Fast Coupe: 2008 BMW M3 E92

The 4th generation of the BMW M3 was released in 2007 and it featured a big departure from previous models. Gone was the screaming inline-6 engine and in its place was a throaty V8...which was a heresy according to BMW fanboys but it sold quite well and the 414 horsepower and 295 ft-lbs of torque was welcome to anyone except the serious inline-6 nut.  Today the magic of depreciation means the $60k+ M3 is now 1/4 of that original price...time to buy. Find this 2008 BMW M3 offered for $18888 in Walnut, CA via craigslist.

M3/4/5: 1997 BMW M3 4-Door

In the classic car market coupes are almost always worth more than sedans...but there are a few notable exceptions, such as the mid 60s Lincoln Continental (the suicide door equipped sedan is way cooler and more expensive than the coupe) and possibly the E36 generation M3.  The 2-door M3 coupe was certainly more common, but a 4-door E36 M3 5-Speed (aka the E36 M3/4/5) does seem to command a premium due to its additional usability and rarity. Find this 1997 BMW M3 4-Door offered for $7995 in Brattleboro, VT via craigslist. Tip from TeleArrow.

LS1 V8 Swapped: 2000 BMW 323ci

BMW's E46 generation 3 series was sold from 1999 to 2005 and it was known for its well balanced chassis and smooth inline-6 engines.  If you want a fast one, you can get the M3 version for less than the price of this next example...but it won't have a 400+ horsepower V8 that'll drink 87 octane fuel and leave twin black stripes everywhere you go.  Find this 2000 BMW 323ci V8 offered for $16,900 in Long Island, NY via craigslist. Tip from Jeff.

Imola Not Ebola: 2003 BMW M3

If you've got $15k to spend on a small late model BMW sedan, you might be tempted to buy a 335i from the previous generation...which would be a good choice, but you might not be familiar with how cheap the E46 generation M3s have become.  And while a newer 3-series might be similar on paper and in terms of horsepower/etc, but the M cars are where BMW puts all of its technological might -- complete with upgraded suspension, limited slip differential, fancy single clutch automated manual transmission, 8000 rpm, individual throttle bodies and power everything.  If the regular 3-series is a milkshake, the M3 is a white Russian.  Find this 2003 BMW M3 here on eBay offered for $15,500 buy-it-now located in Midland Park, NJ with a few days to go.

6-Speed Sedan: 2008 BMW M3 E90

This next car comes from tipper Art C who writes: M3/4/6. Has a few miles on it... hmmm, how reliable are these?  Reliable?  Who cares?  This is V8 equipped M3 sedan that puts 414 horsepower and 295 ft-lbs of torque into a 6-speed manual box that'll light up the rear tires before you can say farfegnugen. This isn't just the ultimate driving machine, this is the ultimate ///Motorsports machine and I CANNOT BELIEVE IT HAS DEPRECIATED about $45,000 in the past 10 years. Find this 2008 BMW M3 offered for $15,500 in Rhode Island via craigslist.

Cheapest M3 For Sale: 2002 BMW E46 M3

People claim that something is -est all the time.  The fastest.  The meanest.  The leanest. The beastiest. The cheesiest. The frostiest. The greenest. The chipotlest. The cleanest. The best. The sportiest. The raciest. But they are usually wrong -- sometimes on purpose, sometimes through hyperbole, but I'm going to drop an EST on y'all that'll be hard to disprove.  This is...the..cheapEST M3 for sale on the planet. It just needs some bearings and a bottom end overhaul...how hard can that be on an 8000 rpm inline-6? Find this 2002 BMW E46 M3 offered for $3,500 in Ventura, CA via craigslist. Tip from Sean.

How Low Can They Go? 2004 BMW M3 E46

BMWs E36 M3 was the steal of the market until a few years ago when the E46 M3 depreciated to the point where it makes more sense to step up to the 333 horsepower S54 powered beast that replaced the 240 horsepower S52 after the 1999 model year.  Some people might complain about the SMG transmission that you'll find in many of the cheapest examples, but the single clutch automated thing is surprisingly fun to drive, easier in traffic, and can be cheaply converted to self shifted. Find this 2004 BMW M3 E46 offered for $10,800 in Los Gatos, CA via craigslist.

Cheap Sports Sedan: 1997 BMW M3 E36

I've said it before...and I'll say it again until the prices go nutz...the E36 generation BMW M3 is a really good deal in the world of used sport sedans. It was a great combination of responsive chassis and inline-6 power and slightly upgraded in 1996 with the introduction of the 3.2 liter S52B32US good for the same 240 horsepower and in 1997 BMW introduced a 4-door version. Find this 1997 BMW M3 E36 offered for $4250 near Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Supercharged S52: 1996 BMW 318ti E36/5

This next car has a very optimistic asking price -- particularly when you consider you can find a totally stock 318ti for a lot less...but if you want to go REALLY fast and you love the truncated look of the E36/5 and the oversteer handling of the E30 style semi-trailing arm suspension..this could be your ticket to ride. Find this 1996 BMW 318ti E36/5 offered for $15000 in Thornwood, NY via craigslist.  From Cory.

Super Man Gearbox: 2003 BMW M3 E46

If you want a late model car that looks good, goes fast, and gets lots of middle fingers from other drivers, look no further than an E46 M3. Seriously, I should know, I recently picked one up as a daily driver replacement for my 04 STI...and while the STI got interesting looks from people who assumed the owner was 18 years old and vaping (I assure you I am NEITHER) the BMW gets a completely different amount of disrespect from everyone who assumes you are a spoiled rich brat who doesn't use blinkers (once again, I assure you I use blinkers and am old enough to remember the 70s). Regardless, the E46 with SMG gearbox offers a moderately civilized driving experience on the open road, and a neck-snapping grin-inducing experience on the track that is hard to beat for the entry price...but not for long because prices are creeping up. Find this 2003 BMW M3 E46 here on eBay offered for $14,995 buy-it-now or make-offer located in Midlothian, VA.

When Did These Get Cheap? 2008 BMW M3 E90

BMW ditched their traditional inline-6 when they introduced the 4th generation of BMW's M3 -- code named the E90 (sedan) and E92 (coupe).  The purists might have missed the silky smooth balanced BMW 6-cylinder, but the new V8 put out more torque and horsepower than the outgoing model...and the best part is that they re-introduced a 4-door version. The only question I have is...when did the E90 M3 become affordable? Find this 2008 BMW M3 offered for $17,900 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist.

Supercharged: 1995 BMW M3 E36

BMW's E36 generation M3 is a fantastic car in any condition and prices have been very reasonable since they depreciated.  The only gripe you could legitimately support is that stock horsepower isn't much to keep up with the 300 horsepower Camry sedans that litter today's roads...but this next has something up its sleeve.  Find this 1995 BMW M3 E36 offered for $6,500 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

Seller Submission: 2001 BMW M3 Convertible E46

BMW's E46 generation 3-series was an excellent driver's car in the cheapest of trims, but it becomes a complete beast in the snarling inline-6 equipped M3 version.  If you are looking for a topless 2+2 with a 6-speed manual that is brutally fast for less than $10k, it doesn't get much better than an E46 M3.  Find this 2001 BMW M3 Convertible E46 offered via seller submission from Justin.

DT 5.0 Still a deal?: 1999 BMW M3

The first car posted to DT back in 2012 was a silver on black 1999 E36 BMW M3 on Craigslist in Glendale, CA listed for $7,400.  In it, our intrepid E-i-C talked about how since the E30 values have increased, the old magic of depreciation has made the following generation E36 of M3 a deal.  Question for the readership:  still the case 5 years on?  Find this 1999 BMW M3 for sale in San Jose, CA for $10,995 via craigslist.  This post is part of DT's 5th Birthday Celebration.

Mario Kart: 2002 BMW M3 E46

The BMW M3 was a good car in the 1990s, but the US version had a detuned inline-6 with almost 100 less horsepower as compared to its European counterpart.  Thankfully that was fixed around Y2K with the release of the E46 generation BMW M3 with the full monster inline-6.  Not only did the world not end, but all of that saved up bottled water could be used to refill the leaking plastic coolant expansion tanks in BMWs across the planet! Find this 2002 BMW M3 E46 offered for $9,000 in North Redondo Beach, CA via craigslist.

Cheap Speed: 1998 BMW M3

The E36 generation BMW M3 was released in 1995 with a detuned US spec engine (remember when the Europeans got the good stuff..?) and a fabulously nimble chassis.  Magazine pundits and BMW fanboys alike raved about the steering feel and I can't imagine the prices on these things can continue to be as low as they are.  Find this 1998 BMW M3 offered for $7,300 in South Los Angeles, CA.

Coffee Brake: Shipwrecked

For this week's Coffee Brake, I'd like to shift from the serious, Pulitzer prize potential stories that we normally run and instead talk about something on the lighter side.  Imagine for a minute that you are marooned on a deserted island, but that island has a nice set of roads (think road to Hana) and an obscenely large gravity fed gas station tank.  So, what car do you drive every day for the rest of your life as you live in solitary -- BUT it has to be a car that you own currently or owned in the past.

You Had Me At Bea Arthur: 1997 BMW M3

sleep·er  noun; A form of chokehold used in martial arts that stops blood flow to the brain that causes cerebral ischemia and unconsciousness in a matter of seconds when applied appropriately.  

The term sleeper gets tossed around the interweb more often than fake sexy pics of Bea Arthur, but lemme tell ya...this next thing is the real deal.  The real mother lode.  A cornucopia of Golden Girl bikini mayhem...a..Rue de McClanaham-sandwich...a.what...I'm lost.  Where was I?  Is this a dream?  What is Betty White doing on the hood of that BMW?  Find this 1997 BMW M3 offered for $14,000 in Buffalo, NY.  Tip from Jeff.