BMW M3\Evo

Coupe Owners...

Do you have or no a club member considering parting with their M3?  I am looking for ideally an Estoril blue coupe M3\Evo...  I am prepared to travel to find the right car & have cash waiting...

Contact me on Iainblair300@hotmail.com or Iblair@winchester.go.uk

Thanks.

Found one on the web www.independantmc.fsnet.co.uk
They have a 97' P reg in Estoril Blue - 53,000 miles for £14,495. Other cheaper EVO's available in different colours.

Check it out. It could be what your looking for. Maybe worth calling them and telling them your requirements.

Good Luck!

I would initially check other threads on this forum re Independant MC but bet advice is to travel and see as many as possible.

I clocked up 300 miles one Saturday driving and looking at M3s and spent 3 months trawling autotrader and other adverts.

Happy hunting

I got mine from a place in Derby called Jct28 and although apparently they've got a bad press in Ford-circles, I rate them on my experience.

Try the following link-they've got a 3L and an evo:

Junct28

Yup,3L avus blue. The wheels on that evo look like ACS copies.

Edited by Stone-IslandM3

Good luck searching for the EVO mate! I was looking for 8 months and there is alot of crap out there. I was after an estoril blue coupe, but i have now brought a M3 Evo Convertible, 99/T for 16,000 with fsh and hardtop etc.  I am convinced that the convertibles tend to be looked after compared to the coupes.

Another place to try is independent motor co based in Reading. They are really nice lads, pricey, but they have a good selection and there is no crap for sale, its all good motors.  They advertise in Top Marques mag.

Good luck!

The vanos unit on the 3L is a single unit whereas the Evos had a double vanos which is prone to problems. There seems to be no rhyme nor reason as to whether they die or not but it seems more prevalent on earlier evos (but that might just be the age of the cars and the newer ones may catch up!!)

A poll on an M3 forum suggested that some 50% of evo owners had had the vanos changed and of that 50% some 40% had had it changed more than once.

There seems to be some dispute over whether BMW offer a goodwill gesture towards replacement as it costs £1800 approx on an evo and approx £1100 on a 3L though none of the 3L M3 owners tested in the same poll reported vanos problems.

When I was looking I had the option round my £££ for a late low mileage 3L or an early higher mileage evo. Went for the one I felt most positive about, that drove well and had the FSH and 'moved me'!!! There is a lot of uncared for dross about.

I've not long had my Evo and it's not had the Vanos done. Now ideally, i wanted warrenty and that way you'd never have to worry about any problems such as the Vanos. I never did find a decent one witgh warrenty, and after 6 weeks got fed up and just went for one I found sound enough. Like Jon says above, 50% of Evo owners have had Vanos probs with 40% of that 50% having second units installed.

The way I look at it, if its done over 70000 miles, it should have had Vanos probs, if it was going to have any at all by now. Apparently, when it has gone, (Alloy looking unit at front of engine, just incase! ) sounds like marbles rolling around in tin when it has gone. Hope this helps.

I can't tell for definate but the alloy looking unit that Saliorbaz mentioned looks very clean and new looking on the EVO I bought recently. Thats if it is the VANOS unit. Do they all look new? When there not?

That could be one thing to look for when looking around at a few. Should it say in the Service History? Receipts?

Hey there guys,

Im still looking for a 3lt M3. Its been 2 months now and still no luck. A good place to try would be Munich Legands. They are VERY good and only sell the best. I really mean that. Im going to take a look at a 3lt there this week. They are based in a small village called Chelwood Gate near Haywards Heath down in Sussex.

Guys ive got 11-12k to spend on a 3lt, if u c 1 gimmie a buzz

cheers

Darren