[NewBeetle]

I pass a house with a Laguna Seca Blue M3 on the drive everyday, I can't help but stare at it. It's absolutely mint (2001/2002), and he's just had the alloys done in grey. The colour is just amazing in all lights. I've never wanted or really liked BMW's, but have found myself searching online for LSB M3's

This isn't the car, but to give you an idea:

I think I may knock on his door and ask if he's thinking of selling it

Have to keep telling myself about the running cost and repair prices if anything goes wrong.

[Miss Mandy]

Very nice, I'm not a fan of BMWs myself, but I'd certainly consider one of those.

[GBDG1]

Make mine a E46 M3 CSL in that colour please

Probably one of my top 5 cars. In fact, I think the picture you posted is a CSL.

Not exactly cheap though, and going up in value, so a great investment if you have the cash.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3641805.htm

[mjn]

Prefer Estoril Blue or Pheonix Yellow!

[NewBeetle]

Originally Posted by mjn

Prefer Estoril Blue or Pheonix Yellow!

Phoenix Yellow's nice, but Estoril is a bit meh compared to laguna seca IMO

[mjn]

Nah, Estoril Blue is the nuts!

Same as my 330D

[markymark34]

Mine was imola red.

My favourite car ever. Would recommend one over pretty much anything at a sensible price.

[Miss Chief]

I always liked Daytona violet but I'm not sure they still offer the colour!

[boltoa]

Classic BMW Le Mans Blue for me. But then again, I'm a bit biased, as my E39 M5 is that colour. The Laguna Seca blue has always seemed a bit in-your-face. But that's just IMHO, of course.

E39 M5 Le Mans Blue by BMW Car Club GB & Ireland, on Flickr

(Identical, but not mine)

[markymark34]

there are some real bargains to be had in M cars now.
e46 m3s under 10k.
The M5s are great value as well 500bhp for 16k.
If you can afford the mpg and the insurance, fantastic cars for the money.

Having said that its difficult to look past an e90/91 335i. There is an 07 e91 example with 40k on the clock for £12k near me. A simple remap takes them up near 400bhp. Again a lot of car for the same money as a 2009 Golf GT TDI.

[mjn]

Old school E39 M5 are selling for £4k on ebay at the moment. Obviously, they probs need a bit of TLC, but a bargain really!

[Desmo]

Originally Posted by boltoa

Classic BMW Le Mans Blue for me.

Same here, mine is LMB too

[KelvinS1965]

I'm not so keen on the Laguna Seca colour myself, but the Le Mans blue is more my style...very similar to my Topaz Blue Z3 (not an 'M' unfortunately, a more modest 3.0).

I think the £4K M5s require a few brave pills and/or a bit of luck as there are a various issues that could crop up and cost as much again to fix. Do your homework first if tempted so at least you buy with your eyes wide open.

I watched an M5 V10 blast round Anglesey last summer...sideways mostly. It was possibly Le Mans blue, but went so fast it was hard to tell.

[mjn]

Originally Posted by KelvinS1965

I think the £4K M5s require a few brave pills and/or a bit of luck as there are a various issues that could crop up and cost as much again to fix. Do your homework first if tempted so at least you buy with your eyes wide open.

And they're pretty thirsty as well, 11-20mpg

Wouldn't mind one as a weekend toy, but no space for it, unless i clean out the garage!

[KelvinS1965]

For a low mileage weekend toy, you can justify a lower mpg than a daily driver. My 'toy' gets near enough half the mpg of my company car (and I can't claim it back either of course), but it does a fraction of the mileage as well.

If something goes 'bang' and it's off the road while I can sort it out, then it's not as major as the daily being out of action, though I hope this doesn't happen, there will be jobs I'm going to do that will mean I can't drive it for a day or two.

I can't clean out my garage as my RS2000 is in there mid restoration, so the little Z3 has to shiver outside. I wouldn't risk leaving an 'M' car parked on my drive...

[mjn]

Yeah, as you say, if is a job needs doing, doesn't matter if its off the road for a while, unlike the daily driver. If thats off the road, can't get to work.

Plus, i'd have to get the M5 past the bank manager, otherwise known as the girlfriend! Lol

[richard plumb]

Originally Posted by markymark34

there are some real bargains to be had in M cars now.
e46 m3s under 10k.
The M5s are great value as well 500bhp for 16k.
If you can afford the mpg and the insurance, fantastic cars for the money.

Having said that its difficult to look past an e90/91 335i. There is an 07 e91 example with 40k on the clock for £12k near me. A simple remap takes them up near 400bhp. Again a lot of car for the same money as a 2009 Golf GT TDI.

nah, easy to look past them when there are E92s available :D

[stripe]

Originally Posted by GBDG1

Make mine a E46 M3 CSL in that colour please

Probably one of my top 5 cars. In fact, I think the picture you posted is a CSL.

Not exactly cheap though, and going up in value, so a great investment if you have the cash.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3641805.htm

Nah the e46 M3 CSL had different alloys to the standard M3, they weren't unlike the classic BBS wheels with a plain silver finish, not diamond lip etc....

[markymark34]

Originally Posted by stripe

Nah the e46 M3 CSL had different alloys to the standard M3, they weren't unlike the classic BBS wheels with a plain silver finish, not diamond lip etc....

The CSL also had a cardboard boot floor and slick tyres. The suspension was rock solid. I would love one if i had a massive garage like Jay Leno (or whatever he is called) but to drive everyday i would stick with the M3.

Its great to dream!

e92 M3s under 20k now as well. No idea what the mpg is like. I would get 21mpg out of the e46.

[stripe]

Originally Posted by markymark34

The CSL also had a cardboard boot floor and slick tyres. The suspension was rock solid. I would love one if i had a massive garage like Jay Leno (or whatever he is called) but to drive everyday i would stick with the M3.

Its great to dream!

e92 M3s under 20k now as well. No idea what the mpg is like. I would get 21mpg out of the e46.

I was just going for obvious differences, you've just gone M3 geeky! The roof was also a carbon fibre mix and the bootlid was redesigned to include a built in spoiler. The tyres were Michelin Pilot Sport Cup semi-slick racing tires... I could go on as I really wanted one...

I managed to average 19 mpg out of my M3.

[markymark34]

Originally Posted by stripe

I was just going for obvious differences, you've just gone M3 geeky! The roof was also a carbon fibre mix and the bootlid was redesigned to include a built in spoiler. The tyres were Michelin Pilot Sport Cup semi-slick racing tires... I could go on as I really wanted one...

I managed to average 19 mpg out of my M3.

Your right! Geeky indeed. I was just pointing out the negatives, if you can call them that. The boot lid is a work of art!! Time to go search on auto trader...