How long did it take you to find right preowned M3?

[OneRib]

Recently in the market for a used M3 (last 3 weeks) and have become frustrated very quickly because I can't find the right combinations of options and color. Almost had one early on that I loved, but was sold the day I was heading to the dealership .

Since then I've been staking out various used car sites without much luck. I admit I am being picky, but wanted to know from others how long it took you to find the M3 you desired. Did some of you just get sick of searching and settle for an M3 that was missing some options/colors you desired or cost more than you wanted to spend. If so, do you regret it or are you just glad the search is over and you can move on to enjoying the ownership experience?

Only talking about a used search as buying new is more about being willing to get the right price and being patient enough to custom order.

For the curious I am looking for the following.
2011.5 and newer
<30k miles
Coupe with carbon fiber roof
DCT
Colors (in order of preference): LMB, Interlagos, Mineral white/Jerez Black (tie)
Black leather interior, but don't care if its extended
Options: ZCP, Premium, Individual Audio, Cold weather or heated seats

Coming from a '07 335i sedan and this is the first enthusiast model I have ever tried to purchase. Definitely a different experience from buying more mainstream models. I would love to look every few days, but any M3 priced well sells in 1-2 days.

Recently I have found myself playing with numbers and thinking of buying new, compromising on exterior colors (does everyone in the world get Alpine white ), or going back to 2010 (losing out on ZCP). Not sure this is a good move for me because I custom ordered my 335i and have loved owning it and used/appreciated all the options I choose.

What about you guys/gals?

UPDATE: Just to save everyone from reading the whole thread. I decided to lease a new m3 and option it exactly as I wanted. Any car I would consider replacing it with would be 2016 anyway so I figured why not get new lease for the same as used and if I love it I can keep it and in three years I can turn it in, or sell it if I want to get something else. One thing I have learned from looking is there is a fervent fan base looking for these cars and it's very possible my car can sell for more than my residual.
Feel free to keep the thread going with your own experiences.

[Kong Sheng Han]

If you buy used, just be patient. I have been looking for 6 months now, and what amazes me is how quick they depreciate. A few months ago, the cheapest M3s were $35,000 and up, and now they're in the low 30's. There's two or three that are in the mid-high 20's. Also found one for $24,900!
Sorry,

[Rumspringerdaily]

Originally Posted by Kong Sheng Han

If you buy used, just be patient. I have been looking for 6 months now, and what amazes me is how quick they depreciate. A few months ago, the cheapest M3s were $35,000 and up, and now they're in the low 30's. There's two or three that are in the mid-high 20's. Also found one for $24,900!
Sorry,

Well that just depends on milage and options. Ive been looking awhile now and I dont see any nice ones for less than 38k. Where are you seeing these cars that low?

[Chriskm3]

U get what u pay for. I think you will get a better deal buying privately

[Kong Sheng Han]

You're right. I should've mentioned that it depends on mileage and options. I go on autotrader mostly, just filter out convertibles and sort lowest to highest.

[Shoney41]

I was in the same boat and just got impatient I guess. Ended up buying new. Definitely pricier compared to a private sale, but I found that when compared to a CPO from a dealer (which to me was the easiest in terms of registration, title BS, etc) the difference was negligible. I also was wondering whether with a car like an M3 I ran the risk of someone not having treated the car the way I would, which is important if desiring to own the car for a long time.

[OneRib]

There are bargains if you don't mind buying out of warranty. I would prefer to avoid that.

I hope I am not looking 6 months from now. Trying to be patient for now. I find the pricing to be the oddest thing. Some dealers and private owners really seem to overvalue their cars, but I guess with an M3 you can always get someone to overpay. Dealers certainly seem more willing to let M3's sit on the lot until they get their price.

I think I would buy new if I thought I was going to keep it as long as my current car, but their are a lot of cars on the horizon that interest me and I would rather avoid that new car depreciation hit.

Hopefully more 2011 M3's will start coming of lease over the next few months. Of course they won't have combox until Oct (don't think streaming bluetooth is worth it and the rest is irrelevant because I don't have an iphone).

[dreamspeed]

I searched for 4 months, I started thinking about compromising on the color and options and even possibly getting a e93 instead of e92. Eventually I found a good deal on a mint e92 that had every thing I wanted except it had the moonroof instead of CF

It all depends on how patient you are, eventually you will find exactly what you want. But if you decide on certain options you WON'T budge on and then have some that you are a little more flexible with you will prob find your car quicker

[Chriskm3]

You guys should consider looking up cars for sale in Canada. It is easy enough to import it in and sports cars get cheaper closer to year end. Sport cars get parked away for the winter and No one wants to sit on a potential sell if a good offer comes up

[toddcc1]

One day. Saw it, bought it. Options weren't that big of deal to me, as I knew I would swap most of the "upgrades" out eventually. It was a 2010, 9k and CPOed. I probably was urged a little more as a handful of people were walking around it, opening the doors...touching it. That's when I flipped and said get the paper work, no one touches my car.

[SubzeroVR4]

I know how you feel

I've been looking for that perfect M3.
09 Sedan, 6spd manual, CA, logic 7, idrive, tech,cold and premium packages along with power sunshade.

[TTG]

Looked for a year and ended up ordering new. I am way too picky.

[05Mdriver]

Took me a little over 7 months. Clean, low mile, manual e90 M3s are a bit rare !

I was patient and didnt let my emotions take over. I also placed mechanical condition over color preference.

Good luck on the search !

[zsx_m]

Originally Posted by TTG

Looked for a year and ended up ordering new. I am way too picky.

+1 waited patiently for 6 months before ordering new in November.

OP your requirements seem easy to find, good luck!

[IfIWerem3]

I looked for about 6 months here and there. I used all the sites that I could find. Then finally the one that we bought popped up for sale. It is a 09 e90 silverstone II with 13,700mi. It was from a dealer and they wanted 55,000. So we went by to check it out. Granted 55k was absurd, but you never know what they are willing to sell for unless you tell them what your going to buy the car for. I told them I would pay 42,500 because that was the national average between 9 different pricing points that I gathered. Low and behold we walked out with it for 44,900. I do have to honest, they dropped the price to 48,900 by the time we got there. So what I say to you is. Make sure you do not buy based on emotions. In my opinion, buy the color you want and that the M3 is also mechanically sound. Good luck in your searches. Patience leads to no regrets.

[johnsim]

It took me about a month, but I was pretty flexible on options beyond 4 wheels, low miles, and 400hp

Being flexible on color is definitely the most helpful. Most out there are similarly equipped (loaded).

Waiting for one of the blues may take longer. I didn't see many of those around. Anyone know if BMW publishes sales numbers by color?

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by IfIWerem3

I looked for about 6 months here and there. I used all the sites that I could find. Then finally the one that we bought popped up for sale. It is a 09 e90 silverstone II with 13,700mi. It was from a dealer and they wanted 55,000. So we went by to check it out. Granted 55k was absurd, but you never know what they are willing to sell for unless you tell them what your going to buy the car for. I told them I would pay 42,500 because that was the national average between 9 different pricing points that I gathered. Low and behold we walked out with it for 44,900. I do have to honest, they dropped the price to 48,900 by the time we got there. So what I say to you is. Make sure you do not buy based on emotions. In my opinion, buy the color you want and that the M3 is also mechanically sound. Good luck in your searches. Patience leads to no regrets.

Thanks and I agree with you about mechanically sound and emotional buying.
Seems like I am on the short end of time as far as searching. Sometimes it sucks to be a picky car guy.

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by zsx_m

+1 waited patiently for 6 months before ordering new in November.

OP your requirements seem easy to find, good luck!

Thanks, but it feels like my choices are picky, can't find many blue M3's for sale.

[StraightUpFitness]

Shoot... mine took 2 weeks.

Got an 11 Mineral White E92, red leather, competition package, 18k miles for $55,000

And he was local too

I definitely recommend looking on the forums.. there are tons of killer deals from private sellers

[AshyLarryMP]

It's not extremely hard to find a used one in socal.

[roastbeef]

i'm not quite ready to buy, but i've been monitoring the classifieds for the past three years now, and i have never seen an m3 equipped exactly the way i'd prefer. if it did... i'd probably have to buy it.

[phrozen06]

Took me 3 months.