E36 M3 vs E39 525i

[crackerjack1000]

Hey guys, I'm looking to buy a 328is but their arn't too many to my standards.

I was wondering about a e36 M3, but one questions..

Does it cost more to maintain a e36 M3, over a e39 525i? I'm worried about this as I'm only 17, so what better place to ask than a forum with a bunch of e36 owners.

Thanks

[SouthBeachM3]

I guess it depends... My experience with my e46 330ci was kinda on the expensive side, but not the question with my e36 m3. Im not the savviest guy when it comes to DIY but I guess I can say I get around decently. All my uncles could take apart and engine and put it back together and sometimes Ill rely on them for advice/help/tools. So basically, if you have the time to do most of the DIY yourself, I dont think itll be that expensive at all (sure parts can run you a pretty penny). I would DEFINITELY recommend an e36. whether its a 328is or and ///M, it just depends on how much money you have to spend and the condition of the car. HOWEVER, dont take this the wrong way, but i think I'd have some support from the forum when I say, if youre 17, Id recommend you get the 328is, learn to drive it well, and then maybe later sell it and buy the M. responsibility takes a while to learn even if you think youre already responsible. Unless you have a lot of self control and really are the responsible kinda, not the young dumb full of cum kinda kid.

good luck with your decision

[xcore]

nope, start off with a 318 first, learn about what's driving and how to make good use that limited power u got, then later u can upgrade to a M. Id not get a nice car as my first car since mostly likely u will see her into scrapyard one day. no offense,but even the most careful person would made mistake.

[crackerjack1000]

I guess it depends... My experience with my e46 330ci was kinda on the expensive side, but not the question with my e36 m3. Im not the savviest guy when it comes to DIY but I guess I can say I get around decently. All my uncles could take apart and engine and put it back together and sometimes Ill rely on them for advice/help/tools. So basically, if you have the time to do most of the DIY yourself, I dont think itll be that expensive at all (sure parts can run you a pretty penny). I would DEFINITELY recommend an e36. whether its a 328is or and ///M, it just depends on how much money you have to spend and the condition of the car. HOWEVER, dont take this the wrong way, but i think I'd have some support from the forum when I say, if youre 17, Id recommend you get the 328is, learn to drive it well, and then maybe later sell it and buy the M. responsibility takes a while to learn even if you think youre already responsible. Unless you have a lot of self control and really are the responsible kinda, not the young dumb full of cum kinda kid.

good luck with your decision


nope, start off with a 318 first, learn about what's driving and how to make good use that limited power u got, then later u can upgrade to a M. Id not get a nice car as my first car since mostly likely u will see her into scrapyard one day. no offense,but even the most careful person would made mistake.

I agree with what you guys say, but my dads handing down his 525i, and since its his commute car it has 130k miles on it, and he hasn't really done major service. That's why I am searching for a cheaper car. I completely understand about beginners drivers. I didn't know there was a 318, definitely going to widen up my search.

Just want a fun car to drive around, while all this rich kids around here brag about their new mustangs and camaro's that daddy bought for them.

Also is this a good car to learn manual on?

Thanks.

edit: OHH I remember the 318.. The back is soo ugly :(

[SouthBeachM3]

I agree with what you guys say, but my dads handing down his 525i, and since its his commute car it has 130k miles on it, and he hasn't really done major service. That's why I am searching for a cheaper car. I completely understand about beginners drivers. I didn't know there was a 318, definitely going to widen up my search.

Just want a fun car to drive around, while all this rich kids around here brag about their new mustangs and camaro's that daddy bought for them.

Also is this a good car to learn manual on?

Thanks.

edit: OHH I remember the 318.. The back is soo ugly :(


Youre probably referring to the 318ti... not a big fan either (although i saw an Ls1 swap once... nasty)

but honestly if your a responsible guy, itd be a great car. you really fall in love. Ive had two 95 M3's and the one i have currently ill never get rid of. but honestly if youre dad is handing down the 525, stay with that bro, save youre money up and get something else down the line later. right now we're in an economy that its good to have a little something to your name. But if you had to get a car, I'd prob learn with the 328is. the 318is sint bad either, just way less power.

btw +1 on the whole annoying rich kid thing. my first car at 17 was a e28 528e that my uncle handed down to me... first brake failure later, and the car is still with me in pieces in my garage... but I fell in love with the car, and that how my bmw love began. ill never drive anything else. (and im def not a rich kid) now an adult trying to hustle to make some money

Cheers!

[AlaskaBimmer]

In 4 years of M3 ownership I have replaced the following broken parts:

1) The shift knob (lighted) around $100.00 for OEM less if you go after market.
2) Right rear wheel bearing $550.00 to replace at a shop, THat one is a tough DIY if you lack the special tools for the job.
3) front bumper (slid into a snow bank on the ice at 5 mph with studded tires and ASC+T) $1000.00 for parts and paint (I live in Alaska so the dealer is the only place for big parts since they don't charge shipping)
4) Hood shocks $75.00 for the 2 shocks installed them myself.
5) Under bumoer parts $40-50 the right side porkchop broke due to a cone hit.
6.) fog lights $100.00 or so for depo less for ebay stuff. These things break all the time even if clear filmed. May get blank plates those won't break....
7) shocks: Koni SA $400-600 or more depending on what and where you get them from. If the car you buy has OE shocks they are likely dead after more than a decade of use.
8) rear brakes pads and rotors $200 or more depending on what you get.
9) Tires: those 245/40/17 tires can be pricey I got cheap Hancook RS3s and it was $700 from tirerack....
10) OE headlight bulbs $56.00 for good ones....
11) broken rear diff bolt, and new diff bushings. These are cheap from the dealer. I pulled the diff myself and had a friend with broken bolt extractor and bushing tools so labor wasn't a factor here.
12) my passenger electric mirror stopped working I haven't jumped into that one yet...

I've done lots of other small things, light bulbs, oil changes etc....

With any old car stuff wears out and breaks. in a hammered M car things will probably break more often....Most of the stuff I have done is just normal stuff that eventually wears out (my M was well driven before I bought it). The clutch was replaced when I bought my car by the dealer so if you get a car that hasn't had one of those in forever plan on needing one of those in the near future as well.

So if you do get one of these start a repair/maintenance fund right away, you'll need it. My wife just rolls her eyes when I tell her something in my fleet is broken...My 323 needs a clutch, my 535 has a clunk it didn't used to have, the M3 squeels in the back on hard turns during autocross after everyting gets hot....it never ends so be prepared.

[Volf]

Lets have a reality check first.

What is your monthly income? Will mom & dad be able and/or willing to foot the bill if say the headgasket blows up?

The most important question is how good are you with a wrench? The car will be VERY expensive really quick if you need to take it to a shop to get it fixed. Do you have access to lots of tools?

The car is going to break, its not a honda. Its an (almost) 20 year old german sports car. Just be prepared financially and mentally.

This car is as good as any for learning to drive a manual transmission.

[DiegoMesa]

I agree with what you guys say, but my dads handing down his 525i, and since its his commute car it has 130k miles on it, and he hasn't really done major service. That's why I am searching for a cheaper car. I completely understand about beginners drivers. I didn't know there was a 318, definitely going to widen up my search.

Just want a fun car to drive around, while all this rich kids around here brag about their new mustangs and camaro's that daddy bought for them.

Also is this a good car to learn manual on?

Thanks.

edit: OHH I remember the 318.. The back is soo ugly :(

I'm 16 and i got a 95 m3 for my first car and i love it! I learned how to drive manual the first day i got it. It was fairly easy as long as you have a good teacher. Just make sure you be careful with the money shifting issue on these cars if you do get one. I'm on my second motor after 3 months of owning it.... O and make sure you don't look for the cheapest ones out there, Take your time and find a well maintained one. It will save you a lot of head aches in the future.

[breakfast]

I'm 16 and i got a 95 m3 for my first car


I'm on my second motor after 3 months of owning it....

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-df75K-0ZIdA/Ta-tsZrtA5I/AAAAAAAAAMw/-tTbnXHYJRg/s1600/Asian-Troll-Face.jpg

[Volf]

^^^^



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[DiegoMesa]

Lol I know. Damn money shifting while merging onto a freeway

[lo e36 m3 ol]

I am 17 and have a silver 99 m3. It always puts a smile on my face while driving it. I have to say though, if something happens to go wrong and you don't have a regular job( I do :shifty) or are not good with the wrench you could be digging yourself into a whole. Also if you find one you like and you are seeing it in person ask for recites because like volf has said on another thread "no recites never happened"(or something like that :confused). I found it easy to drive for my first manual and only took a weekend.

DiegoMesa, really?.... giving us a bad name here...:mad

[BimmerBoyUSMC]

I'm 12 my dad let's me drive his m3 it's real real fast and goes vrooom when I push the pedal. My parents give me $20 a week is that enough to fix the car? I can fix my hot wheels with my moms superglue will that work on the m3?

[lo e36 m3 ol]

I saw that one coming ^, I have money saved if anything goes wrong. Don't think that I cut corners just cause I am younger... We are not all dumb...

[DiegoMesa]

Many people twice my age have made the same mistake I made. My age has nothing to do with the error. It could have happened to anyone. I just got careless and ended up paying for it.

[lo e36 m3 ol]

Yup, sh*t happens to all of us. Just stuff like that you want to keep on the dl lol.

[DiegoMesa]

I don't really care lol there's like 3 threads on here where I explain what happened and I ask for help.

[lo e36 m3 ol]

oh, haha, well hopefully you don't do it again. The past 6 months that I have had my car the only problem was one of the koni shocks was leaking oil and making a terrible clicking sound every time I went over a little bump. I thought it was the shock tower(possible crack and making the noise as the shock pushes on it) but after I looked under the car the shock was clearly leaking oil, so I replaced it and problem solved. Just make sure you are ready for the car cracker jack.

[Volf]

Many people twice my age have made the same mistake I made. My age has nothing to do with the error. It could have happened to anyone. I just got careless and ended up paying for it.

Use proper shift technique in the first place and there will never be anything to worry about. Especially if you use a SSK. World of difference.

[crackerjack1000]

Well basically my dad got a new car, and he's given the 525 to me which is great and all, but the car needs about 3-8k put into it. For the price that its going he has a friend who might want to buy it for 7k, and with the money I have right now I can buy one of my other dads friends 328is with 130k miles who is willing to sell it to me for 2.5k which is a good deal if the ppi checks out.

So basically if everything looks good with minor issues I'll have 1k left over of my own cash that i've saved for a car.. and maybe 5-7k from selling the 525 to put into the 328.

I want to go with a M3 because from what you guys are saying it's not over the top expensive but once school comes around and i'm working only part time, than it might be a issue.

But for now I think the 328 is better especially learning manual, because the clutch needs to replaced soon, so as might as well learn on that clutch get the hang of manual than get a new clutch.

Thanks for the help guys! :buttrock

[GotBHP?]

We are not all dumb...

LOL, yes you are. You will understand in a few years.

[crackerjack1000]

well back to square one my dads friend wants 5k for the car no lower... It is impossible to find a 328 in black silver or white with 5spd under 120k miles. ...................................

[mattb2012]

I have posted a 1999 E36 M3 Techno Violet Convertible with a new top, 154,xxx miles, runs like a champ. 5Speed Manual, waxed religiously...

$5K.

I am in San Jose, CA

Thanks,

Matt