BMW 3-Series M3 Coupe (1993 - 1999) Evolution 2d (1996/N) Owner Review
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Summary
What does this car say about you?
Enthusiast with real driving skill, (not to be messed with)
What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?
Well, it really doesn’t stand out anymore, as the V8’s take all the attention, but they do say it sounds great; in the subtle kind of way.
Would you buy this car again and why?
Yes, defiantly. And since, I have owned every type of M3 make prior to this.
What are you likely to buy next?
Either a Porsche Turbo S, GT2, or a RS6.
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Buying experience
Type of dealer you bought from?
Franchise
Did you buy this car new?
Yes
What price did you pay?
£32,000
When did you buy the car?
July 1996
Did you get a good deal and why?
It wasn’t the best of deals at the time, but I wanted an M3 and there were only limited numbers coming into the UK. I was waiting for a BMW M3 GT but most sold within the first week of being advertised. Also mine had an ‘individual’ colour and so the price bumped up.
Is there any special reason why you bought this car?
The EVO replaced the normal 3.0 M3 with performance to beat most Porsches of its time. It was also very practical and reasonably priced making it very desirable. It packs a punch without being too thirsty.
What was the dealer like?
The dealer was fantastic; service was excellent and was very prompt.
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Driving it
What's it like to drive?
Truly exceptional, I now have the new E90 M3 and a Vauxhall VXR8, but the responsiveness of the accelerator just doesn’t compare with my other V8 cars.
What's it like to park?
Easy as A,B,C, although it didn’t come with park distance control.
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Living with it
Have you had any problems with the car?
The only thing to go wrong is the climate control unit, which at one point started to leak the air conditioning gas into the cabin (it was very cold), but considering it had covered 72000 miles at this point, I would consider it very reliable.
What's most practical about your car?
The interior space.
Favourite gadget, option or accessory?
My favourite option on the car has to be the Hi-fi loudspeaker system which sounds fantastic; also the individual paint was very rare and stood out. I still remember the day I picked it up; a group of kids were standing around it taking a few snaps.
