Obviously I know it's not going to be anywhere near as cheap as my Clio I'm running at the moment, but I wanted to know first hand from people who have run them, are they reasonable? I should add, I'm fairly competent with the spanners, so I can do most of the stuff myself (although I had Mr Vanos do the work on my M5, as I wasn't about to go ripping the Vanos apart myself!)
Cheers
I think £3.5k is optimistic for anything other than a car that falls into the 'wallet opener' bracket I'm afraid
The very youngest e36 M3 is 13 years old now and lets face it, they will have had years and years of getting t
tted about.
I would predict that if you don't buy a car that has had a lot of work done on preventative maintenance and renewing of key parts they you are looking at a similar ownership proposition to the M5 you had.
The very youngest e36 M3 is 13 years old now and lets face it, they will have had years and years of getting t
tted about.I would predict that if you don't buy a car that has had a lot of work done on preventative maintenance and renewing of key parts they you are looking at a similar ownership proposition to the M5 you had.
Tyres are cheaper and it will use less fuel. Everything else will comparable between the 2 models. Neither have fancy EDC or trick gearboxes etc. Just conventional powerful RWD N/A manuals. Both suffer M tax.
With regards to your example of brake discs, I expect you are comparing OEM M5 discs with pattern M3 ones. You need to run OEM discs on an Evo - they'll be more like 400 including pads. Therein lies the problem. If the previous owners have been using inferior parts then it could cost a lot to put right - just like an M5.
A 3.5k Evo is akin to a 5k M5. So yes, tyres and fuel will be cheaper and a replacement engine too, for everything else, expect the running costs to be the same.
With regards to your example of brake discs, I expect you are comparing OEM M5 discs with pattern M3 ones. You need to run OEM discs on an Evo - they'll be more like 400 including pads. Therein lies the problem. If the previous owners have been using inferior parts then it could cost a lot to put right - just like an M5.
A 3.5k Evo is akin to a 5k M5. So yes, tyres and fuel will be cheaper and a replacement engine too, for everything else, expect the running costs to be the same.
It's possible, but luck is needed. It does seem slightly easier to buy a good coupe rather than 'Vert though.
My previous M3 cost £3000. Evo. Dog. Utter dog. Blinged within an inch of its life.
My current M3 cost £4000. Very well kept with a full history and 2 owners. But not "enthusiast" owners, rather a rich bloke who wanted a flash commuting tool. So I've spent £3200 thus far bringing it up to "enthusiast" spec and I'm not there yet...
My previous M3 cost £3000. Evo. Dog. Utter dog. Blinged within an inch of its life.
My current M3 cost £4000. Very well kept with a full history and 2 owners. But not "enthusiast" owners, rather a rich bloke who wanted a flash commuting tool. So I've spent £3200 thus far bringing it up to "enthusiast" spec and I'm not there yet...
Spend £2k on a stter, rag it around spend approx a grand a year for consumables 4 yrs later now on 144k miles, still a stter but more exciting than a diesel silver golf/audi etc.
ps mine avus blue-ish coupe 3.0 floppy 5 speed, spray on rally dirt, lovely fat lady airport lounge elec seats, with rattles and squeekes.
My only gripe is BMW pricing on parts and labour, advice is to use an independent, remember these cars are old designs and they may have been quick back in the day but are feeling dated.
Also the E36 M3 is far to heavy, it should be 200kilo's lighter which would make it a lot more fun, all the on board computers, electric seats/sunroof/mirrors etc not needed in the M3 model, IMHO fine for the 325/330 car but the M3 is based on the race cars but jsut too heavy.
for your records - 350 miles per week and seeing approx 26 mpg as you may have guessed motorway miles.
tter, rag it around spend approx a grand a year for consumables 4 yrs later now on 144k miles, still a stter but more exciting than a diesel silver golf/audi etc.ps mine avus blue-ish coupe 3.0 floppy 5 speed, spray on rally dirt, lovely fat lady airport lounge elec seats, with rattles and squeekes.
My only gripe is BMW pricing on parts and labour, advice is to use an independent, remember these cars are old designs and they may have been quick back in the day but are feeling dated.
Also the E36 M3 is far to heavy, it should be 200kilo's lighter which would make it a lot more fun, all the on board computers, electric seats/sunroof/mirrors etc not needed in the M3 model, IMHO fine for the 325/330 car but the M3 is based on the race cars but jsut too heavy.
for your records - 350 miles per week and seeing approx 26 mpg as you may have guessed motorway miles.
garypotter said:
Also the E36 M3 is far to heavy, it should be 200kilo's lighter which would make it a lot more fun, all the on board computers, electric seats/sunroof/mirrors etc not needed in the M3 model, IMHO fine for the 325/330 car but the M3 is based on the race cars but jsut too heavy.
Don't be special, the e36 isn't a race car it's a GT car at best.I had an e36 Evo and now have an e39 at the moment however haven't really had the M5 long enough to compare, the costs for my M3 are all in my profile including what broke / fell off. Servicing is actually cheaper on the M5 if you look at the indy prices think it's because of the valve clearances etc. on the e36.
Fuel is cheaper a lot cheaper in the e36, my e36 would manage over 30mpg easily on a long run and hit over 35 on one motorway run @ about 70. They are very similar in performance terms but the e36 is a bit more eager.
If you're the sort to do preventative maintenance on things like the shells surely getting a cheap one of either is a bad move.
It's a 330i - it's never been raced in any production series. The 318i was using in Touring cars over here. Someone at BMW decided that it was a good idea to bagde engineer it as an M3. Followed by much derision and complaints, the Evo was created with many part changes and revisions in order to warrant it having an "M" on it's ass.
BTW Nonuts - the overheating issues that you had in the Alps, which lead you to refit the viscous fan, was because the aux fan was seized (and still is).
BTW Nonuts - the overheating issues that you had in the Alps, which lead you to refit the viscous fan, was because the aux fan was seized (and still is).
Ive had a 3.0 m3, 2 z3mcoupes and im currently on my second e36 m3 (evo)
Never had vanos issues, one of the coupe's had a bearing failure but it was cheap with no service history. A friend now has this car and is still running after rebuild and has no issues.
I gave 2k for this evo (part ex on the coupe) its got 4pots, coilovers etc etc and has 157k on the clock. It runs just as smooth as the my previous s50 that only had 67k. on a motorway run expect 32mpg and 70-80mph on the drift day below it managed 8mpg Which sounds bad but my previous 540 managed half that . . . . .
Don't be scared of buying cheap, if these engines are warmed up properly and well maintain they will go for ever. Insurance is the killer . . . . . . .
Never had vanos issues, one of the coupe's had a bearing failure but it was cheap with no service history. A friend now has this car and is still running after rebuild and has no issues.
I gave 2k for this evo (part ex on the coupe) its got 4pots, coilovers etc etc and has 157k on the clock. It runs just as smooth as the my previous s50 that only had 67k. on a motorway run expect 32mpg and 70-80mph on the drift day below it managed 8mpg Which sounds bad but my previous 540 managed half that . . . . .
Don't be scared of buying cheap, if these engines are warmed up properly and well maintain they will go for ever. Insurance is the killer . . . . . . .
TEKNOPUG said:
BTW Nonuts - the overheating issues that you had in the Alps, which lead you to refit the viscous fan, was because the aux fan was seized (and still is).
Really? The electric fan was definitely coming on in the Alps but I have to say after the viscous fan was re-fitted I never noticed any overheating issues. Hope you're still enjoying it as much as I did?Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff