Official-look-what-i-found-thread (craigslist, other-forums, etc)

[wally509]

patsbimmer1 said:

The price isn't terrible but it's a rental spec 5 series.  There's nothing special about this car that makes anyone in the midwest want it.  If it were AWD someone may bite but he's going to sit on it for a bit at $10k.  For $1k - $3k more I found 535i xDrive's on cars.com with slightly more miles and in that same price range found 528i xDrives.  Both more desirable in Wisconsin than a RWD 528i.  Also, the wheel/tire package doesn't add $2k to the deal.  It's a $10k car with the wheels and tires.  He couldn't sell that package for $2k separately.  And as stated above the ad isn't written very well.  Pictures aren't great and there's basically no meaningful information in the ad such as length of ownership, pros/cons, no options packages, no VIN to decode, etc.  If i'm looking at a car I want to know what i'm looking at.  Not that it has "some fun programmed BMW features coded in".  That tells me nothing.  What are the features?  Why should I care to look any further?  But the next ad I look at that tells me every bit about what i'm buying such as maintenance intervals, who performed the work, what brands were used, what features the car has, etc.  For that I'm in.  I also agree with  @Jdesign that it should be broadcast to a wider audience.  

I contacted the guy about the car and have gone back and forth with a couple e-mails.  After this exchange, I believe you guys are 100% accurate.  No real additional information has been passed through other than the oil has been changed every 5k with liqui-moly products and that the car was ceramic treated (with no mention of how long ago that was).  I asked specific question about the water pump, transmission service, plugs/coil packs (forgot to ask if the oil filter housing gasket has been done) and the response in a nutshell was that it has been super reliable, needs nothing and has led interior lights and tinted windows.

Oddly, I am still considering it even though it sounds like a deferred maintenance nightmare.  However, given how you guys have pretty accurately read the score, it's not something I am super excited about and the price has to be right especially considering I will probably be stuck holding my e92 until Spring.

edit: I also feel this car in general is in somewhat of a "black hole".  I mean, it's a very basic, low performance sedan that's not really old enough to be cool, so it doesn't really appeal to younger buyers.  Yet, it's sort of too old/high miles to appeal to older buyers (read: with more dough to spend) who will probably just say, screw it, for $5-$10k more, I can get one X years newer, with fractions of the miles and maybe even with some sort of warranty.

[patsbimmer1]

@wally509 this car would be great for someone like you thats handy with a wrench, not afraid of new tech and has low expectations for performance.  I see the other market for this car being the kid that just graduated college and wants to fit in with the rest of the parking lot at the office but wants to stand out from the jr associates driving the 3 series and a4.  My criticism hasn't been with the car itself just the ad.  If he spent the money on liqui-moly and ceramic coating then at least he was willing to spend money to take care of it.  Good luck!

[HipMF]

Looks decent for $3800

https://madison.craigslist.org/cto/d/1997-bmw-m3/6764973376.html

[straight6pwr]

HipMF said:

Looks decent for $3800

https://madison.craigslist.org/cto/d/1997-bmw-m3/6764973376.html

do want. 200k is a lot though.

[straight6pwr]

hey guyz, dont miss this smokin deal on rare rare rare 14x6 limited edition miata bbs wheels! only $2,400.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Set-BBS-Rims-1993-Miata-Limited-Edition-German-w-removal-tool-center-caps/171399398812?hash=item27e833459c:g:BbcAAOSwQItT14U3

[HipMF]

What a steal

" The removal tool for the center caps I cannot find available anywhere. "

Apparently didn't try googling "bbs center cap tool"

[Rekpoint]

HipMF said:

Looks decent for $3800

https://madison.craigslist.org/cto/d/1997-bmw-m3/6764973376.html

Anyone else see the headlight falling out?

[B C]

HipMF said:

Looks decent for $3800

https://madison.craigslist.org/cto/d/1997-bmw-m3/6764973376.html

Called on car. Seller claims to have owned it for a year and got the car from texas therefore there is no rust. Suspension would need a refresh, tires are newer, has a borla muffler, canned tune, intake, no leaks, and nothing on the short list that he would recommend doing mechanically to the car. Seller is not a “BMW guy” though and kept re-iterating that THIS IS AN M3.

I started making the spreadsheet for an S54 swap and ended once I reached the dollar amount where a decent E46 M3 could be acquired.

Seems worth checking out though. I have the VIN If anyone is interested

[Rekpoint]

snap said:

Called on car. Seller claims to have owned it for a year and got the car from texas therefore there is no rust. Suspension would need a refresh, tires are newer, has a borla muffler, canned tune, intake, no leaks, and nothing on the short list that he would recommend doing mechanically to the car. Seller is not a “BMW guy” though and kept re-iterating that THIS IS AN M3.

I started making the spreadsheet for an S54 swap and ended once I reached the dollar amount where a decent E46 M3 could be acquired.

Seems worth checking out though

Damn sounds like a good deal for someone! If it was in my neck-of-the-woods I would buy it.

[Rekpoint]

https://www.copart.com/lot/52969118

m6 with an individual interior.

[Jdesign]

HipMF said:

Looks decent for $3800

https://madison.craigslist.org/cto/d/1997-bmw-m3/6764973376.html

I drive past this daily. Owner is not the type of guy you would expect to be driving this car. Im also pretty sure his other car is a DONK. Besides that its also an auto. @Earl and I have got up close and looked at it one day. Its a fair condition M3, I would pay maybe closer to $3k.

[Jdesign]

Rekpoint said:

https://www.copart.com/lot/52969118

m6 with an individual interior. 

DO you have a liscense? Otherwise you will need a broker to bid on that car.

[Earl]

I never put two and two together Jason lol

[B C]

Jdesign said:

I drive past this daily. Owner is not the type of guy you would expect to be driving this car. Im also pretty sure his other car is a DONK. Besides that its also an auto. @Earl and I have got up close and looked at it one day. Its a fair condition M3, I would pay maybe closer to $3k.

He said his other car is a 2014 Impala, Not many people besides rental car companies like Impalas.  This is where I stop talking

[suspenceful]

Jdesign said:

DO you have a liscense? Otherwise you will need a broker to bid on that car.

I'm pretty sure Minnesota is a green light state for the public to buy from auction.

[Rekpoint]

Jdesign said:

DO you have a liscense? Otherwise you will need a broker to bid on that car.

Mn you can buy without a license. Wisconsin and other states you need a broker.

suspenceful said:

I'm pretty sure Minnesota is a green light state for the public to buy from auction.

Indeed. I almost won this 135i this past summer. Someone stole the comfort access key so in turn I didn't go up to my max bid.

[suspenceful]

Rekpoint said:

Indeed. I almost won this 135i this past summer. Someone stole the comfort access key so in turn I didn't go up to my max bid.

Damn. Was that at CoPart, or where did you find that one?

[Jdesign]

Excuse me while I find a Minnestoian address.

[suspenceful]

Jdesign said:

Excuse me while I find a Minnestoian address. 

You don't need an address. Bid/buy something, bring it back home yourself or ship it.

[Jdesign]

suspenceful said:

You don't need an address. Bid/buy something, bring it back home yourself or ship it.

In order to bid you need to be a resident of MN. otherwise you cant without a broker or liscense.