2013 BMW M3 Lime Rock Park Edition

I am often asked I have often thought that a car will go up in value in today’s market. There are all kinds of cars in the collector car market, and I think the BMW E92 series M3 will absolutely go up in value. I am so convinced of this that I am planning to buy one, which will not only be a fun collector car, but also a 401K type car.

I like these cars for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is the only M3 road car ever to feature a naturally aspirated V8 engine, which many consider to be the true pinnacle of classic BMW M car development. Unlike the newer M cars, it truly is a car that is both suitable for commuting and racing.

Secondly, the design continues to amaze me with how good it looks. From the vents on either side of the front fenders, to the massive hood bulge, to the cowl-style rear quarter panels, the E92 M3 is simply stunning, and it only gets better looking with each passing year.

Finally, the BMW E92 M3’s racing pedigree is impressive. The E92 M3 saw BMW return to the DTM racing series after 20 years. On its debut in 2012, the M3 won the drivers’ championship, the manufacturers’ championship and five of the ten races that season.

But wait, there’s more. The GT4 racing version of the M3 was introduced in 2009 and finished third in the GT4 SP10 class at the 2009 Nürburgring 24 Hours, before going on to win the class at the April 2009 Nürburgring ADAC Westfalenfahrt.

In 2009, Rahal Letterman Racing entered two factory-sponsored E92 M3s in the 2009 American Le Mans Series season in the GT2 class. In 2011, BMW took first and second place at the 12 Hours of Sebring. In the 2011 American Le Mans Series GT class, BMW Team RLL swept all categories, winning the GT Manufacturer, Team and Drivers titles. In 2012, the M3 won the GT class at the 12 Hours of Sebring. To add to the allure of the E92 M3, the #79 M3 GT2 that competed at Le Mans was decorated by Jeff Koons as the 17th BMW Art Car. These cars are truly one of a kind.

Today’s pick is one of those cars, and a special edition too: a 2013 BMW M3 Lime Rock Park Edition sold by a dealer in Milford, Michigan.

If you’re not familiar with the M3 Lime Rock Park Edition (often referred to as the LRP edition in BMW forums), it’s a special one-year edition of the M3 limited to 200 cars. All of these cars were painted a unique “Fire Orange” color and featured a carbon fiber roof. Performance changes included a carbon fiber front splitter and rear spoiler, a 0.4-inch lower ride height, an increased threshold for the electronic stability control, and a lightweight titanium exhaust system that adds approximately 5 additional horsepower. These cars were highly sought after by enthusiasts and were nearly impossible to buy at the time of their release.

The seller describes this 2013 M3 LRP as a brand new car with a total of 28,000 miles on it. They add that the car has a full dealer service record from new and appears to be in excellent condition. There are a few issues with these cars that are prohibitive. The biggest issue is premature wear of the connecting rod bearings. Part of the reason for this is that people don’t warm up the engine when the car is new and rev it to the 8,500 RPM redline when it’s cold. By 2012, this problem was largely fixed, but replacing the connecting rod bearings can be done with the engine in the car and is inexpensive.

As I said at the beginning of today’s pick, the E92 BMW M3 is a car worth buying, and this 2013 LRP Edition is my personal favorite, not only for its uniqueness, but also for its connection to the historic race track that bears its name. The asking price for this car is very reasonable in my opinion, at $79,995, especially with the low mileage. If you are still on the fence about these cars, consider what my friend and BMW racer Bill Auberlin thinks of them. Remember, Bill is the winningest driver in IMSA history, and he drove BMW cars. He called the BMW E92 M3 “the best car they ever built.”

Tip: put the microphone down.

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