Where to buy a clean M3?

[ChrisBarns]

not fully decided yet but if I did...

I've got the money but I don't want hastle / risk of buying one out of Autotrader. Where should I go? Alternatively does anyone offer a service of checking e30 M3s over?

GF thinks all old cars are unreliable (and she has a lot of evidence from my past "classics") and wants me to buy newer. Had settled on a 3 year old 130 but I wonder about an M3 and lots of servicing for same long term cost (servicing / repairs off set by smaller depreciation).

I'm finding it difficult to get a good handle on prices - they seem all over the place.

BTW is there a M specialist in Norfolk / East Anglia? to do servicing / repairs?

[Fushion_Julz]

The obvious place would be Munich Legends...
Their cars aren't cheap, but they are some of the better ones around.

But (E30) M3s aren't the sort of car you pick up at dealers, these days...The very best ones are usually in private hands owned and looked after by caring enthusiasts.

Dunno about a specialist in your part of the world, though...And you can look one over yourself...Same rules apply to an M3 as to any E30...Rust is the biggest issue followed by engine health. Some bits are expensive, but generally everything is available if needed.

[daimlerman]

No idea for a specialist in your area,try E30bumlover,but I would suggest having a chat to Chris Warburton(Cris-W)I have talked to this helpful zoner and visited his workshop and have been impressed by his depth of knowledge and commitment to the cause.He may well be able to dig up a suitable M3 for you.

[Fushion_Julz]

And re prices:

You can probably find one for £6k ish maybe even MoT'd and running, but you need to spend £8.5k upwards to get a decent one...
Buy on condition, not spec
However, late models, special editions, etc do command a premium but a good standard car will feel and drive better than a rough "special" car at around the same price.

[Jhonno]

No idea for a specialist in your area,try E30bumlover

i know sweet F.A about cars!

[e30bmlover]

No idea for a specialist in your area,try E30bumlover

mother @ucker!
so chris... bored of the cab?? your best bet if you dont mind traveling is to get in touch with chris_w.... and ffs dont ring munich legends after all they are the mugs who started the whole chain saga with the e30 m3's... so if they can bullshit that... why buy a car from them??
the auto trader isnt all doom and gloom... you have just gotta know what to look for... and remember take the rear bench out and the boot lining... check the sub frame and scuttle.. the s14's are real tough engines so milage shouldnt be a problem as long as its been serviced on time.

also i did hear that you can take a look at the chassis in certain places for stress, this will tell you if it has been tracked allot... im sure another zone guru will be here to put you and me straight soon.
i also here pacerpete knows about allot of m3's so might be worth getting in touch with him.

[e30bmlover]

No idea for a specialist in your area,try E30bumlover

i know sweet F.A about cars!

i dont!! remember that 325 i viewed in norwich?????? thats the last time i comment on a car.

[daimlerman]

No idea for a specialist in your area,try E30bumlover

i know sweet F.A about cars!

i dont!! remember that 325 i viewed in norwich?????? thats the last time i comment on a car.

T'was only suggesting you may know a specialist,not that you are a specialist.....regarding M3's!!

[pnd]

what about mcp motorsport in norfolk? also good m3's are probably easier to find than decent 325's these days as they tend to have been looked after.

[e30bmlover]

i dont!! remember that 325 i viewed in norwich?????? thats the last time i comment on a car.

T'was only suggesting you may know a specialist,not that you are a specialist.....regarding M3's!!

point taken.......... but im no bum lover!

[evosport1990]

Check this one out

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/807846.htm

No connection with seller.

Best thing to do is get a possible purchase, inspected by Munich Legends. They know these cars inside out.

[daimlerman]

point taken.......... but im no bum lover!

Please accept my most humble,was a slip of my typing finger,honest....

[e30bmlover]

point taken.......... but im no bum lover!

Please accept my most humble,was a slip of my typing finger,honest....

lmao! well if it was jenna jameson doing what she does in the wrongun then i will make the exception and watch out of protest... honest...

[djk]

No idea for a specialist in your area,try E30bumlover

i know sweet F.A about cars!

i dont!! remember that 325 i viewed in norwich?????? thats the last time i comment on a car.

Is there a story here? G-reg Delphin 325i with loads of options? Was interested but the guy selling it put me right off, tried to get me in a dutch auction and was a bit vague about history

Been sold on again since then it seems...

On topic, perhaps OP should join BMWCC and pick some brains, heard both good and bad things about it but surely there will be a lot of specialist info?

[Fushion_Julz]

Check this one out

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/807846.htm

No connection with seller.

Best thing to do is get a possible purchase, inspected by Munich Legends. They know these cars inside out.

That looks odd...

Firstly, Henna Red was not available by the time (any of) the EVOs were released...
If it is a 215bhp car, it would be later than D reg in any case

That car is, like mine, a very early one without the second small grille aperture above the oil cooler punched out

Has the wrong wheel for the age of the car

215bhp cars all came with 16" wheels...that one has 15"

Anyone can paint (or fit) cam cover and plenum...

Having said that, it looks clean enough from a distance....
Only a closer physical inspection will tell...It's in Berkshire and I'm happy to either look at it or come with you if you need...

[ChrisBarns]

I'd seen that car on Piston heads. I understood it to be an original early M3 with an engine rebuilt to 215 spec, how you would tell is more difficult. Does look well cared for in the pictures.

Julz: thanks for the kind offer re viewing. I'll have to make a decision 130 vs M3 first but I may well take you up on that. Yesterday it was deffo M3, this morning... 130 just tipping it!

The thing is this car will be my everyday car, parked outside, commuting to work etc. Part of me loves the idea of driving an icon, another part of me likes the idea of hatchback practicality, lots of toys etc.

I found a depreciation predictor which reconed I'd only loose about 2500 over 2 years on the 130 which is less than I was expecting.

[Bob_S]

that D plater ca stay on his drive until he's fixed the expensive, waterpump/stat/problem which is causing the temp guage to sit sooooo high up.

M3's arent daily drivers, end of. I tried and I hated it they are for special occations, like on a warm hot sunday out on a very good b road not going the shops.
M3's rot everywhere, badly too generally, to name a few points, around steering column on bulkhead, under fuse box, front battery tray, rear arches, rear number plate lights, sills, front wings, front panels, chassis legs.
Most have probably had a prang by now, probably not marked on the car either and mileages can be dubious, that d plater has a new wheel and gear knob taking most traces of mileage away.

if it were me I'd be buying a 123d coupe with the bmw performance brakes and have the same amount of fun with with none of the issues!

[Rich_W]

I would advise looking at the cars at Munich's just to get a feel for it. But I wouldn't buy from them. As even their cars aren't immune from being (overpriced) dogs. "Independent" in Reading, has a mixed reputation. I know Daryl Zimm (pics in gallery) bought his from them and its been great. But I've heard stories about cars being altered between sale and collection. Does Norfolk Cars still exist? they used to me 320is specialists but occasonally had M3s for sale.

Hey, my M3 came from eBay. (not technically as it didnt meet the reserve so I phoned him afterwards and bought in privately)

Theres nothing super nasty/difficult to check when it comes to this cars. Just the usual signs, accident damage, resprays, rust, how it runs, etc etc. Though the engines can be "tappetty" as they run solid lifters. if its stupidly noisy though, walk away.

So long as you buy with your head and not your heart you'll be OK. Any questions fire away.

[Fushion_Julz]

that D plater ca stay on his drive until he's fixed the expensive, waterpump/stat/problem which is causing the temp guage to sit sooooo high up.

That isn't unusual on early cars...

The early M3s had the temp switch for the electric fan in the radiator....This causes the slightly higher than normal temp at idle until the fan cuts in on hi speed (early car fans run at slow speed the whole time)...
Later cars had the temp switch in the 'stat housing and the slow speed cuts in at about half way and the hi speed a bit further up...
Easily cured with a new 'stat and the (OEM) wiring kit...

The (very possible) issues are a burnt out low-speed resistor or a burnt out track in the fuse box...
Both cheap and easy to cure!

M3's arent daily drivers, end of. I tried and I hated it they are for special occations, like on a warm hot sunday out on a very good b road not going the shops.
M3's rot everywhere, badly too generally, to name a few points, around steering column on bulkhead, under fuse box, front battery tray, rear arches, rear number plate lights, sills, front wings, front panels, chassis legs.
Most have probably had a prang by now, probably not marked on the car either and mileages can be dubious, that d plater has a new wheel and gear knob taking most traces of mileage away.

if it were me I'd be buying a 123d coupe with the bmw performance brakes and have the same amount of fun with with none of the issues!

I'd disagree on (most of) that...M3s don't rust any more (or less) than other E30s...
They *stress* a bit more, but the rust is not likely to be terminal...Usual places are around the column gaiter as you said, rear panel number plate lights (easy fix), scuttle (as per any E30) and under the skirts/bodykit...so same as sports and SEs in that respect...
There is no front battery tray (battery is in the boot) and the rust under the fusebox (if it exists) is due to stress fractures...a strut brace sorts that out!
At 15+yrs (the youngest E30 M3 is 16yrs old already) most cars have some history...I'd argue an M3 is likely to have had a better quality of repair than most other E30s as they are worth more in the first place.

The mechanicals are strong and would easily handle daily use...
However, servicing costs are (significantly) more than other E30s...Parts are dearer and then you have to factor in the LHD factor (makes a difference to some)...

I'd (personally) prefer to have a well cared for 200K miler than a shoddy 75K one!

But given a choice, I wouldn't use my M3 every day (I don't)...I have an E34 ix and previously had an E30 325.
Wish I could afford a 130i (or a 123d) as well as my M3, though..

[Simon13]

Can i just say that Munich legends is NOT the place to start! They were one of the main timing chain myth culprits on these cars by scaring people into getting them changed at 100k. Lots of horror stories about these guys

Complete ripoff outfit. ML service history would put me off a car! people seem to worship this lot

M3's are one of the worst rusters out there E30 wise and they hide half of it behind the kit! scuttles fall apart, roof skins and all the other dramas. Tourings and cabs seldom have scuttle issues. Its mainly, saloon shells. 99% of M3's have had this issue

[Andyboy]

Pacer Pete has got an absolutely superb Diamond black one, about a 1990/91 215 bhp car. It's got a really nice (i.e flawless) body, black leather, 16 inch BBS and Munich Legends did an engine rebuild about 30'000 ago. Pete will tell you more, but I've seen the car and it really is a honey - there are plenty of car that LOOK good, but very few around like this. He was talking @10 grand for it which is what you need to pay for a good one now.

[Fushion_Julz]

Pacer Pete has got an absolutely superb Diamond black one, about a 1990/91 215 bhp car. It's got a really nice (i.e flawless) body, black leather, 16 inch BBS and Munich Legends did an engine rebuild about 30'000 ago. Pete will tell you more, but I've seen the car and it really is a honey - there are plenty of car that LOOK good, but very few around like this. He was talking @10 grand for it which is what you need to pay for a good one now.

Must be rubbish ML did the rebuild!

ROFLMAO...

ML may have spread (spurious) rumours about the timing chain, but they know LOTS about these cars...Jody and Barney are real experts. What they don't know about these cars (and making them go faster) isn't worth knowing.

Personally, I wouldn't buy from them cos they are a bit overpriced...But if you knew little about the cars, then they are a safe bet (IMHO).

[Simon13]

That Barney is a fool he inspected my old sport for a scottish buyer, lord give me strength!

[Bob_S]

ML, like hell are any of my cars going near there in my ownership. I have an invoice for rear beam bushes in 03 for my 215 car, when I replaced them last year they were still original, infact everything I removed to get to them was original!

Rich, I agree with some of what you say but when you have the option of a 130 (or 123d) and it's to be a daily it really isnt hard to choose. I dont mind the LHD aspect my passengers do, but I dont nor do I mind the running costs but leaving it anywhere like carparks etc I'm definately not keen on.
My daily is an M50 powered 2dr with tow bar, it's great I can leave it anywhere nobody wants a dirty 320ise.. nobody looks at one twice I can leave it anywhere, it does everything I want it to do and well.

on the rust factor, they dont rust anymore than an early pre-facelift car ;)

[Rich_W]

Tourings and cabs seldom have scuttle issues. Its mainly, saloon shells. 99% of M3's have had this issue

I think its because the front screen is bonded in. Mine was done by a previous owner, but that didnt stop it from going again. Albeit no where near as badly, so I had it re-done earlier this year.

In the bottom of the recess for the screen are the water drain holes. Shite screen fitters block them up with the adhesive so water cant escape from under the seal. Hence the trap and sunsequent rust.

As for ML. Well I don't recommend them to anybody. BUT if you want to look at several M3's at once just to get a feel for the cars, why not spend the morning wasting their time. Just take any "advice" with a pinch/large handful! of salt. Their favourite trick is condemming everything. Then doing a shitty/overpriced "repair" then claiming "they all do that" when you wonder why the gearbox doesnt go into 1st when its cold winter morning!

Bitter! Fuck Yes!

[dannyboy759]

Can i just say that Munich legends is NOT the place to start! They were one of the main timing chain myth culprits on these cars by scaring people into getting them changed at 100k. Lots of horror stories about these guys

Complete ripoff outfit. ML service history would put me off a car! people seem to worship this lot

Ill second that, Barney is an idiot!!

[e30bmlover]

ffs dont ring munich legends after all they are the mugs who started the whole chain saga with the e30 m3's... so if they can bullshit that... why buy a car from them??

hello!?!?!?

[Simon13]

Hi Tim

[e30bmlover]

Hi Tim

hi si... how are we?? should have the head soon.... will be sweet..