When looking for a fun driver, where do you draw the spending line to get what you want? All of us want a one owner, perfectly maintained example that has been in a heated garage, fed only foie gras and caviar with zero miles. Ironically, though, when cars like that come up for sale the majority of people feel these perfect examples are well overpriced. As such, most of us look for the best example that we can afford. However, are there are times when you can back your expectation level down and accept a slightly more dubious car for a discount? Today’s M Coupe may be a good example of that. A S52 1999 model in Estoril Blue, this M is about to change hands for the fifth time and was in an accident early in its life. Consequently, the asking price is lower than most of the M Coupe market by a notable amount. Would you bite?
Category: BMW
If you’re new here, my love for Estoril Blue is deep and unabashed. Part of this is sentimental, as the first M car I experienced and drove was Estoril, and part of it is that it’s just a damn gorgeous and deep color. I am instantly more intrigued by the F30 when they are in this uncommon hue. A while back I did a post with 3 different Bimmers all in Estoril, but today’s is a new one for me. Custom ordered from the factory, this owner (still the original) made a great choice and tacked on a few extra grand to his already-expensive E38 750il. It looks smashing, although the shadowline trim available on the 740 sports would make it even better. The V12 has less than 75k miles on it and it’s a BMW CCA member, supplementing the desirability of the great E38.
Click for more details: 1999 BMW 750il in Estoril Blue on BMW CCA Classifieds
4 CommentsLast week’s M3 v. S4 10K showdown wasn’t particularly a success, I’ll admit. No one wanted the question marks behind those two modified cars that were arguably overprice and too-high mileage. I’m back today with another duo, and as always I’ve tried to spice it up a bit. Today we’re going to look at a E36 M3 Sedan versus a E46 M3 Convertible. No brainer? Ah, but the sedan has an automatic and is the semi-polarizing Techno Violet. Not to let the E46 run away with things either, the E46 is the less-desirable convertible with the less-desirable SMG transmission with many, many more miles. Yet, they’re offered around the same price, which begs the question “Which would you choose”? Let’s look at the sedan first:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1998 BMW M3 on eBay
8 CommentsIf the classic 911 market has scared you, the Mercedes-Benz SECs are a little too soft and you worry about a foray into 928 ownership costs, M6 and M635CSi are a great alternative for a high-speed weekend transport for two. The U.S. received the quite potent and catalyst-equipped S38 motor, while the original daddy M635CSi got the full-fat M88 motor right out of the M1. With nearly 300 horsepower on tap, the M88 and those beautiful headers was a healthy upgrade from the U.S. version. If that wasn’t enough, you also got the much cleaner looking bumpers to go along with the extra ponies. Many M635s made it here thanks to the grey market, and occasionally one pops up for sale, such as today’s silver example:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1985 BMW M635CSi on eBay
1 CommentMy E28 predilections clearly tend towards the special-edition, but I’m down with exceptional examples of pretty much any 80s BMW – even the most basic. Here we have a 1983 528e that is in the “sweet-spot” of just over 100k miles. This seems to be the mileage where a lot of owners who lovingly cared for their old cars decide it’s time to pass it on. A tan on tan ETA-engined BMW could be taken as bland, but I see it more as a lovely time capsule that highlights the outstanding simplicity of the E28.




