Am I mad for wanting an E36 M3?

paradigm

paradigm

paradigm

Caporegime
Joined
26 Aug 2003
Posts
37,508
Location
Leafy Cheshire
Having had the leon for a year now, and me being me, I'm becoming increasingly bored of my car. Sure, its fun when I hoon it, but I find myself doing that less and less these days.

Having seen that a decent E36 M3 can be had for £8K (could even have a convertible at this price), I really am growing more and more tempted, seeing as cost to change would actually be slight (ever so slight that is) profit to me.

I'm about to change from doing 70 miles a day to just 15, and I'd also like a RWD as my next vehicle. The only other choice that appeals is the E46 330Ci or 330Ci Cab (too expensive considering I'm saving for a house deposit), but something keeps pulling me back to the M3, albeit older.

Thoughts?
 
At the kind of age/mileage you're looking at, some sort of remedial work during your ownership is inevitable. Take that into consideration and you can't go far wrong really - just be absolutely sure the car you are buying is not a lemon.

Buy one and I'll be very jealous - I wish I didn't need reliability, low maintenance, 'respectability' and affordable insurance :(.
 
amazing car. immense fun when I had a passenger ride in a convertable. The 330 CI wont touch the M, even though it will look newer.
 
Any that I do buy (hypothetical situation here) would have had the VANOS done. Judging off consumables costs, I wouldn't actually be looking at anything costing me more in reality, and with it being out of warranty i'd take it to a local specialist for servicing most likely.

Fortunately, practicality is not a requirement anymore :)
 
Are you mad?

Yes.

Do you need this car in your Life?

Yes.

Am i going to shut up unless you get a car with no roof that drives the right wheels?

No.
 
pinkaardvark said:
Won't it just go round in circles then?
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:p I hadn't read it like that until you pointed it out!

I'm sure even driving the rear wheels it could "just go round in circles though" ;)
 
If you're bored of hooning it in a Leon, why do you think that something faster would be any more fun?
Might be worth trying the M3 first.

Bearing in mind your requirements, what about an Elise? That would certainly be a LOT more fun and have masses more feedback.
 
You're quite right, I do not yet know if it will feel "better" or "more fun", and I do intend to try and get a few lengthy drives before I decide. However:

The leon is mainly boring me due to me being the kind of person who does bore of cars within 12 months. It also bores me now due to the lack of any sense of speed rather than the speed itself, its also a little boring pressing on in a front wheel drive car, understeer isn't pleasant, but mostly I just fancy a change :)

Elise would be great but is a little "too" impractical unfortunately :(
 
E36 M3's are good cars - You're getting a lot of performance for the money!

Especially if you get a 321Bhp Evo ;) - These are very quick!
 
paradigm said:
Elise would be great but is a little "too" impractical unfortunately :(
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Get another car to use as your practical car? (hey, the MGF is practical, honest ;))

£700 will get you a Mondeo or something equally interesting

Alternatively get an MX5/MGF, not blisteringly quick but huge amounts of fun. I'm absolutely loving the MGF at the moment.
 
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Serj said:
Yes. E36s are all wideboy cars :(
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This is the problem. The E36 is now owned by wideboys and people who buy a car because it's a BMW, not becuase of it's other merits. They can often by founding hammering around town being driven by chavs and people wearing hi-vis vests. The convertables all come out in Summer, driven by people with stained white shirts, and beer bellies.

The problem with the M3 is the genuine Sport models look exactly the same, bar the mirrors. Same bodykit, and factory fitted M badges. Telling a 328i Sport and an M3 apart requires someone who knows their M Series cars.

This is, however, a real shame. As a drivers car, the E36 M3 is fantastic. Provided you get one in great condition, it's as good now as it ever was and there is lots of thrills to be had.

So, you must ask yourself. Do you care about image? Do you care how others judge you for the car you drive? Do you mind paying £8k and getting a 10 year old BMW that looks every bit like a 10 year old BMW?

If the answer to any of these questions is 'Yes', then you should get the 330Ci instead. It's nearly as quick. If, however, you don't care about the above, then do it.

Buy a mint E36 M3. In Estoril Blue :D
 
I haven't got the space for two cars, as I said in the opening post I'm saving for a house deposit (already budgeted for), and as a result I doubt my parents would take too kindly to two cars being plonked on the drive/road outside the house, we already have 4 cars in the household. :(
 
paradigm said:
See now I think that for every model except the M3's.
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I just remember Steves blue E36 M3, just not nice imo.


paradigm said:
Plus, like i'd take the taste of a hairdresser as gospel ;)
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Oh biting! Btw, shouldn't you have torque-steered into a bush by now? :confused: :p
 
Serj said:
Oh biting! Btw, shouldn't you have torque-steered into a bush by now? :confused: :p
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No, the ESP stops that before I get into real trouble :p Plus bushes are only visited by young drivers in 3 litre BMWs. ;)

Fox: Not hugely concerned by the image of the car in all honesty, just so long as the car itself is worth the stigma attached. Remember I owned a saxo VTR not too long ago!
 
paradigm, what cars have you previously owned? Have they all been powerful FWD cars?

If so, might be time to try out a FWD car (Fun Wheel Drive ;))
 
I had a 98 M3 Evo for 2 weeks, I bought it and it needed a clutch.

I drove it for 1 day before I sold it.

Simply awesome, made my 528i feels so slow!!

Makes my 325ci feel even slower!

Awesome car, amazing engine noise.
 
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