For some reason, it's hard for me to believe you can get an E90 this cheap

"E90M3" (e90m3) 06/11/2019 at 09:31 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping with E90M3

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Then again, I was getting into cars right as the E90s were rolling out on to the market. BMW was what got me into cars and probably one main reasons the three cars I have purchased have been BMWs; c oincidentally , all from around this era. Admittedly , I wasn’t really a fan of the E90 when it came out. Two things changed that for me, the introduction of the M3 in 2007 and the LCI in 2009. The M3 fixed what I thought was the worst part about the E90, the kidneys as all E9X M3s share the same facade. The LCI fixed my second least favorite aspect of the E90, the tail lights. The LCI also changed the kidneys for the rest of the E90 range.

Now, back to this E90. I think the price is somewhat surprising to me because I feel like whenever we get into cars, the cars that were on the road then always seem newer than they are, or at least that holds true for me. I forget at times that the E90 went out of production 8 years ago, because of this I always forget they’re older then they actually are. So I never immediately think 10 year old car that can be had for a fraction of what it originally cost. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

At $3500, it’s a fraction of what it cost new, more than a decade ago. Despite the age, and because the ad fails to list the miles, we can assume high miles, it looks pretty decent. Interior looks pretty clean as well.

There is some wear on some trim pieces in the rear, but it wouldn’t be a deal breaker.

Ah, the pre-LCI tailights. While they’ve grown on me over the years, still prefer the LCI taillights .

Same thing with the kindeys, much better after the LCI.

But at $3500, I would forgive these minor foibles if I needed a beater E90.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 09:35

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For the price, I’d assume you get a free salvage or rebuilt title thrown in .

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 09:36

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I was 3 years old when that car came out. Time flies, and now here I am. Plus depreciation always seems to hit BMWs especially hard.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 06/11/2019 at 09:39

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Edit: nevermind you fixed it carry on

WilliamsSW > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 06/11/2019 at 09:42

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First thing I looked at in the ad was the title status . I was expecting the same thing.

I think E90M3 needs to increase his hoard by one...

E90M3 > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 06/11/2019 at 09:43

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It looks really clean, so I assume it just has done a lot of miles, since it’s not listed. Ones with 250k+ seem to be in this price range. 

412GTI > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 09:45

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Kinda funny to see a BMW so cheap in the town that produces new ones.

I thought similarly of the E90, it was okay when it came out, but I much preferred the facelift. Today I can appreciate both. 

E90M3 > WilliamsSW 06/11/2019 at 09:47

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While I would want another one, I’ve got other finical goals I’d like to accomplish. Actually, I’ve doing more unnecessary watch shopping than car shopping. 

WilliamsSW > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 06/11/2019 at 09:48

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Depreciation hits the notoriously unreliable BMW models very hard - but this isn’t one of them with an NA I6. However,  it is 13 years old and probably has a bazillion miles on it.

E90M3 > 412GTI 06/11/2019 at 09:48

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It is a bit ironic, I didn’t think about that.

I feel you on the sentiment about appreciating  both.

WilliamsSW > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 09:49

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“Other financial goals”

So....  C63 AMG?

E90M3 > WilliamsSW 06/11/2019 at 09:56

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I wish, but unless something major changes in my life, that'll remain a pipe dream.

Chariotoflove > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 09:56

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Beater E90 sounds funny. That’s beater  Miata money.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > WilliamsSW 06/11/2019 at 10:04

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I won’t let him before he gets that E34 M5 he’s been contemplating for over a year now.

WilliamsSW > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 06/11/2019 at 10:10

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Whynotboth.jpg

B_dol > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 10:10

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BMW produced these by the truckload - no mileage listed tells me this is a high mile example with issues waiting.

E9X wagon, sedan or M variant for me, prefer the non-turbo for long term running costs.

E90M3 > Chariotoflove 06/11/2019 at 11:12

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It is a strange paradigm shift. 

PS9 > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 11:12

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WANT...

...but old BMW thats ‘cheap’ but not at all really cheap. $3500 is a down payment with these.

STILL WANT...but cannot get. Sadness. 

PS9 > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 11:14

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Carmax and a few years of wear and tear can turn this pipe dream into THC reality. 

E90M3 > PS9 06/11/2019 at 11:29

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It really depends on how it was taken care of.

Keylube > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 11:32

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My friend has a 330i with 190K miles. No major issues, little stuff like oil pan leaking, worn engine mounts. Stuff that you expect to wear out. The N52 was a really good engine, it showcased that turbocharging really reduced the life of an engine when compared to an NA counterpart (N54 vs N52) etc etc

E90M3 > Keylube 06/11/2019 at 11:34

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The major problems with the N52 seem to be gaskets and coils. I got the 328i over the 335i as my DD because the N52 seems to be more reliable. 

Gerry197 > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 12:30

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I have an E46 & E90, both with manual transmissions. There is no such thing as a a “cheap” E90 beater. Cheap to buy yes, but maybe not everything else.

Do a good pre-inspection and add up the costs of those minor foibles, they add up real quick.   

E90M3 > Gerry197 06/11/2019 at 13:02

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I think it really comes down to the owner. Is it a one owner car that has been garaged all its life and fastidiously maintained and only cheap because it has 250k miles on it ? Probably alright. Although , that might be stretching the term beater.

Gerry197 > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 13:17

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Make sure to inspect the cooling system, in particular the electric water pump has been changed on time, which many recommend at 60K. I’ve been lucky to hit 100K before changing them.   

E90M3 > Gerry197 06/11/2019 at 13:19

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Mine is just bellow 80k, probably going to think about doing that soon. 

Alec > Gerry197 06/11/2019 at 13:51

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Changed mine for the first time at 187k mil es ... Died suddenly, engine went into idiot mode and then stalled. Changed the pump - no further issues, runs fine. Hit 201k miles last week.

Jordan > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 14:04

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$3500 can get you a decent E46. An E90 at E46 money is probably a bad example. The fact that the ad has very little info on the car doesn’t fill me with confidence either.

I know what you mean about thinking of old cars as still being modern. I was interested in cars as a toddler, and I still think of the E46 as being modern.

E90M3 > Jordan 06/11/2019 at 14:49

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I think there are some exceptions out there, just not as many because good examples usually command more than 3500. Give it another couple years and we’ll see if any fall into this range.

Gerry197 > Alec 06/11/2019 at 14:55

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Yup, those pumps are hit and miss, you got really lucky if that was the original one. 

los_blancos > 412GTI 06/11/2019 at 16:42

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I have had my 2006 325i since new. 170k miles. I love it to death but living without a garage has resulted in a ton of deferred maintenance and I will be giving it a rest soon until I can work on it and fully restore it. The facelift is definitely better from the front (though I prefer the pre-LCI mirrors and taillights). It needs a new bumper so among my tasks will be a LCI conversion for the front end if i can find a hood. 

LSutton > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 17:01

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I bought a  08 335i for this price. Just needed a little 10a fuse..lol 

PanchoVilleneuve ST > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 17:20

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Because they’re old enough that the stuff that starts to age and go bad on any car are starting to age and go bad and parts are expensive. It’s the same reason why you can get a mid-2000s Boxs ter for basically a Snickers bar and high five.

Cbr1000f > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 18:44

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E90 N51/N52 makes for a great daily driver. All-wheel-drive, reasonable seating for four, dependable and a pleasure to drive . I gave mine to my daughter who has not managed to kill it despite her best efforts . The in-line six is super smooth and super sweet

superdave847 > E90M3 06/11/2019 at 20:50

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I believe the 325i was still natural induction, right? The DINAN mods were larger throttle body and bore the engine.

TheDudeAbides_(version 2.0) > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 06/12/2019 at 06:14

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That’s a concern with any car this old, but that price in no way suggests it. That’s a fair price assuming this car has less than 200k on the odo.

E90M3 > superdave847 06/12/2019 at 06:16

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Add E9Xs were naturally aspirated until the 335i was introduced  for th e 2008 MY. The rest, at least for the NA market, were all N/A: 325i, 328i, 330i, and M3. 

TheDudeAbides_(version 2.0) > E90M3 06/12/2019 at 06:21

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It’s 14 years old, and the only obvious option is navigation which at 14 years old is actually a drawback. This is a fair price assuming the odo reads less than 200k.

It’s manual (yes, to us that’s a feature, but average Americans suck at cars and don’t want that), it doesn’t have the sport, luxury, or winter packages, no comfort access, no xenons, no adaptive cruise control, e tc. . This is for all intents and purposes a base E90.  The more I think about it, the more I'm thinking this is a little high for what it offers unless it's under 100k miles. 

IndianaJonesy > E90M3 06/12/2019 at 07:00

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Wow...almost makes me feel like I overpayed for mine. Picked up an 09 328i in December for 8k. Granted, it is an LCI, an M Sport, and only has 45k on the clock, but it also needed some work (small radiator leak, new brakes, windshield seal) and even though it's a clean title had a front end collision. Ironically, this was also in upstate SC...

TheDudeAbides_(version 2.0) > Jordan 06/12/2019 at 07:33

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It’s base model E90 with the exception of the paint color and nav. The paint color doesn’t affect resale at all (since it’s base black and not the dark blue (which was a $600 option) my terrible monitor made it look like to me) , and 14yo nav equipment that wasn’t all that great to begin with isn’t exactly a must have option. There are no other options that I can see (it’s got the leatherette, for crying out loud, not even leather), so this price is fair, maybe even a little high if it has the average miles or more on it.

E90M3 > IndianaJonesy 06/12/2019 at 07:38

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Yours also a manual? I paid 17k for a 40k mile one owner 2009 E92 M-Sport 6MT 328i   back in early 2017.

IndianaJonesy > E90M3 06/12/2019 at 07:40

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(delete)

IndianaJonesy > E90M3 06/12/2019 at 07:41

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It is. Sedan, though. Would've loved a wagon, but at the time I thought it was a deal too good to pass on. 

E90M3 > IndianaJonesy 06/12/2019 at 07:46

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I assumed E90 when you said LCI, the E92 didn’t get that treatment until 2011. I’d consider that a very good deal. 

TheDudeAbides_(version 2.0) > TheDudeAbides_(version 2.0) 06/12/2019 at 07:50

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I might be wrong about the leather, some photos the color doesn’t look as off as others. Could be a bad camera or lighting issue.

Also the exterior really looks like the Monaco Blue Metallic to me even though the listing calls it black.

IndianaJonesy > E90M3 06/12/2019 at 08:33

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It is actually an ‘11...not sure why I wrote 09. That’s what my Mini was...still habit I guess!

qbeezy > Keylube 06/12/2019 at 09:37

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I think the N52 will be my next project car. Currently have a 323i e46. Replaced almost everything cooling, water pump is still playing nice. And now that I have my feet wet, I am wanting to get into the next gen.

ENTHUSIAST > E90M3 06/12/2019 at 19:31

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You probably will have an oil leak that will cost about $500-$13000 or a total of $1600 worth or oil leaks alone I thought I had a good buy. 

Classy Jalopy > E90M3 06/12/2019 at 22:37

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I paid $ 4k for an 06 e60 530xi 6mt with M sport package, individual package with burst orange leather interior, self leveling headlights, winter package and comfort plus access package with 130k miles and extensive maintenance history!

No other cars are thay affordable