Doug Demuro says now is the time to buy an e46 M3, before values sky rocket

[bmw]

Cars are never investments, no matter how much their value increase relative to what you paid - in a grand scheme of things, they NOT going to make you money. Unless the car is something along the lines of 250GTO or a Alfa Type 33, etc.

So buy what you want, drive the wheels off of it, get the next one, and enjoy that one too. Life is too short to be concerned with loosing value of an "investment" that never was.

"never investments, no matter how much their value increase relative to what you paid"

hmm.

[maw1124]

He’s probably right, in addition to being Captain Obvious. But I’ve owned other “young classics” that have skyrocketed in value, but it didn’t (and doesn’t) stop me from driving them. Sure, garage queens will fetch the eye popping numbers (maybe, and eventually). But the point of these being quarter million mile cars is, your 150k mile example will appreciate as well. And yea, E46M cars are easily good for a quarter million miles. Drive it, take care of it, enjoy it, and you’ll STILL be in the money. Unless you mod it to death and track it (or wreck it), in which case all bets are off — you’re the only one who will want it when you’re done, no matter the color combo or other spec (SMG, Manual, Vert, whatever).

But… another Captain Obvious point… cars are never investments… even the ones that quadruple in value over 10 years (like my 500E). When you back out the maintenance cost necessary to fetch that value, you’re happy if you break even. In any event, 400% will NOT be your gain if you count the fully loaded costs. Cars as an investment is a silly discussion. The same liquidity that produces a bubble in car markets produces an even bigger bubble everywhere else — stocks, real estate, art, you name it. Bitcoin anyone? Non Fungible Tokens? WTF are they, anyway, and why would anyone trade cash for them? I’ll spend that money on my E46M (or 500E, or beach house, or … real investments, what a crazy idea).

maw

MARKET CHECK HERE... https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3pj...m_medium=email

[Chas3n]

I think Doug is 4 years too late on this one.

[Obioban]

I think Doug is 4 years too late on this one.

3 years ago:

[bigjae46]

Just wait for Spec E46 M3 racing...values for nice cars will be insane. lol

[heinzboehmer]

3 years ago:

I remember that video came out while I was looking to buy a car and I got all worried that I wouldn't be able to find one for a reasonable price.

I'm glad I got mine when I did.

[newton22]

On the contrary, I've never understood people who are overly concerned with how people drive their cars. Daily drive it, track it, garage queen it...it really doesn't concern me. I take mine out once every few weeks to get the fluids moving and then once every several months for a track day. Some people would call this not driving it/garage queening but I find everyone's definitions to be highly arbitrary. I can just as much say unless you're putting 20k+ mi a year on it, it's not driving it.

Enjoy the car how you see fit. If you enjoy an immaculate 15k mi example in the garage, so be it.

[bjz!]

Matt from OG, just got a 65k AW... Insane. Too much.

[Thoglan]

Matt from OG, just got a 65k AW... Insane. Too much.

EAG car though. They are always a little bit silly. Honestly wasn't even really that nice of a spec other than AW.

I'm sure he will do some cool stuff with it though. He always seems to put together a fairly nice car.

[bjz!]

EAG car though. They are always a little bit silly. Honestly wasn't even really that nice of a spec other than AW.

My opinion is the same.

[EricSMG]

Yo! So THIS is where you guys went.

Timely as I'm considering jumping back in after a multi year hiatus with F80/2 ZCP cars..... and prices are a little steep. Even the early SMG cars (in excellent condition) are getting pricey and so for me, it's a question of value. Yes, the 46M is a great car, but I've got to carefully consider the bang for buck at these new price levels especially knowing that I will want to tinker/spend more money on it. I guess the silver lining is that I was generally most fond of a 'mostly stock' example.... but when you get the itch to mod it's impossible to ignore. For instance, I don't even have a 46 and I'm already looking at superchargers and Recaros.. lol.

Hmmm.

[Obioban]

Yo! So THIS is where you guys went.

Timely as I'm considering jumping back in after a multi year hiatus with F80/2 ZCP cars..... and prices are a little steep. Even the early SMG cars (in excellent condition) are getting pricey and so for me, it's a question of value. Yes, the 46M is a great car, but I've got to carefully consider the bang for buck at these new price levels especially knowing that I will want to tinker/spend more money on it. I guess the silver lining is that I was generally most fond of a 'mostly stock' example.... but when you get the itch to mod it's impossible to ignore. For instance, I don't even have a 46 and I'm already looking at superchargers and Recaros.. lol.

Hmmm.

Ha, we’re hiding in plain sight 😜

Why are you pondering coming back?

[EricSMG]

Ha, we’re hiding in plain sight 😜

Why are you pondering coming back?

When old forum died I lost touch/didn't look.

Pondering because the 46 is a great car for the money (questions about current value prop notwithstanding). There are other great M cars... but some of them are much more expensive. That said, with a growing family (#2 due in Sept) I really don't have the time to tinker much and so I'm questioning if the 46 is actually a good move.

Working from home now (indefinitely) so don't 'DD' much at all anymore, so there's that.

[Obioban]

When old forum died I lost touch/didn't look.

Pondering because the 46 is a great car for the money (questions about current value prop notwithstanding). There are other great M cars... but some of them are much more expensive. That said, with a growing family (#2 due in Sept) I really don't have the time to tinker much and so I'm questioning if the 46 is actually a good move.

Working from home now (indefinitely) so don't 'DD' much at all anymore, so there's that.

You’ve never owned the one I feel like most meets your car/driving tastes— e39 M5.

…. which also works great for a family of 4!

[EricSMG]

You’ve never owned the one I feel like most meets your car tastes— e39 M5.

…. which also works great for a family of 4!

haha yep, had that thought as well but the 46M just continues to pull at me. It's the most beautiful M car ever and I know it like the back of my hand. Plus the 39 prices are getting stupid, too. No way I’m paying 50k for an e39m when a barely used f80z manual is 60k (for me that’s a no brainer ROI contest). Also looking at Mustangs…. But same problem.

So a 46 around 25k is appealing.