Which BMW M car?

[MayerFineJewlery]

Definitely the M5, but I am biased I owned one and should have never sold. Not only are they a ridiculously fun drive but they will only keep gaining value.

[Wesley Crusher]

I think the E46 M3 and the E39 M5 are the most iconic M cars, but my personal favorite is the E60 M5. Of course I am biased because I owned one (Miss it every day. Selling it is one of my few regrets.), but it is a fantastic car. That V10 is glorious.

[Fencer]

Originally Posted by MayerFineJewlery

Definitely the M5, but I am biased I owned one and should have never sold. Not only are they a ridiculously fun drive but they will only keep gaining value.

Comparing the E46 with E39 - the E39 is much older, and hence has more issues.

There are many typical issues with that model, including rust, door leaks, not working electric seats, dead pixels, and the notorious timing chains tensioners.

The carbon deposit is expensive to fix, and seems to affect some cars more than others.

After all, you are talking about a 20 year old car.

The E46 by comparison is younger, and generally less troublesome. In the case of our last one - in close to ten years of service it needed perhaps $500 worth of repairs.

And in terms of driving fun the E46 M3 takes no second seat to anything.

[4vCoupe]

Originally Posted by Ballzzz

So OP what are you thinking?

I’m still exploring my options. I think I’m more focused on finding a clean example of one that is reasonably priced.


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[4vCoupe]

Thoughts on this M Coupe?

90k miles
$20.5k
Service records and no subframe cracks.
The wheels look like they have some curb rash and will need to be redone.




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[Ballzzz]

Originally Posted by 4vCoupe

Thoughts on this M Coupe?

90k miles
$20.5k
Service records and no subframe cracks.
The wheels look like they have some curb rash and will need to be redone.




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Bid em a bit - you will love it!

[ckaynyc]

What year?

[Flex368]

Originally Posted by FLGatorM5

Rare bird. Nice!

Originally Posted by V25V

Love those cars!

Originally Posted by ckaynyc

The clownshoes are great! You have the right motor

Thanks, guys.

Originally Posted by 4vCoupe

Thoughts on this M Coupe?

90k miles
$20.5k
Service records and no subframe cracks.
The wheels look like they have some curb rash and will need to be redone.

Looks like an S52 engined M Coupe. I strongly recommend searching for an S54 version. Otherwise go with the E39 M5. The S52 is a good and reliable engine but both E36 M3 and S52 M Coupe will always lack the performance of the European original M versions IMHO.

Curb rash is pretty normal with an factory offset ET -8 on the rears and many people even have additional spacers installed.

I wouldn´t worry too much about that as they can be quite easily restored on the standard color wheels, very different to to the S54 and E39 M5 Chrome Shadow color wheels which are almost impossible to restore.

[4vCoupe]

Originally Posted by ckaynyc

What year?

1999

S52 engine, if it was an S54 engine it would cost an extra 15-20k.

I’m ok going S52 to save that much money. If I was set on an S54 then an E46 is definitely the way to go.


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[ckaynyc]

Take a look at this E46, bonkers!

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-bmw-m3-36/

[Fencer]

No looking at price!

[ian.thomas]

Originally Posted by ckaynyc

Take a look at this E46, bonkers!

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-bmw-m3-36/

That's hot.

[V25V]

Originally Posted by ckaynyc

Take a look at this E46, bonkers!

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-bmw-m3-36/

That's amazing someone had that car all these years and 16k miles.... I didnt see any rod bearing recall work, wasn't 2003 the year that was affected?


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[ckaynyc]

Originally Posted by V25V

That's amazing someone had that car all these years and 16k miles.... I didnt see any rod bearing recall work, wasn't 2003 the year that was affected?


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Good question, it’s a 2003.5 car which didn’t need the recall.

[ckaynyc]

Originally Posted by V25V

That's amazing someone had that car all these years and 16k miles.... I didnt see any rod bearing recall work, wasn't 2003 the year that was affected?


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$90k

[Ballzzz]

Originally Posted by ckaynyc

$90k

Idiot - A fool and his money

[Wesley Crusher]

Originally Posted by ckaynyc

Take a look at this E46, bonkers!

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-bmw-m3-36/

Beautiful car and very nice, high-end mods, but 90k is nuts. Maybe 50k, but 90k is crazy. Well, big congrats to the seller.

[Rashid.bk]

Of those, E46 M3 six speed, no question.

[ckaynyc]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

Beautiful car and very nice, high-end mods, but 90k is nuts. Maybe 50k, but 90k is crazy. Well, big congrats to the seller.

Spot on, I thought it would ring the bell at $50k but early bidding jumped to $55k. It’s an extremely nice E46 but that’s GT4 money or Shelby 350R plus track day fees.

[V25V]

Originally Posted by Ballzzz

Idiot - A fool and his money

That's insane. I guess someone who spends 75K on a 5711 could easily drop 90K on an E46.....

[4vCoupe]

Originally Posted by V25V

That's insane. I guess someone who spends 75K on a 5711 could easily drop 90K on an E46.....

I read that the 90k bidder fell through. Lol.

Any way here is an update on my car situation. It feels strangely similar to how I have been looking at watches.

Basically I decided to buy an E36 M3 and an E46 M3.

I know this sounds ridiculous on the surface but I do have three submariners. I ended up finding a higher mileage E36 with a blown head gasket. I got it for around $3k. My plan is to do all the work myself and I should be all in for an additional $500 in parts. This car was from the original owner and had a stack of maintenance receipts. I figured this could be my daily beater.

Next weekend I am going to look at an E46 M3 6sp with 66k miles. This one is a two owner car and current owner has had it since 2004. If everything checks out this could be a nice weekend car.

I will eventually get rid of my Tacoma and now my wife is talking about me selling my 93 mustang coupe (since parking is limited). I think she will be good as long as I get rid of one.

Here is a pic of the E36



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[ckaynyc]

Love sedans. Very nice. Do not get rid of the fox coupe! Post pics at least, I have a built 93 GT.

Would love an E36 sedan and do a confetti interior. Good luck, head gasket should be a simple fix.

[Ballzzz]

Originally Posted by 4vCoupe

I read that the 90k bidder fell through. Lol.

Any way here is an update on my car situation. It feels strangely similar to how I have been looking at watches.

Basically I decided to buy an E36 M3 and an E46 M3.

I know this sounds ridiculous on the surface but I do have three submariners. I ended up finding a higher mileage E36 with a blown head gasket. I got it for around $3k. My plan is to do all the work myself and I should be all in for an additional $500 in parts. This car was from the original owner and had a stack of maintenance receipts. I figured this could be my daily beater.

Next weekend I am going to look at an E46 M3 6sp with 66k miles. This one is a two owner car and current owner has had it since 2004. If everything checks out this could be a nice weekend car.

I will eventually get rid of my Tacoma and now my wife is talking about me selling my 93 mustang coupe (since parking is limited). I think she will be good as long as I get rid of one.

Here is a pic of the E36



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97 nice - good luck!

[4vCoupe]

Originally Posted by ckaynyc

Love sedans. Very nice. Do not get rid of the fox coupe! Post pics at least, I have a built 93 GT.

Would love an E36 sedan and do a confetti interior. Good luck, head gasket should be a simple fix.

I was a big mustang guy years back. I fell out of the car hobby and started focusing on watches. I have slowly gotten back in with BMWs. At one point I had 3 or 4 mustangs. Only car I have kept though the years has been my fox coupe. I swapped in a 4V engine from a wrecked 96 cobra. The main reason I don’t drive it is because it’s too loud (I’m getting old)! I need to put in a more tame exhaust but just haven’t had the motivation to do so. Post a pic of your GT.



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[4vCoupe]

Here’s the final update.

I went to see the e46 M3 last weekend but didn’t pull the trigger. I liked the engine and suspension but there was something off for me. While I was in Houston I looked up an e39 M5 that was for sale and decided to check it out as well.

After driving the both cars I decided the M5 was the car for me. Brought this home with me.




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[JP.]

Not much of a BMW guy anymore (I've owned three) but 850 CSi is my favorite BMW and I wouldn't mind owning one. Maybe because it doesn't look like BMW. :D

Yeah it's not "officially" a M-car but actually it is (kinda). I love this model.

[nick c]

This my favorite M girls 0422f25d-f691-43c4-8c4c-5cf54896d165.jpg


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[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by 4vCoupe

Here’s the final update. ...

After driving the both cars I decided the M5 was the car for me.

Congrats! Drive it like you stole it

[ckaynyc]

Originally Posted by 4vCoupe

Here’s the final update.

I went to see the e46 M3 last weekend but didn’t pull the trigger. I liked the engine and suspension but there was something off for me. While I was in Houston I looked up an e39 M5 that was for sale and decided to check it out as well.

After driving the both cars I decided the M5 was the car for me. Brought this home with me.




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Congratulations!

[FLGatorM5]

Originally Posted by 4vCoupe

Here’s the final update.
After driving the both cars I decided the M5 was the car for me. Brought this home with me.




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Congrats!!! Now immediately go remove the mufflers (keep the resonators) and listen to that thing howl like the Euro bat out of hell it is.




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