Opinions please... - BMW Forum

RexKing86 · 07-17-2006, 07:53 PM

As some of you may have noticed, I love my car, but I'm always looking for the next best thing... Anyway, So today I went to go check out a YELLOW '97 M3 Sedan 5-Speed. Ill start off with the good.

The GOOD:
-$8,900
-79,xxx
-Performance Clutch
-BMW Performance Exhaust
-Clarion DVD flip Screen
-A Pretty stacked sound system.
-HID headlights
-E46 Chrome Replica Wheels

The BAD:
-It has a Rebuilt Title, however the accident occured at 12k miles, so obviously its been ok to get it another 67k...
-The Carfax report is messy, many owners, the accident... etc.
-The Car is Yellow and has many chips with cheap touch up repairs.
-The Check Engine light is on, but he said the code was for O2's... id obviously check into that a bit first...

He said that several people have come to see it, so its not gonna last... i am in a pickle right now... haha. The paint doesn't worry me too much since i could get it sprayed for cheap and im taking it to school where i'd be worried if a moth landed on it.

So the questio is... Keep the 328i, or buy the M3... please explain your replies...

heres the link to the CL add.
http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/car/182776374.html

preyash · 07-17-2006, 08:23 PM

I would say keep the 328 becuz it has low insurance but if u really dont care about that just get that car.

by the way sick car for the price..
preyash

ldsbeaker · 07-17-2006, 08:30 PM

I don't know dude, prior owners could have hacked/thrashed on it pretty good. I'm not getting a good vibe from the pics.

RexKing86 · 07-17-2006, 08:46 PM

the paint isnt good, but the thing ran and sounded great... obviously we will never know what she's been through, but mechanically it was good. i think...

dementievafan · 07-17-2006, 08:56 PM

buy an m3, but not this one, rebuilt title is never the same

Hamfisted · 07-17-2006, 11:20 PM

I think a sedan M3 looks pretty cheesy anyway (kinda like a limo M3?). But that one is cheesier than most. Unless he'd just swap you for yours and you really want it, but the dirty title is always gonna be a problem.
If it's got a custom exhaust the Check Engine light could be anything.

Mike

RexKing86 · 07-17-2006, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamfisted

I think a sedan M3 looks pretty cheesy anyway (kinda like a limo M3?). But that one is cheesier than most.

o man, I love the sedan M3, power and functionality! I wish they made an E46 Sedan M3... I wont really even look at the coupe M3, Its like the same lenth and everything, so y not just have the 4-door convience! Its going to be hard to find mt perfect M3 tho... most sedans are autos...

polaris448 · 07-18-2006, 08:38 AM

how did this car pass nys inspection with check engine light? is that exhaust residue on the rear? that dvd player totally kills the massive center vent. some gay sticker on the hood? and finally a wrecked title...if the car had 12k when wrecked then there had to be probably over $20k in damage to total it. keep lookin bro. that thing is a piece. imho paying 2-3k more for a clean title is far worth it.

Tochenzo · 07-18-2006, 11:03 AM

it's pretty tempting to get an m3 for that price and low miles...but if it's got all the problems you say it has i would stay away from it. If you can find another m3 in perfect condition i'd say do it if you don't care about how much $ you have to spend, but otherwise i'd say keep the 328 since powerwise it's not too far off from the m3

drz · 07-18-2006, 11:44 AM

M3 sedan ftw

This particular one ftl

paco1076 · 07-18-2006, 11:59 AM

I would say keep the 328I. The M just doesn't seem like a good deal. Wrecked title is HUGE. The check engine light could also be caused by the alarm system that he had installed in the car. My wife's Mini is having a problem with that right now. I personally don't like the color, but that might be ok with you. I just think that you can do better. Besides, if that many people have looked at it, someone should have taken it by now. He is just trying to press someone into buying it.

Good luck,
Paco

RexKing86 · 07-18-2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polaris448

how did this car pass nys inspection with check engine light? is that exhaust residue on the rear? that dvd player totally kills the massive center vent. some gay sticker on the hood? and finally a wrecked title...if the car had 12k when wrecked then there had to be probably over $20k in damage to total it. keep lookin bro. that thing is a piece. imho paying 2-3k more for a clean title is far worth it.

Im not really too afraid of rebuilt titles and salvaged cars. I worked in a body shop for about a year and the only real thing that makes a car not worth fixing is if the frame is damaged or bent. This car was in a sideswipe collision. I doubt there is any frame damage. The car rode very nice too. But to answer your other questions, there is something by the exhaust, but idk what... after looking at it, i got past the paint since if i did ever buy it, I would repaint the whole thing. The dvd player does kill the vent, but unless your doing a major overhaul of either moving the temp control or putting the tv where the pocket is, it the only easy thing to do. Yes, the hood sticker is very gay... i think its covering up a ding... I was 'told' that since the car was so new, he was able to get it to be totalled so he could get a new car.

With all that said though, I think I am gonna hold off for now. The only thing that would make me come back and look would be if its still for sale in a couple of weeks... Then i bet i could get it for what my car is worth...

Thanks for the input everyone, and more is welcomed!

WarNox · 07-18-2006, 06:27 PM

If ever unsure about buying a car take it to bmw for that pre-purchase inspection, its like $60 and fully worth it. they'll find most if not all mechanical faults, dings/dents, crap seals and will definatelly tell you what the check engine light is.

but personally i wouldnt buy a car thats been in a big crash. i like that yellow color for m3's :d

good decision tho!

RexKing86 · 07-18-2006, 07:03 PM

I think that inspection is atleast $108 for me... idk for sure tho.

Ber · 07-19-2006, 04:06 AM

Not worth it, how much will you have to spend getting the car resprayed and getting the check engine light sorted ? ... and by the time you have sorted out all those little problems the seller forgot to mention you may have spent more than you would on an M3 from a similar year in far better condition ... and after all that you have an M3 thats finally in the condition you want but has a rebuilt title and a long list of owners ...! and as always if a sellers pushing you to buy then he is not getting much interest in the car .... In other words DON'T buy it