Skip advert
Advertisement
Advice

The best second-hand BMW M cars - buying tips

The BMW M2 has reminded us just how good M cars can be

The new BMW M2 is the car many people wanted the M4 to be. Smaller and lighter than the performance 4-Series, much of the car’s engine internals, brake components and chassis setup are borrowed directly from its bigger brother. Combined with a 365bhp twin-turbo straight-six engine, you have a car BMW is labelling as a spiritual successor to the likes of the original E30 M3 and much loved 1M Coupe.

Advertisement - Article continues below

But while the M2 is an exciting new car, its arrival has also served to remind us just how many great BMW M cars there have been. We look over some of our favourites and consider their purchasing potential below.

Values, by Adam Towler

Let’s start with the ubiquitous E92 M3, defined by its high-revving, naturally aspirated V8. Prices for early, high-mileage coupes are now comfortably into the teens, and there are plenty on the market. These cars may one day be classics, even if prices are expected to slide further in the short term. Really nice cars start at around £20,000, and even the best are only in the £30,000 bracket. Watch out for failing throttle bodies and noisy differentials, but they’re generally tough cars. Very few experts rate the portly E93 Convertible, so we’ll gloss over it here.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Advertisement - Article continues below

The 1M has achieved something of modern-classic status, with values holding; low-mileage cars exceed £40,000. BMW expert Dan Norris (of Munich Legends) believes this buoyancy is largely led by the trade, and doesn’t necessarily see them as a long-term investment, while specialist Birds cautions that the forthcoming M2 might affect the market.

And what of the mighty V10s? They’re a high-risk purchase, and this page could easily be filled four times over with buying advice, but the core message is: research your purchase thoroughly. Some cars still have a BMW warranty, which is a comforting thought. A £15,000 E60 M5 is a gamble, £17,500 is fair, and £20,000 secures a good one. Nice M6s are worth a bit more, and Norris tips those as a much better investment bet.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Then there’s the Z4 M. A cult car in coupe form, and somewhat forgotten as a roadster, this flawed but individual BMW won’t be to all tastes. Currently in the high teens, it’s easy to see them rising.

Expert view, with Birds and Munich Legends

There’s a marked difference of opinion between our experts on the V10-engined BMW M5 and M6 models. Birds won’t retail them as a rule due to ‘long-term mechanical issues and running costs’. Munich Legends sells plenty, but is under no illusions that they’re a special purchase requiring plenty of forethought and homework. ‘There are some issues you should think about before you even think about buying one,’ says Legends’ Dan Norris, citing clutch and gearbox wear and fuel consumption. ‘Allow your prejudices to have free rein, and get it inspected,’ he urges.

The Z4 M, particularly in Coupe guise, has always been a car to split opinion, and while Norris diplomatically admits that it’s a cult car, at Birds they love them. 

Both are big fans of the V8 M3s though, although Birds prefers the manual cars while Munich Legends leans towards the DCT versions. Both agree that getting the right spec on the car is important, with EDC damping a must. Norris has even used an M3 saloon as his daily driver for the past four years, and loves it dearly. These are still not cars to purchase lightly, however. ‘Anything that makes you raise an eyebrow about the car, just walk away,’ Birds advises. 

>Page 2: The best second-hand BMW M Cars - our picks

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

BMW Skytop spotted on the road for the first time – £400,000 special nears production
BMW Skytop
News

BMW Skytop spotted on the road for the first time – £400,000 special nears production

Just 50 examples of the BMW M8-based Skytop are expected to hit the road, priced at over £400,000 each
15 May 2025
Best BMW M cars – the ultimate driving machines
Best BMW M cars
Best cars

Best BMW M cars – the ultimate driving machines

M is one of the fastest letters in the motoring alphabet. We pick our favourites from over 50 years of BMW M icons
15 Oct 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Volkswagen XL1 (2013) review – Bugatti-level engineering aimed at MPG not MPH
Volkswagen XL1 – front
Reviews

Volkswagen XL1 (2013) review – Bugatti-level engineering aimed at MPG not MPH

Another hair-brained Piëch passion project, the XL1 is shot through with hypercar engineering, all to an end of saving fuel
16 May 2025
Best French cars – the greatest performance cars from France, past and present
Best French cars
Best cars

Best French cars – the greatest performance cars from France, past and present

From hot hatches to sports cars, none do light weight, delicate and danceable quite like the French
16 May 2025
Mercedes-AMG GT 2025 review – is it now a match for the Porsche 911?
Mercedes-AMG GT – front
In-depth reviews

Mercedes-AMG GT 2025 review – is it now a match for the Porsche 911?

A sophisticated new chassis, up to 805bhp and a more practical cabin provides the AMG GT with everything it needs to take on the best in the business …
16 May 2025