Trying to understand the current market for E36M3

[extramextra]

Saw this is on BaT that was a re-list.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1998-bmw-m3-109-2/

The prior winning bid was 28K for reasonable miles but prior front end damage. Is it the color combo and the recent service that helped this one pulled that premium?

I am have been on the hunt for a 96+ silver coupe (preferably with a slick top) so trying to manage my own expectations of what is coming on the market and auctions.

[bluptgm3]

Mid production 1996 is the introduction of side airbags and pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners. And ‘face lift’ grills. And some other items I am forgetting.
A slick top is going to be rare.
I have one, I have not seen another ‘slick top’ E36 in person, though I have seen an E46 ST.
These cars, as are all cars right now, are increasing in value/price.

Great color combination.
This appears to be post ‘facelift’, great interior, nice mods, though not a fan of ‘race springs’.

A full respray is a non starter for me as few will pay the price to do it correctly.


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[mrbeverlyhills]

not sure $28k is a premium anymore......

[notMpowered]

I'd say high 20s to low 30s is pretty expected for this car on this platform. You can find them cheaper, but almost anything sub 20k is going to need a solid 5k or more to get up to something that you don't really "think about" its issues when you lie in bed at night.

[hakentt]

The prior winning bid was 28K for reasonable miles but prior front end damage. Is it the color combo and the recent service that helped this one pulled that premium?
I am have been on the hunt for a 96+ silver coupe (preferably with a slick top) so trying to manage my own expectations of what is coming on the market and auctions.

It depends if it is the only M3 on the auction site, then it depends how many people want one at the same time. Slick top or non sun roof trim is rare because original buyer had to request it directly from factory.

[bluptgm3]

Slick top or non sun roof trim is rare because original buyer had to request it directly from factory.

LOL!! Local Dealer initially told me they would not order one for me.


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[blckstrm]

Mid production 1996 is the introduction of side airbags and pyrotechnic seat belt tensioners. And ‘face lift’ grills. And some other items I am forgetting.
A slick top is going to be rare.
I have one, I have not seen another ‘slick top’ E36 in person, though I have seen an E46 ST.
These cars, as are all cars right now, are increasing in value/price.

Great color combination.
This appears to be post ‘facelift’, great interior, nice mods, though not a fan of ‘race springs’.

A full respray is a non starter for me as few will pay the price to do it correctly.


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A full respray is a major red flag. When they also mention flaking paint... sheesh.

If this thing was minty original at 104k... I still think $28k is at least a couple thousand too high.

With a crappy respray on top of prior damage, that's just ridiculous.

[Cos270]

Trying to understand the current market for E36M3

Aren't we all lol

[extramextra]

I'm just kicking myself because I should have went in on this one although its not in my preferred color.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1998-bmw-m3-122/

[blckstrm]

I'm just kicking myself because I should have went in on this one although its not in my preferred color.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1998-bmw-m3-122/

Why are you only shopping on bring a trailer?

[extramextra]

I have a cargurus saved search and have been screening FB market place and eBay. I'm all ears if you got a better place to search.

[blckstrm]

Not exactly. But you have to know how to search. And definitely not BaT. Cars on BaT sell for a VERY healthy premium compared to anywhere else. And you at best get an extra $500 of value (at a shop, not DIY) out of the extra $5k+ premium you'll pay.

You've got to look in other geographies on FB, CL, etc.

BaT auctions aren't listed by geography - why constrain your search on other sites to local listings only?

SoCal has almost 20 listed today on FB marketplace. Yeah, a lot of them are verts. But a lot aren't. And while you'll find the most listed in Socal, you'll usually find at least a couple listed in most large cities.

This one closer to me in Dallas:

$14k (half that other car) for a few more miles, no crappy respray, etc. Easily sortable couple issues for the extra $14k you'll have left over: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...5866994519229/

These 2 in SoCal:

You want the same mileage as that car on BaT? OK, here's one close (with 118k) for $21k: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...8724983330589/

You WANT to pay $30k for one? OK, got you covered there, too - only 58k miles: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...7684622909942/

...

There are FAR too many eyeballs on BaT these days to buy a car there for even close to fair market value.

I've found autotrader / cargurus / etc to be the WORST place to find these. FB and CL are the places to find cars listed for "normal" prices. But you're probably not going to find one in your back yard.

[RBNetEngr]

Here is one that’s going to auction in a few weeks. BMW Individual, Euro model. Not a fan of the color, but it will probably get big money:

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/ct...430719919.html


-rb

[bluptgm3]

Here is one that’s going to auction in a few weeks. BMW Individual, Euro model. Not a fan of the color, but it will probably get big money:

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/ct...430719919.html


-rb

Good luck getting maintenance and general upkeep components


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[notMpowered]

We have the internet and shipping. It's really not that crazy. We've been doing it in Canada for 28 years.

[ChuckDizzle]

Here is one that’s going to auction in a few weeks. BMW Individual, Euro model. Not a fan of the color, but it will probably get big money:

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/ct...430719919.html


-rb

BMW Mintgruen looks like Tiffany Blue

[E85STI]

Wow that color is quite bright!

[mellostock]

Good luck with your search. I think Autotempest will let you crawl Craigslist for e36M3. You could post a WTB ad here too. One advantage of BAT is you can see a range of e36 M3’s and look at condition of car with pictures plus maintenance. If your looking for the best deal than I think you need to look at CL, FB as pointed out by other commenters.

[Veleno]

BMW Mintgruen looks like Tiffany Blue

I like the color above better than the color in the ad.

[nick325xit 5spd]

Good luck getting maintenance and general upkeep components


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Eh. It's not that bad. Some things you just have to order from Europe. As long as it's not your only car it's fine. And if you're spending that much on an E36, it's probably not.

[golgo13]

The market is crazy broken right now.

My opinion is that people wanting an E30M and didn't want to spend the money on the inflated price for that platform, went for the next best thing around 2017-2018 which I assume was the E36M. I mean, it's a great all around car in stock USDM trim (not to bring up the Euro trim differences) but if you spent another 5-10k you can just get the E46M which was more power and also a very analog driving experience. These are my opinions, of course.

Take the pressure of the E30M market, apply that to the E36M market and then layer the new car shortage caused by the pandemic which is inflating the used car market into the equation and you get cars worth $7500 in 2017 selling for $12,000+ in 2022.

Even counting for inflation, a 2017 car worth $7500 is only worth $8610. A car will sell for whatever someone is willing to pay for it, so I think the days of used cheap E36/E36M cars is long gone.

[nick325xit 5spd]

The market is crazy broken right now.

My opinion is that people wanting an E30M and didn't want to spend the money on the inflated price for that platform, went for the next best thing around 2017-2018 which I assume was the E36M. I mean, it's a great all around car in stock USDM trim (not to bring up the Euro trim differences) but if you spent another 5-10k you can just get the E46M which was more power and also a very analog driving experience. These are my opinions, of course.

Take the pressure of the E30M market, apply that to the E36M market and then layer the new car shortage caused by the pandemic which is inflating the used car market into the equation and you get cars worth $7500 in 2017 selling for $12,000+ in 2022.

Even counting for inflation, a 2017 car worth $7500 is only worth $8610. A car will sell for whatever someone is willing to pay for it, so I think the days of used cheap E36/E36M cars is long gone.

This also happened when E36es were already on the upswing value-wise. There simply aren't as many of them as there used to be. Also, the crappy ones aren't yet worth enough money to really restore, so they still get parted out/scrapped. If you want an E36, you want an E36. There are fewer every day

[RBNetEngr]

That Euro model with the Individual paint and trim is on the auction block. Opened Monday.

https://www.pcarmarket.com/auction/e...m3-mint-green/


-rb

[golgo13]

That Euro model with the Individual paint and trim is on the auction block. Opened Monday.

https://www.pcarmarket.com/auction/e...m3-mint-green/


-rb

The comments are fantastic.

[importbanana]

That Euro model with the Individual paint and trim is on the auction block. Opened Monday.

https://www.pcarmarket.com/auction/e...m3-mint-green/


-rb

66k

wouldn't

still an e36 with squeaky interior