what is this M3 worth? 1995 Avus Blue/gray w/ 94k

[m3f_Wicked_M3]

hello guys, im going to buy an e36 M3 within a week. there is a guy local to me who is a bmw mechanic who has a 95 avus blue m3, 94k, contour wheels, rear spoiler, excellent condition, 6cd changer, 5spd. basically all the options offered.



my only concern is the mileage, but the guy sounds honest and i doubt he would try to tear me one living only a few miles away. he said he wouldnt sell this car to me if he didnt think it could drive across the country. he has done the maintenance for the past year, including replacing the entire cooling system, water pump etc. im still a little weary about buying a car w/ nearly 100k, but im very interested still b/c i love that color and those wheels.



what do you think its worth? he sounded like he needed to sell it quick. im a recent college graduate so i need a good deal.



here is a pic of it for a rough idea. thanks.

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

Nada rages in price from 12.5 - 15.9k for that one.



Nada price link (http://www2.nadaguides.com/Values/ValueCategoryReport.asp?UserID=5308076532B41&DID=3 8076&wSec=1&wPg=1207&CategoryId=1&MakeId=1026&Vehi cleId=1861&Year=1995&ColorId=)



Kellys blue book private party is 11.8k

[m3f_Edgy_592e912c16]

Do an www.edmunds.com, and get all the service records.



See how he feels about giving you some kind of 3-6 month handshake deal that he would fix any major problem on the car for cost, ie no labor charges.



I agree with you re Avus -- awesome color, better IMHO that Estoril. ALMOST as nice as GREEN. :thumbsup:

[m3f_Wicked_M3]

dark: thanks..forgot about edmunds/nada..just did kbb and saw it was kinda lower than both. hes asking 14k obo. i think i should be able to bring him to 12,5..but thinking may just try 12k at first in case he wants to meet in the middle around 12,5 or 13k.



edgy: i think its a bonus that hes a bmw mechanic, and may also ask him if he wants any side work, for me and a friend of mine.



yeah, that avus blue is sweet. im torn between it and estoril. i dont think that pic is a good one at all, but if i buy it i'll take much nicer shots and post. =)



any opinions/suggestions on negotiaiting the price? any particular things to look for in a 95 (he said waterpump is new so no plastic impeller).

[m3f_Wicked_M3]

so the car has 3 LTWs and 1 contour rims LOL. guy told me the first owner f'ed up one rim and it was a rear so the spare couldnt be used since they are staggered 7.5" and 8.5"...funny thing was i didnt even notice right away. they both looked good



im thinking i can talk him down more because of it, as well as some paint chips on the spoiler (it wasnt painted well). plus side is he has all the paperwork with it, and its only a 2 owner car. all stock, nothing aftermarket except the alpine stereo/cd changer.



on the downside again, it has been reported to be involved in an accident, although a minor side collision. it showed on carfax. hmmm =/



im so hesitant, but i need to find a car in the area asap due to my stang's tranny meltdown. but damn i love that avus blue! that pic does NO justice.



im still thinking about the handshake deal, w/ any repairs done for cost. maybe i can get a year out of it. he said he does side work when he has time.

[m3f_salty_80d4b8491b]

The most important thing you can do at this ponit is an independant inspection from a BMW expert. HAs it beeen in an accident? Is the paint original? Have the shocks been changed? Ball Joints, sway bar links and especially rear control arm bushings. Is the rear floor in good shape? Has it been welded? What is the compression or better yet do a leak down test. If it passes all these criteria, the evaluate your price from that point forward.

Also, check how old is clutch? Tires? Brakes? Exhaust? An good pro will know all these questions off the top off his head if he was the prime care giver.



Good luck, Be picky it will pay off.

[m3f_///sleeper_f29d08a5a4]

Wait until you find the EXACT car you want. I got greedy and went with a car that doesn't have the interior I wanted. I love it for sure, but now I have to spend more money on things like seats/harnesses and what-not. Get it inspected. Only good can come from it. Hell, if everything is not to liking, you cold use that as arguing points to lower the price. Other than that, shop around, ride the bus if you have to, you'll be happier in the long-run.

[m3f_M3fun43]

Keep looking the right one will come to you and with the interest rate so low on 6yo and newer cars why buy an old car when you can get a 97 for the same price.

[m3f_Wicked_M3]

yeah, ive decided against it. ive compiled a list of over 30 M3s in FL that meet my criteria and Im going on one HUGE road trip this wkend to find "the perfect one". I will be hitting up orlando, then west palm bch, then miami. and if nothing by that point i will make it back up through tampa. lol, should be fun.



i currently have my eyes set on this 97 w/ 69k and fully loaded. 2nd owner, garaged, all papers. think he has it priced high (19k) but im sure he will go lower since he needs to sell within a week. I priced it on KBB: $16,8k NADA: $17,8k Edmunds: $17,4-18,4k. hoping I can get it for 17k or so. it looks SWEET. :thumbsup:

[m3f_M3AN_5f4dc0ba80]

The silver one looks like its got the lux package (wood trim etc)... were you aware of that?

[m3f_Edgy_592e912c16]

Very nice -- make sure the tint can be reversed, should you decide to, or have to due to state law.



Probably already done this, but since you're going anyway, do all searches for FL -- Ebay, AutoTrader, CarMax, even dealers in the area. Don't miss a thing.



Best of luck!

[m3f_Wicked_M3]

yeah, my boss just pointed that out to me. he said the main difference is interior (wood trim) and under the door sills, as well as the lack of the front 'chin' piece. oh and the seats i believe. is that all? performance is identical correct? how about weight of the vehicle? thanks.

[m3f_Wicked_M3]

how do i know if the tints can be reversed?? i was wondering if they were too dark as well. although i have very dark tints on my stang and havent had any problems where i live, yet.

[m3f_///sleeper_f29d08a5a4]

I've got a lux-package car too. The specs are all identical (motor and drive-train). Only difference is the seats (same as sport seats out of a 3-series), and all that damn wood-grain trim. The rockers are different and that lip is missing and there is a slat grill. I replaced the slat grill with expanded-stainless-steal and painted it black, and put on the lip extension myself. Check out Understeer.com for the lip stuff. It's pretty easy, you can deffinently do it yourself in a couple hours. All part numbers and stuff are on that site, real good job.

[m3f_///sleeper_f29d08a5a4]

One more thing...Don't settle on a lux package if you don't like the seats. The lux-seats are VERY unsupportive side-to-side for hot driving. I am buying racing seats b/c I feel like a damn marble in a baby-rattle, sliding from side-to-side.JMT