Potential M Coupe Owner

[StevoSLW]

Howdi there. Im sure you are all fed up of peolpe like me picking your brains for information.
However, i am 28, have a boring company car and need to put some spice back into my weekend driving. It rattles me when my mates Audi T-T's etc leave me for dead at the traffic lights.
Having always loved the muscular image and rarity of the M Coupe i have decided to take the plunge and buy one. I am looking to spend a maximum of £13.5k, but want a car that will hold its value and be reliable. So,

1 - is this enough money or am i wasting my time.
2 - Roughly how much do they cost to run - weekend use, 5k p/a, no vanos trouble, sensible driving - Not!
3 - Does any1 know of any BMW specialist in the stoke-on-trent area who provide a good service.
4 - On the earlier M Coupe's, is it true that the Vanos failure is matter 'When and not If'
5 - Will my M Coupe anialate most things on the road? :twisted:
6 - Any one got one for sale - Blue, Black or Imola Red!

Thanks for your time

Steve

[Rags]

Howdi there. Im sure you are all fed up of peolpe like me picking your brains for information.
However, i am 28, have a boring company car and need to put some spice back into my weekend driving. It rattles me when my mates Audi T-T's etc leave me for dead at the traffic lights.
Having always loved the muscular image and rarity of the M Coupe i have decided to take the plunge and buy one. I am looking to spend a maximum of £13.5k, but want a car that will hold its value and be reliable. So,

1 - is this enough money or am i wasting my time - set your budget higher IMO
2 - Roughly how much do they cost to run - weekend use, 5k p/a, no vanos trouble, sensible driving - Not! 250-280 miles for £45-50
3 - Does any1 know of any BMW specialist in the stoke-on-trent area who provide a good service.
4 - On the earlier M Coupe's, is it true that the Vanos failure is matter 'When and not If' 'If'
5 - Will my M Coupe anialate most things on the road? :twisted: Yes
6 - Any one got one for sale - Blue, Black or Imola Red! Yes

Thanks for your time

Steve

[StevoSLW]

Thanks and How Much ???

[Rags]

How much for what my friend?

[StevoSLW]

How much should i set my Budget.
Ives seen a blue M Coupe on Piston Heads - At Parva/Koyo Cars £13500 80k on the clock - looks good
and a Imola Red £13495.00 76K private sale, with new vanos?

[Rags]

The reason i recommend is that cheap doesn't always get you the best deal( I am sure you do not need me to tell you that!).

£15k would be a sensible budget IMO

[StevoSLW]

Totally agree, but £15k is pushing it.

Im planning to spend £5k erecting a gargage to store the dam thing lol.

Maybe a M Roadster would be better for my budget. Ive seen some nice ones for around the 11-12k mark. A lot more common and dont look as good though. I think the M Coupe will depreciate less if at all.

[manty]

Totally agree, but £15k is pushing it.

Im planning to spend £5k erecting a gargage to store the dam thing lol.

Maybe a M Roadster would be better for my budget. Ive seen some nice ones for around the 11-12k mark. A lot more common and dont look as good though. I think the M Coupe will depreciate less if at all.

Problem solved

Forget the garage, and spend the extra on the car :-)

If you get a Roadster, you could advertise your hairdressing services on here :twisted:

[coupe fan]

If you get a Roadster, you could advertise your hairdressing services on here :twisted:

Agreed :-P

Drill 4 holes in your drive and stick up a nice canopy - £500 tops.
When you get enough for the garage, put the canopy in the garden.

[topgeartowers]

Or what about a good quality thick car cover?

Covercraft do outside ones that are thick enough to protect the car from passing damage, about £300 for a top spec one.

[Broccers]

Buy one and leave it outside, it'll be fine 8-)

[c_w]

Totally agree, but £15k is pushing it.

Im planning to spend £5k erecting a gargage to store the dam thing lol.

Maybe a M Roadster would be better for my budget. Ive seen some nice ones for around the 11-12k mark. A lot more common and dont look as good though. I think the M Coupe will depreciate less if at all.

The two cars are a lot more different that just a folding roof would suggest. They drive very differently as the Roadster wobbles a lot, looks are completely different as is the image.

[petecossie]

When I was looking for my Z3 M I was undecided as to whether to go for the Coupe or the Roadster. I did like the look of the Coupe more but I decided to keep open mind till I had driven both. Managed to drive examples of both within about about 2 hours at different dealers in Shipley area. Result - NO CONTEST - Coupe won hands down, the difference in body rigidity is very apparent. Also roadster interior is very claustrophic - go for the coupe you won't regret it. Be prepared to travel for a good one though.

[topgeartowers]

If there is one thing the lads at Munich Legends talk about when I'm down there, it's stories of new owners coming to them with 'bargain' cars that need tons of work.

I was just hearing this weekend about a chap who bought a M5 for £11,000 and took it to ML, who told him it needs £7,000 worth of work to make it right.

The last thing you want is a 'bargain' £40K sports car.

[ascender]

The last time I looked at E39 M5s there were loads of keenly priced (cheap) cars, but 99% of them had obviously had a very hard life and you could tell that just by looking at them. One of those could be an absolute money pit to get back to top condition if the mechanical side has been neglected at all.

As for convertibles, I'll never forget the shock when a friend came round to show off his E36 M3 cabrio and I went for a spin round the block in it. The lack of rigidity was incredible and even sitting still in idle with the engine turning over, the whole car was visibly shaking in a very alarming fashion. Still, he was happy with it.

[StevoSLW]

Anyone dealt with M Power at Newbury, they have a Blue M Coupe £14500.

May pay them a visit?

How do i detect a dodgy vanos / possible troublesome vanos?

Thanks guys, for all the advise! Much appreciated

[kwoffa]

listen my mate !
I had always liked the quirkiness of this car,in all honesty i didnt know a thing about the performance..i knew they wer quick tho! one day i was going past a garage that sold rather nice cars..and saw mine sitting there ! i had it bought in a couple of days !! had to have it ! didnt do any research just wanted it !! i guess ive been lucky..the only thing ive replaced is tyres/pads/discs which have been stock BMW items,i can honestly say ive enjoyed owning/driving such a car..had it 1 year now dont want to be parted from it !! makes me smile mate ! surely thats what owning a car is all about ! buy one enjoy it...yup it will cost you money,what dosnt, a game of snooker !! just do it mate .............just do it...and smile....leaves the new ones dead in the pond..both for looks and charisma !! have fun !! drive fast !!

[StevoSLW]

Done deal mate
Car bought, cant stop cleaning it or driving it.
Loving the attention it gets and the power is awesome.
All good stuff.