The BMW E30 M3 is one of the more popular 1980s collector cars at the moment, but prices have cooled on those less-than-perfect specimens. This example is listed as part of a Copart auction with some minor cosmetic damage, but it’s bigger offense is the engine swap to a 3.0L inline-six from a 1995 BMW M3. The original S14 four-cylinder is the mill that brings the big bucks, but this car may represent a far cheaper path to M3 ownership. Find it here on Copart where bidding has recently cleared $20K.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader JamestownMike for the find. The M3s that tend to sell at the slightly insane $40K and up price range are usually low mileage examples still fitted with their high-strung, race-bred S14 engine. Some swapped cars do command a decent price, but almost always lower than the best preserved examples. Although the motor swap is a downer for me, others may appreciate the ease of maintenance and parts availability that the later M3 engine offers, known as the “S50”, which is a popular swap option given it is an OBD1 motor.
The S50 was the same engine that came stock in my dearly departed 1995 M3. It’s a great motor, very rev-happy and just enough power to keep you entertained without constantly being in fear of breaking the law. However, this particular M3 doesn’t appear to be a marquee specimen (or a stand-out, at least) as the factory sport seats are bit tired and the car has been modified beyond its engine with a lowered suspension and larger (too large, in my opinion) BMW factory wheels. The nose also appears to have a fair amount of road rash, so this E30 M3 was clearly used and spared a trailer queen existence.
Aside from the increased power and lower costs of ownership, the S50 will make it easy to track down basic maintenance parts and really not need a lot of love beyond fluid changes and cooling system updates. However, the value of the original S14 can’t be understated, and I question if the next owner will get his investment back out of the car at the current bid amount. S14s trade regularly for $10K-$20K, depending on mileage, and their rebuild costs are high if it’s a tired example. But for a classic E30 M3, finding the correct engine for the car seems like a smart investment for the next owner.
Bugger investments!!
There’s enough preserved examples out there, enough homogeneity to border on being boring, just check BaT.
I would drive the pants off this, maybe modify it even more because the spirit of these cars was pushing the envelope, not preserving it.
#f*ckConcourse.
Salvage title, reassigned VIN and a S50 swap and it surpassed 20k?? Considering all that, I was interested in the car at $12k to $15k max (WITH transport from CA to NC)! Did anyone happen to see what the final bid was? The final high bid was “on approval”. Thanks for posting my find.
You can buy the very best E36 M3 in existence for well under this bid price, and it is overall a better car. WTF? I don’t get the appeal here. I say this as a BMW fan, former E30 owner (2 of them) and current owner of an E36 M3/4/5. I’ll put my car up against an E30 M3 in the fun-to -drive battle any day of the week.
I had an E36 M3 and wasn’t impressed at all. It wasn’t much better than the regular 3 series E36. However, I had an E46 330ci ZHP and boy was that a rocket! I can’t imagine an E46 M3!……which seem to be ticking up in price! I’ve never owed a classic E30 M3 but would love to have one some day. I waited too long to get one, the prices are CRAZY now! LOVE those flared out body panels!
It is just scrreeeeeeaming for an LSX swap. If you’re swapping for more power and reliability, that’s truly the way to go!
To me the price would be extremely dependant on whether it is the US E36 M3 Engine or a European version as for some inexplicable reason the European was 286-321hp (321hp was Evo), but I don’t know how much difference the 6 cylinder would make to the Balance of the car which was exactly what the S14 was noted for? What’s your thoughts guys