The Official Bring A Trailer (BaT) Thread

[oceansize]

The thing that gets me about the 127k car is that it had 28000 miles. Is that really "collector grade" mileage??? I'd argue no.

That was the really weird stat on that car, it is low mileage, but as you said, not collector grade low mileage. The E46 M3 is one of the few non exotics where color plays a vital role, to a degree that seems absurd when looked at it as a percent of value, so I suppose that was the selling point for that particular car. All in all, a super weird auction.

The guy who bought it, also bought the following. Car dealer? Saudi? Private Equity group? Cars are all over the map.

28k-Mile 2005 BMW M3 Coupe Competition Package 6-Speed
Winner – 8 bids to USD $120,000 on February 19, 2026

1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi
Winner – 6 bids to USD $205,000 on January 27, 2026

Jet Green Metallic 2024 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Weissach
Winner – 4 bids to USD $457,500 on December 30, 2025

2023 Mercedes-AMG E63 S Wagon 4MATIC Final Edition
Winner – 5 bids to USD $140,000 on December 15, 2025

9k-Mile 2012 Audi R8 V10 Coupe 6-Speed
Winner – 7 bids to USD $167,000 on November 14, 2025

1995 Mercedes-Benz SL72 AMG
Winner – 1 bid to USD $430,000 on October 17, 2025

Original-Owner 38k-Mile 1997 Toyota Supra Turbo 15th Anniversary 6-Speed
Winner – 4 bids to USD $150,000 on July 22, 2025

No Reserve: Tubi Style Exhaust Components for Ferrari F50
Winner – 1 bid to USD $7,500 on June 12, 2025

No Reserve: 13k-Mile 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe
Winner – 1 bid to USD $315,000 on January 6, 2025

2024 Nissan GT-R NISMO
Winner – 8 bids to USD $311,000 on October 30, 2024

[///Marecki]

The thing that gets me about the 127k car is that it had 28000 miles. Is that really "collector grade" mileage??? I'd argue no.

[9kracing]

Obviously that car is going to a collector, to be squirreled away in a barndaminium in Texas until it gets passed on to another collector. That car will never accumulate any sort of real milage again.

If I was spending 100K On an E46, I'd much rather buy something like this and actually drive it.

https://m3list.com/listing/e46-m3-234635/

[oceansize]

Regarding values, specifically on that $120k example, I'll offer a different perspective. If you factor inflation, the MSRP on that 2005 M3 is $83K. So that particular BAT car sold for 50% over MSRP. When I look at it like that, that doesn't entirely surprise me honestly. And it's all relative I think. I am personally willing to spend MSRP (or maybe even a little more) to experience this car the way I want to experience it b/c I wasn't in position to back in the early to mid 2000's. So I don't doubt that there are plenty of people out there that want to do the same thing in their own way and are willing to spend 50% more. Especially, if their thesis is that when they are done they can get their money back or even make a little bit of a profit. You can do that all day long with exotics, so you might be able to do it with the right e46. At least, that is my analysis on what would go through someone's mind to pay $120k for an e46 M3.

Wait until the CSL's start popping up in 2 years. I think they'll be moving at $250K+. And while I buy and modify cars for me, without a care about value and money, my thesis (hope) is that CSL's hitting the US market will give a nice bump to the nicely/thoughtfully CSL'd regular e46's. B/c it just takes someone like me, that is willing to spend the $80k for the right e46 M3 experience, but in no way thinks $250K+ is worth the ultimate version of that experience. Regardless, I hope I love this car enough for non of this to even matter. But that's been my perspective.

Are you going to drive, spiritedly, an $127,500 e46 m3 where are a large chunk of it's value is tied to low mileage and excellent condition? My argument is that if you're an enthusiast who wants to experience the car you don't spend that money as its inherently unnecessary. Everyone here is well versed in what takes to get his platform "right" and that kind of money doesn't make it more right. I'm willing to wager this car sits in a garage/warehouse. I don't think you experience a car by adding 500 to a 1000 miles and then trying to recoup money because you don't want to devalue it too much.

All that said, money is no object type of thing then more power to them (assuming they actually drive the car).

[Bimma360]

Regarding values, specifically on that $120k example, I'll offer a different perspective. If you factor inflation, the MSRP on that 2005 M3 is $83K. So that particular BAT car sold for 50% over MSRP. When I look at it like that, that doesn't entirely surprise me honestly. And it's all relative I think. I am personally willing to spend MSRP (or maybe even a little more) to experience this car the way I want to experience it b/c I wasn't in position to back in the early to mid 2000's. So I don't doubt that there are plenty of people out there that want to do the same thing in their own way and are willing to spend 50% more. Especially, if their thesis is that when they are done they can get their money back or even make a little bit of a profit. You can do that all day long with exotics, so you might be able to do it with the right e46. At least, that is my analysis on what would go through someone's mind to pay $120k for an e46 M3.

Wait until the CSL's start popping up in 2 years. I think they'll be moving at $250K+. And while I buy and modify cars for me, without a care about value and money, my thesis (hope) is that CSL's hitting the US market will give a nice bump to the nicely/thoughtfully CSL'd regular e46's. B/c it just takes someone like me, that is willing to spend the $80k for the right e46 M3 experience, but in no way thinks $250K+ is worth the ultimate version of that experience. Regardless, I hope I love this car enough for non of this to even matter. But that's been my perspective.

[02_lsb]

I live 30 minutes from Bimmerworld.

Shazaaaam

[1000hp]

In the decade of ownership, I look at FCPECS as a local drug dealer, extracting all the money from me 😃

I live 30 minutes from Bimmerworld.

[0-60motorsports]

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2013-bmw-m3-coupe-153/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Model_Update

maw

Love that spec minus the MT. My dream is a Black with FR or Individual color with a nice interior to pop E90 M3 DCT no sunroof but everything else car. I would also not say no to one without EDC. Hate whoever invented EDC

[maw1124]

money laundering how?

In the decade of ownership, I look at FCPECS as a local drug dealer, extracting all the money from me 😃

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2013-bmw-m3-coupe-153/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Model_Update

maw

[TexaZ3]

money laundering how?

In the decade of ownership, I look at FCPECS as a local drug dealer, extracting all the money from me 😃

I meant the listing and the sale.

[02_lsb]

Money laundering at its best.

money laundering how?

In the decade of ownership, I look at FCPECS as a local drug dealer, extracting all the money from me 😃

[stephen]

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1979-bmw-m1-4

This will be interesting

[ozone]

IF it was just a matter of cash (not flipping), not sure what I would replace mine for under $100K with a similar/better driving experience.

[sasha]

unironically would prefer owning this car over the 6 figure interlagos. and i am a sucker for a zcp.

confused. I don’t think that’s a ZCP, but an interlagos is guaranteed to be a ZCP.

Nonetheless, as a TiAg ZCP owner, I don’t disagree with whatever you mean ha

[SQ13]

unironically would prefer owning this car over the 6 figure interlagos. and i am a sucker for a zcp.

Silver > IB