1994 BMW M3 review from UK and Ireland

Drivers window refused to move. Spent a whole day stripping and rebuilding the mechanism, which turned out to be badly rebuilt by a previous mechanic.

This is a stealthy rocket that's so fast it can catch you out. I have been sideways a few times unintentionally (and a few times intentionally!).

On the autobahn it will still read 168mph on the clock (SAT NAV reading 160mph).

It returns a very healthy 32mpg on a 75mph cruise and 23-24mpg on town runs.

The handling is good in the dry, but I am always cautious when it’s wet or on greasy roads.

Although not as refined as the E39 5 series, the 3 series is still quiet and smooth, and the M3 rides surprisingly well for a borderline supercar.

I chose this model over the Evo due to known faults with the Vanos unit of the newer model.

I had a low mileage one before, when they were newer, and I honestly can say that 100k miles has very little impact on this car. Unfortunately it is now becoming dated in the styling department with a lot of people referring to the old BMW coupe.

The interior still feels solid and provides room for a family of 4. That said, I had to get rid of my last 3 series coupe as it wasn’t practical to get babies in and out.

Where this car wins, now, is the price. I paid just a few thousand pounds for this car, and I can’t think of anything else (except perhaps a stressed Japanese Turbo car) that provides this level of performance for the money. Second hand major components for this car are now widely available (£2k for an engine). I remember looking up the price of the engine the last time I had one of these and it was 8k for an used unit. This means that if something should go bang (and it probably wont), then hopefully it can be replaced at a reasonable cost.

My one criticism of the M3 is the same now as it was years ago – it doesn’t feel fast. Sure your passengers are aware of the speed (my dad quips that I cured my sisters fear of flying when I was taking her to the airport in an M3) and yes it covers ground very quickly, but, you never get that speed sensation that you get in, say, an Elise. This isn’t a design flaw, in fact it’s probably exactly what BMW were aiming for. Point is, if you are looking for a smooth, comfy car at a reasonably price that is still faster than most modern sports cars, then this is it, just don’t expect a raw street racer.