[wtwo3]

Adjusted for inflation, the current M3 isn't really any more expensive than an M3 from 15-20 years ago. So no, I don't think the M lineup has gone too upmarket. It's always been in this market. I know everyone loves to talk about how expensive these cars have gotten - but they follow the inflation curve pretty closely.

Depending on what aftermarket parts you're looking for, you can find pretty decent deals. Carbon Fiber bits - just stay away from OEM parts unless you've got money to burn. You can get great quality aftermarket CF from a reputable distributor. If you're talking tuning - I think the M3 is significantly cheaper (and the s58 with a lot more potential) to tune than comparable cars from say, Mercedes or Audi.