I bought my M3 17 years ago today...

[SIIDEWAYS]

And so, another year has passed (well, next Tuesday anyway). Mostly uneventful as far as the M is concerned, although I just barely passed smog recently and finally fixed that oh-so-annoying squeak/rattle out of the rear deck! Now it’s almost completely quiet, except for the tire roar (my S03s are original from back when I first bought the Works from around 04/05! Lol), steering column squeak (yes, it’s back again), and the roar of the open-air element K&N (love this sound!). :redspot

Even though she’s mostly a garage queen (I’ve almost always had a company car while owning the M), whenever I do fire her up to get the juices flowing and take her out to stretch her legs, it’s still very much exhilarating. The steering is still so crisp, with turn-in feedback instantaneous. The gearbox is still so tight, engaging gears between throttle blips, and RPMs dropping faster than gravity when stabbing the clutch…it’s just such a rewarding drive. She’s still a well-tuned machine for her age…like a purpose-built surgeon’s scalpel for carving the roads. The BMW engineers must have taken great pride in assembling these cars.

It’s funny whenever I read about new members here having picked up an old, neglected, 7th+ owner M and complain about how poorly built these cars are due to all the years of abuse. Other than for the minor issues mentioned earlier, my bucket (just a term of endearment) is still tighter than a fledgling porn star. ;) And when friends who constantly ask me why I’ve kept the jalopy for as long as I have, I succinctly, unequivocally, and comprehensively summarize the reason…“it’s a badass car!” ‘Nuf said. :buttrock

Onward…

[catalyst.]

Its true they are an amazing car, most of the problems are from neglectful owners who cant really afford a sports car.

And yeah my friends tell me the same thing, i just tell em what does it matter? i like the car and its not hurting anybody sitting here as a weekend warrior

[///Mposter]

Where are all the pictures celebrating?

Congrats for being the original owner!

[Saulinho]

Congrats Op!
I feel the same way about my car, I had it 10 years and no planning to sell it any time soon.

[technoMyviolet3]

Awesome! Well put OP.

So what was it like driving and owning this brand new!? Were people constantly drooling over it back then?

[hkovalcik]

Wow cool thread. Pretty rare to see the original owner. edit: ^^^ great question. Always wondered what the car felt like new compared to now.

Cheers

[ajsalida]

OP, congrats. I'm also an original owner, had mine since 08/95. Took it out today to the gym @ 10deg F on hardpack snow. Conti DWS tires.

[BMWManiac]

I'm not the original owner of mine, 2nd owner, but I've had mine for 12 years and I will always love the E36.....

I hope to one day buy a brand new one and hold onto it forever!

[KnudsonsM3]

I'm not the original owner of mine, 2nd owner, but I've had mine for 12 years and I will always love the E36..... I hope to one day buy a brand new one and hold onto it forever!

May I ask what you paid for your M?

[RRSperry]

Took delivery of mine 6-5-1995. Congrats. And yes, people drool, some still do... At least with mine. lol

Sticker was a shade over $41,000. I got it out the door for $40,120.

[BMWManiac]

May I ask what you paid for your M?

Sure, I bought it February 2002 and it was for sale at $29k with 49k miles, lux package. I was only 22 and I should have done a better job negotiating, but I was able to trade my '96 328is (loaded) for $17k....so I ended up with it for $12k....which was great coming out of college!

[SIIDEWAYS]

Where are all the pictures celebrating?

Congrats for being the original owner!

My hooptie really hasn't changed much over the years, as subtlety is really my preference with cars. But I did do a photoshoot a few years back and posted on this forum. See link below:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1581153-Long-overdue-photoshoot


Awesome! Well put OP.

So what was it like driving and owning this brand new!? Were people constantly drooling over it back then?

I've been posting these anniversary threads on this forum for the past decade or so, and if you search them, you'll see how I described driving/owning the M back when it was brand new. Suffice it to say that I felt like Peter North.~ :D:buttrock


Took delivery of mine 6-5-1995. Congrats. And yes, people drool, some still do... At least with mine. lol

Sticker was a shade over $41,000. I got it out the door for $40,120.

Hey Richard, happy anniversary to you too (well, come next June anyway). You got yourself quite a deal, and I thought I did as I paid $42K out-the-door.

[FastAlpine]

Great thread, I am always very jealous of the originally owned M3s still out there. I can't be too upset as I am second owner and have had mine for 6 years now, so I got lucky. Continue to love the car just as you did from day one.

[meatatarian]

I'm a third owner, though the second only had it for a year or so. Lease-to-buy dealer car so good shape. congrats bud!

[KnudsonsM3]

Sure, I bought it February 2002 and it was for sale at $29k with 49k miles, lux package. I was only 22 and I should have done a better job negotiating, but I was able to trade my '96 328is (loaded) for $17k....so I ended up with it for $12k....which was great coming out of college!

Not bad at all!

"Loaded" 328 lol

[hide1]

Awesome to still see threads like this.

[dcrothers]

Well said....
My first BMW was a '95 M3 with 81k owned buy a very anal retentive CHP officer.
She was perfect in every way. Cosmos over Grey Hurricain Alcantra and immaculate DS1s.
It was a 2 hour drive home in the rain and i hadn't driven a stick or rear wheel drive car in years.
She didn't disappoint me at all by forgiving my mistakes.
I of course had to molest the beast with numerous " upgrades " which i later regreted.
After about two years and lot's of fun i totaled her. In hindsite i should have rebuilt her and been okay with a salvage title.
Instead i took the payout and went on to my '99 Z3M Coupe which is a totally different driving experience.

I fell in love with the BMW driving experience.
I have driven newer models and they are great, but they don't have the same soul as the older ones.

Happy Driving and Happy Holidays.

[adamnur]

That's awesome man. I hate having to drive my car all over the lower mainland for work...but at the same time, getting a beater would make my day less enjoyable.

[BMWManiac]

Not bad at all!

"Loaded" 328 lol

Well, it had 18 button OBC, heated seats, sunroof....I would have kept it but for two things: automatic and cloth interior! Probably one of the only 328is in existance since it was an option to have cloth interior...my parents said they were allergic to leather....

[RJPGEAR]

And yes, people drool, some still do... At least with mine.
Why? IMO and many others, E36 M3 design/appearance is timeless.