02-22-2012, 01:35 PM
D_Eclipse9916 Wrote:Buy the red m3. M3s will hold their value, and are not any more expensive to maintain. I always tend to push people away from regular e36s and e46s. 325is/328is quickly bottom out to 3-4 grand for a decent one. E36 M3s you can pretty much sell what you bought it for years later. (as long as you keep it in decent condition).
I agree with you on the E36 but not really the E46. An E36 M isn't really all that special, the S50/2 isn't dramatically different from the M50/2, the brakes are the exact same size as an E46 330i, you'll pay a premium for suspension bits (the end-links I ordered yesterday were $35 instead of $20). The E46 on the other hand is an individual throttle-bodied beast with huge brakes, and should you end up with an SMG, may god have mercy on your soul. I've heard people compare taking care of an E46 M to taking care of a 996 911.
The price ranges I see for cleanish, not complete pieces of crap, but also not cream puffs are:
$3500-5k for non-M E36s
$6-9k for E36 M3s
$6-11k for E46 non-Ms (options/year have a huge effect on these, a $6k non-sport 323i and a 11k 330i performance pack are different cars)
$14-20k for E46 Ms
.RJ Wrote:Budget? E46 sedans arent that much more expensive and have a much better interior that doesnt self destruct.
Truth. I think the E46 has the best combination of quality and styling of any 3 series ever made ever. The E30 was well built built and attractive but man has it aged, the E36 sucks ass all the way around, the E46 is perfect, the E90 looks like a taxi cab.
Now: 07 Porsche Cayman S | 18 VW Tiguan
Then: 18 VW GTI Autobahn | 95 BMW M3 | 15 VW GTI SE | 12 Kia Optima SX | 2009 VW GTI | 00 BMW 540i Sport | 90 Mazda Miata | 94 Yamaha FZR600R | 1993 Suzuki GS500E | 2003 BMW 325i | 95 Saab 900S