1997 E36 M3 with High Mileage but mint condition

[splintheter]

So I am back from Europe for a week before I fly back and having seen how strong the E36 M3's were round the ring I have decided i need one in my life

Spotted this one

She is easily the best condition E36 I have seen in a long time (both inside and out)

Rolf looked over her today and put her on the lift today, and in his words he reckons "not bad", which I view as high praise from him. There is about R30k to be spent to get her perfect (Bushes, tyres, brakes etc)

Bad points:

She has High Mileage at 280 000km, but has just had the "motor done" after running a bearing. There isnt any paperwork as it was done by Achmaad Achmaad in Cape Town, whom I have heard of, but I know ultimately he works out of his home.

The Vanos was also replaced/reconditioned by Doctor Vanos in the USA.

There is no service history on the car. (This is the thing I hate the most)

Guy wants R110k, realistically I can get it for R105k!

To buy or not to buy ?

 

[Fordkoppie]

but has just had the "motor done" after running a bearing.

This usually means it was patched up as cheap as possible and put up for sale before it breaks spectacular.

I would not touch it before it has "proven" itself reliable over at least 30k km

 

[328ii]

Any decision can be either good or bad - flipping a coin is the easiest

8?>

 

[calypso]

No service history, errr nope.

 

[splintheter]

but has just had the "motor done" after running a bearing.

This usually means it was patched up as cheap as possible and put up for sale before it breaks spectacular.

I would not touch it before it has "proven" itself reliable over at least 30k km

Thanks Bud, If I am honest that was what I was thinking but really just needed somebody else to say it. And you do always speak sense

Only reason I havent walked away is because the car is in such fantastic condition cosmetically.

 

[boost3d]

In my honest opinion, after owning one of these cars for 8yrs, is that rather pay a premium and buy a car that doesn't need any work, then pay the R100k odd and then still spending X amount extra to get the car to the condition you want. As with any "M" car, the cost of maintaining and keeping these cars in showroom condition is exorbitant but defines the difference between a car that looks in good condition, then one that is a pristine example even after all these years

 

[splintheter]

Thanks gents for your pearls of wisdom!

 

[slotcars1]

I would give a big thumbs don't on this one...

hard to say, since you could be turning down a gem, but the risk is faaar to great.

DAKAR Yellow as well :thumbs: :thumbs:

Yes but no but yes but no but yes

 

[splintheter]

I would give a big thumbs don't on this one...

hard to say, since you could be turning down a gem, but the risk is faaar to great.

DAKAR Yellow as well :thumbs: :thumbs:

Yes but no but yes but no but yes

My thoughts exactly... because she is so pretttyyy!!

Heart vs head, and now that I am old my head generally wins

 

[moranor@axis]

at R 100k not worth the effort given its history...

redoing the suspension is pretty much a given because these are quite old now but when you add possible engine trouble to this its not worth the money they want for it

 

[splintheter]

So the next question is, is this worth it ?

Its R140k but with full BMW history... (at R140k we are entering e46 M territrory )

http://www.autotrader.co.za/used-ca...olokwane-fpa-8a8184c046ae8e080146eca70191359e

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Realistically I imagine you could get that for R130k though

 

[calypso]

So the next question is, is this worth it ?

Its R140k but with full BMW history... (at R140k we are entering e46 M territrory )

http://www.autotrader.co.za/used-ca...olokwane-fpa-8a8184c046ae8e080146eca70191359e

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Realistically I imagine you could get that for R130k though

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Yeah so? E36 is still more fun to drive.

 

[Fuzz@tinyNET]

S50B30 > S50B32 in my opinion simply because it doesn't suffer from the ridiculous issues with the VANOS like the B32 :fencelook:


Take that Silver M, looks lovely :inlove:

 

[splintheter]

Hypothetically speaking, if I had found a 1998 Avus Blue E36 M3 with 99000km on the clock with full dealer history. Is she worth:

R160k ?? :blab::blab:

 

[Fordkoppie]

http://www.bmwcarclub.co.za/index.php/classifieds

Try to wrestle this guy down to R150k, and you will have one of the best kept e36 M3s left in existance

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ah snap. :rollsmile:

I have seen the car up close, and it is every bit as good as the ad suggest

 

[splintheter]

S50B30 > S50B32 in my opinion simply because it doesn't suffer from the ridiculous issues with the VANOS like the B32 :fencelook:


Take that Silver M, looks lovely :inlove:

Tell me more ? On the other hand doesn't the S50B30 suffer from oil pickup issues ?

 

[Peter@AEW]

S50B30 > S50B32 in my opinion simply because it doesn't suffer from the ridiculous issues with the VANOS like the B32 :fencelook:


Take that Silver M, looks lovely :inlove:

All of them suffer from vanos irrespective of the engine.

 

[splintheter]

http://www.bmwcarclub.co.za/index.php/classifieds

Try to wrestle this guy down to R150k, and you will have one of the best kept e36 M3s left in existance

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ah snap. :rollsmile:

I have seen the car up close, and it is every bit as good as the ad suggest

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:biglol::biglol::biglol:

We both know how to use the google machine!!

God, why did BMW SA think wood trim was a good idea in an M car But that's a minor

Trying to get hold of the guy now... If its "ford" approved that means its a no brainer **No Pressure**

 

[Fuzz@tinyNET]

S50B30 > S50B32 in my opinion simply because it doesn't suffer from the ridiculous issues with the VANOS like the B32 :fencelook:


Take that Silver M, looks lovely :inlove:

All of them suffer from vanos irrespective of the engine.

The most I ever noticed with a b30 is noisy vanos.... Other than that, not much else compared to the horror stories I've seen and heard on in the b32


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[Fuzz@tinyNET]

S50B30 > S50B32 in my opinion simply because it doesn't suffer from the ridiculous issues with the VANOS like the B32 :fencelook:


Take that Silver M, looks lovely :inlove:

Tell me more ? On the other hand doesn't the S50B30 suffer from oil pickup issues ?

Well with checking the oil regularly (every second day) and doing regular oil services, it pretty much negates this. Along with changing / upgrading the oil pump :thumbs:

But this is a problem to all S50s as it is to the S54


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