How much would you pay for this M3/4/5?

**finsky** · 03-03-2018, 03:25 PM

Hey guys! I've been in the market for an e36 for a while (many of you have probably seen my classifieds ads lol) and recently I came across an M3/4/5 in black/black and I wanted to know how much you guys would pay for it, just so I know how to much lower to go on the price if negotiating. It has 145,000 miles, manual trans, the paint is all around pretty good, other than small rust spot on the rear trunk, the leather is in almost perfect condition as well as the interior in general. It has a Borla cat-back exhaust. I'll add some pictures, and any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks guys!

IMG_20180303_142326 (1).jpg IMG_20180303_142405.jpg

**Nate94** · 03-03-2018, 07:04 PM

To be honest it’s probably worth $7-10k, in CA mint m3’s go for about $10k.

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**SPENCER.E36M///** · 03-03-2018, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by Nate94

To be honest it’s probably worth $7-10k, in CA mint m3’s go for about $10k.

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I’d agree with this. Spent around 12k for my 95 M3 with 54k original miles. Looks like a good buy!

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**MauiM3Mania** · 03-03-2018, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by finsky

...the paint is all around pretty good, other than small rust spot on the rear trunk...

Originally Posted by Nate94

To be honest it’s probably worth $7-10k, in CA mint m3’s go for about $10k.

I'm not a frequent buyer seller and this is a serious question, does 'mint' describe a car with rust spots?

**Moron95M3** · 03-04-2018, 04:31 AM

rust spot is a warning shot. Ask me how I know

:'(

But...being in the rust belt you'll get that (and just live with it unless you're willing to get one form down south/west).

I'd say 7-9k. 5-7k would be a decent deal.

**crqflier** · 03-04-2018, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by Nate94

To be honest it’s probably worth $7-10k, in CA mint m3’s go for about $10k.

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I had to check the year on this post. Mint in CA for $10k????

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**Nate94** · 03-04-2018, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by crqflier

I had to check the year on this post. Mint in CA for $10k????

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Wrong assumption? I’ve had my eye on a few 4 doors that went for around $10k, 2 doors for more?

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**Nate94** · 03-04-2018, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by MauiM3Mania

I'm not a frequent buyer seller and this is a serious question, does 'mint' describe a car with rust spots?

Sorry, yes by mint I meant perfect condition, or cherry if you will

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**XnWarden** · 03-04-2018, 03:35 PM

I paid $4500 shipped from chicago to TN for a somewhat rusty M3 coupe with a blown hg. It had a ton of new aftermarket upgrades on it. I probably could have spent a bit less on it, but Overall i feel like I got a good deal.

If the one you're looking at is running pretty well id say $6-7k would sound about right in my neck of the woods.

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**MauiM3Mania** · 03-04-2018, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by Nate94

Sorry, yes by mint I meant perfect condition, or cherry if you will

If a seller told me the car was perfect and it had rust, I'd be pissed.

**Nate94** · 03-04-2018, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by MauiM3Mania

If a seller told me the car was perfect and it had rust, I'd be pissed.

If you’d read the context, I wasn’t talking about the car with the rust spot

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**Ex36** · 03-04-2018, 11:56 PM

I'd say poke around on BaT and look at their graph of transaction prices. Judge your potential car against what others have sold for. I'd say a mint m3/4/5 with about 100K commands $13-$15K (dunno where that $10K CA price came from cuz that ain't the market at all, especially for a mint CA car). The fact that this one has rust, nearly 150K-miles, and the lux package make it less valuable.

**TostitoBandito** · 03-05-2018, 12:29 AM

Not really enough information here to say anything over like $8K. It needs some amount of body/paint work for the aforementioned rust, and that's gonna be over a grand to do it right even if it's just a small area (or replacing the whole panel). Then the big unknowns that a PPI or detailed maintenance records would reveal like condition of engine/clutch/driveline, age/condition of suspension consumables, and any other "minor" leaks or issues which can be either expensive or labor-intensive to address. It's easy to find an M3 of this age that looks reasonably nice inside and out, seems to run ok, but still has multiple thousands of dollars of overdue maintenance or repairs needed which aren't immediately visible.

**RRSperry** · 03-05-2018, 09:00 AM

Judging by some of the responses here, I don't think some of you have seen a really nice car...

I have zero idea of what that car is worth. It's worth nothing to me, I have one, and it's verrrry niiiice. (best Monty Python French guard voice.)

**Moron95M3** · 03-05-2018, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by RRSperry

Judging by some of the responses here, I don't think some of you have seen a really nice car...

I have zero idea of what that car is worth. It's worth nothing to me, I have one, and it's verrrry niiiice. (best Monty Python French guard voice.)

I'll trade you so we can both experience the other side

<3

**blckstrm** · 03-05-2018, 03:55 PM

I think we're still a couple years away from a solid "market" price for E36 M3s. I still see pretty wide variation in pricing. I've almost had my car totaled twice for relatively minor accidents, so I try to pay attention so I have ammunition to fight with the insurance company.

It really depends on who is selling what.

Our cars are old now, and we know they are at least as sensitive to age as mileage. Among enthusiasts who know, a well-maintained 150k mile car with a revamped cooling system, a suspension refresh, and a clean Blackstone report is worth more than a 100k mile car with none of the above work done. A sub-100k mile car with all the preventative work done is a $10k+ (maybe even $15K) car depending on the details. There are modifications that add value, and those that don't (or hurt value). And that value is a little different for everyone.

I'd rather have a daily driven car than one that spends a lot of time sitting. "Weekend car" is a red flag for me. That's when oil seals start going bad.

**Nate94** · 03-05-2018, 11:35 PM

I hate to say it but these e36’s will never hold value like the e30 and e46 m3’s. Especially due to the fact that we’re close to legally being able to import euro spec cars from Canada for $10-15k. U.S. cars won’t be a collectors item

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**Ex36** · 03-05-2018, 11:46 PM

The market has already clearly spoken on the e30 and e46 M3's. Honestly, though, it still baffles me that the e36 is so maligned. The Euro version is a non-starter, I think. Many of the parts for the engine are NLA, from what I understand. So they're not going to be an appealing alternative nor make a serious dent in the e36 M3 pricing. I guess it's so robust and similar enough to the "regular" e36's we still just have way too many still kicking to be worth much. But look what happened to "regular" e30's. They're cray expensive (I think--I've had one and liked it but not for more than an e36 M3 like plenty now command) and were made in huge numbers. But not many nice ones are left. So apparently we just need another decade or so....

**MauiM3Mania** · 03-06-2018, 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by Ex36

The Euro version is a non-starter, I think. Many of the parts for the engine are NLA, from what I understand.

What reputable source suggests that? If it was true, parts for the S52 are likely to be as NLA if production numbers and age is what effects engine part availability.

**realjones** · 03-06-2018, 12:29 AM

Originally Posted by Nate94

Especially due to the fact that we’re close to legally being able to import euro spec cars from Canada for $10-15k. U.S. cars won’t be a collectors item

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Only 45 euro spec cars made it Canada and those are certainly worth more than $15K, so what are you referring to here? Cars from other countries like Japan that are in Canada?

**MauiM3Mania** · 03-06-2018, 12:55 AM

Originally Posted by realjones

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Only 45 euro spec cars made it Canada and those are certainly worth more than $15K, so what are you referring to here? Cars from other countries like Japan that are in Canada?

We sorta drifted from the OP, but I think he's referring to importing ROTW cars through Canada. My numbers are close but not exact, there were 34.5k ROTW E36 M3s produced. Many which could be imported to the US.

**lbennyboobool** · 03-06-2018, 09:29 AM

I would say it's worth around $6500-$7500. Black on black seems really common and the lux package isn't very desirable

**Dan of Montana** · 03-06-2018, 02:42 PM

Rust would be a big factor for me here. I think $6000 - $6500 because of rust. Black on black is common, but looks great. My car is black on black w/ lux. I much prefer lux seats to vadars.

As for the e36 m3s not getting swept up in the market craze, I am damn thankful. While I pay attention to value when I buy, my motivation is for a fun car I can drive AND afford (as a third car). My crew (wife/kids) don't care that I spent less than 10k on a M3/4/5. If I spent 20k eye brows would be raised...

**Nate94** · 03-06-2018, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by realjones

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Only 45 euro spec cars made it Canada and those are certainly worth more than $15K, so what are you referring to here? Cars from other countries like Japan that are in Canada?

You must have read the Road and Track article. Maybe I’m vastly undercutting the Canadian M3’s, forgive my ignorance it looks like they’re a lot more expensive... but my point was that U.S. spec M3’s will not be collectors items. At least not in the same way an e30 M has appreciated, or how an e46 M will appreciate. I’m saying that as someone who loves the e36 chassis. We just got screwed when it comes to the e36 M.

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**TostitoBandito** · 03-06-2018, 08:04 PM

I dunno, clean examples will always be valuable due to scarcity. The E30 M3 is valuable almost exclusively due to scarcity. They're old and they didn't make nearly as many as any of the subsequent generations. All the subsequent M3's are objectively faster cars, but the E30 is the most valuable because a clean one is a unicorn. Once enough time has passed people desire these cars not for their lap times or top speeds but for their aesthetic appeal and uniqueness/rarity. Look at the classic American muscle car or the classic Porsche 911 market for comparison. I'm not saying the E36 market will approach that, but I think we're certainly seeing some degree of that take place with the uncommon very clean lower mileage examples getting $15-20K (and rising).