"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
05/23/2016 at 10:44 • Filed to: E36 M3, E46 M3, PSA, NPOCP | 2 | 18 |
In looking at
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
and its accompanying sky-high price, I’m reminded, yet again, that prices for
relatively
simple, driver-focused, manual transmission cars are only really going up at this point. I mean, clearly not ALL fun manual cars are appreciating right now. But that 320is is asking
forty-freaking-thousand dollars
. Which immediately sets my mind to, “I bet I could get TWO of some other great car for that kind of money...”
Photo: bmwblog.com
photo: wikipedia
Sure enough, the E36 and E46 M3 are both inarguably great cars and yet they are still common enough and not-yet-old enough to be collector cars yet, for the most part. I think BOTH the E36 and E46 M3 are at a sweet spot right now, where you can get decent examples for around ~10-15k for the former and likely under 20k for the latter. Personally I don’t see these numbers coming down much. Maybe on the E46? But in the mean time countless more examples will be stanced to death or otherwise ruined or crashed. So here’s my PSA. GO AND BUY ONE NOW.
Back to your regularly scheduled Monday...
PS9
> functionoverfashion
05/23/2016 at 10:53 | 2 |
That example is atypical for a lot of reasons. It’s not an indication of an imminent inflation of the whole E63/46 market.
66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
> functionoverfashion
05/23/2016 at 10:55 | 2 |
Yeah I’m betting these M3s will have the same thing happen to them as the E30s, if not a little bit sooner....
I need an E46 M3 so this makes me nervous, I won’t be able to afford one for quite a few more years :((((
functionoverfashion
> PS9
05/23/2016 at 10:56 | 0 |
True, but it more reminded me of the E30 M3 price craziness. ...
Textured Soy Protein
> functionoverfashion
05/23/2016 at 10:59 | 1 |
I dunno, I get your point but this 320is is a very particularly specific car hence the high price. E36 M3 Lightweight like in your pic would be another example of such a car.
Party-vi
> functionoverfashion
05/23/2016 at 11:01 | 4 |
The BMW E46 is the best driving piece of shit I have ever owned.
FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
> functionoverfashion
05/23/2016 at 11:04 | 1 |
I could have gotten a 320is for €17.800 in 2014. I want to punch myself for not buying it. But a) I didn’t have the money and b) I didn’t have the space.
WiscoProud
> Party-vi
05/23/2016 at 11:12 | 0 |
Yeah, every time I start getting interested in them, I google "common problems with E46 M3" and it nips it right in the bud
functionoverfashion
> Textured Soy Protein
05/23/2016 at 12:09 | 1 |
True, you’re right about that. I think you just have to really want something that others don’t have, whether or not it’s actually a better car than something 1/4 the price.
It’s like buying a $300 single bottle of wine when you could have several excellent bottles for much less. And the $300 bottle of wine is only more money because of some rarity of production, not because it’s in any way better, necessarily.
functionoverfashion
> 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
05/23/2016 at 12:13 | 0 |
It’s a tough one... I probably could have bought a 911 a few years ago for well under $20k, but wanted to “wait a few years and save up some more.” Then I bought a house got married and had kids. AND 911 prices have skyrocketed. So... I’d say I missed my window.
66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
> functionoverfashion
05/23/2016 at 12:20 | 1 |
Yeah but as someone just graduating high school I can’t afford an M3 in the first place. Maybe I’ll buy one as soon as I get the chance and rarely drive it as an investment (god knows I wouldn’t be able to resist), but for now I don’t think so :(((((
One in Leguna Seca blue would be perfect, manual, coupe or convertible idc.
Reece-Current Stinger GT owner
> functionoverfashion
05/23/2016 at 13:28 | 0 |
Skip the E36. Get an E46. Hoon all day. Make profit all night.
Reece-Current Stinger GT owner
> Party-vi
05/23/2016 at 13:28 | 0 |
I can second this.
derf
> Party-vi
05/23/2016 at 13:31 | 0 |
Heheheh. That’s not a bad way to put it, although the M hasn’t been too bad to me yet. This is the fourth year I’ve had it, and so far let’s see... coil packs, alternator (twice, but 2nd one warrantied), power steering pump, left front control arm, control arm bushings all around, and rear shock mounts.
The alternator failure was close enough to home that it didn’t strand me, but it did mean that instead of going to an autocross test and tune I got to spend some quality time swearing at the old alternator while persuading it to come off, and swearing at the new one while persuading it to go on.
functionoverfashion
> Reece-Current Stinger GT owner
05/23/2016 at 13:39 | 0 |
My ONLY reason for liking the E36 is the availability of a 4-door because kids. A friend picked one up a few years ago, it was clean and only cost like 8 grand. 4 door. He had it ONE DAMN DAY and crashed it, before I had a chance to drive it. Jerk. Glad he was ok though.
Reece-Current Stinger GT owner
> functionoverfashion
05/23/2016 at 13:40 | 0 |
The back seat is actually pretty big on the E46. If you dont mind a little extra work it’s well worth it.
RallyWrench
> functionoverfashion
05/23/2016 at 13:46 | 0 |
I’ve actually got a line on a Laguna Seca blue E46 for $10k, and it’s not too beat up. Wish I could swing the money right now, I kick myself for not buying an E30 M3 for under $10k when I had the chance, and for selling my E28 M5 minutes before they skyrocketed.
Party-vi
> derf
05/23/2016 at 14:33 | 0 |
Did you try swearing in German? It might help.
twinturbobmw
> functionoverfashion
05/23/2016 at 19:05 | 1 |
I’ve seen that the prices of both staying about the same in the past few years, and maybe even going up slightly. I think it has a lot to do with specification too. A blue or purple E36 with cloth interior or white manual E46 is gonna appreciate way more than a earlier model in silver or grey.