Is a late E36 M3 EVO convertible a future classic?
Discussion
Still pained by selling my E30 M3 a few years back, I'm wondering what could be worth some money in the future.
I've been offered a V reg M3 EVO convertible with hardtop, 2 owners and sub 65K for a decent price. Manual aswell, none of that SMG 1 nonsense.
Is this car going to appreciate with low mileage, full documented history, as new body (no winter use for 10 years) and completely original?
OK it's not a handbuilt E30 M3 but it's still an M car, albeit missing a roof.
What do you think?
Worth a punt at 5K?
I've been offered a V reg M3 EVO convertible with hardtop, 2 owners and sub 65K for a decent price. Manual aswell, none of that SMG 1 nonsense.
Is this car going to appreciate with low mileage, full documented history, as new body (no winter use for 10 years) and completely original?
OK it's not a handbuilt E30 M3 but it's still an M car, albeit missing a roof.
What do you think?
Worth a punt at 5K?
It's the best of what's left. But it's a cab.
It's a spanner in my works. I've bought an E38 740i Sport and am collecting it this Saturday. Virtually 1 owner, 70K fBMWsh and mint.
I thought he'd sold it and I'd since left a deposit on the 740, then I get a call to say it didn't sell.
My brother is telling me to loose my 740 deposit and go get the M car. Part of me agrees with him, but I really wanted the 740i and it's a minter. OK it's not an M car, but it's a V8 - end of!
Is it worth me loosing £200 deposit, upsetting the owner, putting more cash in and heading to pick the M car up on the weekend instead?
FYI, I've had a 3.0 M3 saloon, a 3.0 M3 cab, a 3.2 M3 EVO Coupe so know E36's very well. Oh, and about 10 other E36's including numerous 328's. I didn't like the scuttle shake in my last Dakar yellow cab though. Not a convertible man.
It's a spanner in my works. I've bought an E38 740i Sport and am collecting it this Saturday. Virtually 1 owner, 70K fBMWsh and mint.
I thought he'd sold it and I'd since left a deposit on the 740, then I get a call to say it didn't sell.
My brother is telling me to loose my 740 deposit and go get the M car. Part of me agrees with him, but I really wanted the 740i and it's a minter. OK it's not an M car, but it's a V8 - end of!
Is it worth me loosing £200 deposit, upsetting the owner, putting more cash in and heading to pick the M car up on the weekend instead?
FYI, I've had a 3.0 M3 saloon, a 3.0 M3 cab, a 3.2 M3 EVO Coupe so know E36's very well. Oh, and about 10 other E36's including numerous 328's. I didn't like the scuttle shake in my last Dakar yellow cab though. Not a convertible man.
rezaq said:
FYI, I've had a 3.0 M3 saloon, a 3.0 M3 cab, a 3.2 M3 EVO Coupe so know E36's very well. Oh, and about 10 other E36's including numerous 328's. I didn't like the scuttle shake in my last Dakar yellow cab though. Not a convertible man.
I owned an E36 328i Sport and an E36 M3 Evo Cab from new back in the mid/late 90's. Totally agree about the scuttle shake. I thought the 328i Sport was the better balanced car.The E36 M3 is to M3's what the 996 is to 911's...worst of the breed. The E30 and E46 are just much better cars for different reasons. I don't ever see E36's getting really sought after.
Cheib said:
rezaq said:
FYI, I've had a 3.0 M3 saloon, a 3.0 M3 cab, a 3.2 M3 EVO Coupe so know E36's very well. Oh, and about 10 other E36's including numerous 328's. I didn't like the scuttle shake in my last Dakar yellow cab though. Not a convertible man.
I owned an E36 328i Sport and an E36 M3 Evo Cab from new back in the mid/late 90's. Totally agree about the scuttle shake. I thought the 328i Sport was the better balanced car.The E36 M3 is to M3's what the 996 is to 911's...worst of the breed. The E30 and E46 are just much better cars for different reasons. I don't ever see E36's getting really sought after.
VinceFox said:
And that's exactly why they will be. The numbers will thin to a point where they become suitably rare enough. It's started already imho. Think about it, how often do you see an e36 m3 othe road? Now think, how often is it actually a good one?
You could flip that around and say that maybe there aren't good ones because most enthusiast owners would rather own an E30 or E46 ?I owned an E46 back in 2002 as well.
If I was ever going to buy an E36 or E46 again it would be a E46....I wouldn't even give the E36 a second thought to be honest. E46 is just a much better car to drive and also the styling of the E46 M3 is much better than an E36 M3 vs the standard car. The E36 is visually a standard body with fancy bumpers, sill and mirrors (which is why so many bumpers and mirrors got nicked including mine!)...the E46 has the wider arches, bonnet and quad exhausts that differentiate it too. Just a much more special car in my opinion.
Cheib said:
VinceFox said:
And that's exactly why they will be. The numbers will thin to a point where they become suitably rare enough. It's started already imho. Think about it, how often do you see an e36 m3 othe road? Now think, how often is it actually a good one?
You could flip that around and say that maybe there aren't good ones because most enthusiast owners would rather own an E30 or E46 ?I owned an E46 back in 2002 as well.
If I was ever going to buy an E36 or E46 again it would be a E46....I wouldn't even give the E36 a second thought to be honest. E46 is just a much better car to drive and also the styling of the E46 M3 is much better than an E36 M3 vs the standard car. The E36 is visually a standard body with fancy bumpers, sill and mirrors (which is why so many bumpers and mirrors got nicked including mine!)...the E46 has the wider arches, bonnet and quad exhausts that differentiate it too. Just a much more special car in my opinion.
From the sounds of the spec mileage service history and being very last of the line V reg and Manual I would say YES. Certainly worth having, cherishing and looking after. How much is worth in 10 years is anyone's guess ? Higher performance cars are getting cheaper all the time (generally)
VinceFox said:
Time does funny things. The e46 is a cracker, but i still maintain the e36 m3 will become more desirable.
I think this as well...and bought my E36 Evo Saloon as I had alwasy wanted one...and despiet ~1k miles ion E46s over the years, never bonded with them in the same way.Yes, the steering is a bit dim but (with fresh and properly set up suspension) they're sweet cars to drive and "friendier," to my mind than the E46. I also love the Q car aspect to them as, despite different bumpers and sills, the metalwork is the same as a 316i
EJH said:
VinceFox said:
Time does funny things. The e46 is a cracker, but i still maintain the e36 m3 will become more desirable.
I think this as well...and bought my E36 Evo Saloon as I had alwasy wanted one...and despiet ~1k miles ion E46s over the years, never bonded with them in the same way.Yes, the steering is a bit dim but (with fresh and properly set up suspension) they're sweet cars to drive and "friendier," to my mind than the E46. I also love the Q car aspect to them as, despite different bumpers and sills, the metalwork is the same as a 316i
Seems a fair price and if you want to sell it you will get your money back. The trouble with the E36 is two fold, it's an old car and will need money spending on it to fix various issues, if you want your car 100% right, it can be a right money pit, this will chip into the resale return. Secondly the car is fast, but the driving experience isn't that great(my experiences are with a saloon), so would imagine the convertible is even worse.
It's not something you buy with your head imo
It's not something you buy with your head imo
wheelsmith said:
Seems a fair price and if you want to sell it you will get your money back. The trouble with the E36 is two fold, it's an old car and will need money spending on it to fix various issues, if you want your car 100% right, it can be a right money pit, this will chip into the resale return. Secondly the car is fast, but the driving experience isn't that great(my experiences are with a saloon), so would imagine the convertible is even worse.
It's not something you buy with your head imo
What didn't you like about driving it? Genuine question.It's not something you buy with your head imo
VinceFox said:
What didn't you like about driving it? Genuine question.
I would be interested to know as well (no angle, just curious).I found my saloon (albeit with only 50,000 miles on the clock when the work was done in June) benefitted greatly from new dampers, all new bushes - most OE and a ARBs in poly and a very slightly amended alignment setup.
EJH said:
I think this as well...and bought my E36 Evo Saloon as I had alwasy wanted one...and despiet ~1k miles ion E46s over the years, never bonded with them in the same way.
Yes, the steering is a bit dim but (with fresh and properly set up suspension) they're sweet cars to drive and "friendier," to my mind than the E46. I also love the Q car aspect to them as, despite different bumpers and sills, the metalwork is the same as a 316i
Hmm, remember that the peak of the e46's is the CSL and that's maintained values north of £25k. I know that's not representative of the whole range but it's a halo model in the market for E46's. As e36's dwindle the best will be worth a decent amount (but in today's money not more than £15k) simply due to supply and demand (you guys show there is demand), but I'm not sure any are special enough to do the sorts of numbers an E30 does. Yes, the steering is a bit dim but (with fresh and properly set up suspension) they're sweet cars to drive and "friendier," to my mind than the E46. I also love the Q car aspect to them as, despite different bumpers and sills, the metalwork is the same as a 316i
The best standard e46 with low mileage may end up at a similar price point with lots of high mileage crud below £8k.
Neither car has the X factor that the CSL or m coupe has.
Values are a funny thing but the question I find myself asking, is what are the alternatives? With the CSL, not a great deal, maybe a 911 GT3 and the E30 M3 is in a similar one horse race.
With the E36 M3’s there is a bit more choice of RWD 280-320 bhp, 1.5 ton hard top/soft top cars out there. The e46 M3 obviously is a strong alternative, but even stuff like the BMW 130 stands reasonable comparison and then what about a Nissan 350z or a Z4 Coupe. If you look at soft tops the list is wider unless you restrict yourself to 4 seats.
Yes the combination of rarity (in themselves and of powerful RWD cars in general) and the underlying costs to keep one in good condition will push up values but I think there are too many alternatives for it to achieve serious money (but what do I know, just look at the prices of 80/90’s Maserati’s).
Compared to a 7 series there is probably more value growth ability but I would probably choose the car you want to own rather than the one you want to invest in.
With the E36 M3’s there is a bit more choice of RWD 280-320 bhp, 1.5 ton hard top/soft top cars out there. The e46 M3 obviously is a strong alternative, but even stuff like the BMW 130 stands reasonable comparison and then what about a Nissan 350z or a Z4 Coupe. If you look at soft tops the list is wider unless you restrict yourself to 4 seats.
Yes the combination of rarity (in themselves and of powerful RWD cars in general) and the underlying costs to keep one in good condition will push up values but I think there are too many alternatives for it to achieve serious money (but what do I know, just look at the prices of 80/90’s Maserati’s).
Compared to a 7 series there is probably more value growth ability but I would probably choose the car you want to own rather than the one you want to invest in.
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