Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: 1995 E36 M3 Pricing

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Lowell Massachusetts
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    1995 E36 M3

    Post 1995 E36 M3 Pricing

    I have personally always wanted to own an E36 M3 and one has recently popped up in my area and quite honestly I have no idea if asking price is reasonable or not. Asking price is $8,000. It’s claimed to have been meticulously maintained since the current owner purchased it in 2003. It currently sits at 120,000 miles. I live in Massachusetts so the winters get pretty rough and the current owner says it has been garaged every winter since ownership. I know if these cars are well maintained they can easily reach 200,000 plus miles. I recently met a customer at work with a 95 M3 that had his baby still purring after 310,000 miles. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    tempe, az
    Posts
    2,695
    My Cars
    1998 Z3M, 2006 330i
    I say check it out yourself. Check CL around the country, Autotrader, BAT, this site. Make a list (I use an Excel file). Include year, mileage, features including what's old/new, stated condition. You'll start to get a feel for the cars' values.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    6,479
    My Cars
    1995 M3 - 2007 X5
    Quote Originally Posted by Joshmo978 View Post
    I have personally always wanted to own an E36 M3 and one has recently popped up in my area and quite honestly I have no idea if asking price is reasonable or not. Asking price is $8,000. It’s claimed to have been meticulously maintained since the current owner purchased it in 2003. It currently sits at 120,000 miles. I live in Massachusetts so the winters get pretty rough and the current owner says it has been garaged every winter since ownership. I know if these cars are well maintained they can easily reach 200,000 plus miles. I recently met a customer at work with a 95 M3 that had his baby still purring after 310,000 miles. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
    Best thing to do in your situation is pay for a pre-purchase inspection. The information is invaluable and it can help spot potential nightmares. Also, since you pay for it, most sellers are not against it and its better than having to bring a jack to inspect the car yourself. After the inspection you can reference other selling sites and such for pricing information to determine if the price is fair or not.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Lowell Massachusetts
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    1995 E36 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by zellamay View Post
    I say check it out yourself. Check CL around the country, Autotrader, BAT, this site. Make a list (I use an Excel file). Include year, mileage, features including what's old/new, stated condition. You'll start to get a feel for the cars' values.

    I checked every major car selling website out there and prices are extremely all over the place. I’m seeing 95-99s in decent to good condition but all with 180K plus miles ranging from 10-15 thousand and then the occasional 40k miles or less for anywhere from 20-40 thousand. I’ve seen like 3 that are 70-100k miles that appear to be decently taken care of for around 8-12 but are 1999s and convertible and personally I am not a fan of this particular model in a convertible.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Spartanburg, SC
    Posts
    42
    My Cars
    1996 M3 coupe
    I paid 12,500 for a 96 with 150k on it. I don’t feel I overpaid as it’s pretty damn good shape. Do with that what you will.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    6,479
    My Cars
    1995 M3 - 2007 X5
    Quote Originally Posted by Joshmo978 View Post
    I checked every major car selling website out there and prices are extremely all over the place. I’m seeing 95-99s in decent to good condition but all with 180K plus miles ranging from 10-15 thousand and then the occasional 40k miles or less for anywhere from 20-40 thousand. I’ve seen like 3 that are 70-100k miles that appear to be decently taken care of for around 8-12 but are 1999s and convertible and personally I am not a fan of this particular model in a convertible.
    Color combos and packages will also determine price. Automatic convertibles have way less demand so those are usually less expensive than clean coupes and sedans. Technoviolet, Byzanz are two colors that will have bigger premiums. At the end of the day, the perceived value is subjective. I always recommend that if you aren't set on a specific color and such, then simply find the cleanest and well maintained example and you can enjoy driving it. Unfortunately that is harder and harder these days, more so for us living in the northeast with rust.
    If you're willing to travel, it can really open up your options.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Lowell Massachusetts
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    1995 E36 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by ChuckDizzle View Post
    Color combos and packages will also determine price. Automatic convertibles have way less demand so those are usually less expensive than clean coupes and sedans. Technoviolet, Byzanz are two colors that will have bigger premiums. At the end of the day, the perceived value is subjective. I always recommend that if you aren't set on a specific color and such, then simply find the cleanest and well maintained example and you can enjoy driving it. Unfortunately that is harder and harder these days, more so for us living in the northeast with rust.
    If you're willing to travel, it can really open up your options.

    This is all the info that’s listed, my messages have yet to be responded too along with several pictures that only show exterior and interior except this apparent tear in the seat but both look immaculate:
    1995 BMW M3
    VIN: WBSBF0325SEN91686
    Price: $9,000 OBO (knocked down to 8)
    Location: Braintree, MA
    Odometer: 124,174 miles
    Transmission: Automatic
    Exterior Color: Electric Blue
    Interior Color: Light Gray
    Seats: Leather with M3 logo
    Engine: 6-Cyl, 3.0L
    Drivetrain: RWD
    Braking & Traction: ABS (4-Wheel)
    Steering: Power Steering, Tilt Wheel
    Entertainment: AM/FM stereo, single disc CD Player
    Comfort & Convenience: Heated seats, A/C, power windows, power door locks, cruise control
    Title status: Clean


    Meticulously maintained 1995 M3. Car has been garaged and primarily driven in the summer. Driver’s seat leather needs repair as there is a tear on the left side; back seats are in pristine condition as they were rarely used. Second owner, car was purchased in 2003. For sale as is, no warranties included. Contact us with any questions. Read Less

    Also all my searches have been nationwide and the cars are either ok condition with higher miles or very low asking the world for the car. I’m 21 and as much as I’d absolutely love to have a 40k mile that would probably outlast me and it’s just not feasible for me financially
    Last edited by Joshmo978; 08-24-2020 at 03:54 PM.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Owings, Md
    Posts
    1,105
    My Cars
    1998 328i
    The car probably would have sold already if it wasn't an automatic. The price could be fair if it truly has been pampered and it is absolutely rust free. Automatics tend to be less abused but are far less desirable. Those transmissions aren't particularly problematic, it is just a driver preference thing. These cars are fun to drive but they aren't fast by today's standards so it is all about the driving experience, for most fans of these cars, the fun is being well balanced and an analog experience, which means running through the gears. If you don't have to have a manual, that opens more options.

    Personally, I would rather have a very nice example of an 328 with a manual for less money. The non-M e36's will nevery be worth as much but are 80-90% as fun for 50% the cost. Depending on your intended use, you really should at least test drive a non-M. The e36 M3's sold in the US were closer to the non-M cars than any other generation of 3 series. The engines were bored and stroked versions of the same block with more aggressive cams and the suspensions were tweaked, but they cars just aren't that different comprared to the previous and successive M3's. If your budget allows (triple it, and you really want a "real" e36 M3, the early euro M3's are old enough to be imported.

    If you haven't already, read up on the difference between the OBDI cars (325 & 95 M3) and the OBDII cars (328, 323 & later M3). Most of the difference is in the engine management, improvements for emissions that drove displacements up to reach the same (basically) power output. As the 95 was the only year of the OBDI M3, it may eventually be worth more.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    6,479
    My Cars
    1995 M3 - 2007 X5
    gdavid said it best, this car would have already sold if it were a manual transmission.

  10. #10
    RRSperry's Avatar
    RRSperry is offline Senior Moment Member BMW E36 M3 Expert
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    Eldersburg, Md
    Posts
    12,368
    My Cars
    95 ///M3sc, '21 C8 HTC
    Buy the car, and put a manual in it... I happen to have a 70K mile 5 speed tranny sitting the garage...ool
    No matter where you go, there you are...

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Austin, TX
    Posts
    2,181
    My Cars
    S54 E36 M3, E32 740il
    This is a good deal even for an auto. My guess is that he's not responding because it's already sold.

    120k miles @ $8k is a good deal even for an auto, and after a manual swap you'd still be under $9k and it would be worth $16-$20k depending on what the records show and what the actual condition is.

    That's too many miles for anyone to really worry about it not originally being a manual and having been swapped, but that's great mileage for a driver, and anyone buying a driver would be stoked to have mileage that low. And no one money shifts an auto, either. This would be a great investment. Make the swap, drive it for a year or two while you address any outstanding issues, sell it and double your money. Or keep for the next 10, 20, or 50 years.

    -Josh: 1998 S54 E36 M3/4/6 with most of the easy stuff and most of the hard stuff. At least twice. 271k miles. 1994 E32 740il with nothing but some MPars. 93k miles.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    474
    My Cars
    1997 M3, 2012 C63
    Quote Originally Posted by ChuckDizzle View Post
    Best thing to do in your situation is pay for a pre-purchase inspection. The information is invaluable and it can help spot potential nightmares. Also, since you pay for it, most sellers are not against it and its better than having to bring a jack to inspect the car yourself. After the inspection you can reference other selling sites and such for pricing information to determine if the price is fair or not.
    The best thing to do is go over and inspect and be prepared to pay cash for it. Asking for PPI sends you to the back of the line after anyone willing to come look at the car where it sits. A seller's goal is sell a vehicle quickly for the most money, not to take it around town for a PPI so you can ask for $200 off because the headliner is sagging.

    $8K (even for an auto) at 120K is a great price and the car is probably already sold. Seller likely has an inbox full of "when were the window regulators last cleaned" and "Can I take for PPI" type messages meanwhile somebody already showed up and bought it.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Lowell Massachusetts
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    1995 E36 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by realjones View Post
    The best thing to do is go over and inspect and be prepared to pay cash for it. Asking for PPI sends you to the back of the line after anyone willing to come look at the car where it sits. A seller's goal is sell a vehicle quickly for the most money, not to take it around town for a PPI so you can ask for $200 off because the headliner is sagging.

    $8K (even for an auto) at 120K is a great price and the car is probably already sold. Seller likely has an inbox full of "when were the window regulators last cleaned" and "Can I take for PPI" type messages meanwhile somebody already showed up and bought it.

    Hasn’t been sold been messaging her back and forth she sent me additional pictures of the damaged drivers seat may 2020 inspection sticker as well as the car facts

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    474
    My Cars
    1997 M3, 2012 C63
    Quote Originally Posted by Joshmo978 View Post
    Hasn’t been sold been messaging her back and forth she sent me additional pictures of the damaged drivers seat may 2020 inspection sticker as well as the car facts
    Likely because it is an auto. Manuals in good shape go quick.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Durango/Bayfield CO
    Posts
    319
    My Cars
    1995 M3 Coupe 5pd
    "Electric blue?" Avus blue most likely, which is also popular. If it were silver or black, it's a $5k to 6k car. It's a fair deal if in person it is as nice as you describe the photos. But, the slushbox is holding it back.
    Tom
    Currently 1995 M3 manual coupe, 1993 325is
    Past cars
    2003 530i
    1998 528i
    1995 530i
    1988 528e
    1988 535i
    1987 2.7i
    1972 2002

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    22,823
    My Cars
    skateboard
    Quote Originally Posted by h82crash View Post
    "Electric blue?" Avus blue most likely, which is also popular. If it were silver or black, it's a $5k to 6k car. It's a fair deal if in person it is as nice as you describe the photos. But, the slushbox is holding it back.
    Lolololol


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
    ― George Orwell

Similar Threads

  1. E36 WTB USED 1995 E36 M3 OBD 1 ECU tuning chip (DME 413)
    By jostian in forum BMW Parts Wanted
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 07-11-2010, 02:34 PM
  2. E36 parting: 1995 e36 m3
    By buhnahnuh in forum Whole Parts Cars
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 06-26-2010, 05:43 PM
  3. E36 Wtb: 1995 e36 m3
    By HTOWN///M in forum 3 series & Z Series
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 04-19-2010, 05:56 PM
  4. E36 FS: 1995 E36 M3 - 5 spd - cosmos on dove - priced to roll!
    By BMWDEMON in forum 3 series & Z Series
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 02-13-2010, 12:18 PM
  5. E36 FS: 1995 E36 M3 H&R Sport Springs Like New
    By patrickofcash in forum Suspensions, Springs & Shocks
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 01-28-2010, 08:47 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •