Hello All,
I've just been offered an BMW E30 M3, rather cheap because a mate's brother needs the cash asap.
I know plenty about the E30 BMs, I've owned a couple of 318i's and a 318is. The M3 always been one of my favorite cars.
The trouble is now is not really the perfect time for me to be buying a toy. (just bought a flat that needs total renovation)
Has anyone got any experiences of the E30 M3?
I'm particularly worried about cost of ownership etc. General running costs etc.
I know they are pretty realiable, but I also know how much 'specialised' bits can cost.
The car will be my daily drive, although I only do about 4-5k a year so it's not too bad.
I'm trying to be sensible, but it's one of my dream cars... I don't really need a boiler anyway...
Thanks
John
E30 M3 running costs?
Moderator: martauto
As long as it's in good nick it shouldn't cost you much more than a few services but I bought one with a few jobs that needed doing and in a couple of years it's quickly gobbled up about Ԛ£6k of my cash! In total the invoices I have for the car total about Ԛ£36k and it's a D-plate so on average it has cost about Ԛ£1900 a year to run and maintain.
Depends how you're looking at it- obviously Ԛ£2,000 a year isn't a great deal when you factor in that a decent M3 is an appreciating classic rather than a depreciating modern appliance.
Depends how you're looking at it- obviously Ԛ£2,000 a year isn't a great deal when you factor in that a decent M3 is an appreciating classic rather than a depreciating modern appliance.
Dont buy one.
For the same draining feeling, just go and flush crisp Ԛ£20 notes down the khazi every couple of hours
Mine stands at around Ԛ£2-3K in under a year. + around a tank of fuel a week. (Ԛ£55 ish)
Everything is BMW "Special" prices. Try and avoid the phrase "M3" and you'll probably find the same part 50% cheaper!
For the same draining feeling, just go and flush crisp Ԛ£20 notes down the khazi every couple of hours
Mine stands at around Ԛ£2-3K in under a year. + around a tank of fuel a week. (Ԛ£55 ish)
Everything is BMW "Special" prices. Try and avoid the phrase "M3" and you'll probably find the same part 50% cheaper!
-
mysteron35
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: kings lynn
Hi , I can only speak of my own experience's but I've had many E30 M3's and it all depends on buying a good car and then how far you want to go with it ! , I find them very easy to maintain and cheap to run (compared to my other modern cars) and very reliable . Take my current car a standard 1990 I paid Ԛ£6.000 last summer for it and spent a fair amount of money replacing bushes and fitting a schnitzer suspension kit but the car drives so well that its a pleasure to use so for me very worthwhile , and remember its an old car and the same parts would need doing if it was an 318i . Its more a case of preventitive maintainence and taking care of it , I try to budget to buy something every month some times its a little trim clip or other times I'll getsome disks etc . I'd also say living in the right area makes a big difference as I enjoy using my car far more now I live in Norfolk with the type of roads it was made for than when I was in East London . Anyway if you'd like a chat or a drive give me a call 07766660273.
Regards Steve .
PS I'm averaging 26 ish MPG
Regards Steve .
PS I'm averaging 26 ish MPG
these were very very specialised cars in their day
they are no less specialised now
even more so if you go by what the average bmw dealer knows about them!!
they are dear to run.parts are dear fullstop
eg plug leads Ԛ£150,dizzy cap and rotor armԚ£100,exhaust Ԛ£1000 plus!!
yes these are oem prices but there isnt a lot of difference in these and non genuine parts because the car was a low volume car in its day let alone 17 years on
they may cost less to buy now but running them and maintaining them is as expensive now as it was then
just my opinion
john
they are no less specialised now
even more so if you go by what the average bmw dealer knows about them!!
they are dear to run.parts are dear fullstop
eg plug leads Ԛ£150,dizzy cap and rotor armԚ£100,exhaust Ԛ£1000 plus!!
yes these are oem prices but there isnt a lot of difference in these and non genuine parts because the car was a low volume car in its day let alone 17 years on
they may cost less to buy now but running them and maintaining them is as expensive now as it was then
just my opinion
john
Looks like I'm in the minority for saying go for it!
But I was looking at it by way of comparison to, say, buying something allegedly economical and brand new. If you do go from a 'normal' E30 or such to an M3 the I guess it will be a bit of a financial shock but I would have thought a budget of Ԛ£2-3k per year on average would be reasonable to be prepared for.
In my defense, by way of comparison to buying a new car the running costs are less than the depreciation- that's how I reason it to myself as before I had a couple year old 3-series and that cost me more in depreciation than my M has over the same time and I had to add servicing on top.
It's not really the car to go for if one doesn't have deep pockets (read- empty credit card) as unexpected costs can be wallet wilting- such as my exhaust went last week and at the same time as a service/tax/insurance etc. it can make for an expensive month!
With my sensible head on I wouldn't take one on at a time when you have enough financial things to worry about unless it's a real nice example and a good bargain as then any bills should be reasonably far off (touch wood!).
But I was looking at it by way of comparison to, say, buying something allegedly economical and brand new. If you do go from a 'normal' E30 or such to an M3 the I guess it will be a bit of a financial shock but I would have thought a budget of Ԛ£2-3k per year on average would be reasonable to be prepared for.
In my defense, by way of comparison to buying a new car the running costs are less than the depreciation- that's how I reason it to myself as before I had a couple year old 3-series and that cost me more in depreciation than my M has over the same time and I had to add servicing on top.
It's not really the car to go for if one doesn't have deep pockets (read- empty credit card) as unexpected costs can be wallet wilting- such as my exhaust went last week and at the same time as a service/tax/insurance etc. it can make for an expensive month!
With my sensible head on I wouldn't take one on at a time when you have enough financial things to worry about unless it's a real nice example and a good bargain as then any bills should be reasonably far off (touch wood!).
not that expensive to run at all so far for me.
Its just depends on the condition etc
Mine hasnt cost me anymore than my e36 318 i had.
At the end of the day, what performance car is going to be cheap to run?
Rags
Its just depends on the condition etc
Mine hasnt cost me anymore than my e36 318 i had.
At the end of the day, what performance car is going to be cheap to run?
Rags
Sideways S14
-
Simon
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 14936
- Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: South Wales
- Contact:
In my opinion, if it's cheap, it's cheap for a reason, especially if the current owner is strapped for cash, and not looked after it and kept up with servicing. They can be cheap, if you buy the right car, otherwise, it could be a potential money pit!
What is cheap if you don't mind me asking?
What is cheap if you don't mind me asking?
Thanks for all your replies 
I've just got back from looking at this. I'm quite tempted.
It needs some work but it's not too bad.
The main worry was a noise coming from the diff.
It made a whirring noise when coming off power.
It also sounded like the Clutch thrust bearing has seen better days (rumble when idling with clutch released. Noise goes away as soon as you depress the clutch.)
It's been standing for about 2-3years. only been moved between garages a couple of times in that period.
It has a couple of scabs of rust, but pretty clean for a 87/D plate car. It's got leather interior, but no history to speak of. It was imported in 1999.
The car is 2K. no offers. The seller is the brother of a friend of mine, who had plans for it, but his other E30's have taken all his time. He only needs to sell as he needs the room, and also needs cash as the head has cracked on his 325 touring.
How nasty (expensive) could the diff problem be? likewise the clutch bearing.
I've just got back from looking at this. I'm quite tempted.
It needs some work but it's not too bad.
The main worry was a noise coming from the diff.
It made a whirring noise when coming off power.
It also sounded like the Clutch thrust bearing has seen better days (rumble when idling with clutch released. Noise goes away as soon as you depress the clutch.)
It's been standing for about 2-3years. only been moved between garages a couple of times in that period.
It has a couple of scabs of rust, but pretty clean for a 87/D plate car. It's got leather interior, but no history to speak of. It was imported in 1999.
The car is 2K. no offers. The seller is the brother of a friend of mine, who had plans for it, but his other E30's have taken all his time. He only needs to sell as he needs the room, and also needs cash as the head has cracked on his 325 touring.
How nasty (expensive) could the diff problem be? likewise the clutch bearing.
I bought a 1989 M3 for Ԛ£4500 which is pretty cheap as far as M3's go
the car was a gem it, drove well had clean body work, despite having NO
service history! If i left it at that it would have gone on forever! Just
servicing and general wear and tear! I had a 2nd inspection 2 done on it
by a local specialist which consist of some quite major stuff for Ԛ£350 all in
which i thiught was spot on! Also normal OEM parts like brake discs/pads
rotor arms and parst like that are reasonably priced if brought from
somewhere like C3 inlondon who will derliver to anywhere!
My problem came when i started playing with it! Not major stuff just more
and more as time went on! Needed new disc, so i got new discs, pads,
braided hoses dot 5.1 fulid!!! Needed new ball joins... so i got ball joints
power flex bushes track rod ends drop links ofset top mounts and a full
apex suspension kit!!!
Probably in total about Ԛ£1000! again not bad!!
But then some one told me to do the timing chain!!!!!
So i did the timing chain e36 tensioner full top end rebuild and a set of
Shirck 284 cams! That little lot cost about Ԛ£2500
20 mins after leaving the garage it went bang and has left me with a
complete bottom end rebuid which is costing me about Ԛ£2000 (shiney
lightweight ally fly wheel included)
So after all that ive ended up with a fully rebuilt M3 with i hope about
240bhp thats cost me about Ԛ£11000 grand Sport evo teritory yeah (get it
back next week)
Point is i should have just left it alone!!!!!!!!
If ya get one, get a crap one and spend money on it or.
get a nice one and be afraid to spend monet on it????
Either way JUST GET IT!!!!
You wont regret it!!! I havnt and im broke!!!!!
the car was a gem it, drove well had clean body work, despite having NO
service history! If i left it at that it would have gone on forever! Just
servicing and general wear and tear! I had a 2nd inspection 2 done on it
by a local specialist which consist of some quite major stuff for Ԛ£350 all in
which i thiught was spot on! Also normal OEM parts like brake discs/pads
rotor arms and parst like that are reasonably priced if brought from
somewhere like C3 inlondon who will derliver to anywhere!
My problem came when i started playing with it! Not major stuff just more
and more as time went on! Needed new disc, so i got new discs, pads,
braided hoses dot 5.1 fulid!!! Needed new ball joins... so i got ball joints
power flex bushes track rod ends drop links ofset top mounts and a full
apex suspension kit!!!
Probably in total about Ԛ£1000! again not bad!!But then some one told me to do the timing chain!!!!!
So i did the timing chain e36 tensioner full top end rebuild and a set of
Shirck 284 cams! That little lot cost about Ԛ£2500
20 mins after leaving the garage it went bang and has left me with a
complete bottom end rebuid which is costing me about Ԛ£2000 (shiney
lightweight ally fly wheel included)
So after all that ive ended up with a fully rebuilt M3 with i hope about
240bhp thats cost me about Ԛ£11000 grand Sport evo teritory yeah (get it
back next week)
Point is i should have just left it alone!!!!!!!!
If ya get one, get a crap one and spend money on it or.
get a nice one and be afraid to spend monet on it????
Either way JUST GET IT!!!!
You wont regret it!!! I havnt and im broke!!!!!
for 2k buy it
youll break it for more than that easy
take the chance at that money for sure
if you get major problems then break it you wont be out of pocket
john
youll break it for more than that easy
take the chance at that money for sure
if you get major problems then break it you wont be out of pocket
john
John do it.
You'll always regret it if you don't, and you know this is true :p
Purely the parts factor - you won't be out of pocket.
The only problem is the interim 'no money for boiler' problem but lets face it, its not that major - and then theres somewhere to keep it..
Do it!
You'll always regret it if you don't, and you know this is true :p
Purely the parts factor - you won't be out of pocket.
The only problem is the interim 'no money for boiler' problem but lets face it, its not that major - and then theres somewhere to keep it..
Do it!Parts aren't that expensive especially from c3. I've been used to slightly newer cars and the parts for my last VW cost more than they do for the M3. As mentioned above if you get a well sorted one you will spend less on it. I've replaced the rear discs, rear tyres and subframe bushes in the last year and had one full service because it had not been driven for 6 months. Everything else changed was for "other" reasons.
at that price i agree with john. You won't lose out cos you can break it for more.
at that price i agree with john. You won't lose out cos you can break it for more.