If I ever come across a turnkey Dakar Yellow 3/4/5 that has not been wrecked, I would be seriously tempted.

Let me see if I can list most things that went wrong in mine and many that I helped my friends with:

1. headliner (for crying out loud) split near the windshield joint.

2. lousy leather seat condition (pony up the dough for new leather seat cover replacement from BMW while they still have them).

3. rear shock mount, some are so bad that they required welding

4. guibo

5. overheat from busted T stat or water pump because the previous owners either don't know to change them or couldn't afford to.

6. Lots and lots and lots and lots of wrecked ones

7. shocks, you'll be amazed at how many are out there with original shocks

8. Oil burners, lots of them burn a ton of oil.

9. bad alarm install, which causes the "check brake light" error on the OBC

10. Window molding trim on the inside falling off


It really is unfortunate that because of the price point, a ton of these cars are owned by people who shouldn't be driving them beause they simply couldn't afford to keep them up properly. And a lot of them are also talentless and wrecked them.

But yeah, Dakar Yellow 3/4/5 up to my mechanical and cosmetic standard would be quite tempting. That was the car with the best body for yellow.

EDIT: Just did a search on autotrader for 3/4/5's, a bunch of garbage except that single one by EAG. But that one is modded.

This one is pretty good, but it's coupe

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national

 

My wife had a 328is for awhile before she went Porsche, and it was a fun little car. However, considering an M3 is not that much more these days, I would hold out for the M3 with a manual.

 

Its hard to find an e36 4 door with a manual... Ive seen one and it was complete junk!
I like factory original cars or as close to it as I can get. I would prefer to buy an M3 over a 328, but if I cant find one, and one in my price range, ill have to settle. Im in need of a commuter type car as soon as possible...

Normally I wouldn't even give a salvage title car a first look, let alone a second look. This one just seems different. Its literally in near new condition. And like I said, IF it didn't have a salvage title, this guy would be selling it for $15k easily... To me it seems "turn key." @83k miles what could it need? The guy maintained it according to BMW service schedule and he isn't the one who damaged it, his wife did (not that that really matters). To me it seems like a steal, but then again I don't know a lot about BMW's, thats why Im asking...

Anyone in Orange County that would like to take another look at it with me?

 

If you insist on getting this car, have it PPI'ed at M Shop, EMW, or GT International.

EMW is probably the closest to you, but they don't paint meter cars.

 

Curious, are the higher mileage M3's even worth looking at?

 

Oh Im not insisting, Im just trying to relay as much information to you guys as possible so that you can help educate me. I mean one little piece of information could change the whole scenario, good or bad, right?

 

Stuka, sounds like you've had a few. Where did you buy them or find them for sale? ive been searching autotrader, craigslist and cars.com for over a month and Im not finding anything good...

 

I bought two brand new from the dealers.

go check out EAG's website. They have the nicest cars. The price is a little high, but these are no story turnkey cars.

I almost bought an E34 Euro M5 from them, but my current M5 popped up, and I dropped it. That car has since sold.

 

Im unfamiliar with "EAG", what does it stand for?
I would love to have an M5, but they're still a bit out of my price range since I bought my wife her 01 7 series sport. My fun car account has been depleted. Haha

This caught my eye online, but it doesn't sound turn key by any means...

Cars for Sale: 1991 BMW M5 Sedan in San Pedro, CA 90731: Sedan Details - 288311944 - AutoTrader.com

 

Enthusiast Auto: Main