e36 M3 Saloon Search...

[cableguy]

Hi guys & gals been away from BMW for a couple of years or so, previously an e39 M5 owner and fancy returning to the fold... in the shape of an e36 M3 Saloon for daily duties.

Other than the usual Vanos issues is there really much else I should be looking for?

Looking for a lowish mileage car with history, 3.0 or 3.2 Evo thats been looked after if anyone is thinking of selling? Not much available in the Classifieds and Autotrader at the moment unfortunately.

C.

[cableguy]

Still looking, although a little more clued up on what to look for...

Thanks for the warm welcome guys...

C.

[mboon]

Hello, I have a 3.0 loon, not sure on selling but cant fault them.

Only down side to them is there age really, so things like suspension, brakes etc will need checking.

there is vanos issues on the evo but are apparently over hyped, totally upto you.

Do not buy a cheap one thinking your getting a good deal, if it brakes which its more than likely, it will cost you a f,ing fortune

[mark.c]

Hi,

As with everything I would say buy on condition, there is an awful lot of rubbish out there that havent been maintained properly. Having said that the saloons seem to get looked after well and are less prone to some of the less than tasteful mods that the coupes get! All the M3's Ive had have been saloons based purely on the fact they have been better condition cars than the coupes that I was comparing them to at the time. Even so, my latest evo with full history and 85k etc has still sapped a few quid to make it as good as it the advert made it out to be!! Although it was a great condition car the list of expenses are as follows that made it a really good car...

Braided brake hoses and clutch pipe
Pss9's
Bushes all round
Climate control box repair
wheels refurb
Cam gears (the car already had a new Vanos six months before I bought it)
Ps2's all round
Coils
Afm

Unfortunately this now means Ive spent more on it than I suppose it will be ever worth!!

Good luck with your search, if you dont mind me asking why did you get rid of the E39 M5 (an itch I want to scratch!)

Regards
Mark

[cableguy]

Thanks for the info Mark , you've hit the nail on the head... there's a lot of rubbish out there once you start looking...

Got a potential purchase tomorrow if its as good as it sounds? Hope so because I can't keep doing the silly miles i've been travelling only to find someone's "immaculate condition" as utter crap!!!!

The e39 was a fantastic car and was my daily transport for over two years, did a lot of mods including:

Bilstein PSS9 Kit
Uprated Eibach ARB's
Billet ARB Brackets
Tarox 12Pot Front BBK
19" ACS Racing Split Rims
Supersprint Headers
Tubi Rumore Cat-Back Exhaust
Actice Autowerk CAI
DMS Map
etc etc...

Was sad to see it go, however I relocated back home and purchased a new VW Golf TDI for daily duties and decided to jump into Pork ownership which has been equally rewarding on a whole new performance level.

e39 M5 - Highly recommended.

C.

[chippy17]

I was looking for saloons, admittedly I did not look at many and have ended with a coupe, but the ones i did look at were frankly a bit ropey. Which I found strange because I had heard 'go for the saloon as they will be in better nich as they are less desirable/owned by boy racers' now not so sure...

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1314899.htm

this looks quite nice

[cableguy]

chippy17 said:

I was looking for saloons, admittedly I did not look at many and have ended with a coupe, but the ones i did look at were frankly a bit ropey. Which I found strange because I had heard 'go for the saloon as they will be in better nich as they are less desirable/owned by boy racers' now not so sure...

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1314899.htm

this looks quite nice

Did notice this one and it does look and read quite well, shame about the miles but condition and maintenance history are more important in my eyes.

See what happens with tomorrows viewing and go on from there.

Thanks,

C.

[chippy17]

cableguy said:

chippy17 said:

I was looking for saloons, admittedly I did not look at many and have ended with a coupe, but the ones i did look at were frankly a bit ropey. Which I found strange because I had heard 'go for the saloon as they will be in better nich as they are less desirable/owned by boy racers' now not so sure...

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1314899.htm

this looks quite nice

Did notice this one and it does look and read quite well, shame about the miles but condition and maintenance history are more important in my eyes.

See what happens with tomorrows viewing and go on from there.

Thanks,

C.

link to one you are viewing?

[cableguy]

Not advertised unfortunately. My younger brother has an e36 3.0 M3 and frequents a few BMW Forums, this car being from someone who would sell if the price is right.

C.

[chippy17]

cableguy said:

Not advertised unfortunately. My younger brother has an e36 3.0 M3 and frequents a few BMW Forums, this car being from someone who would sell if the price is right.

C.

yes I saw a couple this way and have sold a couple, always good to buy/sell off fellow enthusiast obviously, good luck and let us know the outcome

spec?

[mboon]

dont be put off by the miles, mine is on 122,000 miles... completed a 215 mile trip on sunday in that rain with out fault, the car was begging to be pushed and eats the miles on the motorway.

If its been looked after, the engines will go on and on.

Buy on condition and history

[BluePurpleRed]

mboon said:

dont be put off by the miles, mine is on 122,000 miles... completed a 215 mile trip on sunday in that rain with out fault, the car was begging to be pushed and eats the miles on the motorway.

If its been looked after, the engines will go on and on.

Buy on condition and history

I agree, I am on 119k and when I took it into BMW for the brakes to get done the guy said it was the best one he had driven in years. I did spend £200 + with Phil Crouch to do a pre purchase inspection which was worth every penny!

[Swoxy]

cableguy said:

Did notice this one and it does look and read quite well, shame about the miles but condition and maintenance history are more important in my eyes.

8k per year is hardly excessive.

[andygtt]

BluePurpleRed said:

mboon said:

dont be put off by the miles, mine is on 122,000 miles... completed a 215 mile trip on sunday in that rain with out fault, the car was begging to be pushed and eats the miles on the motorway.

If its been looked after, the engines will go on and on.

Buy on condition and history

I agree, I am on 119k and when I took it into BMW for the brakes to get done the guy said it was the best one he had driven in years. I did spend £200 + with Phil Crouch to do a pre purchase inspection which was worth every penny!

another agreement here, mines done 170k and the engine is as strong as ever... obviously high miles means it isnt worth as much but if its in great condition then its worth a look imo.

[cableguy]

Thanks for the info guys.

Car purchased today, i'll post pics and details when I get a mo!

C.

[Ciaran]

chippy17 said:

I was looking for saloons, admittedly I did not look at many and have ended with a coupe, but the ones i did look at were frankly a bit ropey. Which I found strange because I had heard 'go for the saloon as they will be in better nich as they are less desirable/owned by boy racers' now not so sure...

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1314899.htm

this looks quite nice

That is lovely

[uggs4u]

Ciaran said:

chippy17 said:

I was looking for saloons, admittedly I did not look at many and have ended with a coupe, but the ones i did look at were frankly a bit ropey. Which I found strange because I had heard 'go for the saloon as they will be in better nich as they are less desirable/owned by boy racers' now not so sure...

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1314899.htm

this looks quite nice

That is lovely

that is a nice example! shame as it has rusty arches...

[chippy17]

cableguy said:

Thanks for the info guys.

Car purchased today, i'll post pics and details when I get a mo!

C.

congrats, hurry up and let's see!

[D ACS]

I wanna see pics !!

[cableguy]

Weather has been ste today and got to drop it off at the Indy tomorrow for a Uprated Braided Clutch Hose!

It will hopefully get cleaned this weekend weather permitting and pics to follow...

C.