Which BMW for $20k?

[iamane30m20nut]

My dad is looking for a new car and both he and my mom are sold on BMW's safety because I rolled mine and walked away. I also was driving it after only windows were installed. Well, our price cap is $20k and we'd like to have a good Bimmer with relatively cheap maintenance. My dad kinda likes to drive fast, so none of that 318i stuff. Thanks.

[snk328is]

Hmmm, a few thousand dollars more and you can get an OBD1 M3! Maybe if you shop around you'll find one for close to $20K, but I don't think there are many in good condition/good mileage in that price range.

I'd say your next best bet would be an OBDII 328. My '97 328is was bought for about $17.5 after tax, title and license. So you can probably get a later model for closer to your price range and get the CPO warranty.

[NiTE]

you could find a '95 M3 easily for 20k, just look around. Theres no way I would pay >$20 for a 7 year old car unless it was immaculate and exactly what I was looking for. Tell them to start looking around.

[ESMcBlurM3]

There are plenty of 95 M3's w/ good miles/condition for under/around 20k. Just gotta open your eyes.

That is besides the point though, he is looking for NEW.

Umm....I am just going to say good luck.

Eric

[Def]

You can find an OBDII 96+ E36 M3 for about $20k if you really look around.

That's about what I paid for my baby and all she needed was a little TLC. :love1

[snk328is]

I didn't know you can get an OBDI M3 for $20K nowadays. When I was looking just 6 months ago there weren't many good deals in that price range. I may be in the market in less than an year so maybe I'll start looking.

FYI, "new car" can mean "next car", and it probably means "next car" in this case because you ain't gonna find a brand new bimmer for $20K!!!

[98323iConv]

I got my 98' 323i cabrio for $15,800...shopping around pays off.

[iwannadinanm3]

Originally posted by 98323iConv
I got my 98' 323i cabrio for $15,800...shopping around pays off.

damn matt, i didn't know u got taht good a deal on it :D

e36 m3's are hella coming down in price... wait a couple more months, prices should dip down even more... ~2k~ would they be in for a 3 series? M3 (coupe) i'd think they'd be better off with a 5'er or 7'er... 97 or 98 528i maybe?

[snk328is]

I saw a VERY nice 95 M3, Avus blue on grey leather with a bunch of goodies for $19K! Wow

[Def]

A 97 M3 Sedan should be pretty easy to find for $20k if they need four doors.

IMO - sellers with '95's won't tend to even come close to Blue Book value(which is a little low IMO, but 3-5k over is ridiculous). While if you are dilligent - you can find OBDII M3's for good prices. I was set on Estoril Blue/Dove Grey until I saw the dash color. I really like a dark interior as it lends itself to more of a "cockpit" type feel. So after opening up my color options I found a car pretty quickly on EBay that was in a No Reserve auction put up by a used car dealer that sells mainly high end sports cars and stuff(they had a few 993 and 996 911's there, a E46 M3 and a HOT blue Dodge Viper - plus lots of X5's and stuff like that). They had to move the car quick or completely buy it from the bank, so they had to use a No Reserve auction.

I got it for a steal, and the guy even hinted that he lost money on the deal(paid a hair over $20k) after I tried to get some info. All in all, my baby was a little rough around the edges having been a previous lease car, but runs damn strong and after some regular maintence and a few fixes here and there she is absolutely beautiful. Amazingly the car had an almost perfect body and paintjob, no door dings or scratches on the sides with only a few very minor stone chips in the clear coat up front.

I'm rambling, but my story basically tells that you can get a killer car off EBay for thousands and thousands less than retail/private party value if you are patient and knowledgable about things. I would be hesitant in buying a car from an individual off EBay without a very thorough inspection, but it seems that car dealers(especially the ones that deal in higher end cars) tend to take car of 90%+ of the problems you might see in a car such as tires/brakes/oil changes etc.

Best of luck with you getting a new Bimmer. I still can't believe I own mine, and even though my payments and insurance went up a little bit over my Integra - it is so worth it due to how amazing this car is.

[NiTE]

Originally posted by Def
A 97 M3 Sedan should be pretty easy to find for $20k if they need four doors.

IMO - sellers with '95's won't tend to even come close to Blue Book value(which is a little low IMO, but 3-5k over is ridiculous). While if you are dilligent - you can find OBDII M3's for good prices. I was set on Estoril Blue/Dove Grey until I saw the dash color. I really like a dark interior as it lends itself to more of a "cockpit" type feel. So after opening up my color options I found a car pretty quickly on EBay that was in a No Reserve auction put up by a used car dealer that sells mainly high end sports cars and stuff(they had a few 993 and 996 911's there, a E46 M3 and a HOT blue Dodge Viper - plus lots of X5's and stuff like that). They had to move the car quick or completely buy it from the bank, so they had to use a No Reserve auction.

I got it for a steal, and the guy even hinted that he lost money on the deal(paid a hair over $20k) after I tried to get some info. All in all, my baby was a little rough around the edges having been a previous lease car, but runs damn strong and after some regular maintence and a few fixes here and there she is absolutely beautiful. Amazingly the car had an almost perfect body and paintjob, no door dings or scratches on the sides with only a few very minor stone chips in the clear coat up front.

I'm rambling, but my story basically tells that you can get a killer car off EBay for thousands and thousands less than retail/private party value if you are patient and knowledgable about things. I would be hesitant in buying a car from an individual off EBay without a very thorough inspection, but it seems that car dealers(especially the ones that deal in higher end cars) tend to take car of 90%+ of the problems you might see in a car such as tires/brakes/oil changes etc.

Best of luck with you getting a new Bimmer. I still can't believe I own mine, and even though my payments and insurance went up a little bit over my Integra - it is so worth it due to how amazing this car is.

I agree completely Def, I dont know how people can pay that much for '95s... 8k over bluebook is rediculous, a '98 or '99 is the only way to get your money's worth. 30k for a 99 is outrageous too

[iamane30m20nut]

My brother found a '97 540i 6-speed for like $17,900. Deal of the century or very scary? I'll see if I can enquire as to condition, said it was excellent, but who knows.

[Def]

A 540i 6 speed sounds absolutely SWEET for that price, but something does seem amiss. A 540i from that year was sold for probably 50k+ depending on options, and it is only 5-6 years old. Mileage is a significant factor though.

I'd say get it checked out if your brother is interested, as that would be a killer ride!

[iwannadinanm3]

yeah mileage is a factor, but that's like wholesale price 17k, but it's worth to check it out, u got nothin to lose... btw on ur car Def, what was some ruff stuff wrong with it since it was a lease return? Also on lease returns, do u ever tend to worry about how it was broken in, how it was maintained?

[someguy]

1999 323i E46 :dunno

[whakiewes]

We paid 24k for my moms 00' 323i 5-speed with 10k miles on it. You could prolly get one cheaper now. I think we got a pretty good deal, it was blue book value.


Wes

[snk328is]

I also saw a turbo 95 M3 for 19K on Autotrader. The seller put it up for sale because "his brother got a speeding ticket in it".

Hmmm, maybe a little sketchy? But intriguing!

[samm3]

I got my 97 M3 sedan over a year and a half ago (March 2001) for $18,700, it had 70k miles.

It was in perfect condition, had all the records, and was serviced at one of the best shops in VA (Curry's).

I've put 40k+ miles on it already! I've had no problems besides a blown waterpump, and worn guibo.

Anyway, just keep your eyes open and you'll find what your looking for. I wasn't even thinking about an M3 before i saw this car, i just wanted a 325i.

[snk328is]

That's it, I'm going to put up my '97 328is for sale and gonna get me an M3! :D

[emPoWaH]

Check out eBayMotors.com for any good "Buy-It-Now" prices on BMWs...

1998-1999 528i's under $20K:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1872607203
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1872320243
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1872294828

For $20,000, you could also get a 97ish 740i/iL, a 99-2000 323/328i, or a 95-97 M3.

[whakiewes]

The M3 Turbo FS is 21k and it was Zei's old car on DTMPower. Nice car, but thrashed, most likely would need a new tranny and motor rebuild pretty soon. But to say the least, it would cook. For 20k like i said, look into like 98/99 28is or a 00+ 23i.


Wes

[Def]

yeah mileage is a factor, but that's like wholesale price 17k, but it's worth to check it out, u got nothin to lose... btw on ur car Def, what was some ruff stuff wrong with it since it was a lease return? Also on lease returns, do u ever tend to worry about how it was broken in, how it was maintained?

Well, it was mainly just common things. Some wear on the driver's side seat which some leather conditioner and cleaner really helped out. The front underpanel is missing(which I think 90% of M3 owner's don't have this piece:az: ), and the Coolant level sensor is toast - so the OBC bitches for a few seconds on startup. Glovebox was sagging a bit but I fixed that this week.

As far as breaking the car in, a car doesn't need to be driven like a grandma's grocery getter for a proper break-in IMO - and I don't think many people that plunk down big bucks each month are going to really go out and immediately do 140mph on the way home from the dealership. With a lease car, I'm betting the maintence was "regular" which is not quite often enough for my tastes, but I really don't think changing your oil every 10k miles is necessarily going to do *that* much more than changing it every 3k miles since modern oils don't really break down at all.

As far as the car, I kinda did want a car I could 'tinker' with - so I was not expecting, nor did I want to pay the premium for a car that was 'immaculate.' Call me weird, but that's also why I was turned off by most new cars(not to mention that they offered much less 'car' for the money).

The engine is strong, the body is in great shape and everything seems to be working well. The car never ceases to amaze me, and is quite easy to drive at 9-10 tenths as evident by my "decent" autocross showing today.

[iamane30m20nut]

Going to try to find a E36 M3 4-door. They are such sweet sleepers and I love the look. Plus, maybe he'll let me borrow it for a mountain run sometime....

[NiTE]

yea, you should be able to find a '97 M3/4, do they want an auto?

[iwannadinanm3]

Originally posted by Def


Well, it was mainly just common things. Some wear on the driver's side seat which some leather conditioner and cleaner really helped out. The front underpanel is missing(which I think 90% of M3 owner's don't have this piece:az: ), and the Coolant level sensor is toast - so the OBC bitches for a few seconds on startup. Glovebox was sagging a bit but I fixed that this week.

As far as breaking the car in, a car doesn't need to be driven like a grandma's grocery getter for a proper break-in IMO - and I don't think many people that plunk down big bucks each month are going to really go out and immediately do 140mph on the way home from the dealership. With a lease car, I'm betting the maintence was "regular" which is not quite often enough for my tastes, but I really don't think changing your oil every 10k miles is necessarily going to do *that* much more than changing it every 3k miles since modern oils don't really break down at all.

As far as the car, I kinda did want a car I could 'tinker' with - so I was not expecting, nor did I want to pay the premium for a car that was 'immaculate.' Call me weird, but that's also why I was turned off by most new cars(not to mention that they offered much less 'car' for the money).

The engine is strong, the body is in great shape and everything seems to be working well. The car never ceases to amaze me, and is quite easy to drive at 9-10 tenths as evident by my "decent" autocross showing today.

ahh ok that's cool... cuz when i get my m3, its gonna be a lease return from bmw financial services, my dad's a dealer, goes to dealer auctions so that's where im gettin my next car from... sometimes good cars come through, other times lots of abused cars can come through, im jus curious in ur opinion on buying lease stuff hehe.

[iamane30m20nut]

I will attempt to coax him into getting the 5-speed. I know he wants it deep down inside.

[iwannadinanm3]

yeah m3/4 is also very good, they're going pretty damn cheap now, hopefully he does come to his senses and gets a 5 spd.

[Micah D. Cranman]

I JUST (Thursday) got a '96 Estoril/Dove Grey M3 with 70K miles and every single option except heated mirrors and a slushbox for $18,100. It's in basically perfect condition besides a little leather wear, but the leather cleaner/conditioner that's in the mail will fix that up. Also has a tiny coolant leak which I'm going to have checked out, but other than that, it's basically a perfect car. And the tires needed replacing, but that's just normal maintenance.

The exterior is like new, it drives amazingly well, and I simply couldn't be happier. Seriously, look around (don't bother with dealers -- they'll bend you over and rape you :boink ) and be willing to travel a little bit, and you can easily find a great M3 for under $20K.

[kherber540]

95 m3....that's all i gottta say

[kherber540]

wait...i have a 97 540i for sale. 20K....very fast and i know you want it =)

[AvusBluR]

Originally posted by WhippedButter
I JUST (Thursday) got a '96 Estoril/Dove Grey M3 with 70K miles and every single option except heated mirrors and a slushbox for $18,100. It's in basically perfect condition besides a little leather wear, but the leather cleaner/conditioner that's in the mail will fix that up. Also has a tiny coolant leak which I'm going to have checked out, but other than that, it's basically a perfect car. And the tires needed replacing, but that's just normal maintenance.

The exterior is like new, it drives amazingly well, and I simply couldn't be happier. Seriously, look around (don't bother with dealers -- they'll bend you over and rape you :boink ) and be willing to travel a little bit, and you can easily find a great M3 for under $20K.

Would you mind me asking how many miles on her? Just wondering, because I've been looking around for an M3, and the prices even on the '95's are rediculous.

[iwannadinanm3]

I JUST (Thursday) got a '96 Estoril/Dove Grey M3 with 70K miles

;)

[iamane30m20nut]

I'll get back to you guys sometime later, my dad is being indecisive again.

[silver323]

here you go my 98 323i convert, http://www.dtmpower.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=73358