Unfamiliarity..

[Mortiorchis]

I was looking to see if I could find an M3 for under 15k around here, and I did... Or I think I did.

There are apparently a lot of phony M3's, and I want to be sure this isnt a dressed-up 3-series with clever badging and whatnot... It's mostly the price that throws me off. I didn't expect to find one for that price, but I shall check the book value on that model year and compare.

Look and judge for yourself.

Perhaps I'm being foolish?

[Mortiorchis]

I'll try to contact the seller and examine the car myself. Aren't there a few North Carolinians here as well?

[tico481]

If you go look at it, the engine should say "M Power" or something like that. And the interior will be a little different like different steering wheel and seats. I'd doubt anybody would get pay to put an M3 steering wheel in a regular 3-series to fake people out. But yeah, you can find some M3's for cheap, but it rarely happens.

[SHAHAB323IS]

there are m3's out there for under 15k, however they usually have high milage, have been driven hard, and have started getting the usual porblems, and the owner decided to sell, so you should try to find the lowest milage m3 for the best price, also are you talking about an e36 m3 or e30 m3 or what?? and your link doesn't work takes me to microsoft site

[TMac325is]

just check the sticker on the inside of the driver door, should say M3, if someone messes with those, thats illegal

[cam540]

Email the seller and get the VIN nimber, then run that on carfax and also have your bmw dealer run it so you can see the service history.

[Ohrid]

are u talking about an E46 M3? because there much easier to tell apart from a standard 3-series, even if it has the performance package.
if the car has flared guards (wheel arches), and the side M3 grill, and quad exhaust pipes at the back, its an M3!

[Mortiorchis]

I don't know the difference between the chassis, but this particular M3 is from 1997 and doesn't have the m3 side grills. What are the numbers from that year?

[Mortiorchis]

Hehe.. It'd be pretty nice if i manage to snag this M3

[SHAHAB323IS]

e36 m3's from 95-99 don't have side grills, the e46 m3's have side grills

[bgoodman]

Well, it looks like an M3 to me. It has all the tell tail signs (seats, wheels, tags, sills, engine cover). I was just shopping for the same vintage and found several at 15K. The problem, like M3DUDE said, is that they were often high mileage cars and had been driven hard. In most cases, the wear was obvious. The steering wheel leather would be falling off, wheels scratch beyond the normal curb wear, clutches vibrating, seats flattened and carpets in the dumps. However, I also saw some good deals, so it is all in the visiting, inspecting and driving. Getting the local BMW dealer to evaluate it is always worth the $$$.