[eljay]

Originally Posted by Duck360198

I actually was stuck in traffic today and over a couple of lanes was an LCI red E91. I don't recall ever seeing one in the flesh before, but it looked damn good. Kind of a breath of fresh air compared to the typical white, grey, silver, black, etc. Was tempted to ask the 60-something-year-old if he wanted to sell. Good luck with the search.

A couple for those in Canucklandia...

No quite red, but close: http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/bmw/3 se...1219112642224/

And higher mileage, but M-Sport, manual, xDrive:
http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/bmw/3 se...30529131229896

[CSBM5]

BMW should have mandated Sport Package if a car is ordered with a 6MT. It would have been helpful if that mandate also included heated seats and comfort access.

[E91WAG3N]

Originally Posted by Mr._E

https://www.streetsideclassics.com/v...1-bmw-328i-e91

Holy asking price batman. I could see it if super low mileage but wowzers.

[BIGGNS]

wtf EAG? Xdrive, no sport pack and not even that low mileage, this should be a $17k car, not 30! lmao

http://enthusiastauto.com/qsearch/?i...orm_display=51

[sturgeongeneral]

Originally Posted by ubersteuer

I could go either way on this but I ended up with a 6MT RWD M Sport.

It came down to a lack of time and actually coming across the right spec'ed lower mileage car. My garage already has an E36 halfway through an engine and trans swap that's been sitting for 2 years now. I wanted to do a Red pre-LCI E91 with an M3 front clip, and all the standard bolt on suspension and engine mods. With a $15k donor car, I calculated I'd be into it $30k once I did everything so I pulled the trigger on my unicorn. If you can do paintwork or have a cheap/free wreck you can pull parts from, building a car makes more sense otherwise the costs will stack up quickly and you may as well buy the car you want in the first place.

Makes sense. For anyone looking: if you can wait, you should. I estimated coming in at well under $20k when all is said and done (unless I throw another engine in), so it was a no brainer for me. Depending on what you’re trying to do buying a non-6MT (or even a non-M-Sport) can leave you with a lot of headroom.

[nfaust]

Originally Posted by sturgeongeneral

Makes sense. For anyone looking: if you can wait, you should. I estimated coming in at well under $20k when all is said and done (unless I throw another engine in), so it was a no brainer for me. Depending on what you’re trying to do buying a non-6MT (or even a non-M-Sport) can leave you with a lot of headroom.

Does that estimate of $20k include a transmission swap? Seriously considering having a shop quote it for me.

[sturgeongeneral]

Originally Posted by nfaust

Does that estimate of $20k include a transmission swap? Seriously considering having a shop quote it for me.

Yup. Can't hurt. Just to be clear I paid $12k for my E91 (it was higher mileage but in great shape). I capped my budget at $8k for whatever aftermarket work I plan to do, including the swap. Always want to have a little buffer just in case because cost overruns are common.

Obligatory disclaimer: it can be a pain in the ass. I'm doing it because I wanted a project, and I'm comfortable taking on the cost. You have to be prepared if things to go wrong. If it were any other car I'd sell it in a heartbeat and buy a 6MT.

[AWDcowboy]

Howdy selling northern NV-

https://reno.craigslist.org/cto/d/20...637781906.html

[nfaust]

Originally Posted by Duck360198

this looked like a nice clean example even with 100k miles. No?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2011-BMW-3-...FbPo2I&vxp=mtr

Yeah, was surprised there wasn't more action on that one.

[Thorin]

Originally Posted by Duck360198

this looked like a nice clean example even with 100k miles. No?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2011-BMW-3-...FbPo2I&vxp=mtr

Yeah, that looked good. Somebody got a good one!

[BIGGNS]

Just ran across this one on the 'fest

2007 328xi | 164,000 miles | AWD | 6-speed MT | $9,500 obo

https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sh....php?t=1277334

[putnampunk]

Originally Posted by tlow98

The thing is, these cars just aren’t a $40k driving experience or even a $20k IMO. They feel like a Buick compared to an E46 M3 which in most cases costs less. Actually you could probably make a an e46 m3 wagon for less than $15k and have ‘more’ car.

Rarity is a weird thing when it comes to a car like this. They need quite a few modifications to handle well and be ‘fun’. I’d say they’re better at being a reliable tank when stock more than anything else.

Yeah, E46 M3 wagons are popular these days and are great if you have the ability to build one - but I just don't love that gen (too much time porting around abused service loaners maybe), while always enjoyed the E90s more. I also didn't want to deal with S54 rod bearings or even a N54, especially after having two BMW V8s which are not fun to maintain, so a simple N52 like my S52 was preferred.

For a daily, reliable tank is nice and then throw on a few bits to make it slightly better. It's hard to find something as useful for <$20K that is as enjoyable to drive and is pretty modern without losing hydraulic steering and a NA I6 like the newer ones have done. I absolutely hated a F30 328 I drove and while a 340 was fast, I'd not sign up to own one outside of warranty.

Originally Posted by ubersteuer

I completely agree that E9X cars are underwhelming from the factory. My stock E92 335i that I ordered was quick but didn't do much for me. My E91 has coilovers, non-runflats, m3 front sway bar, and camber plates which help it to handle correctly. It also has a PE, 3IM, and software. It's still not a performance car in the realm of an E46 M3 but it's a fantastic jack of all trades. It has enough room to road trip with my wife and 2 kids if I want, enough room for a Home Depot run, yet still drives like a proper BMW. It has 80% of the performance of an E46 M3 and 80% of the utility of an SUV. It's the perfect combination in my book. Yes, there are better handling and faster cars as well as vehicles with more cargo space but the E91 does both pretty damn well rolled up in one package.

Yes - getting 80% of my X5's usefulness and even just 60% of the fun of my E36 M3 was a good recipe for a daily. If I want better handling, I still have the M3 but it isn't the most comfortable car to take every day (and don't want to winter it). So I'll take a soft, slow car and refine as necessary. I got a low mileage one and plan to have it for a while. But wasn't in the market for a unicorn, nor would I have spent double what I did on one either. If I wanted power, a turbo engine would fit but no matter how much fun that could be it's not really the intent of the car and fast dailies don't help if you spend a lot of time in traffic (and even dailying a CTS-V on the highway can get old). So in the end, while they might not be amazing to some - I think E91s are a pretty good overall car if you find them for a reasonable price.

[makke]

https://dorkiphus.net/porsche/showthread.php?t=38964

Great price for the mileage, manual, Xi, non-sport.

[Tedmondsjr]

https://www.coventrymotorcar.com/lis...s-sport-wagon/

Located near Boston.

[Zajac1]

https://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto...643408654.html

[Echoninety]

Love what the e91s look like but two to three times the cost for the same car without a long roof is just too much to justify. Maybe someday my unicorn will show up.

[nfaust]

2012 M Sport Auto AWD, Black on Oyster for $19k at Carmax
https://www.carmax.com/car/15944995

[Prazision]

Thoughts? I am only an hour away

https://www.bmwpeabody.com/used/BMW/...8f97d52828.htm

[ramp]

Looks like good history.

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by rwh11385

Yeah, E46 M3 wagons are popular these days and are great if you have the ability to build one - but I just don't love that gen (too much time porting around abused service loaners maybe), while always enjoyed the E90s more. I also didn't want to deal with S54 rod bearings or even a N54, especially after having two BMW V8s which are not fun to maintain, so a simple N52 like my S52 was preferred.

For a daily, reliable tank is nice and then throw on a few bits to make it slightly better. It's hard to find something as useful for <$20K that is as enjoyable to drive and is pretty modern without losing hydraulic steering and a NA I6 like the newer ones have done. I absolutely hated a F30 328 I drove and while a 340 was fast, I'd not sign up to own one outside of warranty.



Yes - getting 80% of my X5's usefulness and even just 60% of the fun of my E36 M3 was a good recipe for a daily. If I want better handling, I still have the M3 but it isn't the most comfortable car to take every day (and don't want to winter it). So I'll take a soft, slow car and refine as necessary. I got a low mileage one and plan to have it for a while. But wasn't in the market for a unicorn, nor would I have spent double what I did on one either. If I wanted power, a turbo engine would fit but no matter how much fun that could be it's not really the intent of the car and fast dailies don't help if you spend a lot of time in traffic (and even dailying a CTS-V on the highway can get old). So in the end, while they might not be amazing to some - I think E91s are a pretty good overall car if you find them for a reasonable price.

Oh yeah, don't get me wrong - I agree with pretty much everything you say here which is why I bought the car. I jsut find the price premium for 'unicorns' to be laughably unsustainable. Look at the value of 100k+ mile E46 wagons. The E91 will be valued similarly, I believe.

I have plans, too - mostly suspension related. This thing needs the most help in that department. The nice thing is that they are a great starting point for improvements!

[M_Dennis87]

Someone better hop on this one...

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...odelCode1=328I

2011 71k miles, rwd, 6MT, $15k

[E91WAG3N]

Originally Posted by sturgeongeneral

Yup. Can't hurt. Just to be clear I paid $12k for my E91 (it was higher mileage but in great shape). I capped my budget at $8k for whatever aftermarket work I plan to do, including the swap. Always want to have a little buffer just in case because cost overruns are common.

Obligatory disclaimer: it can be a pain in the ass. I'm doing it because I wanted a project, and I'm comfortable taking on the cost. You have to be prepared if things to go wrong. If it were any other car I'd sell it in a heartbeat and buy a 6MT.

The costs make sense if you can snag a cheap donor. I figured it would be $15k for something in decent shape. Then $10k for the M3 front end conversion done right (new parts painted and assembled at a high end shop). Odd and ends like wheels, suspension, and mods would be another $5k.

So you're doing a trans + complete M sport swap for $8k? The trans, diff, driveshaft, pedal box, etc... are around $2k in second hand parts. Labor is free as I'm assuming it'll be a home garage swap. The M Sport exterior bits are another $2k + $1k in paint. Interior might get expensive unless you can source things used or cheaply. You'll need sport seats, steering wheel + airbag, headliner, most likely trim unless you already have non-wood. Then wheels and any mods.

I'd ballpark it at closer to $10k to have it *done right* Corners can be cut and costs lowered if you find used bumpers and DIY paint or get it done at a lower end paint shop. Either way have fun, I'm on the same journey with my E36 so I'm in no position to judge! Costs always seem to creep up with "while I'm in there" parts.

Originally Posted by rwh11385

Yes - getting 80% of my X5's usefulness and even just 60% of the fun of my E36 M3 was a good recipe for a daily. If I want better handling, I still have the M3 but it isn't the most comfortable car to take every day (and don't want to winter it). So I'll take a soft, slow car and refine as necessary. I got a low mileage one and plan to have it for a while. But wasn't in the market for a unicorn, nor would I have spent double what I did on one either. If I wanted power, a turbo engine would fit but no matter how much fun that could be it's not really the intent of the car and fast dailies don't help if you spend a lot of time in traffic (and even dailying a CTS-V on the highway can get old). So in the end, while they might not be amazing to some - I think E91s are a pretty good overall car if you find them for a reasonable price.

Totally agreed. I'm a long time E36 addict as well!

E91's are the perfect compromise daily, yet they don't really compromise much. As with 99% of BMW's, suspension and tires really wake the chassis up. I could live without the PE and 3IM but they're nice to have. Suspension is a must, especially as these cars age.