found a '95 for sale...

[jterp]

I went and looked at a '95 M3 for sale yesterday... It was at a dealer:complain --- it looked really nice.. but one thing i was not sure about... The logo that is inside the door mouldings (on the outside of the car) that says M3-- this car had the door mouldings but the sticker said "BMW motorsport international" instead of M3.. I asked and the dealer said that the carfax was clean and as far as he knows the car has never been in any accidents-- he thinks the stickers in the mouldings were just replaced by the previous owner... but the new stickers are ugly... so why would someone do that? This bugged me... I'm pretty sure its a real M3 .. it has an m motor and the mouldings on the floor right inside the door say m3 and the rear badge says m3... I didnt think to get the vin number until it was too late though. What do you guys think? Am i reading too much into this? Maybe the mouldings got cracked or scratched so they were replaced? ??? I used to sell cars so i have a hard time trusting dealerships..


On an entirely different note... I went in to look at a '97 but liked the '95 better... the dealer also told me that the '95 is more sought after because of the 3.0 motor, and that he couldn't do any better than 18,500 for a '95 with 97k miles... any thoughts? Anyone here prefer a 3.0 to a 3.2?

[BAM3]

$18500 is way high.
I got my 95 with 69,000 for $14,500 this April.

[JamesM3M5]

The Motorsport International door mouldings were on the 1995 M3 Lightweight. Someone probably just stuck them on in place of the originals.

Look at the VIN. If it starts with "WBS", It's a geniune M car.

I like the 3.0L because it's already OBD1. But you can convert a 1996+ back to OBD1 for about a 25HP gain. The OBD-1 motor can be upgraded with cams, chip, injectors, and HFM for a hefty power increase. Make sure you don't get an early 95 M3 with the problematic valve keepers. They should be upgraded already.

BTW--14,500 is a STEAL for only 69k miles. I paid 13,600 for my Avus Blue with 103k miles, and everything except the seat lift lever on the driver's side works.

[jterp]

Thats what i thought... I got the old salesman line "The boss bought this car from a friend of his for himself.. then he decided he has too many cars so he's selling it for what he paid for it..."... followed by "I could cut you a deal on any of the other cars.. but we have a lot of money in this one so i can only go down a couple hundred bucks.."

[jterp]

I'm not familiar with the '95 lightweight.. any chance this is one?

[JamesM3M5]

Only 125 or so 1995 US M3 Lightweights were made. Check out http://www.m3ltw.com

[Jim Bassett]

Well, there's a bunch of info on LTWs here:
http://www.m3ltw.com

Basically, they were all white, no A/C, no radio, aluminium doors, cloth seats. Those are items you can fairly easily check out yourself.

Someone somewhere has complied a list of the LTW VINs, but I don't know off-hand what the URL is. Do a bit of Googling :)

Hope that helps,
Jim Bassett

[jterp]

DEfinately not a lightweight car... those are the mouldings though,..probably thrown on by someone just for the look. THanks for the help!

[DGI]

Originally posted by JamesM3M5
The Motorsport International door mouldings were on the 1995 M3 Lightweight. Someone probably just stuck them on in place of the originals.

Look at the VIN. If it starts with "WBS", It's a geniune M car.

I like the 3.0L because it's already OBD1. But you can convert a 1996+ back to OBD1 for about a 25HP gain. The OBD-1 motor can be upgraded with cams, chip, injectors, and HFM for a hefty power increase. Make sure you don't get an early 95 M3 with the problematic valve keepers. They should be upgraded already.

BTW--14,500 is a STEAL for only 69k miles. I paid 13,600 for my Avus Blue with 103k miles, and everything except the seat lift lever on the driver's side works.

FWIW: Turner now has their Cam kit configured to work with OBD-II cars :) :) :).... they claim ~300HP. Thats just plain exciting.

Next, to the author of this thread... do your research bro. Doesn't sound like you know anything about a car that your about to buy. High mileage E36 M3s could last for quite a while but unless your familiar with them enough to see that they are well maintained (and i'm not just talking about looks) your in for a rude awakening when stuff starts breaking. I'm not trying to turn you off from buying an M, i'm just saying better invest some time learning about this car because it could turn around and bite you in the future. (Plus asking questions like "I'm not familiar with the '95 lightweight.. any chance this is one?" will just make you look like an ass-clown, and no-one wants to be an ass-clown :awink: )

[STL Avus M3]

Originally posted by JamesM3M5
BTW--14,500 is a STEAL for only 69k miles. I paid 13,600 for my Avus Blue with 103k miles, and everything except the seat lift lever on the driver's side works.


That's what I was thinking. Mine was $16,300 with a little over 80K on it. Fortunately everything is prestine minus the mats and a spot on the sunroof trim that won't stay secure.

[andylv]

$18,000 for 95 w/ 97,000 is too much. I bought my 95 M3 w/ 72,000 and a bunch of new parts for $15,750 in August. There is a red 95 M3 w/ 99,000mi in good shape here in town for $11,900. Back in August this dealer was asking $16,000 for the same car. The economy is tight be patient and keep looking.

[MrBlah]

I just paid 18 for 66k miles 95 M3, around here that's a STEAL, it's all about location/demand

[Mikey52]

Also it seems as the winter months approach, the value of sporty cars goes down the crapper. Might wanna wait another month or two before you buy. The price the dealer quoted you sounds pretty rediculous to me. If it really is a nice M3 then offer him like $15k, if he rejects it walk away, plenty of fish in the sea.

This wouldnt happen to be VOB would it?

[jterp]

Next, to the author of this thread... do your research bro. Doesn't sound like you know anything about a car that your about to buy. High mileage E36 M3s could last for quite a while but unless your familiar with them enough to see that they are well maintained (and i'm not just talking about looks) your in for a rude awakening when stuff starts breaking. I'm not trying to turn you off from buying an M, i'm just saying better invest some time learning about this car because it could turn around and bite you in the future. (Plus asking questions like "I'm not familiar with the '95 lightweight.. any chance this is one?" will just make you look like an ass-clown, and no-one wants to be an ass-clown )


FYI, assclown, this is research. I was weary of the car b/c the mouldings were something i had never seen-- and with only 125 lightweights coming into the country i do not feel bad about having never seen one. Why be a prick and tell someone to "do your research" when that is precisely what an internet forum is for? That kind of condescending bullsh*t is the reason i quit going to PCA events. Save your self-righteous "your in for a rude awakening" speech for somewhere else, and stop assuming that just because someone has never seen an obscure, limited production model made 8 years ago that they know nothing about cars.

TO everyone else, thanks for all the advice. I knew the price on the car was too high- that's why i walked away when he said he wasn't willing to deal. As i walked into work this morning I got a call on my cell phone from the dealer-- probably to offer some little incentive to get me back in the showroom... I'm thinking 15k would be a good price for this car...I'll let you know what happens

[Gofast]

Originally posted by jterp
the dealer also told me that the '95 is more sought after because of the 3.0 motor, and that he couldn't do any better than 18,500 for a '95 with 97k miles... any thoughts? Anyone here prefer a 3.0 to a 3.2?

The 95s do tend to be a bit more prized by enthusiasts (Ie people on this board), due to the OBDI engine's adaptability to modification. but that honestly has little or nothing to do with its open market value. The car is older than a 96-99, and should be priced lower as any older car is. I wouldn't go much above $16k for that car.

[vjlax18]

If you buy the car, come out to an Autox, and I'll swap the badges with you, and you can then take a ride with someone and see what the car can really do :D

[jterp]

I plan on autox'ing it.. I just sold my '91 porsche 928 GT that I did a lot of autox and PCA track events with... That was before i moved to DC though (I did them in Pittsburgh where i am originally from) WHat club do you do autox with? I'd love to hear some more info about local stuf.

[MPowerR6]

BMWCCA is pretty active on AutoX-ing and DS. Join it if you haven't already and you'll have a blast.

Jay

[DGI]

I was more under the assumption that the "search" button was where research was to be found. Asking simple questions that have been discussed over and over again is just a waste space on this board. (Had you been doing research, you would have already came up with answers to your questions)

I didn't initially reply to your post with the intent of poking fun at you, but you obviously dont know how to accept my generous guidance.

Just out of curiousity, were you a member of DTM before you registered here? :rolleyes:

[jterp]

Try typing "side door mouldings" into the search box and see what you find.... a couple sets for sale... a thread about door dings...

I have no idea what DTM is.


"...but you obviously dont know how to accept my generous guidance. "

At no time did you provide any guidance whatsoever. You made a lame reference to the movie 'office space' and probably sat at home laughing at yourself for an hour. This board is here for the open exchange of ideas between its members and we certainly don't need your permission to use its space. No one else seemed to mind the questions that were being asked - as an open discussion between multiple members was taking place until you decided to play comedian. If you really have something better to do then don't bother reading the thread.
:bawl

Mikey52 - it's not VOB.. It's actually at Linton motorsports in manassas, VA.. about 35 min. from me.

[nsk223]

18,500 for that car....don't be an idiot. Those cars go at auction for about 10.

[jterp]

At dealer auction ?

[Fastech]

Originally posted by nsk223
18,500 for that car....don't be an idiot. Those cars go at auction for about 10.

Actually, here in the Southeast, that car at a dealer auction would fetch $11k (pretty rough) to 13,500 (pretty clean). They seem to bring way more than Black book would suggest, at least at the bottom end. I know, I look to buy every one I run across (95-98) if it's a deal, but they always seem a bit steep! :mad:

If you know where they regularly bring $10K at auction, let me in on the secret!

Thanks,
Brian Flanagan
Fastech Motorsports:boobies

[jterp]

I've been watching the high end auction runlists for a few weeks now and haven't seen any '95's ... it's hard to tell which are m3's b/c it only lists make-- not model-- ... but haven't seen any '95 BMW's at all.

[Dirty Phil]

I saw a nice ass cosmos black 95 last nite. it was the M3 lux package mfg date 7/95 with 73xxx miles it had eibach springs, dinan CF CAI, TMS Chip, Gen V w/DDE, clear corners, PIAA Xtreme Whites, red/white tail lights, clear sidemarkers with clear bulbs, and it had the lux rims in chrome, his asking price was 15k but i lowered it down to 14k, and he has all of his paperwork. I test drove it last nite. it launches pretty hard compared to other stock E36's ive driven. I think I might get the car here soon. He will even give me the stock headlamps, and the stock boge shocks with struts.

[jterp]

Sounds like a good find.. that's why i like dealing with private sellers as opposed to dealers... Sellers are always more reasonable and realistic when it comes to price..

[iwannadinanm3]

there's quite a few that go through manheim, pa at the auction that are 95 models, every week. Just wait, right now is the end of summer and the prices should be coming down