M3 price check

So I'm looking at an E36 M3 as a potential flip car or car to part out, and I'm curious on value.

What's a straight, mechanically sound 2 door E36 M3 worth?

Paint is ratty and most clear is gone, and it's an auto and driver side seat is torn up. It's got the Vaders and I don't think my personal upholstery skills are up to the task.

It has a little over 100k.

It needs some work but I'm not too scared of the mechanics

I'm sure it worth more in parts than asking price, bit I'd want to make it driver quality and sell it.

What year? S50 or S52?

It might be worth parting out. 

e36 m3 have been climbing in value, except for autos and convertibles unless they are mint. 

I’d say no less than $5k

I'm not a BMW guy but Its a 95 so I think that makes it an S50

Unless you get the invoices for a complete cooling system replacement, transmission service and any other maintenance sounds like $3500.

The OBDI is a bear to get smogged, if that is a requirement on change of ownership.  In California it is the responsibility of the selling party to get it to pass.

Slippery said:

What year? S50 or S52?

It might be worth parting out. 

e36 m3 have been climbing in value, except for autos and convertibles unless they are mint. 

I’d say no less than $5k

So that's why I can't find any decently cheap M3s.

Opti said:

I'm not a BMW guy but Its a 95 so I think that makes it an S50

Yes, 95 is S50. 

Post some pictures if you can. I would start in the 4s but that is just guessing without pics. 

Most clear coat is peeling. Driver's seat is torn,I have a good upholstery guy but I don't know if it's salvageable. Looks unmodified. It had the standard broken ignition shaft so he was starting it with he ignition switch and it broke. So I couldnt hear it run, but he had a video and it sounded  awful, like a tensioner was locking up. Radiator leaks. Tires are smoked. Some interior trim pieces are broken or missing, mostly small stuff. Headliner on sunroof shade is missing. Two dime size bubbles on left quarter, I'm assuming rust but couldn't find any elsewhere.

Guy seems honest like a GRM guy but I've been burned a few times.

I think it can be bought for around challenge money.

It's just ratty enough for me to be super attracted to it.

I really wouldn't want to part it, even though it's probably the best way to go financially. I really like to sort cars and get them back on the road, but I don't know if there is any meat on the bone here after my repairs since it's an auto, and I probably don't have space to do the bodywork so Its never gonna sell at the top of market.

It's pretty low, not like slammed but lower than I would expect a stock car, no brightly colored coils and owner didn't know of any mods, how low where these things?

It's a good track car candidate in that condition. Take the interior out, put a bar in it with some race seats and have fun. Except it's an automatic, which makes it worth nothing. If the rest of the car were nicer it may be worth doing a swap but you have a lot of stuff to fix on it to make it a good car. I'd pass on that one. M3 specific parts are NOT e36 priced.

I’d pass. You are not going to make money on that one. 

I'm happy that it is far away - it sounds like exactly the M3 that I'd look for.

Sounds like a disaster.  Every system needs work and its the least desireable version.

93gsxturbo said:

Sounds like a disaster.  Every system needs work and its the least desireable version.

It sounds like it needs maintenance - every car needs that, so no big.  If it's a 3 liter, then it's a 1995, which means it has square wheels, which is a benefit if you want to compete in a class that requires stock wheel widths - it makes your wheel inventorying a hell of a lot simpler.  Trashed interior is not that big a deal as long as it is all present (the lack of sunshade would need to be fixed) if you want to compete in classes where you are not allowed to remove anything.  And also, since it isn't a gem, won't feel bad about the car getting a bit bruised now and then, but it has "dime sized rust bubbles" and not "half the rear quarter panels are missing".

Hell, the automatic is also a plus in that it prevents the M3 2-1 upshift.

SO happy that it's far away.

In reply to Knurled. :

Yah if I wanted a beater to mess around it it'd be worth it to get it and get it running, but I've got too many in the fleet already, was looking to flip it.

Opti said:

I'm not a BMW guy but Its a 95 so I think that makes it an S50

in truth, it's worth whatever the engine is worth, since it's in otherwise bad shape and an automatic. IMO.

S50 probably worth $2-3k if it runs well. 

Probably make another $2k off of M3-specific stuff (perhaps).

IDK, e36 M3s in ratty shape are pretty common around here for relatively cheap. May be different in your area.

Not worth it to flip in that condition, but a great beater.

irish44j said:e36 M3s in ratty shape are pretty common around here for relatively cheap. May be different in your area.

If you can find a non-convertible for sale around here, it's either pristine and they want what it's worth, or it's trashed and the quarter panels are missing and they are asking only $5k.  The ads don't last long either.

So, you have my interest piqued.

Sounds like in your situation it would be impossible to save the car and sell it without taking a huge loss. As an owner of 2 95 m3s as much as I HATE saying it...if you wanna make money you should be thinking part out. Parted dozens of e36 m3s and there is good money to be made. Orrrrr track car. 

I can't be the only person to hear this cars tale of woe and low purchase price and immediately think..

Good chassis..

Automatic...  

Stock engine worth basically purchase price...   

Truck/Van based LS swap..

It's like an auto RX8 without all that canbus to make the swap horribad.

Unless you're a good painter and can make it pretty yourself for just time and materials you're not going to make money on it. 

I figured I couldn't save it, next step was part it but I let that go because I'm currently in the middle of renovating one house and selling another, then moving into a new one. So I don't want to buy a car, blow it apart, then have to move all the crap into a new place. But a project I can just drive.

So no part outs until we get settled in to the new place 

Paint is ratty and most clear is gone, and it's an auto and driver side seat is torn up. It's got the Vaders and I don't think my personal upholstery skills are up to the task.

 

It has a little over 100k.

Uhh, 2500? I had a chance to buy a better one than that (ie a manual) for 3600 and passed. Granted, people with E36 M3ty cars think theirs are worth what the nice ones are so there are probably plenty of people with E36 M3ty ones on this forum who think my number is SUPER LOW.  

Edit: I read the rest of the thread and now my offer is lower... glad at least i'm not gonna be the bad guy in this one. lol

How does "video of it running sounded awful" = mechanically sound?

I'd say run away, don't walk.  I bought a 'nice' E36 M3 with a binder full of receipts and after digging in it still cost me another $2k in parts to put it right...and that does nothing to the resale value.  And it still has some minor annoyances I'm chasing.

Even enthusiast-owned E36s, every system is worn and needs attention.  It's not like it was 10 years ago when you could buy one, overhaul the cooling system and be good to go.