So I may have found it. Have been casually looking for an E36 M3 for a while, no hurry, as i have two too many cars now as it is. Looking at it tonight so quick thoughts much appreciated. The suspect is a '97 coupe, silver, manual, looks to be in great shape, 91k miles, only 2 owners, less than $8k. Fits the bill as far as what I want, and I think the price is pretty fair, considering it is nearly in excellent shape. Almost too nice to take to the track......nahhhh.
Any thoughts/advise?
1995 is 3.0 liter, OBD1. 1996-1999, 3.2L, OBD2. Toward the end of the '99 run there's some odd stuff specific to those cars.
Things to look for/avoid. Luxury package had power/lux seats. I suspect you'd want the "Vader" manual sport seats. The Harmon-Kardon stereo is nice enough, BSW speakers help. As has been stated infinity times, the cooling systems and bushings are all consumables.
I have a '98 silver over black coupe, manual, no lux. Fold down back seats, H-K stereo. Bought 5 years ago w/ 58k miles, too nice to take to the track.
I'm getting ready to sell it as a fully developed track car w/ a license plate as it's a pain on the street and I have a real race car now. Probably getting an e39 M5 and leaving it stock.
The one you've found sounds really good. I'd have a pre-purchase inspection done and use anything it needs as a bargaining chip. Then look up the parts on realoem.com, buy them cheap and do the work yourself.
Yup, what he said.
If it is on the original radiator / water pump / thermostat housing at 91k miles it is a ticking time bomb. Stock shocks are long gone along with front and rear control arm bushings.
If these things have been changed recently you should be good.
BTW, I can't believe sub 100k mile E36 M3s are under $10,000!!!!! WTF What a lot of car for the money. Good thing I don't need to sell mine or i'd take a big hit.
The car you mentioned does sound awfully good for a sub $10k car. Make sure you get it on a lift to make sure it hasn't been wrecked and repaired. As these cars get older, more and more of them have lead hard lives.
Check the rear subframe mounts. These rarely fail, but it does happen.
The headliners fall down, the door panels become unglued, and some of the interior pieces break over time. (cheap plastic) The Luxury seats are heavy and mediocre, but the "Vader" seats don't fit everyone well. Make sure you can get comfortable.
Rear strut-mount bushings are a common wear item. (clunking toward back of car), as is the mentioned cooling system.
The engines are pretty bulletproof, but the VANOS system can get a little ticky with age, especially after hard use.
They are wonderful machines. My 97 has 143K miles on it, and I drove it 200 miles yesterday. 27.4 mpg (according to on board computer) and that included a couple of full-throttle runs past 100mph!
It is the best car I've ever owned. Even after 14 years and a bunch of miles, it is solid, stable, fast-enough, and easy to work on.
I am lucky enough to be able to drive a lot of new cars. The E36 M3 is still one of my all-time favorites:
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/project-cars/1997-bmw-m3/
^What he said too, about the Vaders^ When I took them out to install race seats a couple years ago there was exactly one position that was vaguely comfortable. If I don't sell my M3 w/ all the track stuff I'm considering opening the Vaders up, and mitering and welding the side bolster frame tubes down a few degrees so they don't pinch my thighs so mightily.
Nothing to really add except that's a pretty damn good deal if it's all the seller claims. I paid $7500 for mine a year ago, 97 with 130k on it in excellent shape with a pile of service records. The bushings had been done by the PO, and I did the cooling system myself over last winter. It's a fairly easy job, cost me $400 in parts form Bimmerzone with an aluminum radiator.
95 is OBDI. Perfect in many states for an engine swap. Just sayin'.
Some say the '95 didn't have the rear subframe reinforcements - others say that's bunk.
My recent 99 Vert with 88,000 miles was $8k The only place these things are commanding >$10k anymore is on the bmw forums.
Its sad in a way, the lower the prices go the more they fall into the hands of people who don't care for them and the less good ones there are.
Tremendous car to drive in anger, lots of fun. Still not entirely sure about it in the commuting environment, I still find myself gravitating toward my old DD in the mornings. I love the M3 its just more work to drive and when Im tired and facing 70 miles ahead of me I tend to wuss out. I either need to get over that or get a different DD before I have to give up the old one to my daughter in the spring.
I love my '99, but I bought it cheap because it had been neglected... I don't recommend doing that. These cars demand somewhat costly maintenance - clutch, cooling system, all the rubber in the suspension and drive line, etc. Find a car with records documenting that these things have been taken care of and save yourself buckets of cash or hours and hours of DIY.
I bought a '95 with 63k on it for $8000 from a dealer a year and a half ago. It was in spectacular shape and was a great car, which I almost regret selling now. I was in a downsizing mode when we had a move across town, and didn't really need it for the current situation. Sold it for $10.5 after putting about $2k into it for silly stuff like door seals, window regulator, some plastic bits, the undertray, shipping from dealer to me, etc.
Now I'm in the market again... a little bummed, because it is the car I'd like to have now, but didn't need then.
I love the E36 it's so easy to work on. Worst thing about working on my 318 is bending over because it's so low.
So it looks like it's going to happen, car is in great shape, all maintenance records, verified with reputable foreign car shop in town. Overall great shape for a car it's age, minimal wear, garaged entire life. Recent service with all belts, hoses, fluids, plugs less than 1k miles ago. Very excited. Amazes me that these cars can be found for so little $$ for what you get.
JThw8 wrote: I love the M3 its just more work to drive and when Im tired and facing 70 miles ahead of me I tend to wuss out. I either need to get over that or get a different DD before I have to give up the old one to my daughter in the spring.
I can't believe it's been almost 7 years since the g/f sold hers, but I would agree. As much as I'd love another M3, I wouldn't trade my TDi for one when it comes to DD use, and that's not taking into account the 2x fuel cost increase.
Regardless, it sounds like a great deal. Enjoy! 
Where were these cars when I was looking earlier this year?! I wound up ponying up nearly 17k for an E46 M3 because I couldn't find a decent E36 M3 for less than 90% of the E46 price.
Congrats, they're one of the best bargains out there!
We LOVED ours. It was a '98 sedan that (I believe) is currently being enjoyed by another GRMer. It is, to date, the only car that I've regretted selling....and I'm always looking for another deal. Fantastic cars...but I did the right thing replacing it with a TDI for my 100mile daily commute. Even if it is a little soul sucking. 
I LOVE my '99. I've had it 12 years and it's at 103,000 miles. It has been extremely reliable and none of it is falling apart. Even the interior that seems to fall apart in the earlier cars is in great shape.
It's my daily driver and canyon carver and to be honest, it's the car that has made it so I am just not that interested in my old 911's anymore.
So much car for the money they are commanding these days, and so not worthy of being the one car that is used to replace the naughtier word for "poopy" on this board. There is a lot of poopy out there. The e36 M3 doesn't even come close to deserving that label.
Anyone else remember the 1997 Car and Driver article "The Best Handling Car for over $30,000"? Ferrari, Acura NSX, Viper, Corvette, Boxster, Porsche Carrera S and a few others. And which was the best handling car? The one GRM uses to replace the word poopy. That is extremely bizarre, IMO.
Make you wonder if the guy who decided on that word substitution for this forum had his chick stolen by a guy in an e36 M3. If so, let me apologize to him on behalf of the e36 M3 community
Here's a link to the Car and Driver article:
I thought "E36 M3" was used in place of the bad word for poopy because this car is "The poopy", as in "The bomb" or "something really good".
AugustusGloop wrote:I thought "E36 M3" was used in place of the bad word for poopy because this car is "The poopy", as in "The bomb" or "something really good".
I think you are a the glass is 1/8 full sort of guy 
Yup, the E36 M3 is the The E36 M3!
Excuse me...it is "The Poopy" It is a good thing, don't fret.
An M3 is certainly on the high end of much of the GRM community it seems, but now that they are under $10k I would put it smack dab in the middle of Grassroots. Once the kiddos wreck them or sell them to enthusiast like those on this board maybe the values will go up! Quick buy 'em up before the price hike! I should buy another! How much can they tow? haha
miatame wrote:Yup, the E36 M3 is the The E36 M3!
Excuse me...it is "The Poopy" It is a good thing, don't fret.
Stop this! The guy's chick dumped him for an e36 M3 guy.
I have another thread going where I am trying to decide what to replace my stupid expensive Porsche track car with and the Datsun 510 was on my list along with an e30 325is and an e36 M3. I can't find a decent 510 (and I'm in So Cal) and I saw a gorgeous '95 M3 in Avus Blue with 113k miles for $7k with a clean Carfax. How can i even think of anything else when these things are SO cheap?
Don't bother! They're really great cars. They aren't "do all" by any means, but a really nice hwy cruiser and canyon carver, track day car. You aren't likely to pick up drywall at HD with it, but if you use it right, it's a great tool.
Avus is the best color BMW ever put on cars (looks in driveway to confirm).
