Can of worms... E36 M3

[Stick Legs]

I am thinking of buying an E36 M3 to have as a daily driver. I only do about 6k a year and live on the bottom of Exmoor, so have some fantastic roads at my disposal.

I have been told the Evo is a much better car, and have no real concerns over VANOS as I have seen a few older cars with no problems.

I want a totally standard car, to keep standard and enjoy, who knows, they may even become rare one day and be worth what I paid for it! ;-)

I have seen nice, straight 3.0 cars for £4k. And the same in 3.2 flavour seem to go for around £6k.

I have an excellent local specialist (Fritz's Bits) who is also a good friend of mine so serviving is not a biggie.

Question is, is the evo really worth £2k extra when it will never see a track, and is a standard 3.0 going to dissapoint?

Just to really confue the issue has anyone got experience of the Alpina E36's or are these in a different league?

Cheers.

[E36GUY]

Yes. The end.

[Stick Legs]

E36GUY said:

Yes. The end.

LOL! Thanks, that's the kind of informative un-biased information I was looking for! :-)

[phatgixer]

Sniff out a 3.0 GT. Top of the heap.

[C5L]

THe ALpina is more of a GT car the M3 a bit more raw, if that makes sense.

THe GT is definatly the one to go for aslong as it still has the adjustable front splitter and BMW international motorsport badging.

Avoid the one with the "M3 OYYAAHHH" numberplate at all costs currently for sale.

[bmthnick1981]

I sold a god awful plate off an E36 M3 I had once.

It was M300 YER, but the individual who owned it before me spaced it;

M3 00YER

Nice.

Do you have a link to the one with the plate you mentioned C5L? Might be the person I sold the plate to, be interested to have a look.

Thanks

[C5L]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1764877.htm

for sale currently , if not mistaken it was on EBay a year ago for 4,300, no one touched it. Even though it is a steal.

My heart says buy it and fix it back to its former glory my head says "buy a mint one".

put offs within them pictures include

Lexarse / crystl lights, BMW nasty alloy pedals, and the big no no the fuel needle on empty not red but actually empty ,oh and the numberplate.

Edited by C5L on Friday 9th July 16:45

[bmthnick1981]

Ahh, thanks for that. Not the plate I sold, but very similar.

That GT looks a bit tired and I concur with your view that it is better practice to buy a tidy one to start with. Although I have bought them before in far from 'tidy' condition...

[C5L]

bmthnick1981 said:

Ahh, thanks for that. Not the plate I sold, but very similar.

That GT looks a bit tired and I concur with your view that it is better practice to buy a tidy one to start with. Although I have bought them before in far from 'tidy' condition...

I totally understand what you are saying,

i have a E36 3.2 right now that needs a clutch and has done high milage. The fact is however im the second owner, thats right second and the chap had the car from new with a full documented history It was serviced by BMW till last Novemeber ( crazy owner i tell thee ). I can vouch with these engines showing a 150,000, they still pull like a "PHorking Train when near the redline" and still handle well, although could do with a suspension refresh.

On my 4th E36 M3, my 3rd 3.2 coupe and must say this one bodywork wise is in a bit of need of TLC.

but they still feel special even though its been 8 years since i have owned an E36 3.2

[phatgixer]

Buy one and turn into one of these

[neiljohnson]

Worked in Sevenoaks for a while & a lady brings her red Gt in every year for its Mot after having it serviced at the local Bmw dealer.
She is the only owner from new & it has @17k on the clock still on its origanal tyres & is like brand new.
I have tried to buy it off her so many times but she wont have it!!!

[phatgixer]

neiljohnson said:

Worked in Sevenoaks for a while & a lady brings her red Gt in every year for its Mot after having it serviced at the local Bmw dealer.
She is the only owner from new & it has @17k on the clock still on its origanal tyres & is like brand new.
I have tried to buy it off her so many times but she wont have it!!!

That will be the GT-II. Just an Evo with Imola red paint. Not as special as the proper GT

[neiljohnson]

phatgixer said:

neiljohnson said:

Worked in Sevenoaks for a while & a lady brings her red Gt in every year for its Mot after having it serviced at the local Bmw dealer.
She is the only owner from new & it has @17k on the clock still on its origanal tyres & is like brand new.
I have tried to buy it off her so many times but she wont have it!!!

That will be the GT-II. Just an Evo with Imola red paint. Not as special as the proper GT

I knew it was 3.2 tbh not that up on my m3's just wanted that particular one as it was in such beautiful condition!

[phatgixer]

neiljohnson said:

phatgixer said:

neiljohnson said:

Worked in Sevenoaks for a while & a lady brings her red Gt in every year for its Mot after having it serviced at the local Bmw dealer.
She is the only owner from new & it has @17k on the clock still on its origanal tyres & is like brand new.
I have tried to buy it off her so many times but she wont have it!!!

That will be the GT-II. Just an Evo with Imola red paint. Not as special as the proper GT

I knew it was 3.2 tbh not that up on my m3's just wanted that particular one as it was in such beautiful condition!

They're all lovely

Why they are so unloved by the majority is a mystery.

[iguana]

phatgixer said:

Sniff out a 3.0 GT. Top of the heap.

Do ya reckon tho in RHD? all the good bit were LHD tho non?

[phatgixer]

iguana said:

phatgixer said:

Sniff out a 3.0 GT. Top of the heap.

Do ya reckon tho in RHD? all the good bit were LHD tho non?

Only bits the LHD cars got were the alloy doors.

[TheEnd]

phatgixer said:

iguana said:

phatgixer said:

Sniff out a 3.0 GT. Top of the heap.

Do ya reckon tho in RHD? all the good bit were LHD tho non?

Only bits the LHD cars got were the alloy doors.

hmmm
not quite..
The LHDs got the 3.23 diff, the cams, and the 295bhp.
The ones in the UK got a green paint job and a bodykit. Same as the Imola GT...

[phatgixer]

TheEnd said:

phatgixer said:

iguana said:

phatgixer said:

Sniff out a 3.0 GT. Top of the heap.

Do ya reckon tho in RHD? all the good bit were LHD tho non?

Only bits the LHD cars got were the alloy doors.

hmmm
not quite..
The LHDs got the 3.23 diff, the cams, and the 295bhp.
The ones in the UK got a green paint job and a bodykit. Same as the Imola GT...

Cobblers.

Got the Evo induction, strut brace, lowered suspension, quick rack, dual oil pickup, cams, 295 bhp, motorsport forged alloys, and aero addenda. Not sure about the diff. Think it is a 3.27.

Only bits the LHD cars got tht the RHD didn't where the aluminium doors as BMW ran out of stock. They were supposed to get them.

Imola GT II was just a paint and trim job, true.

Edited by phatgixer on Saturday 10th July 23:56

[phatgixer]

If you are getting your information from this article, it is plain wrong...

http://www.qv500.com/bmwe36m3p2.php

My GT certainly had dual pickup, evo induction and fast rack...

Not sure about the cams (as I fitted shrick cams). Car was certainly lower than usual 3 litres and had a strut brae and all the aero bits. Steel doors though..

[Great Pretender]

phatgixer said:

neiljohnson said:

Worked in Sevenoaks for a while & a lady brings her red Gt in every year for its Mot after having it serviced at the local Bmw dealer.
She is the only owner from new & it has @17k on the clock still on its origanal tyres & is like brand new.
I have tried to buy it off her so many times but she wont have it!!!

That will be the GT-II. Just an Evo with Imola red paint. Not as special as the proper GT

Ummm, no wont...

There was never a 'GT2'. The Red M3 of which you speak was officially titled 'Imola Individual'.

Sorry. Pet hate of mine.