1997 BMW M3 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Absolutely LOVE this car... Great acceleration, great handling, a blast to drive. Stand on the brakes, and it will stop on a dime and give you change. Most repairs are fairly inexpensive, but maintenance items (brakes etc) are generally more expensive than on some other cars. Currently getting 21-23mpg around town, but it has a misfire. When it is running correctly, I get 22-25mpg. Not bad for a car that has a fun factor this high, and will run circles around a lot of the cars out there today.

My 1997 M3 sedan will always hold a place in my heart. I will always miss her. I wish I had never sold it. Should've kept it and bought a Honda Civic as my daily driver. You just can't beat the handling and balance of this car. Also the shape and lines of the sedan will always be iconic my eyes.

The most fantastically fun car I have ever driven! Wicked fast, pinpoint handling, gets better mileage than my truck and any car I have ever owned (160 MPH econocar?) in an elegant package...if you are a performance car fan you need to drive one of these!

The 2nd generation M3 from BMW putting out 240 hp and roughly the same in torque. At roughly 3100 lbs, it churns out a 0-60 time of roughly 5.5 seconds. This particular model year (1997) only comes with a standard transmission and the infamous "vader" seats. With a nearly 50/50 weight distribution, this car handles amazingly. Great track car right out of the box. ;)

I love it. It's a great buy for the money... I guess performance isn't as good as some of the newer sports cars but it's good enough for me. Great handling. Car and driver called it the best handling car in the world regardless of price in its day. And its RWD!

Best well rounded sports car available. The NA inline 6 engine is a monster and can even get 26-28 MPG. The handling is amazing and the braking is perfect. The pedals are even designed for heel-toe driving. The fun factor is off the charts highly recommended for anyone thinking about buying one.

Although BMW M-car enthusiasts do not rate these, my old E36 saloon was a very good car - quick, good handling (without traction control), with a great engine.

the original and absolutely astonishing 6 cylinder M engine

The e36 M3 is an excellent car unfortunately I rushed into buying one, and ended up buying an M3 that had been abused buy its previous owner. It is the best handling car that I have ever driven. The engine is fun, likes to rev, and has decent power at every rpm. The Styling is kind of bland compared to the other M3's. Vader seats are very comfortable and they hold the driver in place. Buy one with complete service records, and have it inspected by a well known BMW Specialist before you buy one. Don't buy it if it has ever overheated. Use a Waterpump with a metal impeller, and maintain the cooling system religiously to avoid major headaches later.

This is as of yet the best thing i have ever driven. The E36 M3 is hands down the best looking generation of M3, including the new E92. Drove it on Gingerman Raceway in South Haven MI and it was extremely planted in the corners, i was able to catch and pass many cars (subaru Sti, lotus elise, etc) that should have outperformed me based on power/weight ratio. i had an upgraded sport suspension and track tires but the car was otherwise completely stock. unfortunately the car was rolled on the track and totalled a few years ago otherwise im sure it would still be going strong.