E36 M3 worth it in 2024

[Kevinl]

I used to own a 1997 E36 328I sport with the manual 20 years ago was getting ready to trade it for a E36 M3 and bought a Subaru Wrx sti instead. Since then i have been thinking about a E36 M3 i should of bought one 10years ago when they were cheap

Fast Forward to today i have the means to buy one a decent one that doesnt need much cosmetically seems to start around 20k not as worried as much about mechanicals because i am very good mechanically and they are pretty easy to work on

So the question is spending 20k on a E36 M3 a decent idea for a F80 owner or am I just blinded by nostalgia

[JD_BMW]

You seem to be blinded by the nostalgia of checking out much Daytona purple 1997 3-Series... you know the drill, lol - can't be really wanting that over your current F80 M3. Those prices are inane for it. It should realistically cost closer to $5k than anything too.

[IcewaterPete]

I say go for it!

Since you have the mechanical talent and the means to acquire and improve one get one. At the very least you learn a little more and enjoy it for a bit. You can always sell it if it doesn’t live up to your expectations.

[W///]

I currently own an M4 GTS and E36 M3 together and they are complimentary cars. I've owned mine since about 2013 and have put about 40k miles on it. It doesn't get driven much these days.

I think it's pretty silly to think they're $5k-10k cars like they used to be 10 years ago, but as a buyer, $20k is also steep (great for me when I sell though). I think they're a blast to drive because you can really hammer them around and not be doing 2x the speed limit. My issue with them is that the interior is always falling apart which gets annoying to fix.

If you set aside the nostalgia, I personally think the Z4M Roadster is a better buy at $20k. I've mentioned it many times, but I think that's probably one of the best value for $ cars out there.

[Chihuahua]

E-chassis cars are what made BMW BMW. If you have the means, mechanical ability, and the space to house it I say go for it. Dakar yellow or Techno violet, manual of course. Good luck, happy hunting.

[W///]

Forgot to include a picture. While the GTS would murder the E36 in every performance aspect 10 times over, look at the size difference:

[tracer bullet]

I wonder if you could (say through BMWCCA) find one locally, and check it out. Get a ride in it, see it, chat w/ the owner. Maybe you'd then either 1) fall in love and want one or 2) decide it was nostalgia and you'd really rather have something else.

[Hadden14]

I would love to have another as a limited use vehicle to tinker with. My first M car was a techno violet e36, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The f80 is an amazing machine, but I felt I could get more "fun" out of the e36 without constantly worrying I was doing twice the speed limit. F80 seems bored unless you are breaking the law, the e36 gave you a performance car feeling even at lower speeds, if that makes sense.

That being said, the US spec e36 has its cons, it does feel underpowered and the interior likes to creak fall apart. Pros are if you are mechanically savvy they are pretty straightforward to work on.

Having had both I would not buy an e36 for $20k, its just not worth that in my opinion. I also know if I bought another one it would get very expensive very quick to make it the car I want it to be.

[John in VA]

E36 M3 prices have been on the rise over the past 10 years. It wasn't my favorite platform (vs. E30 or E46), but someone must be loving them!

[BlkGS]

You'd be bat shit crazy to pay $20k for an E36. You're WAY drunk on nostalgia..

[M-technik-3]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...5615411692509/

This one here in the North East. 13.5k Shame it's a slush box but not that much work to swap over to a manual. I did that with mine.

[pbonsalb]

If that is the white sedan, I am familiar with the car. Really nice shape and fanatically maintained. The slush box is good in some respects — you know the engine was not money shifted (overrevved in a misshift). Swapping to a manual is not that big of a deal though manual boxes have gone up in price. Still much cheaper than a motor.

[M-technik-3]

I just copied it from BFc linked thread. Like I mentioned I am surprised Butters did put a turbo in it. Decent looking car, I'd rather have a 4 door but I still have my 95 coupe.

[B58 parts]

I decided to keep the 328is and go all the way with it. I'm not going to make it a track car either, just a nice summer car. The gearbox is so good around town, and the power level is just right where I can't get in any trouble. I get all kinds of compliments on it, even from women, which has been really weird.

I have the interior stripped, over the winter I'm going to strip it _completely_ before dragging it to a restoration shop to get the shell cleaned up. I've had one guy look at it so far and he said it's really not that bad. I just need to get everything completely off so nothing is hiding.

It's been a little frustrating in the parts catalog the past few weeks, a bunch of "no longer available" happening. The crank pulley bolt is completely long gone for example. I'm pissed. However the carpet for a sedan / coupe in black was still available. I didn't really want to do it but I decided to go ahead and order it just based on the scarcity, and if I didn't later I'd probably be regretting it once they are gone. It came in yesterday and is going to look so nice in there, replacing the nasty gray with nearly 30 years of coffee stains. As far as I know there's one left at the dealer and there's one left at a certain vendor and that's it. I considered buying them and hoarding them to extort people later but decided against that.

The m52 sounds about like it's going to blow up on cold start, so I'm doing the lifters, timing chains, and vanos rebuild. I was supposed to work on that tonight but I'm tired, because the flywheel lock pin hole was missing the little cover and had some rust in there, so I had to spend about 4 hours sanding that to get the lock pin in. And then I couldn't get the damn timing cover off because of the little dowel pins also being seized in there. But I caved and took the entire oil filter housing off just so I could hammer the one pin from the back side of the transmission and was able to get the cover off late last night. If it wasn't for age / rust this would have been a pretty quick job, but it is kicking my ass.

[pbonsalb]

I have had my 99 M3 since 2005 and still like it though I have not driven it much in the past few years. I get more attention in it than I got in my former E90 M3 and current F90 M5. I might restore and detune it. Love seeing them on the road. Was just in Washington DC and saw a very nice white E36 M3 sedan and had a brief but fun high speed run with a modded blue E36 M3 on the New Jersey Turnpike on the way back to the Northeast. It could not keep up with my modded M5, though my own built motor turbo E36 M3 could.

[Hagasan41]

The market dictates the price and history shows the E36 platform is absolutely coming into its own. If you have the means go for it! I love my E36 and like pbonsalb said, mine also get's tons of attention. It's been parked next to exotic's at the local C&C and always draws more interest.

The nostalgia and driving experience is so raw and rewarding. It simply isn't replicated by modern BMW's. Yes, parts going NLA has been a bit frustrating at times, but scouring the internet is just part of the ownership experience and the price you pay for a 25 year old car. I've personally enjoyed the collector car hobby and it makes a wonderful stalemate to my E92 M3.

Being good mechanically will absolutely help mitigate the cost of owning. ~$20k is a good starting point for a nicely sorted one for sure! Some photos of mine to inspire you! LOL. Good luck!

[LAGWAGN]

Originally Posted by Hagasan41

The market dictates the price and history shows the E36 platform is absolutely coming into its own. If you have the means go for it! I love my E36 and like pbonsalb said, mine also get's tons of attention. It's been parked next to exotic's at the local C&C and always draws more interest.

The nostalgia and driving experience is so raw and rewarding. It simply isn't replicated by modern BMW's. Yes, parts going NLA has been a bit frustrating at times, but scouring the internet is just part of the ownership experience and the price you pay for a 25 year old car. I've personally enjoyed the collector car hobby and it makes a wonderful stalemate to my E92 M3.

Being good mechanically will absolutely help mitigate the cost of owning. ~$20k is a good starting point for a nicely sorted one for sure! Some photos of mine to inspire you! LOL. Good luck!

What a beauty!

[pbonsalb]

Honestly, I had an E90 M3 for 10 years and you can find them for $15-30k and they are a lot more car per dollar than the E36 M3. Up in that price range, there are options. E36 M3, E46 M3, E90/92 M3.

I sold my E90 M3 since to me the F90 M5 replaced it as a daily driver. I did keep the E36 M3, but it has some sentimental value to me since I have had it almost 20 years and modded it seriously with a built turbo motor. If I was standing on the outside thinking about buying an older car, I’d go for the E90/92 M3. It is a driveable classic with a rare high rpm V8. My next choice would be the E46 M3, which has a special high rpm I6. Last choice would be the USA E36 M3.

But sometimes childhood dreams are what counts most.

[W///]

Originally Posted by Hagasan41

The market dictates the price and history shows the E36 platform is absolutely coming into its own. If you have the means go for it! I love my E36 and like pbonsalb said, mine also get's tons of attention. It's been parked next to exotic's at the local C&C and always draws more interest.

The nostalgia and driving experience is so raw and rewarding. It simply isn't replicated by modern BMW's. Yes, parts going NLA has been a bit frustrating at times, but scouring the internet is just part of the ownership experience and the price you pay for a 25 year old car. I've personally enjoyed the collector car hobby and it makes a wonderful stalemate to my E92 M3.

Being good mechanically will absolutely help mitigate the cost of owning. ~$20k is a good starting point for a nicely sorted one for sure! Some photos of mine to inspire you! LOL. Good luck!

I seriously cannot get over how clean your car is. That's truly a labor of love.

[Hagasan41]

Originally Posted by W///

I seriously cannot get over how clean your car is. That's truly a labor of love.

Absolutely. Love the GTS and the Techno!

[M-technik-3]

The resident idiots take on the E36 which I'm sure you have seen before. Oh he calls himself that. I enjoy his videos.

[B58 parts]

I hope my interior restoration comes out half that nice. If you ever have a mental breakdown and decide to make it a drift car and strip the interior, let me know. Wow.

I got the damn timing cover on okay. New chain and guides are in. Later I'll pull the cams and vacuum pump up the new lifters.This is just taking forever.