The E30 generation BMW 3-series was produced from 1983 through 1994 in various shapes, sizes, and configurations. The slow 318i was a fuel saver, the inline-6 powered 325i was a mixture of quick and smooth, and the 4-cylinder powered M3 was a riot. Today’s E30 started as a basic 325i, but has been given the […]
The E30 generation BMW was built from 1982 through 1994 and sold extremely well. It was the go-to choice for cheap drivers for years, but they are starting to age and nice versions are demanding a premium. Today’s next example is expensive, but not prohibitively so, but it does have a nice S52 engine from […]
The E46 generation of BMW’s M3 stands a top the podium of M3 goodness — the earlier generations have de-tuned US spec motors that are an embarrassment compared to the Euro good stuff and the later cars are over digitized things with roaring V8s and turbomulators — nobody needs that. An M3 should have an […]
It might not seem believable, but driving a cheap used BMW M3 is not actually that expensive. Trust me, I’ve owned a few over the years and I still have both of my kidneys and all of my livers. The most expensive part of M3 ownership is depreciation and if you avoid that…then you’ll find that the regular 3-series bits (door handles, light bulbs, coolant caps) are cheap and the ///M specific stuff (hefty limited slip diffs, 8000+rpm V8s) are over-engineered. Yes, wear items are expensive (brakes, tires, bumper lips, con rod bushings), but not Ferrari expensive and you can do most of the maintenance yourself with a basic set of tools and a set of plastic ramps. But don’t believe me, buy one yourself and then report back here in a few months. Find this 2008 BMW M3 offered for $24,000 CAD ($18,320 USD) in Hinton, Alberta, Canada via Kijiji.net. Tip from Erik202.
BMW wagon owners always complain that BWM didn’t export their best engine/transmission options into their wagons for the US market — and it’s true! The E34 5-series had a V8 and a 6-speed option, but it was never available together on the wagon…perhaps because they assumed wagon owners were family men/women who wanted to just cruise. Anyway, if you want the wagon and you want to have fun, you’ll need to find one that has been modified like this next beast, which is now powered by an E36 M3 drivetrain. Find this 1993 BMW 524iT with S52 inline-6 swap bidding for $5,000 in Burlington, VT via eBay. Tip from Cory.
I’m not one to go around making blanket statements like some kind of high horse ridin’ pundit…but here goes; the E46 M3 is the M3 you want to buy right now. Before we go any further, I want to state that this isn’t my car, although I have one that is very similar in spec/ color /condition /miles…give or take. Suffice to say, I know what I’m talking about when it comes to M3s and I know a little bit about the M3 market…more later. Find this 2003 BMW M3 E46 offered for $9,500 in Oldsmar, FL via eBay.
The 4th generation of the BMW M3 was released in 2007 and it featured a big departure from previous models. Gone was the screaming inline-6 engine and in its place was a throaty V8…which was a heresy according to BMW fanboys but it sold quite well and the 414 horsepower and 295 ft-lbs of torque […]
In the classic car market coupes are almost always worth more than sedans…but there are a few notable exceptions, such as the mid 60s Lincoln Continental (the suicide door equipped sedan is way cooler and more expensive than the coupe) and possibly the E36 generation M3. The 2-door M3 coupe was certainly more common, but […]
BMW’s E46 generation 3 series was sold from 1999 to 2005 and it was known for its well balanced chassis and smooth inline-6 engines. If you want a fast one, you can get the M3 version for less than the price of this next example…but it won’t have a 400+ horsepower V8 that’ll drink 87 […]
If you’ve got $15k to spend on a small late model BMW sedan, you might be tempted to buy a 335i from the previous generation…which would be a good choice, but you might not be familiar with how cheap the E46 generation M3s have become. And while a newer 3-series might be similar on paper […]