E30 M3 S14 — prices still climbing, is it worth buying in 2026?

I own a 1990 E30 M3 and have tracked it for 6 years. The driving experience is genuinely special — the steering feel, the balance, the way the S14 revs to 7500rpm. Nothing modern feels like it. But you need to go in with eyes open. Annual maintenance is around 2000-3000 EUR if nothing major breaks. S14 parts are available but expensive — a set of pistons is 1500 EUR, camshafts are 800+ EUR each. The good news is the engine is very robust if maintained properly. Oil changes every 5000km with quality 10W-40. Rust spots to check: front inner wings behind the headlights, rear wheel arches from inside the boot, the jacking points, and the area around the rear window seal. Also check the front strut towers — if those are gone, walk away.

Honestly at 60-80k EUR you are paying for the icon status and the investment potential. If you want to actually drive hard and modify, an E46 M3 at 15-20k EUR is much better value. You get a more powerful engine, better chassis, and parts are still readily available. The E30 M3 is for purists who want the raw analog experience. If that is what you are after, nothing else will scratch that itch. But if you want performance per euro, look elsewhere.

I considered an E30 M3 but ended up buying an E39 540i V8 manual instead for a fraction of the price. Different car entirely but the point is — at 60k+ EUR there are so many incredible cars available. Unless the E30 M3 is your dream car specifically, the money goes further elsewhere. That said, values are not going down. If you can find a solid one at a fair price, it is probably still a good investment even if you drive it regularly.