BMW M3 - Pictures

Make sure the car has been maintained by someone who knows what they’re doing - the engine needs special 10W60 oil or it’ll be damaged.

18-inch wheels were standard, but 19-inch rims are a common option. Whatever is fitted, check for kerbing as the alloys are easily scraped.

Lightly used cars can suffer from sticky brakes. The giveaway is pulling to one side under braking, or one wheel dirtier (from brake dust) than the others.

Be wary of cars fitted with suspension upgrades. The car is more likely to have been thrashed and it can also knock the geometry out.

The SMG semi-auto transmission works well, but the clutch can fail if the software has been upgraded for ultra-fast ratio shifts; check for sudden revving while cruising.