Buying Decision

[SupGi]

'97 M3....177000 miles...$12000

or

'99 323i...115000 miles...$10000

???

both appear to be kept up well..

any suggestions?

['89 635 csi]

Wow! That's alot of miles on an M-car!

[SupGi]

Yeah...That's the only thing holding me back

['89 635 csi]

I would go with the 323.

[BMWBeauty416]

well what are you going for, if it is performance then even if you mod the 323 you will kick yourself for not getting the ///M
good luck wish I had to make that choice

~*Teg*~

[SupGi]

How many miles is the M3 good for???

I could also get a 328i for about the same with approx. 100k miles....

I would also consider an Audi, but everywhere I look someone is complaining about reliability.

['89 635 csi]

The only thing that wounld bother me is the miles how many of those miles did he drive it like an M?

[SupGi]

Said he never raced and they were highway miles for business travel...

[bitcore]

If you love drivng hard, GET THE M... I've got a 98 323is with 96k miles on it, it's a great car I love it to death, it just lacks the extra UMPH of the M.

If you want the M, it MUST be a manual, don't get an automatic M, Automatics in a M car are pointless, defeats the purpose of buying the M in the first place!

BMW's last for a long time, even more if they are taken care of. Get the matainence records on it, make sure he changed his oil every 3,000 miles if he used mineral oil... etc.

[skawful]

i've seen many ///m's round here and cali for $11-13,000 with 110-120,000mi 170,000 miles is insane... i prolly wouldnt invest that much in that car... but it might be worth it with a lower mileage ///M

[Tochenzo]

i think a 328i for that price with about 100k miles is your best deal

[Turbodefrost]

Keep looking man, if you can afford the M, wait for one with less mileage. Good luck with whatever you do though!

[fredo 328]

I've seen Ms around here with less miles for 12k. Look into a 328s while hunting for Ms, you may find a jewel.

[theogill]

WAIT WAIT WAIT!!!!
I payed $14,700 for a 98 328i with 50K. I also test drove a 323is with 65K for $13K.
177K is too much in my opinion. I saw a 97 M with 65Kfor 17,000, but it was an Auto. Also, you just never know how it's been treated, even if they tell you its only been on the highwya etc. 12,000 is too much. M parts are more expensive, and with that kind of mileage you're going to be replaceing parts...Maybe 8 grand, but no more. I'd wait for a lower mileage car, and definitly get it checked out by a competent BMW mechanic before buying. I didn't and had to put in a couple grand ( on a "highway only" car)
Good LUCK!!!!! :P

[fredo 328]

I have to second what theogill said. I paid 14k for my 98 328 with 55k on it. It was a company car with very complete service records and I still took it in for a once-over.