1997 BMW M3

There’s little chance I’d sell my R53 Cooper S, mainly because the little bugger has grown on me so much, but I’m constantly thinking this generation of the hot 3 series would be a nice accompaniment to the mighty MINI. This red M3 is also a California car and has traveled over a quarter million miles, proving that these high performance BMWs offer more than just a pretty face and exhilarating driving experience.

Year: 1997
Model: M3
Engine: 3.2 liter inline-6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 252,430 mi
Price: Reserve auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1997 BMW M3 on eBay

1997 BMW E36 M3 sport in Helrot Red with black leather vader seats. Bought from Crevier BMW in 2000. It was a Certified BMW Lease return with 27,258 miles. 3rd owner. Complete trunk tool kit including jack. Full owner’s manual booklet and extra keys and BMW Intro Audio cassette tape. registration paid thru February 2014; 252,400 highway miles (well maintained- oil changes every 5K miles with Mobil 1).

Garage kept. All VIN tags match on body panels (fenders, truck, hood, doors). Exterior is in good condition but does have a couple small door dings and the front spoiler and hood do have quite a few rock chips (see pictures). The clear coat is flaking on the top of the side mirrors and the top left of the rear bumper. The interior is in good condition, the front drivers seat has one small tear in the seat bottom, the passenger seat is in very good condition, and a back seat that is also in very good condition. Headliner has some marks. Factory Alloy wheels in good condition – 2 have some small curb rash. Almost new Kuhmo Ecsta tires all around.

The car drives great down the road, tight and smooth. The motor is strong, transmission shifts well in all gears. Everything electric works as it should , sunroof, windows, a/c etc.

Maintenance upgrades include:
Alpine Bluetooth Radio/CD player
Bilstein Shocks
K&N Cold Air Intake System
Supersprint Stainless Steel Exhaust – great sound! Not to loud but nice growl.
Radiator expansion tank
Water pump
Thermostat and thermostat housing
A/C Serpentine Belt
New valve cover seals
New Drive Shaft Flex Disk
New Radiator and hoses
New Cam Shaft Sensor
New pre-Cat sensor
New Catalytic Converters – April 2012
New Aluminum clutch and flywheel – Feb 2011
New rear shock mount aluminum with urethane bushing set
New rear shock foam bump stop
New rear exhaust hanger
Driver and passenger door window lift mechanisms replaced
Custom Garage door opener interface

Please feel free to email me with questions. Additional pictures are available upon request. For sale locally so I reserve the right to end the listing at any time. Buyer responsible for any shipping charges. Full cleared payment must be received prior to releasing the car. Sold AS IS with no warranty expressed or implied. Buyer responsible for any title, license, and or sales tax fees for their state. Non-refundable deposit of $1,000 to be paid within 48 hours of auction end.

The E30 M3 effect seems to be hitting the E36 M3 range little by little, which makes this high mileage M3 Coupe desirable for someone wanting a low cost of entry with a patina that wouldn’t leave you afraid to use the vehicle as intended.

-Paul