BAT prices are crazy!

[m3f_twentyseven]

I think those numbers are unbelievably off. 15k manual coupe and sedan? There were like 70k e36 m3 produced.

16k manual S52 coupe/sedan. 2k cabrio. Another 8500 manual S50.

Plus another 10k automatic S50/S52 cars, about 36k total USA spec cars.


33k Euro/ROW spec cars, so TOTAL E36 production worldwide was ~70k

[m3f_westopher]

Its probably safe to say that most likely, neither of you are right. Does it really matter if they produced even 200K of them if there are only 10K left in drive-able condition?



It's all speculation at this point. We can all agree that great condition E36s are rare.

Seems safe to say I was right.

Original numbers absolutely do matter as they determine how many are left. I'm not looking to wager a guess at that, but I think your 10k estimate could unfortunately be right or maybe even less with how hard the depreciation curve of these cars combined with the housing crash hit the prices of these cars. Yeah they are cheap to buy, but they still have maintenance costs you should be fairly well off to handle.



It definitely matters that there are only probably 10 for sale I have seen in the last year that I'd consider buying.

16k manual S52 coupe/sedan. 2k cabrio. Another 8500 manual S50.

Plus another 10k automatic S50/S52 cars, about 36k total USA spec cars.



33k Euro/ROW spec cars, so TOTAL E36 production worldwide was ~70k

I figured that it had to be either s52 or s50 us cars that referred to.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

...33k Euro/ROW spec cars, so TOTAL E36 production worldwide was ~70k

Close.



It's 32559 to be exact. Thats the EU spec models (/ROW) minus the South African models.



So BF91/92, BJ91/92, CD91/92, BG91/92, BK91/92 and CD91/92



LHD total: 22752

RHD total: 9807



Further devided this comes to:



LHD 3.0 total: 13575 - coupe 11284 | cab 1403 | limo 888

LHD 3.2 total: 9177 - coupe 6117 | cab 1764 | limo 1296

RHD 3.0 total: 4159 - coupe 3162 | cab 572 | limo 425

RHD 3.2 total: 5648 - coupe 2845 | cab 2109 | limo 694

[m3f_twentyseven]

Close.



It's 32559 to be exact. Thats the EU spec models (/ROW) minus the South African models.



So BF91/92, BJ91/92, CD91/92, BG91/92, BK91/92 and CD91/92



LHD total: 22752

RHD total: 9807



Further devided this comes to:



LHD 3.0 total: 13575 - coupe 11284 | cab 1403 | limo 888

LHD 3.2 total: 9177 - coupe 6117 | cab 1764 | limo 1296

RHD 3.0 total: 4159 - coupe 3162 | cab 572 | limo 425

RHD 3.2 total: 5648 - coupe 2845 | cab 2109 | limo 694

ROW means "Rest of World" so that totals 33,091 to be exact.



Do you want to tally the media cars without VIN's as well?

[m3f_M_Parallel]

ROW means "Rest of World" so that totals 33,091 to be exact.



Do you want to tally the media cars without VIN's as well?

Media cars have VIN's just as well. There are a couple owners on different forums here who on ex press/exhibition cars and will have, ofcourse, a VIN.



South African cars have their own designation. I wasn't sure if you had these included as minus US models, everything else is ROW for the model designation, except S.A.

[m3f_EY84002]

I think bidders on BaT know more about what they are getting than any other site, and sometimes more than if you are looking at the car in person. (unless you are an expert in the particular car and have a lot of time to look at it)


The benefit of the open forum and interaction is huge to anyone who is not an expert. People see the stuff that isn't right and call it out. All of those reasons added up will sometimes result in a couple people wanting the car badly enough that market value is somewhat ignored or exceeded.


Bottom line is that it is the only site that looks out for the buyer as well. That has value.


They've done a good job building their site and brand. It's getting to the point that buying a car on BaT adds to it's story.


I have a low mile IS300 5spd, I will be listing it there in the spring without thinking twice.

[m3f_Vitaliy93]

Close.


It's 32559 to be exact. Thats the EU spec models (/ROW) minus the South African models.


So BF91/92, BJ91/92, CD91/92, BG91/92, BK91/92 and CD91/92


LHD total: 22752

RHD total: 9807


Further devided this comes to:


LHD 3.0 total: 13575 - coupe 11284 | cab 1403 | limo 888

LHD 3.2 total: 9177 - coupe 6117 | cab 1764 | limo 1296

RHD 3.0 total: 4159 - coupe 3162 | cab 572 | limo 425

RHD 3.2 total: 5648 - coupe 2845 | cab 2109 | limo 694

So basically the LHD sedan will be unobtainium in the US once the 25 year import law has passed. Bummer.


Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

[m3f_97_4dr_5spd_m3]

BAT is great in that it is a collection of car enthusiast and promotes to only cars that enthusiasts would potentially want to buy.



They are also great because it is very low maintenance for people to follow their site as it is just another brand or person or site that you follow on your FB. I am someone that has a very "clean" timeline. I do not follow more than 5 businesses I'd say, but am not annoyed by BAT's postings. Now if they start posting Dodge Caravans or other shit I would probably "unlike" them.



The site is not Ebay or Autotrader in that you need to scroll through dumb offerings to see a quality piece.



Plus you can just kind of expect that if the vehicle is posted on their the owner is probably an enthusiast and treated his car as such...also getting 1000 others on there looking it over does not hurt.



All of the above comes at premium. If you don't like, go dig through Ebay in between "M3 chrome side vents" Buy It Nows for $14.99.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

So basically the LHD sedan will be unobtainium in the US once the 25 year import law has passed. Bummer.



Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

There’ll be ones for sale. But with (very) high asking prices.



The RHD is even rarer, but not interesting for LHD folks, unless you don’t mind. Like the Skyline fans.

[m3f_wgknestrick]

There’ll be ones for sale. But with (very) high asking prices.



The RHD is even rarer, but not interesting for LHD folks, unless you don’t mind. Like the Skyline fans.

Rare and desirable are two different things.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

Rare and desirable are two different things.

I know that, but thanks.



And desirable is subjective.

[m3f_matt0807]

I bought the Grey/Red 99 last fall (https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1999-bmw-m3-20/) that was probably at the other end of the spectrum than what you're referring to. The benefit to me of buying on BAT was that I very much knew what I was getting before flying from Atlanta to Philly to drive back - not something that could be said of an average CL or Autotrader sale. I got a well-used but also well-loved and maintained M3, and don't feel that I overpaid one bit

[m3f_98M3csm]

When they are fresh they offer good low beam and superb high beam output. I live in the mountains and have no complaints with US lights.

People always say the US lights are garbage. I understand they're not HIDs but I have always thought they are perfectly adequate. Especially the high beams.

[m3f_Earthwormjlm]

People always say the US lights are garbage. I understand they're not HIDs but I have always thought they are perfectly adequate. Especially the high beams.

Usually the issue is the plastic oxidizing, worn out bulbs when people buy these cars, and improperly aimed headlights. So they conclude that these headlights suck, they have no output etc...



My '96 318is had the original head lights, and probably original bulbs when I bought it in 2004. I couldn't see shit at night. After a polish and new bulbs, they were fine. I swapped to ZKWs anyway, because I thought they looked better, I liked the E-code uptick, and it was the thing to do... Output wise, it was not a night and day difference. Besides the uptick and sharp cut off, I couldn't really tell the difference at night.

[m3f_Nate047]

If you plan on buying a car that you want to drive, I'd almost suggest looking for one that's just peaked 100k'ish and has been driven. Makes you feel not as bad about driving it.

For sure. My 99 coupe has about 136k on the clock now and is definitely not a show queen. It's perfect for me because I don't trip when it gets new scratches. But it was a lot less than 20 grand too LOLLL edit: I bought my car for $7800 in April of 2016, paid low and I imagine the same car would be more like 12k or 13k today in the same condition. Current "improved condition" and accounting for mods? I dunno. Not much more I think. Nobody wants to buy someone else's modified car.