Hey guys!

I have wanted a MCS for a little over 2 years, and I never thought I would look at anything else. BUT, I've always walked by this E36 M3 in the executive parking lot of my work on the way in. A couple weeks ago I found it had a for sale sign on it. Being an M3 fan from waaay back in my childhood was enough to give the number a call and see what the guy wanted for it. It's a 99 coupe in Techno Violet w/manual transmission, the one to get. He only wanted $14k! 52k miles on it, never driven during the winters, garaged at home and at work. Drives SO much like a mini its scary! Honestly, I was still on the Mini side of the fence until I drove the beast, its great fun around the corners! Car is in unbelievable shape, it really looks like a new car up close. I'm still a MINI fan, and will probably pick one up after I graduate for a daily driver, but this car was just too good to pass up! I'll still be hanging around if you don't mind though, I have grown quite attached to the MINI community!

His name is Moe. It came to me on my first solo drive with him!

Enjoy, I have more pictures if you guys wanna see!

 

That's a fantastic deal. Truth be told, I've always loved the E36 M3s (E30s even more so). Last of the E36 M3's too. Great buy.

 

Sweet ride! Best of luck with it. Happy motoring, regardless of what you're driving.

 

Wow.... that IS a great deal.... and a very, very nice car... I woulda snapped that up.... congrats!

 

Nice, I had a few but hate the old styling of BMWs like the 6 series and not much more:(

 

The "old styling" looks far better then the new, flame-inspired swooshy Bimmers.

Edit: Seems it's suggested to move this to OT auto.

 

Thanks guys! I'm glad you agree with my MINI-traitorism!

I agree about the styling. My favorite year of pretty much all BMW's is 2001. The 01 M coupe is one of my dream cars (so rare nowadays), it was the last year of the flat+wide 7 series, and that year M3 is just an unbelievable car. Oh and the 5 series, 2001 was the original year of the "angel eyes" i believe! SUCH a good year for BMW, i will not forget it.

Before I got this, I actually thought this was the least desirable generation of the M3. I stand by that statement, but its still a fantastic car nonetheless. I looked at E30's, but an ok example with like 120,xxx miles on it is above $20k, out of my price range.

I'll have to get some Koni shocks in there though, it doesnt quite have the eagerness of the MCS, except when it comes to the right foot! Probably only a little faster than the MCS's too, i think 0-60 happens in 5.7 with the MT.

Look forward to seeing you guys sometime at a meet... maybe? am i worthy?

 

great deal, you'd have been foolish to pass it up............have fun changing the clock.....(I think that's the only problem I ever had with mine and couldn't find it in the manual.)

chema

 

You made a great deal! Beautiful lines! Classic car!

 

Hah yeah the OBC takes a little getting used to... i have it set for 24 hour time because im all pilot-y and stuff.

The mileage is the most surprising part though... on the highway im getting around 29.8-30 mpg and around town its a lowly 22 mpg. still, better than i expected.

 

More pictures needed. This is one of my favorite BMW body styles. I'd love to have one as a track car. Though I'd start with one that has a messed up interior or was in an accident, so as not to destroy such a fine specimen with track conversion.

 

sounds lieks a deal.... hope u get yr MINI next time

 

sweet! congrats! techno violet...that's awesome. you got a pretty sweet deal

 

Congrats! I have a 97 4-door. It has 160k miles, so you've still got quite a ways to go.

 

Sweet ride. I've always loved those wheels too.

 

that's awesome i always like that gen BMW's.

 

I'm with you on this! I was wondering have you ever driven an E30? The E30 is my favorite M3 of all time and I hope to own one some day.

 

Great deal but $14k and you've not graduated!? I'm jealous.

I'll be paying for my BS in engineering for longer then my 06 MCS. I thought I was being stupid spending $6k on my 1992 Celica freshman year (2000) and I had a good paying co-op job.
It seemed like everybody in my class started with mid 90's Grand AMs, Grand Prix's, Cavaliers and Saturns (or rich parents). I'm hard pressed to think of one example where one of those cars survived to graduation... My Celica didn't give me any trouble until I graduated. Then the Power Steering started leaking and I was itching for an excuse to buy a new car. Now I've just replaced the PS pump in my mini at 45kmi...

 

wow, i dont know what spurred me to check back to this thread but im glad i did! I absolutely have some more pics for you guys, now that ive had it for a while. enjoy!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2941112298_789c707767_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/...69eeb69e_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/...4b0e2abe_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/...ff141cd0_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/...ce11b539_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/...ac797a61_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3285/...555ca03d_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/...bf757ef7_b.jpg

As for paying for it, I'm fortunate to have a great aeronautical engineering internship doing something I really love, so I'm really not having too hard of a time finishing off what i owe (i did take out a 5k loan, partially to build credit and partially to give myself a financial cushion).

As for my impressions of the car over the past months, the cars been great. I realize that while it doesnt totally have the go-kart feel of the mini, its pretty damn close. I also kind of miss the immediate appeal of the mini; people dont really appreciate it until i take them out for a ride in it. Also, it's definitely going to be more maintenance, but they're pretty easy to work on and i like taking things apart anyway. Nothing is wrong with the car, its just preventative maintenance, since it is 9 years old. I'm replacing the cooling system (water pump, radiator, thermostat and housing), various suspension bushings, and possibly upgrading to Koni adjustable shocks with H&R springs, and the window seals all around the car. As i said theres absolutely nothing wrong with it, but i dont want it leaving me stranded.

I still see and think about minis, and not too long after i got this, my brother moved to california and bought an '03 R53. Hes a beginning NAM'er, as I've convinced him to check you guys out! Speaking of, the M3 crowd is ok, there are a lot of elitists but also some absolutely awesome guys (and ladies). I'm still convinced I'm going to get a mini in the future, the community being a large part of the reason. All in all I LOVE my car, but still want a mini at some point. this will do for now .Wow this was a long post... anyway happy motoring!

 

GREAT pix, man!

Looks like it delivers some spirited performance. It's one of those cars that looks fast sitting still! Your photos remind me of Long Island, where I grew up.

 

I had a 99 540i Sport Package 6 speed car. Loved it, except when something needed repair or replacement. Someday when I grow up I'd like to get an M5. They didn't have that in 99, so I got the closest thing to it. It came with the M emblems on the steering wheel and shifter, but wasn't an M. Of course, I'm 47 now, and I'm not in any hurry to grow up.

 

I had that one in non-M and silver. (it was totalled by a maniac or I
would still have it)
You made a great choice

In all honesty it is a better all round car than the mini.

Don't get me wrong I love my mini. I'm just saying objectively,
what you just got is a better all around sports car.

CONGRATS