A brief switch away from our Budget Theme Week to highlight an exceptional car recommended by reader/commenter Bob…
I believe I’ve recounted it before, but the E36 M3 Sedan was the first fast car I ever got to drive after receiving my license. Â My best friend’s dad was a high-powered lawyer who lived modestly but loved his toys, hiding an Estoril Blue M3 4-door and 6 Ducatis behind his unassuming 2-car garage doors. Â With carefully timed and worded requests, we were allowed to take it out on occasion and entered active car enthusiasm for the first time after years of reading and dreaming. Â The car purred, growled, and clawed its way around the island we grew up on, and thus firmly planted itself in my automotive genetics. Â It is essentially why I write for this blog.
Bob alerted us to this exceptional M for sale on eBay. Â It’s covered a relatively low 73k miles and is claimed to be “shockingly nice.” Â From the photos and description it looks it, an excerpt of which follows.
At EuroWerkz we have bought, sold, owned, maintained, built, modified, showed, and won with some of the nicest BMW M3’s in the country. We are 25+ year members of the BMW CCA. I am a long time member of the E30 SIG as well as an active member of several BMW forums and groups. We love BMW’s we know BMW’s and M3’s and this is one hell of a nice M3.
It took me over 2 years to buy this car from the prior owner and I have enjoyed it for a while so it’s time for the next more permanent owner to enjoy. We would really like to see this car go to a BMW enthusiast who can appreciate it and continue it’s over the top care and maintenance as I see this car as one that will represent the breed 10-20-30 years from now. If your looking for a track car candidate, please not this one. You don’t have a garage space? Please find another car. Live in a big city with sketchy parking? Well, you get the point. There are plenty of excellent condition M3’s out there. This car is just soooo… much nicer than that.
This car looks, runs, and drives like a 30k mile 3 year old M3. It is in fantastic condition for any age and mileage but it is a 12 year old car with just 73k miles. Quite honestly it is the nicest car I have for sale right now and that is saying quite a bit considering our spring inventory of European beauties. You can read below about it’s history, options, and maintenance. Call or e-mail me and we’ll talk about it all day if you want.
Sounds like they mean it! Â The custom Calypso Red from BMW Individual is gorgeous and unique, though I’m still partial to Estoril. Â I understand that it has been very well taken care of and they hold this car in extremely high regard, though I’m not quite sure why they are SO enthusiastic and think it deserves well over Blue Book. Â At writing there’s 2 days left with bidding at $11,400 and reserve not met. Â If it’s truly as nice as they claim, I’d say it deserves $15-17k. Â Regardless of what forms their opinion, I’m certainly on board in hoping it goes to a true fan and enthusiast with the time and resources to keep it nice.
-NR
This is by far the nicest M3 I’ve seen for sale in the last year. At 70k miles despite what the seller says it could use a fresh set of shocks and struts. Once that is taken care of you should have a really nice M3 sedan that drives like new.
I own basically the same car, except in “wash me daily” Cosmos Black. Mine has 63K and excessive fussing. I would bet this car has new shocks since the Rtabs were done. I have conversed with the previous owner (not the current seller) on the M3 forum as that is where it was drawn to my attention . He states that it is as good as the ad copy. (Don’t take my word for it). I am impressed that it is sporting Michelin PS2’s, which are the priciest of the 17 inch tire choices. If I were buying an E36 M3, the Forged LTW wheels would also be a one of the key components I would want.