Mike & all,
RE: The '97 M3 silver coupe you looked at:
My experience says that $20K, or even the ~$19K you want to offer is far too high for what
sounds like a very marginal car. I think there is too much wrong with the car cosmetically and
probably also functionally for this to be considered a top condition car. For it to be worth $20K
it would have to have significantly lower milege and be prefect, as in *perfect*--nothing wrong
cosmetically or functionally. Here's why.
Be sceptical of anyone who puts a dog in the back of this kind of car and lets the hair
accumulate. Does he also let the mechanical defects in the car accumulate? Sounds like he does.
There are LOTS of E36 M3s for sale, and the prices keep dropping. Example: I bought a really nice
'97 4-door this past summer in Boston for $15.5K. Everything checked out perfectly on the car, no
defects anywhere, plus it had new tires and cross-drilled rotors with new pads. The only thing
less than perfect is the drivers seat outer bolster, which has slight wear from the driver
getting in. The 4-door is WONDERFUL. I can pick up my son and his friends (who all think it's
very cool to get picked up in an M3!) It's white, and it doesn't attract much attention--except
from boy racers who know what it is. This is the best and most athletic car I've ever
owned--including some Ferraris and many other sports cars.
Keep looking. Cheap Honda money buys you a great M3 these days. You should be able to duplicate
my buy for ~$15K or maybe a bit less ---if you are patient.
Good luck,
Peter Cain
London, Canada
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2004 16:23:40 -0600
From: Mike Jones <mike.mary@domain.elided>
Subject: [bmw] Test drove a 1997 BMW M3...
Test drove a 1997 M3 coupe, 61,000 miles. Clean exterior, rear seat showed
sign of having a dog sit in the seat, i.e. some minor scratches. Lots of
hair strewn throughout the car.
Car is silver w/black interior, Vader seats. HK Stereo, BMW CD changer but
wasn't in the stock location. Conical air filter, would really prefer the
stock airbox.
Rate the exterior a 9 and the interior a 7.
New or newer tires, Pilot sports.
No front under-tray.
Clutch engaged right at the floor - I recall the other M3's I drove
activating a bit farther up...
Shifter knob comes right off the shifter. Shifting seemed vague, compared
to my Mustang. Then again the Mustang shifter sits directly on the
transmission w/o any rubber isolation (after market shifter).
The sales person said that the inspection II had just been done, the
inspection light showed 5 green lights, but the "check engine" light is
lit. Sales person stated that they just had to reset the codes. Car had
the earlier inspections done, according to the log book.
No signs in the paperwork of any suspension work being done, i.e. RTAB's or
RSM's. Didn't notice any clunking or looseness in the rear. Don't think
the car was tracked or autocrossed.
Didn't smell smoke - but the lighter showed signs of being used...guess the
pet smell was stronger than the smoking smell?
Anyway, car is being sold on consignment at the local BMW/VW dealer and the
asking price is $19,850. I was going to offer $18,850, seem fair? Wife
would really prefer a sedan, but the sedans seem few and far between in the
surrounding area.
Thank you for your time in this matter.
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Best regards,
Mike mailto:mike.mary@domain.elided
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