High Mileage M3?

GothingNC · 09-24-2008, 02:18 PM

My neighbor is selling his 95 M3
200,000 miles
all maint up to date in very nice conditon for around 6K

Just had the radiator, water pump, brake pads and fluid changed.

Anything special I need to look out for?

Thanks !

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Pix?

How about suspension bushings?

$6k seems high. Get a PPI.

I also have a '95M3, but with only 175k

GothingNC · 09-24-2008, 03:14 PM

He had the suspension refreshed around 170k

VincentVega · 09-24-2008, 03:16 PM

I had a 95 too, nice car. The motors are solid, but 200k is getting up there. Keep in mind M parts arent cheap. I sold the M and replaced it with a 318is. Very similar handling, just 100 less hp.

GothingNC · 03:24 PM

Some photos

My plans are for a commuter car about 5000 miles a year and to save about 7 grand by not purchasing my Jetta, lease expires in November.

I'll look into the 318is

VincentVega · 09-24-2008, 03:37 PM

I get just over 30mpg on the highway, in the M I never did better than ~24. Sure, the M has a ton more power, but I liked the SC so much more I decided on a more civil, cheaper to insure e36 for a DD. No complaints. You should be able to find a decent 318 for ~3k, 325's are a bit more.

GothingNC · 09-24-2008, 03:44 PM

Chris,

I think people are asking way too much for 318's.

Most I found in my search within 200 miles are automatics.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?num_records=25&search_lang=en&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&search_type=both&distance=200&address=27616&marketZipError=false&style_flag=1&make=BMW&model=318I&make2=BMW&model2=318IS&make3=BMW&model3=318TI&start_year=1981&end_year=2009&min_price=&max_price=&seller_type=b&transmission=&engine=&drive=&doors=&fuel=&max_mileage=&color=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&keywords_display=&sort_type=priceDESC&body_code=0&certified=&advanced=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&showZipError=n&awsp=false&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&systime=&sownerid=68475

I'm in no hurry, might just keep what I have since I only have 32,000 miles on the Jetta and I can get over 30 MPG hwy with the 6-speed.

GothingNC · 09-24-2008, 03:48 PM

Now a 318 just pops up on CL...

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/853840539.html

serge944 · serge944's Garage

6k sounds about right if the car is in cosmetically good condition. I'm sure you can haggle him down a few hundred...

The door panels will break - just a question when. Radiators explode. Make sure the crank pully nut is on tight. Rear shock mounts always go bad. Check bushings - they are bound to be bad if they have never been replaced. Vanos solenoids go bad occasionally, but not too common.

Otherwise, these cars are awesome. I beat the **** out of my e36 m3 every time I drove it and it never even hiccuped. This is definitely not the case with the e39 m5.

I don't recommend getting anything but an M if you get an e36. You will be selling yourself short for not much (if any) of a price break.

Kraftwerk · 09-24-2008, 07:32 PM

Make sure the rear shocks are not punching thru the sheet metal.
Check the oxygen sensors there are 4 and it will cast $$ to replace all.
Parts are pricey even if you do the work yourself it can be shocking ! 1muffler hanger $100. Two are required if both are rusted.

Do not buy it unless he is the first owner, ALL records etc. PPI
or
Try to find one with 100,000 miles for $8900
These cars get abused.
I paid a lot for mine because I am the second owner and there were only 78,000 miles on it.
1996. Great car though, I love mine.

If you do buy it:
Replace the cabin filter.

GothingNC · 09-25-2008, 04:46 AM

Thanks for the info.

I'll take a look into the records about 02 sensors and the other stuff mentioned.

He is the second owner and picked it up 4 years ago when it had 160,000 miles.

It is getting hard to find a clean non-riced/ghettoed out M3.

cnielsen · 09-25-2008, 06:47 AM

I have owned two E36 M3's. They are great cars! My first one had 136,000 miles on it when I sold it...not a single problem. I replaced it nearly the exact same car with only 11,000 miles for virtually the same price!!!

Now, the one thing that totally surprised me is that I could hardly tell a difference between the two cars. You would have never guessed that 125,000 miles separated them. Actually the higher mileage one had a smoother running engine!?!?

Lots of forum help if you do need to do repairs. Parts are a little spendy but not as bad as P-cars and they are relatively easy to work on.

I would say as long as it is not a time bomb and has been relatively well maintained, $6K sounds like a decent deal.

onewhippedpuppy · 09-25-2008, 07:19 AM

Maintenance and condition is WAY more important than mileage. Remember, they're ALL 15 years old. I'd take a 200k well maintained car over a 50k neglected one, no question. If it's been well taken care of, has records, and the big stuff is recent (which it sounds like it is) then go for it. The price really isn't bad, there was one locally in our BMW club with similar miles in nice shape but with engine noise, also $6k.

Kraftwerk · 09-25-2008, 09:23 AM

Car looks great from the photo's
if you can do the wrenchin' it is a lot of car for 6 grand.

The Jetta TDI must be a bargain on fuel....

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Buying a BMW without a warranty is craziness, IMHO.

Once the electronics/wiring starts going, it'll be like lighting money on fire on a regular basis.

Older models (a 2002 would be great) I wouldn't be as concerned about.

crashmy911 · 09-25-2008, 01:04 PM

My 97 four door m3 has been awsome so far. Blew the radiator up a few weeks ago at an autocross and it was expensive to fix. But you can go online and order the parts alot cheaper then what I paid. After putting r compound rubber on it I won the last porsche club of america autocross competition with the car. We have one event left and if I do as well as the last autocross competitiion I will win our regions yearly competition. My car has 100,000 miles on it. My relative has a used autoshop and he has one with 200,000 miles on it. It drives just like mine with half the miles.

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

I love my 98 M3. I get parts at dealer price, so nothing has been too bad yet. My rear shock upper mounts were shot as mentioned, but other than that its been great. And 6K is a very decent price. Most 96-99s around here go for high teens, but obviously with less miles on them. I have seen a few go for 6-8 with 200K miles on them.

But be careful!!! The slippery slope is no different than the Porsches, before long, you will have exhaust, bigger brakes, short shifter, etc..! Ask me how I know!

GothingNC · 09-26-2008, 02:29 PM

Well I don't have to worry about purchasing this particular M3.

He sold it within a few hours of posting on CL for his asking price

KTL · 09-26-2008, 04:15 PM

Another one will come along. They always do. And the talk about warranty and miles is bogus. These cars run 100's of thousands of miles all day long. One that's had a good dose of maintenance is a good bet.

Cars break. It's a fact of life. Fix it and keep on driving. There's too many cars all over this country dealer lots today because people think it's easier or cheaper to replace the car than to fix it. That's flawed thinking more often than not...........

fastfredracing · 09-26-2008, 05:01 PM

97 M3, car has been great, rear shocks did punch up through the sheet metal a month after we purchased it. I think It was a little abused before us. I drive the car hard, not abusively though, and it has been rock reliable. I think I have had to repair the rear sheat metal, transmission mounts, and an AC Compressor. which was damaged externally ????. That has been all. I think it would whoop on my SC, and that is why I will never race it.