Fair price for 03 LSB/Cin 6 speed 1 ownwer 180k

[Chubacca]

$20k for an east coast car (highly probability that has rust) with 180k miles that needs about $15-20k in maintance just for LSB is completely overpriced. E46 M3 is a great fun car but not worth those headaches and price

[bimmerfan08]

Honestly a PPI is only as useful as the shop who performs it. I had a PPI done by a reputable shop in New York, but when the car showed up ant my house it had TONS of problems that they should have easily seen and told me about.

One way to mitigate this is to review the PPI list used by the shop and provide additional inspection criteria not on the list. Just a thought - never hurts to ask.

I've also known members who check out M3s for fellow members. More of a preliminary inspection without investing too much upfront.

[bimmerfan08]

Here are some pics I took from underneath

Definitely plan on this being a project car should you decide to purchase

[Nate047]

I don't really know what to say that hasn't been said already. You're entering a world of pain if you ever want that car to be nice. Or even just reliable, and not about to break in any number of fun and exciting ways.

[dukeofchen]

I don't really know what to say that hasn't been said already. You're entering a world of pain if you ever want that car to be nice. Or even just reliable, and not about to break in any number of fun and exciting ways.

The fact that this thread has gone to 4 pages alone is probably enough to conclude it isn't worth it.

Feakara there are plenty of other LSB's out there. At this age and mileage you're buying the owner as much (if not moreso) than the car and a standard PPI will only scratch the surface if the car hasn't been maintained well over the last 20 years.

If you're married to the spec of this example buying a better maintained LSB, paying for an SMG to 6spd conversion if needed, and swapping the interior out for Cinnamon would be the smarter move. Just requires patience to find it.

My car had a rough life before I took ownership, and I rationalize the headaches by thinking about how much I've learned fixing it. But if I'm completely honest I'd probably have a better relationship with the car if I hadn't had the anxiety of the next thing to fix constantly hanging over my head.

[Maxima SE]

Here are some pics I took from underneath

This car is a pile of shit. Look at the baked on brake dust on the wheel barrels and the oxidation on the engine block and oil filter housing and all the dirt on the motor. This thing is the equivalent of a restroom at the club at the end of the night after 200 dudes and women peed, shit and spit all over the place. Have fun cleaning that up ! I would offer 10k and not a penny more.

[bimmerfan08]

This car is a pile of shit. Look at the baked on brake dust on the wheel barrels and the oxidation on the engine block and oil filter housing and all the dirt on the motor. This thing is the equivalent of a restroom at the club at the end of the night after 200 dudes and women peed, shit and spit all over the place. Have fun cleaning that up ! I would offer 10k and not a penny more.

Brutal 😅

[EthanolTurbo]

Here are some pics I took from underneath

Mega rust bucket. I would just buy a clean non-rusted out beat E46 M3 and give up on this one. The juice isn't worth the squeeze.

[MTiz]

Assuming he can get this for a few grand under $20k (somewhere between 15 and 17k), is there no reason why this guy can't just buy this car and slowly restore it over the next few years? Saying he needs to drop $15k into the car the second he takes delivery or it'll blow up seems like fearmongering.

Also, it's a 1 of 19 LSB on Cinnamon 6-Speed, with one original owner-- quite literally the most desirable E46 M3 spec on the market right now. Even ratty and with 180k miles, saying it's completely worthless is straight-up disingenuous.

[bimmerfan08]

Assuming he can get this for a few grand under $20k (somewhere between 15 and 17k), is there no reason why this guy can't just buy this car and slowly restore it over the next few years? Saying he needs to drop $15k into the car the second he takes delivery or it'll blow up seems like fearmongering.

Also, it's a 1 of 19 LSB on Cinnamon 6-Speed, with one original owner-- quite literally the most desirable E46 M3 spec on the market right now. Even ratty and with 180k miles, saying it's completely worthless is straight-up disingenuous.

Depends on the acquisition price and cost of repair/restoration.

[dukeofchen]

Assuming he can get this for a few grand under $20k (somewhere between 15 and 17k), is there no reason why this guy can't just buy this car and slowly restore it over the next few years? Saying he needs to drop $15k into the car the second he takes delivery or it'll blow up seems like fearmongering.

Also, it's a 1 of 19 LSB on Cinnamon 6-Speed, with one original owner-- quite literally the most desirable E46 M3 spec on the market right now. Even ratty and with 180k miles, saying it's completely worthless is straight-up disingenuous.

Not worthless, but definitely worth less 😂. And the cost of that restoration process will be highly dependent on their ability / willingness to do at least some of the labor.

The problem with the paper spec is that the Cinnamon interior is in pretty rough shape, and the one original owner doesn't seem to have been particularly kind to it over those 180k miles. Perhaps another buyer would disagree but I think any added value from the spec diminishes the higher the mileage / worse the condition.

I suppose with enough parts and man hours thrown at it one could reclaim some value based on the spec, but assuming they plan on keeping the car the juice isn't worth the squeeze unless they have the passion to follow through with a restoration process.

[01SG]

I think OP should reflect on how important it really is to get LSB rather than a 'normal' car for the same price in much better condition/lower miles. It's just paint.

[Maxima SE]

Those Cinnamon front seats are beat and need to be either replaced or redone. I would just get a clean LSB on dove grey and dye the interior. Maybe throw in a pair of recaros while youre at it too. Anyone who buys this thing from the seller is doing the owner a serious favor. I would not touch a car that hasn't had its wheel barrels cleaned for years. I don't even want to imagine what condition the RACP and head gaskets are in.

[MTiz]

I think OP should reflect on how important it really is to get LSB rather than a 'normal' car for the same price in much better condition/lower miles. It's just paint.

To some people the spec is everything. I definitely understand the temptation of a "cheap LSB/cinnamon" when your only other options are $50k+ lol.

Just look at how crazy Porsche guys go for Paint to Sample...

[dukeofchen]

I think OP should reflect on how important it really is to get LSB rather than a 'normal' car for the same price in much better condition/lower miles. It's just paint.

Yeah these days California cars with 50k fewer miles and better maintenance histories can be found in the ~$20-25k range, just maybe not in LSB.

I feel like what we're seeing is that prices for average examples have come down significantly after being dragged up by collector-spec prices, and those with lower mileage / rarer spec cars are desperately trying to hold onto prices that are no longer in touch with the market.

I've been looking for SC430s as a retiree car for my mom and you wouldn't believe the price ranges on those. I'm convinced you could walk in and knock at least 25% off the prices some of these dealers are trying to flip lower mileage trade-ins for.