how many E36 M3 Sedans left on the road?

DukeOfUndersteer wrote: In reply to RandyS: Well then, if i could find this combo, I'd say I would want a Techno Violet on Modena...

Great combo - that's what I have! Peanut butter and Jelly. :-)

There are very few M3/4/5 in Techno and Modena though. I had to make my own. My original interior was Dove. I changed out the carpet, door panels and console to black from a CL partout, then bought some Dove vaders on CL cheap and redyed the seats Modena

RandyS wrote: For the adventurous: Salvage title M3/4/5 in IL. Prior water damage and seats trashed. 163k. BIN $5800. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330468442733

In the first head on picture of the car, the parts hanging down under the left front don't instill confidence.

In reply to glueguy:

Agreed. With the salvage title and unknown damage it is probably a $3500-4000 car at most. If near might be worth a look and offer.

Right color. Wrong trans.

http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/1965922940.html

Buy this one and the one in VT with the 5-speed for one good M3

purple overload. This one looks like it has mulberry seats but 66k miles for $9k seems like a great deal.

http://cnj.craigslist.org/ctd/1964013969.html

I think that's Dove. They are hard to tell apart in pictures if the light is sketchy. Mulberry was a lux only color as far as I know, and this is a sport car (no wood trim, mesh grille and twisted rockers)

In reply to RandyS:

If there are no stories, that would be the one to get.

RandyS wrote: purple overload. This one looks like it has mulberry seats but 66k miles for $9k seems like a great deal. http://cnj.craigslist.org/ctd/1964013969.html

Wrong steering wheel in it? I thought all 98s had three-spoke M wheels.

Here's a good resource:

E36 M3 3.2 FAQs

99's only got the 3 spoke. I recently updated my 98 with a 3 spoke. Has to be one of the best mods ever. You don't realize how bad the large diameter 4 spoke is until you try the 3 spoke.

If you can find them they go for $300-$400 from a genuine 99 M3 so I did a little reseach and got the tri-color stitched wheel from a more common (but same wheel) M coupe/roadster and got the rare 2 year only single stage airbag from a 98-00 E38/E39 5/7 series. I spent less than $200 total. The only thing I had to buy new was the 3 spoke specific column bracket that puts the horn contactor on the other side.

I used this article to make the swap. http://www.frankies-bmw.com/3series/diy/steering_wheel/bmw_3series_steering_wheel.php

In reply to ZOO:

True. That is the site I referenced in the first post asking how many M3/4/5's were still on the road.

I wish BMW would publish the color breakouts in the production numbers.

Yikes! Another one. This one is a bit pricey, but seems like it might be worth it.

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ctd/1967066532.html

In reply to Carrera4:

There doesn't seem to be any shortage of M3/4/5's in the $12-15k range. They seem to be popping out of the woodwork lately.

The trick is finding a good one in the $5-7k range.

I like the 66k mile one above for $9k the best so far.

http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/cto/1967381141.html

Yet another. No shortage of M3 Sedans in general from what I can tell.

In reply to Carrera4:

Sure seems that way. When you're not looking they are everywhere, when you are looking you can't find one anywhere.

Also seems to be localized. If you want one better start looking nationally and plan to fly somewhere (having worked on many cars from the North I recomend the southern cars)

Still, through attrition there can't be a whole lot left. 4000 M3/4/5's made total so there might be 2500 on the road?

Outside Atlanta:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/1967782537.html

There is a shortage of M3 sedans with the rear seat fold down option and heated front seats.

Very few came with the rear seat fold down option and those that did usually don't have the cold weather package for whatever reason.

I pulled my hair out looking for a car with a 5 speed manual tranny, fold down rear seats and heated front seats and eventually threw in the towel and bought my '92 Audi S4 instead.

RandyS wrote: 99's only got the 3 spoke.

Actually, if you want to get real picky, the 98.5 got the 3 spoke wheel too.

RandyS wrote: 99's only got the 3 spoke.

Actually, if you want to get real picky, the 98.5 got the 3 spoke wheel too.

saw a beautiful silver one today, lowered a tad too much on gaudy wheels though.

patgizz wrote: saw a beautiful silver one today, lowered a tad too much on gaudy wheels though.

That's what bothers me about the e36 in general. When the shocks/struts go at about 60K-70K miles (Like mine are doing now on my 325i), you end up paying less for the lowering kits than you do a reasonable OE replacement. This causes an excess of cars that have been slammed to the ground. I can get a full coil-over kit for around $800, but to keep as close to factory ride height so I'm not some poser in a pimped out sedan with two child seats in the back, I'm going to pay $1000-$1200K.

I was able to find some Gabriel struts at the local Autozone for $116 but I'm afraid I'll be getting what I pay for . . .

You can get a set of stock length Bilsteins or Koni's for a pretty reasonable price. No need to replace the springs, generally. Unless you want higher spring rates....

Hey look - another one!

This one is actually a decent price, too - $5000

http://greenbay.craigslist.org/ctd/1969619924.html

njansenv wrote: You can get a set of stock length Bilsteins or Koni's for a pretty reasonable price. No need to replace the springs, generally. Unless you want higher spring rates....

All the Bilsteins I've seen run at least $180 each for the front struts. Tack on another $80 each for the rear. For another $200 you can get a full coilover kit including springs from any number of sources.

Carrera4 wrote:

patgizz wrote: saw a beautiful silver one today, lowered a tad too much on gaudy wheels though.

That's what bothers me about the e36 in general. When the shocks/struts go at about 60K-70K miles (Like mine are doing now on my 325i), you end up paying less for the lowering kits than you do a reasonable OE replacement. This causes an excess of cars that have been slammed to the ground. I can get a full coil-over kit for around $800, but to keep as close to factory ride height so I'm not some poser in a pimped out sedan with two child seats in the back, I'm going to pay $1000-$1200K. I was able to find some Gabriel struts at the local Autozone for $116 but I'm afraid I'll be getting what I pay for . . .

I'm just saying that you don't need to spend 1000-1200 to keep close to factory ride height etc etc per your prior post. I'm not sure what coilovers your referring to, but there are lots of BAD cheap coilovers. As you said, Billies are ~$520 for a set.