Small/med, rapid, pretty, toys, under £7k?

Btw the blue M3 had sold :( just went and looked at the grey one that was on ebay, very nice but Im quite keen on the SMG

M3 is definitely the car for me!

Anyone know of any decent ones for sale?
 
Friggin hell M3... lol... well, I've nto read last few pages but I'd assume a £7k M3 E46 (unless you're on about the older one?) isn't upto that much and is a pre facelift? I was looking at these also but thought you have to pay £10-11k to get a sound one... £7k if that's still your budget... can't imagine a spot on one for that unless they've come down in price?

EDIT: Just seen budget increase to £8k. Wheeler Dealers needs this me thinks. Seriously if it's the E46... I wouldn't bother unless you've got a couple of £k sitting the bank spare OR you just buy a £10k+ car (which you can pick minters up if you search hard enough)... these are rock bottom... people aren't going to lose money for no reason, it's £8k for a reason... "usually"... unless you happen to come across someone who's retarded and priced it wrong lol OR an absolute first out the factory jobbie... bear in mind 11-12 years of hard drving builds up bills. If you do go for one, make sure you see every bill and expect a fair few thousand spent, if not, then they'll be passing bills to you! below are all around 8-9k and pre facelift.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...postcode/ch662xe/radius/1500/page/1?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...postcode/ch662xe/radius/1500/page/1?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...postcode/ch662xe/radius/1500/page/1?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...postcode/ch662xe/radius/1500/page/1?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...postcode/ch662xe/radius/1500/page/1?logcode=p
 
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The 'facelift' everyone is referring to is invisible unless you're a nerd. They didnt change the front lights or anything silly, I seem to recall it was rear lights and thats it from exterior. The important aim for me would be 2004 model onwards as you avoid the bottom end issue associated with earlier cars, thought to be fair not something that effects many but it was a recall issue back in the day. The engine is very solid bar the odd Vanos issue (my first one went at 42K miles) but rear springs are an issue and need checking. I'd budget 10K upwards for forget the idea personally and I would want a full service history too, its important.
 
Housey said:
The 'facelift' everyone is referring to is invisible unless you're a nerd. They didnt change the front lights or anything silly, I seem to recall it was rear lights and thats it from exterior. The important aim for me would be 2004 model onwards as you avoid the bottom end issue associated with earlier cars, thought to be fair not something that effects many but it was a recall issue back in the day. The engine is very solid bar the odd Vanos issue (my first one went at 42K miles) but rear springs are an issue and need checking. I'd budget 10K upwards for forget the idea personally and I would want a full service history too, its important.
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Pipe down Housey, what do you know? He says M3 is definitely the car for him on his budget.
 
OP, you may as well have my 5 stars because someone is in for a ton of hilarity (it is us, not you).

Please keep us updated and remember to ignore everything anyone has to say!
 
Housey said:
The 'facelift' everyone is referring to is invisible unless you're a nerd. They didnt change the front lights or anything silly, I seem to recall it was rear lights and thats it from exterior. The important aim for me would be 2004 model onwards as you avoid the bottom end issue associated with earlier cars, thought to be fair not something that effects many but it was a recall issue back in the day. The engine is very solid bar the odd Vanos issue (my first one went at 42K miles) but rear springs are an issue and need checking. I'd budget 10K uupwards for forget the idea personally and I would want a full service history too, its important.
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They also have a longer bit above the number plate. It is very easy to spot the difference.
 
Housey said:
The 'facelift' everyone is referring to is invisible unless you're a nerd. They didnt change the front lights or anything silly, I seem to recall it was rear lights and thats it from exterior. The important aim for me would be 2004 model onwards as you avoid the bottom end issue associated with earlier cars, thought to be fair not something that effects many but it was a recall issue back in the day. The engine is very solid bar the odd Vanos issue (my first one went at 42K miles) but rear springs are an issue and need checking. I'd budget 10K upwards for forget the idea personally and I would want a full service history too, its important.
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The one Im looking at now is a 2003, the engine sounds fine, listened for pinking, the rear springs have been replaced and the vanos doesn't seem to make any nasty noises - also full service history with only the last stamp being a local indy - rest BMW. He wants 7300 for the car with 91k on the clock.
 
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A few pages back the thought of £475 road tax scared the crap out of you, how fast do you think you'll burn those 19" tyres down for example or even the massive insurance hike?
 
Philz0r said:
A few pages back the thought of £475 road tax scared the crap out of you, how fast do you think you'll burn those 19" tyres down for example or even the massive insurance hike?
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"scared the crap out of me" - nope

"how fast do you think you'll burn those 19" tyres" - not very quickly, limited mileage

"massive insurance hike" - nope
 
You realise you are buying a car with the running costs of a today £55k car right? It's not an £8k car. You can easily be looking at a £2k bill if you have an issue, tyres are 900 for a set if you buy quality and fuel consumption is circa 22-24mpg.
 
Housey said:
You realise you are buying a car with the running costs of a today £55k car right? It's not an £8k car. You can easily be looking at a £2k bill if you have an issue, tyres are 900 for a set if you buy quality and fuel consumption is circa 22-24mpg.
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Yes I am fully aware of that. Sorry if it frustrates you that I still want one.
 
Nobody is frustrated, more amused that someone who has decided that £200 a year extra tax is a significant enough cost to write a car choice off thinks an ageing M3 is a perfectly sensible financial option instead.
 
Kenai said:
Nobody is frustrated, more amused that someone who has decided that £200 a year extra tax is a significant enough cost to write a car choice off thinks an ageing M3 is a perfectly sensible financial option instead.
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The amount of BS and exaggeration in this thread is getting rife now, I didn't write the 350z off because of the £200 a year tax increase, granted that was one aspect of it but other factors were more damning.

I never said the M3 was a "perfectly sensible financial option" I just said it was the option for me.

I have been known to change my mind, but seriously we have covered pretty much every possible car in this thread.

Has anyone by any chance had a look at the history of the M3 I posted? im not sure what to think about it, my first thought was to dismiss it, but if it is legit then it represents a bargain.
 
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