Demuro: All the BMW M3s Ranked from Worst to Best

[shibui]

It's funny, I just watched a video about the E30 from Jason Camissa who seems to actually do his research. The E30 was an overpriced pile of trash. The E36 was a pile of trash as well, and they still are. bUt NoStAlGiA. I work next to a guy that did PDIs on E30s and he thinks they're garbage too.

I think Cammisa's verdict was why spend upwards of $50k on an E30 M3 when an E30 325iS (or regular 325i w/ an LSD) will do nearly everything just as good? To which I personally agree, as a horribly biased E30 325iS owner (he is one too). I've driven both, and I get the argument for the E30 M3 at its price point a decade ago. But now? Lol.

It makes sense though, since everything with any shred of 70s-90s motorsports homologation DNA has skyrocketed in value.

On top of that, due to appearances in pop culture and the like think the E30 M is one of those weird cars that has surpassed car culture itself and has turned into something more (like a classic Mustang or classic Mini).

PS I'd take a 190E Evo over an E30 M3 any day of the week hehe.

[GreyM340i]

Most old cars are piles of trash and more trash the older you go. The more posts on ig I see from JC the more I am starting to question his legitimacy as an enthusiast.

The problem is new cars are piles of trash too so the e46 strikes a good balance between modernity and archaicness.

It’s funny however I agree. I owned a 94 RX7 (my favorite) , 94 Supra TT, and now a 01 E46 M3 and they were fun however still think I would rather be in my 21 M340i 95% of the time. I thank god that I’m fortunate enough that I can have multiple cars to enjoy.

[maw1124]

For me, '92 is about where it started to get interesting, with the E28M, the E36M, MB 500E and 190 Cosworth all available for sale, competing with Lexus, Acura, etc. Before then, the AMG Hammers were just out of reach for everybody, and other than that 80s cars just didn't really perform. So, curiously enough, that's my oldest car, a '92 500E, something I drive before and after this one and don't miss a beat -- out of your track suit into your bespoke suit.

Everything before that, for me, is nostalgia. Not trash, but no reason to own it except nostalgia.

maw

[jet_dogg]

Most old cars are piles of trash and more trash the older you go. The more posts on ig I see from JC the more I am starting to question his legitimacy as an enthusiast.

The problem is new cars are piles of trash too so the e46 strikes a good balance between modernity and archaicness.

[Arith2]

It's funny, I just watched a video about the E30 from Jason Camissa who seems to actually do his research. The E30 was an overpriced pile of trash. The E36 was a pile of trash as well, and they still are. bUt NoStAlGiA. I work next to a guy that did PDIs on E30s and he thinks they're garbage too.

[jet_dogg]

I know. My point was the contrast was so great that it felt like I was driving a truck.

[maw1124]

The only time I drove an e30 m3 was around 2005. My car was on monoballs, moton remotes, cornerbalanced and such so it was sharp as fuck at the time. After driving it I never thought about an e30 m3 every again.

They're nice to look at though.

Dude, your car stock will run circles around an E30M... FOH... that's where this kid is tripping.

maw

[jet_dogg]

The only time I drove an e30 m3 was around 2005. My car was on monoballs, moton remotes, cornerbalanced and such so it was sharp as fuck at the time. After driving it I never thought about an e30 m3 every again.

They're nice to look at though.

[shibui]

I think E36 owners are used to being roasted, but the E9X guys aren't gonna like this lol.

EDIT: Also, the E30 M has to be the most polarizing of the bunch. Loved and revered by the masses who have never driven one, but either loved (for being a homologation high revving zippy racecar for the street) or hated (for performing just a tad bit better than a 325i w/ an LSD stock for stock) by those who have driven it.

[maw1124]

Sure, if you're looking for older, cool performance collectors. I'm squarely in that market, and that's why I have this one. Not money no object, obviously. The 500E is in that same group. Same for the RS2, 928, yada yada. That group is actually where the action is right now.

But that group isn't "cost no object pure bred sports car" which is how I took DeMuro's point. They're cool older cars that are sporty enough to drive today. Pure bred sports cars do not belong or do well on the street.

maw

EDIT... this is BTW what makes him obnoxious and irritating to me. That was a throwaway BS comment that he didn't need to make. Poking M3 owners in the eye while doing a review of M3s... OK

[cornerbalanced]

I disagree. If you had infinite money and were looking for a sports car, no homologation car would ever make the list, neither would a 3-series anything. Full stop. You’d look for something that was conceived on white paper as a sports car. Think Pagani Huayra, maybe 911 GT3. AMG Black series would be a stretch. I think that’s a valid statement.

Look, these cars are what they are, which is the best BMW could do with the car that started as a homologation 3-series (Doug has it second best, purely out of deference to the original IMO, which I also disagree with). And right now (or up until now), they were a good, bang for the buck, affordable, everyday, practical factory tuner. But if you don’t care about affordable, bang for the buck or practical, why would you?

maw

I wouldn't say that's true. I know some very heavy-hitting collectors that have E30 M3 Evos, EAG E39 M5s & E46 M3s, etc. in their collections. These people could have anything, yet choose to purchase these cars.

And older homologation cars are becoming amongst the most desirable right now in this market, above GT3s, Black Series, even Pagani's. This is happening for a reason. Look at 959s, CLK GTRs, Lancia 037s, Ford RS200s, etc.

[02_lsb]

Watched video. Solid advice. Looking for a realtor on metaverse.

[maw1124]

"...if you had infinite money, and were looking for a sports car, you probably wouldn't buy one."

Yeah maybe if you look at the ones that sell on cars and bids, but maybe you should research some other platforms Doug.

I disagree. If you had infinite money and were looking for a sports car, no homologation car would ever make the list, neither would a 3-series anything. Full stop. You’d look for something that was conceived on white paper as a sports car. Think Pagani Huayra, maybe 911 GT3. AMG Black series would be a stretch. I think that’s a valid statement.

Look, these cars are what they are, which is the best BMW could do with the car that started as a homologation 3-series (Doug has it second best, purely out of deference to the original IMO, which I also disagree with). And right now (or up until now), they were a good, bang for the buck, affordable, everyday, practical factory tuner. But if you don’t care about affordable, bang for the buck or practical, why would you?

maw

[sina]

"...if you had infinite money, and were looking for a sports car, you probably wouldn't buy one."

Yeah maybe if you look at the ones that sell on cars and bids, but maybe you should research some other platforms Doug.

[maw1124]

I think it's a terrible list, but ... they get paid for regurgitating this bullshit over and over.

Even worse, people believe it and take it as gospel having not actually driven the cars themselves.

maw

EDIT ... I don't keep track of the personalities but this guy I find obnoxious. He's also silly -- the E46M is the best 🤣, but aside from that I can't disagree much with what he says, even if I don't see the point of him saying it. I can't comment on anything after the E9X cars though as I'm just not into turbos. I do wonder, however, if he even understands homologation as the reason why the M3 ever came to exist, which explains its shared DNA with roadgoing variants.