Are E36 M3 surpassing the E46 values?

[Casa de Mesa]

An E36 M3 is what made me a BMW fanboy. I drove my buddy's E36 M3 on Konis and semi-race brake pads (and that's it) on track and then bought it from him when he unloaded it. I had a racecar and was blown away by how capable the car was nearly bone stock.

It's such a capable chassis, so much so that Dan Unkefer (chief instructor for many a club, RIP) used to warn instructors that had never driven or ridden in one, "be very careful with your students who are driving E36 M3s". It's one of the first cars that could take a newer track driver well past their talent level...

[Nate047]

Beautiful car dude. Hellrot E36 is pretty epic.

Thank you sir. I got lucky with my E36 and found a really unique spec with zero options and a rare interior, and it was super clean to start with, so I just brought it up to date and tinkered with it a little.

I had… A different experience with my particular E46 lol. Call it a learning experience, or stubbornness, or both, but for me, E46 M3 ownership has been less of a pleasant endeavor.

BUT… I still have it, and that says something. It says a lot actually. We all put up with a lot in order to enjoy these cars. I love the E46 platform in general even if I don’t always love *my* E46. Which one of the two chassis is “better” is all going to come down to personal preference. They’re both better at some things and worse at others.

[TexaZ3]

E36 values are really closely correlated with condition - lots of hi-mile shitboxes out there. Clean ones in good color-combos with low miles are just like E46 - very hard to find, next to impossible to find cheap.
Late 90's and early 2000's BMWs are some of the absolute best cars that humanity ever created, and prices are starting to reflect that - for pretty much all of them.

[jet_dogg]

I've always said 2001 was peak bmw lineup.

Except for the Zs 😎

[GreyM340i]

E36 values are really closely correlated with condition - lots of hi-mile shitboxes out there. Clean ones in good color-combos with low miles are just like E46 - very hard to find, next to impossible to find cheap.
Late 90's and early 2000's BMWs are some of the absolute best cars that humanity ever created, and prices are starting to reflect that - for pretty much all of them.

Lots of them around 100k miles in the mid 20’s. Lower mileage ones have gone for 30-55k. Looks like they are matching E46 pricing if not surpassing them now.

[bigjae46]

Late 90's and early 2000's BMWs are some of the absolute best cars that humanity ever created, and prices are starting to reflect that - for pretty much all of them.

Even a period correct license plate on the M Coupe!

That time period has some of the best standard colors. New BMWs are all varying shades of gray, black and white...among other things I don't like.

The E9X M3 is the last BMW that really made me run out and buy one. I've driven every turbo M car (M2/3/4/5/8 and X3M, X5M, and X6M) except for the new horrid looking M2. They are all fast but never made me even think about trading out of my E90 M3.

[maw1124]

Lots of them around 100k miles in the mid 20’s. Lower mileage ones have gone for 30-55k. Looks like they are matching E46 pricing if not surpassing them now.

I’m still calling that age and sample bias — the worst E36M are gone and the worst E46M are trading now. But that’s not data as much as my interpretation of it. Sure, the best E36M that survived 25+ years are trading for more than the E46M that are just now becoming collectible. I appreciate the question and the possibility I could be wrong though.

I think 1993-2003 was pretty much peak German auto.

maw

[TexaZ3]

Even a period correct license plate on the M Coupe!

That time period has some of the best standard colors. New BMWs are all varying shades of gray, black and white...among other things I don't like.

The E9X M3 is the last BMW that really made me run out and buy one. I've driven every turbo M car (M2/3/4/5/8 and X3M, X5M, and X6M) except for the new horrid looking M2. They are all fast but never made me even think about trading out of my E90 M3.

I think overall focus has shifted dramatically - from making cars that are built for a driver, to making cars that can be sold to posers. And it is not just BMW - it is across the board. Just look at the amount of M-badges on every new BMW.
M Coupe has period correct plate cause I bought it in the early 2000's This is the car I owned the longest in my life.

[bigjae46]

I think overall focus has shifted dramatically - from making cars that are built for a driver, to making cars that can be sold to posers. And it is not just BMW - it is across the board. Just look at the amount of M-badges on every new BMW.
M Coupe has period correct plate cause I bought it in the early 2000's This is the car I owned the longest in my life.

I will say that BMW still builds a safe car and still refuses to design an HVAC system that blows air onto the driver...lol. BMW is more about SUVs more than sedans nowadays. A soccer mom's delight. Even more relevant to us, BMW has now bowed down to pedal stomping morons. One thing I liked was that some did not understand why BMWs were fast until you got to the first turn. It feels like you drive a mustang today...tomorrow you go upscale and drive an M car.

I will give BMW credit for resisting the badge appeal than other manufactures but looks like they've completely given up with the G-chassis. The M sport competition jahre edition...whatever that shit is.

[GreyM340i]

This is what im talking about. A 2001 with 56k miles, rod bearings done and only bid to $20k. If it had double the miles maybe however thats very low mileage. I understand it’s not 100% perfect however not bad at all.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...omments-anchor

[9kracing]

I wouldn't call that particularly desirable other than the low mileage, but that is weird it only got one bid.

[GreyM340i]

I wouldn't call that particularly desirable other than the low mileage, but that is weird it only got one bid.

I’m not saying it’s a LSB with low miles however it shouldn’t be a $20k car with those miles. Mid to higher $20’s all day.

[maw1124]

This is what im talking about. A 2001 with 56k miles, rod bearings done and only bid to $20k.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...omments-anchor

Accident car out of Jersey, you can just wait for a better one to come along, which maybe you can’t do if you want a E36M and find one in this condition. I’m also not sure why anyone would pay $20k for it, but that’s another matter. A few hundred dollars on better photos would have gotten this into the mid $20k range, maybe, and certainly a better color combo.

maw

[GreyM340i]

Accident car out of Jersey, you can just wait for a better one to come along, which maybe you can’t do if you want a E36M and find one in this condition. I’m also not sure why anyone would pay $20k for it, but that’s another matter. A few hundred dollars on better photos would have gotten this into the mid $20k range, maybe, and certainly a better color combo.

maw

I already have one and will be buying a E9X soon however I’m just saying the E46 M3’s are coming down while the E36 M3 is going up and even surpassing a comparable E46. Was surprised by how high the E36’s were selling for.

[maw1124]

I already have one and will be buying a E9X soon however I’m just saying the E46 M3’s are coming down while the E36 M3 is going up and even surpassing a comparable E46. Was surprised by how high the E36’s were selling for.

I get it, and I wasn’t talking about you waiting for a better one.

I know you already have one but anyone else in the market shouldn’t be pulling the trigger on an accident car out of Jersey for $20k in the most boring color combo ever (save for TiAG over Grey).

I’ve already weighed in on E36M v E46M at this particular point in time. It’s a glitch in The Matrix.

A very close friend also collects every M3 chassis. The one he let get by him is the E46M, and even he isn’t talking about E36M rising in value though he often comments how the E46M has gotten out of hand value wise. His Silverstone / Fox E9XM sedan is one of the best I’ve ever seen, and I knew a bunch of guys who bought them new. They’ve all sold and tell me they should have bought E46M “back when they were reasonable.” Meanwhile I’m tooling down the street as this thing appreciates, forgetting they ever made the car that first put the M3 on my map (E36M).

maw