The Struggle: Craigslist M Cars

"alexotics" (alexotics)
09/16/2014 at 15:27 • Filed to: Craigslist

Everyday I scan Craigslist in Canada and around the West Coast for a variety of manual RWD automobiles, but in particular I look for:

- Unmolested E30 M3s

- Six-speed 2005-2006 M3s

- 2001+ E39 M5s with lower mileage

- Manual 911s of all ages

In the last few days I've found a '88 M5 for $13.5k but with more mileage than 10 pristine examples put together. An awesome Silverstone E39 M5 being sold by a mechanic for $8k but probably too hot to touch, a yellow E30 M3 with highly questionable history and painted yellow, and an unlisted E30 M3 with 100,000 kilometers in Canada but with no history and lots of aftermarket parts for C$40,000. There are a few Competition Pack late E46 M3s around but they're all with the autotragic SMG box.

I try to always look on the bright side, but after spending this much time checking classifieds you tend to sometimes hit a low point. I think I need a break from classifieds for a while.

Anyone else on OPPO feel the struggle sometimes?

DISCUSSION (35)

AM3R > alexotics
09/16/2014 at 15:29

I always find E36 M3's around me that have super high miles and stupidly cheap mods done to them for around $4-5k. All the good low mileage ones are only like $6k... But they're all auto :(

E92M3 > alexotics
09/16/2014 at 15:32

Yes! I couldn't find an E90 Comp Package that was alpine white with a black interior ANYWHERE except in Socal. All the others had fox red interiors. After a few months I got an E92 instead. I was searching CL, AutoTrader, Cars.com, and BMW USA. Sometimes I regret not waiting it out.

Matt@ShiftCarBlog > alexotics
09/16/2014 at 15:33

I too feel the struggle. I don't currently feel like dropping the money on an E30 M3 at their current rates, the E36 M3 is just too bland for me to seek one out, and the E46 M3's are frequently salvages or modded to hell. There are good examples to be found in the forum classifieds though: e46fanataics, m3forum, bimmerpost, etc...

GhostZ > alexotics
09/16/2014 at 15:38

I try to find rust-free 240Zs for under $4000.

I cry myself to sleep every night.

Manuél Ferrari > AM3R
09/16/2014 at 15:41

What ever happened to that package deal?

Looks like you're just gonna have to buy my super low mileage (but SMG) M3 for $22K!

Manuél Ferrari > E92M3
09/16/2014 at 15:42

Interesting. Where you searching strictly for manual cars or was DCT also an option?

I live in So Cal and I bought my E90 M3 used. It's Alpine White on black and has the comp pack. But it's DCT.

FriskyDingo > alexotics
09/16/2014 at 15:48

Is it strange i'd rock the yellow one?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > alexotics
09/16/2014 at 16:03

10k for an E39 M5: http://pensacola.craigslist.org/cto/4668582402…

Limited modifications, but needs a little work(like all E39 M5's).

n54 & s38 > alexotics
09/16/2014 at 16:06

Where you at? I'm in Calgary and I've hads my eye on this 1990 E34 M5 in Ontario for quite a while.

Textured Soy Protein > alexotics
09/16/2014 at 16:06

It's a struggle to find any fun vehicles here in Madison, WI. The only performance cars that are even remotely common here are Miatas, Corvettes, WRXes and muscle cars. Generally anything else you have to go out of town or wait around for a while.

RallyWrench > alexotics
09/16/2014 at 16:21

I struggle because I sold my 200k mile but solid E28 M5 a few years ago for $7500 to help get into a house, and now I want another one and they're double that. Goddammit! I passed on a ratty E30 M3 a couple years before that for $7k. Goddammit! About the same time I also passed on a '73 911E sunroof coupe that needed paint but was mechanically sorted for $12k. Goddammit!

Want to make money while enjoying a cool car? Buy when I sell, or buy when I pass. Goddammit!

AM3R > Manuél Ferrari
09/16/2014 at 16:29

He scraped the side of the 944 on the E36 M3 while parking in his garage... And then tried to change the price we agreed on to a number around $3k higher. After about a week of back and forth. NO THANKS.

Manuél Ferrari > AM3R
09/16/2014 at 16:31

nooooooo!

Ok time to come buy my E46!

AM3R > Manuél Ferrari
09/16/2014 at 16:33

Not even kidding, if it was like $16k I probably would. I'd spend the rest of my money turning it the perfect canyon carver. If the SMG ever failed I'd just swap a 6MT in.

Manuél Ferrari > AM3R
09/16/2014 at 16:36

that swap is very complex and expensive!

Probably cheaper to fix SMG

alexotics > RallyWrench
09/16/2014 at 16:37

Hahahahaha the struggle is real! This reminds me of an episode of Seinfeld where George sets out to do the opposite of everything he thinks is right.

alexotics > Matt@ShiftCarBlog
09/16/2014 at 16:38

Forgot about bimmerpost. I used to be on there a few years back. Thanks for the reminder.

alexotics > Textured Soy Protein
09/16/2014 at 16:38

We could use some more muscle cars up here in Vancouver, BC.

AM3R > Manuél Ferrari
09/16/2014 at 16:38

I knew it was complex but I figure the parts would be much cheaper. I'm not good enough to DIY that whole thing so you're probably right.

alexotics > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
09/16/2014 at 16:39

Beat this! https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/465544…

alexotics > n54 & s38
09/16/2014 at 16:40

Vancouver. Calgary is a tough place to find cool cars. Although you get the occasional new money kid that's dumping his Lamborghini Gallardo on the market after using and abusing it for several years.

alexotics > FriskyDingo
09/16/2014 at 16:43

I would too. In fact, I even tweeted one a while back. But the seller is extremely uncommunicative and generally unhelpful. Bad sign of things to come. And I have reason to believe that the car's had a showcar - racecar - then abusive past.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > alexotics
09/16/2014 at 16:45

Either way, I wouldn't touch either of them with a 10 foot pole.

Textured Soy Protein > alexotics
09/16/2014 at 16:53

Well it's mostly your run-of-the mill Camaro SS, Mustang GT and Challenger R/T variants, not the crazy ones.

Too many M's > alexotics
09/16/2014 at 17:04

I spent two years looking for my E46 M3. Phoenix Yellow (had to be that or Laguna Seca Blue) 2005, 48k miles, 6-spd, slicktop, OEM CSL wheels, no options except Xenons. They're out there, hold out for what you want!

Kinja'd!!!

Manuél Ferrari > AM3R
09/16/2014 at 17:05

I wonder if you can get a clean title high-mileage SMG car for $12K yet

For that price you could pay someone to do the swap and engine rebuild and probably still be way under a low-mileage Manuél car cost

E92M3 > Manuél Ferrari
09/16/2014 at 17:21

I was looking strictly for a DCT.

Manuél Ferrari > E92M3
09/16/2014 at 17:27

I guess I got lucky then!

AM3R > Manuél Ferrari
09/16/2014 at 17:28

I've been seeing a few ~120k SMG E46 M3's for around $10k on craigslist!

Manuél Ferrari > AM3R
09/16/2014 at 17:30

Ahhh yis! You can build a solid Manuél car for under $20K then. You don't even need to do an engine rebuild at 120K. Just some maintenance.

E92M3 > Manuél Ferrari
09/16/2014 at 18:29

I found a couple in Socal, but I live on the otherside of the country. It seems you can find anything you desire in or around LA though.

alexotics > Too many M's
09/17/2014 at 12:54

I love these stories with happy endings. I don't think I've ever come across a Phoenix Yellow one from 2002 onward.

alexotics > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
09/17/2014 at 12:55

You're so right. But man do I want that Silverstone M5.

Too many M's > alexotics
09/17/2014 at 13:40

It's a love or hate color, the one's who love it hang onto it :) I definitely am.

About five years ago I came across a PY with Cinnamon leather, such a wild combo. I wish I had been able to swing that but I was still in Germany, it was in California and the owner was in Italy. Wild situation.

Don't neglect the forums or the BMWCCA site.

alexotics > Too many M's
09/17/2014 at 14:08

One day I will own a 2005 or 2006 M3 Competition with a 6-speed. That day; however, is not today.