Best area to buy from?

[m3f_intelectualism]

Hey I'm in the market for a E36 M3 and i'm curious, which would be the best place to get a good deal on one? Everything here in the bay area seems to be overpriced and it's hard to find a m3 that's stock. Perhaps Southern CA? or maybe some nearby states?



Or should I just settle for a 3 series. :nixweiss:

[m3f_99M3Rivers_2e011d965e]

There seems to be a lot of cars in TX, I saw a Dinan M3 for sale in San Diego a couple of weeks ago. If you do an autotrader search use ZIP 92121. It is a San Diego Zip. there usually about 12 for sale.

[m3f_mighty-dog_11395d17be]

For each of my two M3s, I searched nationwide. I found that Texas definitely has the best prices on luxury vehicles including BMWs and M3s. I live in Washington state but the savings versus buying in my region exceeded the costs of transporting each vehicle 2300 miles by several $1000's.



I've wondered why Texas has the best prices. Regardless, I would search in Texas again. My last three vehicles have come from Texas.

[m3f_Ty Vil_fe6451789c]

The midwest.

[m3f_bmw4life13_0098c1d2b1]

Definitely check in TX. I bought my 99 M3 convert with 44,xxx miles for $23K.

[m3f_WWJDWITHCA_c5c48caf1f]

The midwest.

You do not want to buy an E36 from the Midwest if you don't have to. The level of corrosion present makes them worth thousands less as compared to a possibly corrosion-free car from the southwest. Where in the Midwest the only way they'll be clean is if they're not driven in the winter.....and this site proves that not many of you put your cars away during the winter.



I agree with Texas, I saw some really clean, affordable cars down there.

[m3f_95GreenDin_a5d1e794f4]

I'm in San Antonio, and they're difficult to find in this city. Every once in a while Austin has some, but Houston is the best bet. I see alot of M3's for sale in Houston. A Zip in S.A., TX is 78229. Austin is 75 miles away and Houston is within 200 miles.

[m3f_M-avant_0baeb1c2f5]

this one looks ok, it has a Dinan blower under the bonnet: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=174167448&dealer_id=&car_year=1998& make=BMW&distance=100&max_price=&model=M3&advcd_on =n&end_year=1999&min_price=&first_record=26&certif ied=n&address=94404&search_type=used&advanced=n&st art_year=1995&=&color=&cardist=32

[m3f_intelectualism]

You do not want to buy an E36 from the Midwest if you don't have to. The level of corrosion present makes them worth thousands less as compared to a possibly corrosion-free car from the southwest. Where in the Midwest the only way they'll be clean is if they're not driven in the winter.....and this site proves that not many of you put your cars away during the winter.



I agree with Texas, I saw some really clean, affordable cars down there.

what's considered mid/south west?



how long is the drive from texas to CA? approx ;P

[m3f_salty_80d4b8491b]

Hey I'm in the market for a E36 M3 and i'm curious, which would be the best place to get a good deal on one? Everything here in the bay area seems to be overpriced and it's hard to find a m3 that's stock. Perhaps Southern CA? or maybe some nearby states?



Or should I just settle for a 3 series. :nixweiss:

I wouldn't buy a Northern M3 if it has seen winter....but that's just me. Non winter driven is the Grail for a Canadian if the car is a keeper.

[m3f_WWJDWITHCA_c5c48caf1f]

what's considered mid/south west?



how long is the drive from texas to CA? approx ;P

I'm not 100% sure on each state, but the key is salt....who doesn't use it in the winter. As far as I know, Colorado is the closest state to the Midwest that doesn't use it. TX, OK, AZ, NM, NV, CA are all good. I believe the Pac West is good too, but someone else would have to verify that cause I'm not sure. The hotter states have cracking issues with the dash, faded paint etc., but that's far superior to rust! CA has a tendancy for higher milleage, and their prices are quite high as well.



Distance to Texas? Depends. Texas is like the size of Brazil! Figure 1000 miles anyway.

[m3f_mx21]

Entering Texas from Louisiana on I-10 - Mileage sign states "El Paso - 854 miles" ..... GEEEEZ!

[m3f_speeder]

If you're in the Bay Area, I think you're in good shape for a local buy.



I'm now in a sweet '99 coupe, completely stock, boston green on black, purchased with 52K miles, one owner, original brake pads front and rear with >50% pad left on em, all service records, local shop reference, never hit, so clean it looked new when I bought it. Off Craigslist for 22K.



The thing looks perfect when it's clean. Craigslist is amazing. I looked for about two months before and after my purchase, and there were some great looking 98s and 99s in the $20-24K range, some with as little as 22K miles.



Besides the importance of finding a car that has been well cared for with low miles, I think Cali is tough to beat. I've lived east and in Colorado, and the east is very hard on cars in the winter, and Colorado dumps sand on the roads that will blast the hell out of the front of the car. The cali cars I looked at were very nice in comparison.