E92 M3 potential future classic?

[Bruuuce]

Predicting the future and eating your own dog xxxx

IMHO, hard to guess any future values. That and asking the group that loves the opject of future speculation.

Seems like a great time to buy one. Prices are down for great examples with your driving needs you will love it every time you drive it. The initial burble will make you smile every time.

[movietub]

Originally Posted by Bruuuce

Predicting the future and eating your own dog xxxx

IMHO, hard to guess any future values. That and asking the group that loves the opject of future speculation.

Seems like a great time to buy one. Prices are down for great examples with your driving needs you will love it every time you drive it. The initial burble will make you smile every time.

Yes - regardless of future value, which I know can only be a guess, I don't think they will ever be cheaper than they are right now. The value might remain flat for a good few years but that's fine with me. I have pretty much zero doubt that a clean 50k example in say 20 years will be a valuable thing indeed! But as you say, the actual value would only be a guess - albeit fun to speculate.

[Bruuuce]

It is fun, I have the 01 coupe sitting around that is more rare than this car. Its not moving in price or desirability. But not a M, but less made than the M. It's been floating in the 10-15k range for years. Ive had a couple offers below that...

so buy one you like and have fun. I just pulled the 08 out of winter storage and drove it for a couple weeks. Still like driving it more than the M2, but the M2 is an easier drive.

[shimmy23]

At the end of the day there has to be a following and it has to be what someone is willing to pay. In 20 years... if you guys still love this car, it'll be worth something to a certain audience.

[movietub]

I think part of the reason I fell in love with the V8 M3, is I initially thought it sounded like a terrible idea lol!

When I first heard they were going to put a V8 in an M3 I had fears of it feeling like a muscle car engine trapped inside a neat European body. That view changed when I first drove one and realised the V8 they had crafted was in fact insanely revvy and super smooth

I think many would agree that now the future is turbo and ultimately electric, the V8 was the finest engine that will ever grace an M3, albeit not the most powerful. The current turbo 6 is very impressive, but it doesn't feel as eager and joyful as the V8. Then again the same can be said of the other car I looked at as a future classic, the S2000... A far more sensible choice in many ways as it's already on the up! But I just really love the M3..

This decision is proving to be a tricky one!

[kgroschi]

It's a car to own forever. It will at least hold it's value if you maintain it - guaranteed.

[wfdeacon88]

I remember the feeling the first time I test drove mine... the V8 start up and rumble is so uniquely incredible compared to most other 'sporty' luxury cars today.. Sometimes it's easy to get used to it and forget how sick it is compared to most cars in the same category.

[stanglmeier]

Just to chime in my thoughts on this thread.

The E9X M3 will follow a similar path to the e46 M3.
Carbon Fibre Roof/Slicktop, 6MT Coupe/Sedans will command the highest premium.
The limited edition/individual/ZCP/stripper cars will be the most sought after examples.
The main driver for collectability on these cars will be mileage, maintenance, and condition.
This will ultimately decide the value of these cars in the future.

As an example: I have a 2008 Jerez black on black e92 m3 6mt carbon fibre roof model with 20,XXX Miles I bought for 29K last year.
It's not a super rare spec by any means, but it definitely ticks the boxes most enthusiasts want and its in good condition with low miles.
Do I expect the value to go up in 5-10 years? Not Really.
If I maintain it well and keep the car clean, I expect to sell it for close to what I initially bought it for.

[LuckiSevens]

Originally Posted by movietub

Hi,

I need a second car for very occasional use (perhaps 1-2 times a week, no more than 1000 miles per year). I've been thinking that since I'll be driving enough to maintain a healthy car, but not increase it's mileage significantly, I could look to something that will perhaps pick up or at least hold it's value long term.

I'm not expecting to ever 'make money', I just started to think that if I could at least offset a good chunk of the running and maintenance costs, I could have an affordable interesting car. I'm under no illusion that an old M3 is some sort of money tree

I first had this idea a few years ago, and at that time I was looking at a Honda S2000. Sadly I didn't go that route which is a shame as I see the same age/mileage examples now selling for around £2-3k more! That would have pretty much paid for me to run the car for a few years, it would genuinely have been a more or less free car.

My only reason to believe the E92 could have a bright future is the fact that it not only had a particularly sweet NA engine, it was also the last NA M3. In the all electric future, is it reasonable to think that certain 'particularly good' IC cars might become very desirable? And could the V8 M3 be one such car?

I've never really tracked the value of old M cars before, has anyone else got any references to the value curve of the E92 M3's? I see the SMG M5 has held a very respectable value for a couple of years now, in spite of all it's issues, which is another car that is benefits from having a particularly memorable engine.

A more sensible choice would be a low mileage Mazda RX8, or still probably the S2000. But.. I really love the athletic V8 in the M3, it's probably the engine that's put more of a smile on my face than any other.. Could be worth a punt?

If you get a high spec late model I don't think you can go wrong - last NA v8 M3 for a while and the majority of them have been, modified, supercharged, and tracked... so that reduces the number of nice low mileage examples. As a package, loaded, I don't see anything else giving the same desirability or value for money.

If you have cash, buy private, I just got close to a $10k discount on my M3 - the guy I bought it off owed more on the car than I paid him.

[Bimmed Out]

Originally Posted by lat77

I don't see it happening and I really love the platform.

BMW made thousands of them...it's just not rare enough for it to appreciate in a major way.

Agree. Tons were made. But it will always be an enthusiast favorite.

[edcvin]

I think what most people say about the e92 is right. Buy it, drive it, enjoy it. I think they will always have some value but do not expect to pay your kids college tuition with it. I bought my first e92 in 2008 which I babied and was into the whole "only m3 with a v8" thing. I bought my second e92 in 2018 and I drive it way more and enjoy it. However, I also keep my cars very well maintained and in very good condition. But I am not saving it for future potential.


-Vinnie

[thkfast]

I was in Scottsdale AZ last week for the Barrett-Jackson auction and stopped into Certified Benz & Beemer used cars. They had an OLD red M3 there with over 100,000 miles for $46,500. It was clean and everything, but wow. I don't know if I've ever seen one on the street. Will my E92 be worth that much in the year 2044? I probably won't be alive to know...

Here's the link:

https://www.carsforsale.com/used-car...tails/47067186

[New2Roundel]

Originally Posted by thkfast

I was in Scottsdale AZ last week for the Barrett-Jackson auction and stopped into Certified Benz & Beemer used cars. They had an OLD red M3 there with over 100,000 miles for $46,500. It was clean and everything, but wow. I don't know if I've ever seen one on the street. Will my E92 be worth that much in the year 2044? I probably won't be alive to know...

Here's the link:

https://www.carsforsale.com/used-car...tails/47067186

Old M3? It's an e30 m3! Those things are worth a lot in the current market because they are the first m3. Our cars will never be at the same level of unique or special as the e30 cars. No matter how valuable our cars become and how sought after they are, the e30 will always be a level higher.

[Richbot]

And yet...a hot mess to drive fast on modern tires, with an engine that broke twice as often as the S65 with half the power, roof crush strength numbers without commas in them..."good" steering with a ratio slower than a decent sized cigarette boat...

Eh whatever. I love the E30M for its time, but it's best left to the collectors and the appreciators. As a car to go DRIVE, we can all do a lot better for $40-100k

But low-mile stock nicely optioned E9x M3's are already holding their value or slightly appreciating if you just park them. You're still going to lose money insuring the thing, but I think it's pretty safe to grab a <30,000 mile one, park it, and see what happens in the next 15 years. But I want to drive sooooo not gonna be me who finds out

[fatalelement]

Originally Posted by New2Roundel

Old M3? It's an e30 m3! Those things are worth a lot in the current market because they are the first m3. Our cars will never be at the same level of unique or special as the e30 cars. No matter how valuable our cars become and how sought after they are, the e30 will always be a level higher.

It also has a brand new OEM interior, which is actually a big deal, as you can rebuild/repair the drivetrain, electronics, etc., but a true OEM interior in perfect condition is a really big deal and worth quite a bit for a collector IMO.

Look at the pictures - it looks like someone picked it up a few weeks ago from the dealer and it barely has 500 miles on it.

[Richbot]

NOS interior parts are rare as hens teeth even for cars that are only 15 years old let alone 30

[fatalelement]

Originally Posted by Richbot

NOS interior parts are rare as hens teeth even for cars that are only 15 years old let alone 30

to be honest if I absolutely had 40k to throw in the garbage for a collector car to rarely drive, I'd be tempted to get that M3. It's probably one of the better looking E30s you could buy, at least that I've ever seen.

Originally Posted by Richbot

But I want to drive sooooo not gonna be me who finds out

I would consider it an absolute waste of my money to pay for this car and not put at least 100 miles a week on it, but I usually put a few hundred on it of purely pleasure driving. It might appreciate, but you could make a lot more reliable money in 15 years by taking the money you put into an M3 and investing it wisely.

I'm with you, I bought it to drive until the wheels fall off.

[Ab28]

Originally Posted by Richbot

And yet...a hot mess to drive fast on modern tires, with an engine that broke twice as often as the S65 with half the power, roof crush strength numbers without commas in them..."good" steering with a ratio slower than a decent sized cigarette boat...

Eh whatever. I love the E30M for its time, but it's best left to the collectors and the appreciators. As a car to go DRIVE, we can all do a lot better for $40-100k

But low-mile stock nicely optioned E9x M3's are already holding their value or slightly appreciating if you just park them. You're still going to lose money insuring the thing, but I think it's pretty safe to grab a <30,000 mile one, park it, and see what happens in the next 15 years. But I want to drive sooooo not gonna be me who finds out

+1, couldn't agree more.

I'll chime in again and say that no one should hold their breath for these things to appreciate. It may do a decent job at holding it's value but between maintenance, insurance, and opportunity cost it is not going to be a winning investment.

On the flip side even if it does go up so what?

Huge disservice to not drive an 8400 rpm V8.

[fatalelement]

Originally Posted by lat77

+1, couldn't agree more.

I'll chime in again and say that no one should hold their breath for these things to appreciate. It may do a decent job at holding it's value but between maintenance, insurance, and opportunity cost it is not going to be a winning investment.

On the flip side even if it does go up so what?

Huge disservice to not drive an 8400 rpm V8.

Even if it does, and you make money, I still think it's a disservice to the car. It's like seeing those Miuras with ~500 miles on them. What kind of maniac buys something people literally poured their career into to make it a pleasurable driving experience, and then doesn't use it for its intended purpose?

That's like buying fine art and, rather than even exhibiting it to yourself or private showings, wrapping it in a tarp and using it as a dinner table. Defeats the point of the object itself.

[Ab28]

Originally Posted by fatalelement

Even if it does, and you make money, I still think it's a disservice to the car. It's like seeing those Miuras with ~500 miles on them. What kind of maniac buys something people literally poured their career into to make it a pleasurable driving experience, and then doesn't use it for its intended purpose?

That's like buying fine art and, rather than even exhibiting it to yourself or private showings, wrapping it in a tarp and using it as a dinner table. Defeats the point of the object itself.

We're on the same page.

In a nutshell: it's a disservice not to drive the car regardless if it appreciates or not.

I have never bought with the intention of letting it sit. My driving enjoyment is the primary reason for purchase in the first place.

[Richbot]

I'm thankful such people exist, for posterity's sake, but yeah, it's a very special kind of insanity to take the very best cars available and hide them away. But on the other hand...if I had 26 cars and each one was my ride for a week twice a year...that'd be totally sane and not at all crazy right?

[cjm41]

Originally Posted by thkfast

I was in Scottsdale AZ last week for the Barrett-Jackson auction and stopped into Certified Benz & Beemer used cars. They had an OLD red M3 there with over 100,000 miles for $46,500. It was clean and everything, but wow. I don't know if I've ever seen one on the street. Will my E92 be worth that much in the year 2044? I probably won't be alive to know...

Here's the link:

https://www.carsforsale.com/used-car...tails/47067186

We did a run a couple months back, dude shows up in an e30 M3. It was beautiful. I'd love to have one, but they're really collectors cars now, I'm not sure I'd bring it out to a backroad beatdown, I'd be afraid to damage it.