E30s attract a premium as they are near modern classic status. An E36 M3 is a much better value option, and these can take track use very well, and 100k miles shouldn't worry you. The earlier 3.0 5 speed car is generally considered more durable for higher mileages than the Evo 3.2 car. I tracked my 3.0 on numerous occasions, whilst using it as my daily transport. It NEVER let me down, and was north of 100k when I sold it on. It was still running sweet, and pulled factory fresh. You should be able to get a car inside of your budget, and with some good quality discs, pads, and fluid fitted it should be a great fun car ...... They sound lovely as a bonus.

A similar debate is being had on E30Zone.

Basic point it comes down to is this:

If you want to buy cheap and then spend the money over a longer period and do more work then get the E30.

If you have the money up front and want something thats going to be more capable straight out of the box then get the M3.

I went for the E30 as I didn't have the money to spend straight away, but it has cost about the same in the long run. A decent 'finished' and track ready E30 325i will set you back somewhere between £2.5-4.5k about the smae money as an E36M3 and a few mods.

Really ask yourself this?

How much ability, time and money do you have? If you are are short of time and mechanical ability go for the M3, if you have time and don't mind getting your hands dirty then buy the E30.

For example: The E36 comes with a camber/toe adjustble rear axle, the E30 doesn't so to make it track ready you need tp remove the whole rear set-up (inc Subframes) have some parts made, then weld them on and order some specific 5 series parts from BMW. Also the E30 steering rack is ste, so you will need to remove it and convert to an E36 rack.

I've got an e36 m3 track car, well two in fact moved on from an e30 325i ex racer so well aware of how good an e30 is.

Drove another nice set up track e30 recently & fun fun fun yes, but no its not m3 pace, well ok prepped & sticky tyres yes vs a wollowy- stock brakes, stock suspension, fully trimmed road car over a lap but not in a straight line, a prepped m3 is another league ahead & a really prepped m3 is Gt3 pace, not cheap to do that tho.

The 4k area budget is fair enough, one of mine is in that ball park, the other is a step or two more developed beyond that & as I have to sell one really might be right up your Strasse.

You can get bog stock road cars for 3.5k area but you do have to throw quite a few quid at them, without touching uprated suspension most old M3s need a grand spending regardless, then suspension is another grand easy & thats cheap stuff then brakes & the other odd you need etc etc.

Buy the right car tho & they are cracking I've tracked mine all over uk & Europe & started with a wallowy road car & have developed it to a cracking little all rounder for not silly $$

Anyhow drop me a line if a decent set up e36 might float yr boat & I have a full cage & a pair of buckets & harnesses sat in my garage too-

That's my old E36! How you had it? Did I sell it to you, or has there been other owners in between?

Good to see it still out there having fun

Ah small world, no you sold it to a pal of mine- Ben, then I had it off him.

I actually found it for him from the classifieds, he was after one & it stood out as a decent example so I pointed him your way, it did still cost him a bit tho but thats old e36 Ms for you, so when he was selling & knowing what had been spent I couldnt resist & 2 yrs later shes been bloomin' ace

E36 are fantastic and cheap.

This is quite a quick one

Don't get me wrong, I love E30s and think they're a lot more fun to drive than E36s (and better looking) but I struggle to believe this, having driven both back to back.

A BMW for track days... Hmmm, a Weismann?

No corner weighting....

Just a bag or two of spuds from the field in the back and wheelbarrow in the passenger space to even things up. Arrrr!

At Donington in the wet. Surprisingly good when the rain comes.