Where to shop for M3s

modkrazy · 03-27-2017, 03:42 PM

Hey folks, just wondering what avenues people utilize when shopping for one of these cars? I have a pretty specific build in mind, so I am prepared for a long haul shopping watch, and want to cast my net as wide as possible.

Currently I am checking daily on this forum, cars.com, autotrader.com and BMW's pre-owned inventory. Where else can I look?

young dude · 03-27-2017, 03:52 PM

Craigslist

oolas3 · 03-27-2017, 04:06 PM

CarMax.

jiggz · 03-27-2017, 04:08 PM

That's a pretty good list. Craigslist is pretty suspect IMO, but still worth checking just in case your unicorn happens to show up there.

I found both my M3 and X5 on BMW's CPO page.

What configuration are you looking for?

modkrazy · 03-27-2017, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiggz

That's a pretty good list. Craigslist is pretty suspect IMO, but still worth checking just in case your unicorn happens to show up there.

I found both my M3 and X5 on BMW's CPO page.

What configuration are you looking for?

Frozen blue, interesting individual color, or frozen white, in order of preference.

There was a nice frozen blue with supercharger, coil overs and upgraded sound system, but he was asking for quite a penny and the car had over 50K miles. There is currently another frozen blue in California, but the carfax reports a theft and the service records are terrible (no 1200 mile break-in, oil changed only every 15K miles and no other services over 50k miles). Damn shame.

Haywood · 03-27-2017, 04:27 PM

BMW Car Club of America - bmwcca.org.

You know you're going to get real enthusiasts on there.

Also, if you are willing to spend more on a pristine vehicle, go to EAG - http://enthusiastauto.com

I know people complain about how expensive they are, but it's for good reason. They only take in well maintained vehicles and then complete re-condition them to almost new.

loveskiing · 03-27-2017, 05:58 PM

All the recommendations given so far are good. Personally I wouldn't go to eag because I hate supporting dealers that IMHO are charging excessive prices but to each their own.
Keep looking, check every source everyday and be prepared to act quickly especially given the specifics you've listed. Patience and diligence pay off in the end.
Good Hunting!

Bimmed Out · 03-27-2017, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loveskiing

Personally I wouldn't go to eag because I hate supporting dealers that IMHO are charging excessive prices

Very true, but there is a pigeon born every day.

Mr. BMW · 03-27-2017, 08:20 PM

CPO search on bmwusa.com. That's how I found mine. I had been looking for a while. Yes I paid a premium but I got what I wanted.

Honda · 03-28-2017, 12:35 AM

autotrader.com

DSilk · 03-28-2017, 07:36 AM

I bought mine at the dealership. Advantage? It came with a full warranty, and I was able to negotiate a fair price.

B8bydesign · 03-28-2017, 07:38 AM

Sounds like you've already covered a lot of the more popular sites but also check out eBay.com and Cargurus.com. Another thing to note, try not to be too specific when you search. I actually found my DCT car listed under 6-speed MT, so cars can be listed with incorrect options on a lot of these websites by dealers or people who have no idea what they're doing.

McSwine · 03-28-2017, 08:11 AM

I bought mine off the board here.

modkrazy · 03-28-2017, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B8bydesign

Sounds like you've already covered a lot of the more popular sites but also check out eBay.com and Cargurus.com. Another thing to note, try not to be too specific when you search. I actually found my DCT car listed under 6-speed MT, so cars can be listed with incorrect options on a lot of these websites by dealers or people who have no idea what they're doing.

You're right! Transmission is one of the things that people get wrong with these cars very very often. When I had my DCT I would have people assume it's a manual based off appearance, and I would say at least half of the M3 listings that say manual actually have a DCT. I would say color can be a tricky one too, I've seen several silverstone cars listed as blue. I guess not completely wrong there, but still!

So all in all, I am currently checking: forums, carmax, autotrader, cars.com, cargurus, and BMW CPO.

Interestingly enough, in my search I came across for sale listings in the UK. Apparently instead of the red white and blue 150-car run they did in the US, they did a 500-car run of Santorini Blue, Frozen Silver and Imola Red in Europe. There are quite a few silver ones on sale, with the occasional Santorini Blue (such a hot color OMG). I had shaved reflectors on my car, and over the last week it's been a bit of a shock to see just how ugly the U.S. version of this car is by comparison. Such a simple thing... if only importing a car from the UK was not an abject nightmare.

03-27-2017, 03:42 PM	#1
modkrazy Lieutenant Colonel 171 Rep 1,536 Posts Drives: m3 Join Date: May 2014 Location: tx iTrader: (1)	Where to shop for M3s Hey folks, just wondering what avenues people utilize when shopping for one of these cars? I have a pretty specific build in mind, so I am prepared for a long haul shopping watch, and want to cast my net as wide as possible. Currently I am checking daily on this forum, cars.com, autotrader.com and BMW's pre-owned inventory. Where else can I look?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

03-27-2017, 03:52 PM	#2
young dude Private First Class 42 Rep 181 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Chicago iTrader: (1)	Craigslist
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-27-2017, 04:06 PM	#3
oolas3 Captain 388 Rep 876 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: May 2015 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	CarMax.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-27-2017, 04:08 PM	#4
jiggz Brigadier General 2149 Rep 3,651 Posts Drives: E90 M3\|F15 X5 50i Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	That's a pretty good list. Craigslist is pretty suspect IMO, but still worth checking just in case your unicorn happens to show up there. I found both my M3 and X5 on BMW's CPO page. What configuration are you looking for?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-27-2017, 04:27 PM	#6
Haywood I know a thing or 2 about a thing or 2... 3104 Rep 3,470 Posts Drives: E36 M3 Coupe, e39 M5, i3s Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: LI, NY iTrader: (11) Garage List 2003 BMW e39 M5 [0.00] 1997 BMW e36 M3 [0.00]	BMW Car Club of America - bmwcca.org. You know you're going to get real enthusiasts on there. Also, if you are willing to spend more on a pristine vehicle, go to EAG - http://enthusiastauto.com I know people complain about how expensive they are, but it's for good reason. They only take in well maintained vehicles and then complete re-condition them to almost new. __________________ 2019 Imperial Blue Metallic i3s BEV 2003 Le Mans Blue e39 M5 Dinan S1 1997 Alpine White e36 M3 (the old gal) 2013 Mineral White e92 M3 (sold ) 2014 Carbon Black 650i M-sport (sold)
	Appreciate 1 modkrazy170.50 Quote

03-27-2017, 05:58 PM	#7
loveskiing Lieutenant Colonel 968 Rep 1,612 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 E90 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	All the recommendations given so far are good. Personally I wouldn't go to eag because I hate supporting dealers that IMHO are charging excessive prices but to each their own. Keep looking, check every source everyday and be prepared to act quickly especially given the specifics you've listed. Patience and diligence pay off in the end. Good Hunting!
	Appreciate 1 Bimmed Out1908.50 Quote

03-27-2017, 08:20 PM	#9
Mr. BMW Major 262 Rep 1,389 Posts Drives: 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 M3 [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00] 2018 Jeep Grand Che ... [0.00]	CPO search on bmwusa.com. That's how I found mine. I had been looking for a while. Yes I paid a premium but I got what I wanted. __________________ 12 M3 Interlagos Blue/Black 18 Jeep Grand Cherokee (Yeah, it's got a HEMI) 21 X3 Silver/Black(Wife's) 06 330i Monaco Blue/Black (retired) 02 X5 3.0 Topaz Blue/Black (retired)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-28-2017, 12:35 AM	#10
Honda Lieutenant Colonel 289 Rep 1,540 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: US iTrader: (25)	autotrader.com
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-28-2017, 07:36 AM	#11
DSilk Major 550 Rep 1,148 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW M3 Coupe Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 Jaguar XJ [0.00] 2015 Jaguar XF [0.00] 2014 VW GTI [0.00] 2008 BMW M3 Coupe [0.00] 2007 VW Passat 2.0T [0.00]	I bought mine at the dealership. Advantage? It came with a full warranty, and I was able to negotiate a fair price.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-28-2017, 07:38 AM	#12
B8bydesign Lieutenant Colonel 683 Rep 1,529 Posts Drives: '11 BMW M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (10) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [10.00]	Sounds like you've already covered a lot of the more popular sites but also check out eBay.com and Cargurus.com. Another thing to note, try not to be too specific when you search. I actually found my DCT car listed under 6-speed MT, so cars can be listed with incorrect options on a lot of these websites by dealers or people who have no idea what they're doing. __________________ New: '11.5 e90 M3 \| DCT \| Space Gray/Novillo \| ZCV \| ZCW \| ZP2 \| ESS 625 \| BPM \| M Performance \| iPE \| BC Racing \| BPM \| iND \| LUX \| Volk \| Coby \| Recaro Sold: '11.5 e92 M3 \| DCT \| Mineral White/Novillo \| ZCP \| ZCV \| ZCW \| ZP2 \| M Performance \| ACM \| BPM \| iND \| Thule \| LUX \| Macht Schnell \| Broadway Static \| Rogue Engineering \| BBS \| Challenge \| Metak
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-28-2017, 08:11 AM	#13
McSwine Private First Class 117 Rep 165 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Levy, AR iTrader: (0)	I bought mine off the board here.
	Appreciate 0 Quote