TRICKED out M3, should I go for it?

[m3f_erliban]

Hi, Guys, noob here. I'd appreciate some advice from you M3 experts here:



I've had several sports cars before and since I'm getting older I'm looking to get an M3 as a practical sports car.



I'm mainly interested in E36 coupe with low miles and 5-speed manual. I was just browsing ebay the other day and saw this:



Tricked Out M3 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=6131&item=247 5162563&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT)



It has a ton of upgrades including Dinan Stage 2 supercharger. Low mileage too (30k). Yellow is my favorate color too.



My question is : Am I getting myself into trouble by buying this modded car? How reliable is the stuff the owner put on. Am I screwed if some of it breaks? Any pointers?



Or should I just get a stock one and forget about this one?



How much premium (over book price) would you give for the upgrades?



Thank you in advance for your advice.

[m3f_salty_80d4b8491b]

I'd drive a stock one first and see how you like the package before going to a Supercharger. The M3 even bone stock is a very well balanced package. It has ample power than can be used on the street if you are willing to extract it all. I would imagine the supercharger gives a big wallop in instant low RPM power. I have seen some messages for a low mileage Yellow Coupe on this site recently. The upside to buying an already modded car is that the seller is unlikely to re coupe the cost of these mods, so if you want the baddest M3, this is probably the way to go. Chances are a modded car has been pushed harder, but not always, as some probably just do the mods because of surplus funds lying around.

[m3f_erliban]

Yes I have driven stock M3 before and like the way it is. But I certainly wouldn't mind more power though :-) as long as it does not reduce the life of the engine a lot. Actually this bring another question: if the blower breaks, is it easy to just throw it away and go back to stock?

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

Yeah, but how did the guy drive it... what problems could be burried deep in the engine waiting to surface....

[m3f_Antz_March_d75577916d]

Hey man, don't take this as an insult since it's not your car yet, but is it really worth having all that power if you have to make the sacrifice of having the ugliest M3 on the road?? I'm sorry but I don't understand why someone would commit such a foul act of injustice on pure perfection. :cry:

[m3f_erliban]

Hehe.. non-taken. Besides the big wing (do you think it's easy to get off?) I actually don't mind the rest, especially the interior bits are pretty nice.

[m3f_MattMan]

There's something to be said of modifying your own car. I would look for a stock car..

[m3f_Antz_March_d75577916d]

I'm sure that the wing will be easy to get off...but that front kit, rear valance and side skirts are the worst. If you do end up buying it, make sure he throws a bag of **** in the trunk free of charge ; )

[m3f_M-avant_0baeb1c2f5]

the fun part is driving it - then mod it to make it perform better. drive it some more - then mod it some more. it's like a really cool, but expensive and vicious cycle. but if you're looking for something out-of-the-box, i think this yellow one would be pretty cool.

[m3f_Max M3]

I think the owner did a great job of picking only top-notch mods! He really did it up nice... It also has very low mileage so he couldn't have run the supercharger in it all that long. Obviously adding that will decrease the life-expectancy of the motor and introduce more parts to go wrong. The fact that the 'charger is a Dinan is a BIG plus as far as servicing goes. You CAN go back to stock without much difficulty. I can tell that it started it's life from the factory with the luxo package... all good things. This car is gonna be awfully fast! I'd just change those 19" wheels though!

[m3f_erliban]

Thanks for the inputs. Yes I noticed the wood trim (hence luxury package) too. Too bad I can't get the vader seats in luxury package.



So how much would you guys think is a fair price for this car?

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

Hmmm 97 with 30k miles.. I would say 15k, but hell, with all thoes mods and the bid at 12k.... even though his reserves not met yet, so hes not obgligated to sell it yet

[m3f_erliban]

I've asked the guy, his reserve is $26k! Although $15k may be too low to get me a 97 M3 here in Northern California. I'm not going to bid $26k either. I'll probably try $20k first...

[m3f_M3Man]

I would say no, just because of that ugly wing.

[m3f_KUpolo]

My take:



Nice engine mods, but it is hard to say how hard the car has been driven. With that low of mileage on it, it would seem that the car has seen a large amount of track use in which case the mileage is a moot point. Do you know how many miles were o it when he did all the mods? Why is he getting rid of it?



I would be very careful buying a car like this.



The cosmetic stuff he has done to the outside of the car is just hideous IMO.