M3...again, but different purpose

$15-20k for an e46 m3????

i'd say whats wrong with it




go with an e36, theyre great

 

Get a job.

 

Id be more than happy if i had had a 15k$ car at 16..damn.

 

Noah, if you really have to have an e46 style (a mistake in my opinion) then just get an e46 325i or 330i with a sport package. Then take the $5k of your own and buy 18" M3 wheels and you're close enough. What you can afford and what you want are not parts of intersecting circles, and the M3 you can get for that money will be a 120k mile hunk of crap that's been totalled, flooded, needing at least $5k worth of work. Why not get an e30 or e36 that won't depreciate much, if at all, and drive it until you can afford an e46 car (which, at the rate they depreciate, will only be a couple years - use that time to save the $10k difference on your own and know that you can sell/trade an older M car a year or two down the road for most likely what you paid for it now). Or, if you just can't stomach the e36 styles but like cool bimmer stuff, get an 840ci or e28/e34 M5...maybe even an older M6. The older M6 with a chip will out perform the e36, and still gets as much, if not more (since everyone and their grand mamma has an e46 right now) attention from anyone who knows what they're looking at.

 

They're not being blackmailed with potentially withdrawn love?

 

If you can only afford $15k for the car, forget the M3. Maintenance will kill you.

Best advice I ever heard was to never own a BMW without a warranty. I added up my service bills a while ago, they were over $12k of work in 5 months. And this was when the car was less than a year old and I think BMW's labor rates have gone up since 1998...

 

ok.

E36 M3 should be what you get. If you find a nice example, you will have no problems. My car is dead reliable, quite economic (almost 30 mpg!), and out performs a 996. I've driven my dads business partner's E46 M3 from D.C. back here... I was so glad to get back into my car. The E46's shifting was typical terrible BMW-- rubbery, long. If you get an E46, you must immediately get an SSK (short shift kit). The car E46 was far less viceral than the E36, I felt much more detached from the the car than I do in mine. Of course, I have almost every NA mod there is to be had, and that's the reason performance is excellent. Stock for stock, you must drive both cars. It's very hard to take one over the other. The E46 will be faster, (newer), have nicer interior; but I don't know if it's truly more fun to drive. My car has ABS, thats it. I don't drive like a crack addict, so I don't get myself into trouble, but it's certainly a more drivers oriented car. You really have to drive it, it doesn't drive you. If i were you, I'd go for a perfect E36 M3, and gradually mod it, that way you have a car that's undeniably classic, rediculously fast, ideal for handling (almost 50:50), and it's yours. By modding it, you give the car character, and as long as you tastefully do it, and only use quality products, you'll have NO better car. I know I would never get rid of my car for an E46 M3.

-Joe

 

And if you don't mind a little drive, I know an excellent (superb... no better) mechanic in West Chester who is truly a class act. He just did an entire brake job and full exhaust on my car, flawless work.

 

what are the terms on your life insurance? Maybe an M3 is a small investment for a few hundred grand!

 

go with a 3 series, and put the M3 wheels on, from their you'll have the look your looking for. You should be able to find one at your price range

 

Get an E36 for a while, and when it's time in a couple years, sell it, get your parents to co-sign a loan with you for the E46, and get it. But until then, be happy with the E36, as it's still a VERY nice car, especially for a 17 year old.

 

Yeah, when I was a kid, I got to chew on the bark of a tree. And I liked it! I loved it!





They didn't even let me drive their freaking cars to learn to drive! I had a friend teach me at 19... meanwhile the other siblings not only start at 16, two got cars...

 

I think you're getting yourself into trouble by buying an M3 for under 20k. Im no expert but you would be better off buying a newer, nicer, non BMW coupe than buying one with 60,000+ miles for 15k.


Save that 5k for a Ferrari years down the road, seriously.

 

A BMW with 60,000 miles that has been well tkane car of is worth the $15k.. Saving his $5k for a Ferrari down the road would be saving for a car that requires much more work, for a lot more money.

 

Get a nice restored 240Z and drop a 350 small block in it (or buy one with it already done). You'll have more fun and you can maintain it yourself easily and cheaply.

 

Ehm, same budget here :
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86745

I really love a 740il for $15k and put 18" parallels.
Won't go as fast as an M3 but really classy, and probably much cheaper on insurance for your parents too.
I'm always a sucker for bigger bimmers. When I was your age they bought me a 535i manual with Alpina 17s, Alpina spoilers, etc. (After I crashed my 4-months old civic to the guardrails at 100mph I made strong arguments to my Dad that Japanese cars were unsafe, yada yada yada .. and he bought it )

 

THe only 20K E46 M3 you will find is probably a flood car from the post-Katrina zone. Be very weary if you actually do find one at that price. Good luck in your search.

 

Go with the E36, great car, not to electronically involved, very forgiving. youll learn well, theres upgradeable power if you want it later. your young, get the E46/911 in a few years, no rush....Or if you really want something cool, look into aan E30, that car is badass.