Warning!
We have 15 years of archives. Links older than a year may have been updated to point to similar cars available to bid on eBay.
This site contains Ebay partner affiliate links, which may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.
As the E28 M5 continues to make lists for hidden gems and affordable future classics, the E24 M6 sits in the corner with the same running gear, a sportier shape, and a scowl because no one pays any attention to it. It’s like the girls at the middle school dance all chose the tough guys who dressed up in suits, while the slick blonde preppy in the cable-knit sweater gets no love. While they may not be proclaimed the next great ///M investment, they still represent a great performance bargain. This M6 scores two out of three on the interior/exterior/engine bay test, looking great in red and presenting a sumptuous tan leather interior with just a single bolster detraction. The downside is the engine bay, which is pretty filthy. A pressure washer and some long-handled toothbrushes might be able to help that out, and hopefully the low 107k miles means in the inside of the engine looks a heck of a lot better than the outside.
The E39 M5, for all its amazing performance and quiet aggression, is fairly ubiquitous, especially here in top-of-the-line hungry Silicon Valley. The E34 M5 has its detractors, but it is still a rare, fast, and attractive sports sedan that will hide from those who don’t know and is searched for by those who do. Today’s comes from an owner who clearly knows his stuff and has enjoyed the car for 16 years while making (mostly) tasteful upgrades. The performance pieces all make sense and it’s surely a hoot, giving the singing inline-6 more juice and the chassis greater ability to hang with it. It has covered a lot of miles, but there’s always the chance that this is one of the “extra-special” S38s that can go for 300k+ miles. There’s also the chance that it’s not, meaning it’ll need a rebuild in the next 20k miles, and that’ll set you back nearly its current list price. The price is right though, and the owner is indeed being completely reasonable.
Back before EVERY DAMN CAR ON THE ROAD had gills/portholes/slices on the front fender, it was a distinctive mark on the BMW Z3. The silver slash that marked the M versions is even more eye-catching, and yanked my head around yesterday in the constant hunt for ///Ms. Today we have the wee beasty original M Roadster, a handsome convertible that may not have the following the Miata but certainly scores a few more masculinity points. This silver example has covered less than 35k miles on the not-quite-as-sweet S52 inline-6, which will help the price stay sane while keeping the exhaust note sweet.
There are plenty of people that think that the E36 M3 came to the U.S. in neutered form, but if you drive one you’ll realize that they’re pretty capable cars right out of the box. But BMW knew that the M3 would be hitting the track, and right out of the box they offered a more track-focused version. Stripped down and with extra aerodynamic equipment, the Lightweight was an instant hit with club racers and track addicts, but many enthusiasts still felt that they deserved the full-fat M3. However, if the recent trends with the E30 have taught us anything, it’s that even the less-special versions of the special cars will still command stronger money, and the Lightweight is certainly one of the more special E36 cars. Details like the moveable splitter and stackable rear wing, along with those great Motorsport-colored flags and forged wheels; I’ve loved this car since the first time I saw one pop up at the track in late 95:
When I owned my 1988 BMW 325is, I lusted after an E24 M6. Even though the E30 was a more current design, the lure of “the shark” was strong, but out of reach for me financially. Today, a curious thing has happened. It seems that an E30 in good nick with the right specification is gaining ground on E24 M6 values. But just how long will this continue, as collectors become more hip to the virtues of the original 6 series with the Motorsports badge? Today we’ll take a cruise around Craigslist and scope out the M6s currently on offer, starting with this very clean 1988 model for sale in San Francisco.
