The future of M3's

[M_Hunter]

I havent seen this get properly discussed so i decided to open one.

The M3 is a very desireable car, just like the normal E36. alotta people want one but often cannot realise their dream..

Early E36 M3's have now fallen into the "under £6,000" bracket and if your looking for a "decent one" you can find one for under £10,000, and are now affordable for your average jo.

When the E46 came out the E36's (eg, you can now buy a E36 saloon for under £1000 as i did!!!) so they took abit of a nose dive in prices.

Now the E92 M3 is looming in the forseeable distance its already been predicted that the E46 is going to crash down in prices sooner or later, does anyone else think this is going to drive down the prices of the E36's M3 or non M ?

My prediction is that pretty soon a decent E36 M3 will cost below £5,000 mark within the next 18 - 20 months.

whats your "2p" worth.... do you think the E36 will rise and become a classic like the E30... now retailing at crazy prices (saw one yesterday for sale for circa £12,000 :eek:) or do you think that it'll float below the "unreachable" belt and become one of those cars you can pick up like Doc Matt's condoms in a room fulla girls?

///M

[M_Hunter]

P.S i know the E30 ///M3 was a limited run and was only available in LHD ??? (Correct me if im wrong please)

and the E36 ///M was basically unlimited productions and available in both LHD AND RHD....

Sorry forgot to include this.

M

[adood84]

Well not sure its going turn into a classic , but I see the E46 CSLs making a turn around in prices in the future since that was a limited production model and a very special one

[Becca]

does nobody see a pattern?
E30 M3 = Hott =]
E36 M3 = not so hott.. :(
E46 M3 = Very hott =]
E92 M3 = not so hott :(


Cant wait for the next M3 to be designed :D

[adood84]

does nobody see a pattern?
E30 M3 = Hott =]
E36 M3 = not so hott.. :(
E46 M3 = Very hott =]
E92 M3 = not so hott :(


Cant wait for the next M3 to be designed :D

Have you seen the new E92 in flesh? Usually the new BMWs are much better looking than what the look like in pics ;) and there is a a more hotter CSL version in the pipeline

[Becca]

Have you seen the new E92 in flesh? Usually the new BMWs are much better looking than what the look like in pics ;) and there is a a more hotter CSL version in the pipeline

no, but tbh i dont even slightly like the look of the new M3 =[

its rear end looks ugly.

[dodgyken]

1) The E30 will remain a classic because its dynamics are superb. That is it - the engine is an absolute pain to drive - it is great above 5000rpm but below it feels like ice ages are shorter. The dog leg is fine if you are used to a 6-speed box but a pain if you are not. Would i own one "Yes"

2) The E36 is already below £4k!! And offers great value for money - if you can find a vaguely straight one!! The early ones make more sense than the later Evos as you isolate yourself from any VANOS issues. The E36 M3 may not handle as well as an E30 but with the added power it is more than capable on the track and road.

3) The E46 is now so common place that is no longer as special as it used to be. It is without doubt a great car, but it is unlikely to age as gracefully (or is that ungracefully) as an E30. The CSL will stand out - but it is unlikely to get close to some of the more wild early BMWs.

The E92 represents an evolving chapter - over time M3s have become heavier, more powerful, more reliant on mechanical than on the ability to tingle your spine with razor sharp turn-in and pure balance.

A new M3 that would have a chance of greatness would be 13-1400kg - and 300-350BHP - or in other words the Z4M Coupe :D

[M_Hunter]

1) The E30 will remain a classic because its dynamics are superb. That is it - the engine is an absolute pain to drive - it is great above 5000rpm but below it feels like ice ages are shorter. The dog leg is fine if you are used to a 6-speed box but a pain if you are not. Would i own one "Yes"

2) The E36 is already below £4k!! And offers great value for money - if you can find a vaguely straight one!! The early ones make more sense than the later Evos as you isolate yourself from any VANOS issues. The E36 M3 may not handle as well as an E30 but with the added power it is more than capable on the track and road.

3) The E46 is now so common place that is no longer as special as it used to be. It is without doubt a great car, but it is unlikely to age as gracefully (or is that ungracefully) as an E30. The CSL will stand out - but it is unlikely to get close to some of the more wild early BMWs.

The E92 represents an evolving chapter - over time M3s have become heavier, more powerful, more reliant on mechanical than on the ability to tingle your spine with razor sharp turn-in and pure balance.

A new M3 that would have a chance of greatness would be 13-1400kg - and 300-350BHP - or in other words the Z4M Coupe :D

EXACTLY the responce i was looking for, but the great question is, does anyone think any M will fall below the £2.000 bracket ? The E36 used to be a high £30k - low £40k car and has already dropped below £4,000.... will we be picking these up for "run about" prices soon..


///M

[dodgyken]

EXACTLY the responce i was looking for, but the great question is, does anyone think any M will fall below the £2.000 bracket ? The E36 used to be a high £30k - low £40k car and has already dropped below £4,000.... will we be picking these up for "run about" prices soon..


///M

They will bottom out - and my guess is they are unlikely to fall much below the £3k mark - but don't quote me on it though!!

The M will hold a certain cache which should keep it out of the bottom bracket of cars.

However remember a cars running cost should be taken as 10% of its new cost - so dont think a £4k M3 will be cheap to run!

[mysticm3]

I believe M cars have their own price territory while most normal model prices can fall as much as consumers wish however M cars do have their own bottom price line to separate themselves from the standard model ranges.

having said that the price difference might only be a few grands compared to 15k plus difference when buying new.

[mystic sport]

I think the E46 M3 prices won't be that much more affected by the E92 M3, they will just continue on a normal depreciation curve. We are talking about a £55k car here against a car that has had much of its value culled already - totally different class of wallet buys the E46 and E92 now. The E30 M3 especially in sport evo guise will always remain a desirable car but it is old and good ones are harder to come by. Standard E30 M3s are pocket money now to be honest. The E36 was mass produced and to a point I hate to say a little unloved - wasn't special enough to separate it looks wise from your normal E36 - stonking engine though, but a classic car, never. As Mr Dodgy says, if you want to own an M car then the purchase price is the easy part on some cars as the maintenance and repairs can be eye watering. Take an e36 M3 evo gearbox, non repairable item so is a breakers or BMW part only, could cost more than the car is worth in some cases, vanos units go pop at £2k a go. To many M cars are being bought by those wanting the image of owning an M3 but then the reality of what it costs to keep them healthy hits home and they simply start a slow decline to total neglect. I love my M3 and will spend what it takes to keep her tip top. It gives me the biggest smiles when I drive it and only the best is for my girl, I generally have to chuck I would say £1500 per year minimum in just servicing without any further maintainenance items being included and my warranty has just cost me a further £1050 yesterday :( - respray next week though - she will look a million dollars :D :D :D .

[mr sideways]

are you keeping it the same colour?

[mystic sport]

Yes, same colour.

[peppernick]

The E30 M3 is an icon even till this day because it is the only M car that BMW produced using a chassis that was originally designed to be a track racer, and because of homologation, road cars had to be built. It wasn't produced to make money but it has certainly opened a new marketing opportunity for BMW. This is the reason why the E30 M3 drives the way they do and you don't get cars like that anymore from modern day manufacturers. Prices are only going to go up, and I have seen very good examples exchange hands in excess of £20k, particularly the very last 2.5 Evo Sports.

The E36, E46 and E92 M3 are all mass produced high performance road cars. They will never create a niche interest among enthusiasts the way the E30 does. E46 CSL on the other hand are currently being snapped up by collectors, especially low mileage ones, prices bottomed out at £30k but is now on the rise again. It is unlikely you'll find a medium mileage CSL for anything less than £34k.

[mystic sport]

It is unlikely you'll find a medium mileage CSL for anything less than £34k.

Don't I know if as I have been looking for a long time and now given up :( . As soon as one hits the dealers they are snapped up for the exclusive dealer supplied warranty. There was one i was going to look at at a local dealer and it was bought before I got there. There was actually a bidding war betwen two buyers over the phone.