I tried to go M3 shopping today... [Archive] - Bimmerforums

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crstophr

03-11-2005, 02:24 PM

I went to a used BMW lot in downtown Portland, OR. Walked around for a while and a very nice gentleman met me outside.

He said, "How can I help you"
"I'd like to test drive an E36 M3, something with the 3.2l engine"
"Me too" he replied

Turns out they don't even stock cars older than 2000 and almost never get M3s.

"You should try autotrader or the news paper.", was his final advice.

Sooo... I have a friend with his dealer's license. I know what M3s are going for amongst dealers nationwide. I've been on the dealer auto auction sites. I'm planning on buying one in the near future... but here's the catch.

I have never driven a BMW, any BMW, let alone an M3.

I really think I should probably drive one first. I'm going to have to buy one sight unseen and drive it across country to get it home. I'll probably contact a BMW mechanic in the city where the car is to go check it out. But heck I just want to try one out to be sure.

Any advice? Anyone know where a person could test drive a 96-98 M3 in the greater Portland area? Would it make sense to test drive a different model anyway?

Thanks, first post here.

--Chris

m3mark

03-11-2005, 02:40 PM

Good Luck on your m3 search. I have been shopping for one myself for about 6 months now and can't find anything that I really like. They are pretty rare and you may have to travel. I am driving 250 miles tomorrow to check out a 96 m3.

Post in the regional forum asking for a ride or test drive im sure someone would be happy to.

Also don't forget.....
autotrader.com
cars.com
local newspaper
www.roadfly.org/bmw/classifieds/cars/

Holeshot

03-11-2005, 02:55 PM

I'm picking my '95 up in VA and will be driving it back to FL. '95, 32K miles :redspot

m3mike

03-11-2005, 02:58 PM

look in autotrader for an m3 near you and test drive it even if you don't plan on buying that exact one, at least you will get a feel for it

m3mark

03-11-2005, 03:00 PM

I'm picking my '95 up in VA and will be driving it back to FL. '95, 32K miles :redspot
LOL! Damn you Im guessing your the 1 who bought the hellrot off ebay. You had to buy it now right away didn't you :mad :D
Congrats on the car

Holeshot

03-11-2005, 03:05 PM

LOL! Damn you Im guessing your the 1 who bought the hellrot off ebay. You had to buy it now right away didn't you :mad :D
Congrats on the car

:lol I used buy it now cause I knew guys like you must be watching it too! ;) I actually taked with the owner several times over a few days before I pulled the trigger. It is damn near perfect and I had to have it :eyecrazy

Makes me feel a little better about using buy it now, knowing that I may have been outbid or got into a bidding war. She said a guy from NJ was really interested too. Now I just have to pray that I don't get snowed on when I go get it :help

* edit - I just saw that you are from NJ. Was it you?!?!?!?!? :eek: Sorry man :embarrasm

m3mark

03-11-2005, 04:30 PM

:lol I used buy it now cause I knew guys like you must be watching it too! ;) I actually taked with the owner several times over a few days before I pulled the trigger. It is damn near perfect and I had to have it :eyecrazy

Makes me feel a little better about using buy it now, knowing that I may have been outbid or got into a bidding war. She said a guy from NJ was really interested too. Now I just have to pray that I don't get snowed on when I go get it :help

* edit - I just saw that you are from NJ. Was it you?!?!?!?!? :eek: Sorry man :embarrasm

Yeah that was me :( I spoke to her a few times as well,extremely nice lady. I had all my funds in place and was going to "buy it now" on the 10th. O well sh*t happens. Congrats on the car and make sure you take pics when you get it.
[Im curious to what she ment by the door panels bubbling]
:drink1

iwannadinanm3

03-11-2005, 04:37 PM

how much was the BIN price?

m3mark

03-11-2005, 04:43 PM

how much was the BIN price?
$16,995
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4533397448&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

Vio

03-11-2005, 04:58 PM

Yeah that was me :( I spoke to her a few times as well,extremely nice lady. I had all my funds in place and was going to "buy it now" on the 10th. O well sh*t happens. Congrats on the car and make sure you take pics when you get it.
[Im curious to what she ment by the door panels bubbling]
:drink1
You can see some "bubbling" in the pictures but the door panels themselves aren't to much to replace. You will definitely want one more after you test drive your first bimmer :) I didnt realize how bad I wanted an M3 until I test drove mine, it was an amazing difference over the 328I sport that I had.

iwannadinanm3

03-11-2005, 06:17 PM

$16,995
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4533397448&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

damn 32k miles on a 95, perfect for FI

tmoeller

03-11-2005, 06:26 PM

I was in the exact same position, never having driven one and thinking I was going to have to go a long way before I knew whether I really wanted one...then in the paper one sunday an audi dealer 3 miles from my house advertised one....I went the next day, and they were surprised, not intending to advertise it, and stupidly told me they intended to wholesale it. I asked if I could drive it, they said sure....it was in perfect condition, the color I wanted, and drove AWESOME......the sales manager said they were asking 19.9 for the car, and wouldn't negotiate at all. I called him 2 days later, offered 17, and he took it (guess he was right, because we didn't negotiate at all...pissed me off that I didn't offer 16, which I suspect he also would have taken). The saleswoman? used to work at the local bmw stealer as a service writer, and told me it was cherry, and then hooked me up with the master mech at the stealer to do work on the side if or when I needed it.
Be patient....you'll find one.

97Calypso328I

03-11-2005, 08:40 PM

I am looking too. I have driven a 3.2 M3 coupe. I cannot find a 4 door 5 speed though.

96 Cosmos

03-11-2005, 11:56 PM

Good luck with your search. I lucked out back in November...had been in the market for a while and came across a '96 on eBay with 36k miles...bone stock and mint (just a cracked fog light). It ended up being in west chester, pa...an hour from my family's place. It was thru a dealer, and they ended the auction early so I could buy it out right.

So don't rule out eBay...might find something worth while.

Ty Vil

03-12-2005, 02:17 AM

clumpymold

03-12-2005, 08:43 AM

chris,

i'll be home this weekend to pick up my car. although it's far from stock i'd be happy to give you a ride in it if i have time.

shoot me an email to quest@pacifier.com and i'll get you my phone number.

As for the used dealers in portland, forget them. Start looking on the classifieds on this board, you'll get the best deal. I'd be happy to help a felllow NW member if you have ANY questions.

Ty
I also never drove my car before I purchased it. I test drove a couple E36 325s though. And I used to own an E30 318i a while back. But, as for E36 M3s, never driven one nor seen one up close. But I saw an ad for one in autotrader.com, 1997 with 77k miles and some mods :devillook . He was asking $15k (this was in November of 2003, mind you). So I couldn't pass it up. Sent him a cashier's check for the deposit and paid the rest when I received the pink slip. The car was in pristine condition. Amazing.

I was lucky though, I guess. I also contacted a local shop there where he lives and had him bring it there for an inspection which he paid for too. :D

If you're patient, you'll find a good deal. My friend JUST got one this week for $11.5k for a 1997 with 66k miles and clean title. Good condition and no dings/dents/etc. Amazing deal!

Good luck!

Casebrius

03-12-2005, 10:10 AM

crstophr - did you check out the "what to look for when buying an M3" thread? When I bought mine, I purchased a one way ticket to Memphis, had the guy pick me up at the airport and went to a dealer to have it checked out. It still was under warranty so it was kind of a no-brainer. Not to mention it still had the original MXX3's on the front, so I KNEW he babied it! I almost went to both San Francisco and Rhode Island before I found this one in Memphis. I figured what better way to get to know your new car than driving it across the country! I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

AndrewE46

03-12-2005, 10:34 AM

If you're patient, you'll find a good deal. My friend JUST got one this week for $11.5k for a 1997 with 66k miles and clean title. Good condition and no dings/dents/etc. Amazing deal!

Good luck!

Damn what a steal, I'm also on the market for a m3 :)

clumpymold

03-12-2005, 12:04 PM

Damn what a steal, I'm also on the market for a m3 :)
No kidding. He originally told me $12k but he rounded up. I saw it this week, the day after he picked it up. The seller even paid for smog and registration right before he picked it up. I was like, wtf. The seller just bent over for my friend. And he was the original owner too. Wow. Amazing.

Ty Vil

03-14-2005, 12:18 AM

my seller paid for inspection 2 before i picked it up.

if you want to see my car i leave wednesday morning.

Travis10

03-14-2005, 01:21 AM

im in the same boat as well, ive been looking for some time now, with around 11k to spend. just found a 95 with 104k miles on it, i know its high but i havent found anything eles i can afford. i also found a 95 with 98k on it, little more, but i like the color better (blzck/blzck compared to white/black) hopefully ill find a low miles car for a good price soon, im getting desperate... :help

GG///M3

03-14-2005, 11:38 AM

Holeshot

03-28-2005, 12:49 PM

Congrats on the car and make sure you take pics when you get it.

:drink1

Some shots of the car.

http://www.streetknights.com/MVG/m3//IMG_1282_resize.JPG
http://www.streetknights.com/MVG/m3//IMG_1279_resize.JPG
http://www.streetknights.com/MVG/m3//IMG_1280_resize.JPG

Then I did wheels, tint, and tires this past Friday.

doramon1313

03-28-2005, 01:07 PM

No kidding. He originally told me $12k but he rounded up. I saw it this week, the day after he picked it up. The seller even paid for smog and registration right before he picked it up. I was like, wtf. The seller just bent over for my friend. And he was the original owner too. Wow. Amazing.

curtis, don't forget to mention that he paid 800 bucks to fix my airbag module also......

clumpymold

03-28-2005, 04:44 PM

curtis, don't forget to mention that he paid 800 bucks to fix my airbag module also......
Haha, yeah. I mentioned that in another thread, I believe.

I called this guy today:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=180178937&dealer_id=56126062&car_year=1996&make=BMW&distance=75&lang=en&max_price=15000&model=M3&end_year=2006&min_price=1&certified=&address=94533&search_type=both&advanced=&start_year=1995&isp=y&cardist=44

Great deal but the car is salvaged (obviously). :dunno