If you’ve been following the auction scene of late, then you’re aware things are kind of nuts right now. Thanks to the continued growth of online selling platforms, classic cars are being bid on at an unprecedented pace. Insider has lots of thoughts about this phenomenon—you can find some here and here—but perhaps the most important one is that it’s fun. Who doesn’t like seeing amazing classics trotted out day in and day out, and who doesn’t like guessing just how much they’ll go for?
In the spirit of fun, we’re introducing a new contest. We’re calling it, The Bid is Right. The premise is simple and should be familiar to anyone who has watched daytime TV in the last few decades: The person who guesses closest to the final bid—without going over—wins.
Oh, and did we mention we’re giving out $500 to the winner? Yes, we take fun pretty seriously.
With no further adieu, we present this week’s contest. Submit your guess in the comments section below no later than May 8th, at 1:50pm EST (24 hours before the auction officially closes—that’s right, no sniping!).
BMW, caught up in today’s onslaught of crossovers and electron pushers, used to build a very different kind of “Ultimate Driving Machine.” Turn back the clock 20 years, and the Bavarians ruled the luxury performance space. There was the E39 M5 (1998-2003) with its ripping V-8, the beautiful Z3, the muscular M Coupe, and the achingly gorgeous Z8. That era’s best all-around Bimmer, though, was the E46 M3 (2000-06).

The 3.2-liter S54 straight-six and slick 6-speed manual are classic driver’s car ingredients. The styling, which is all about clean proportions and free of flash or flourish, is also classic BMW. It’s one of the last truly analog BMWs, but even two decades after its release it is still a car you can live with every day and its performance is still impressive on road or track. Almost nobody – BMW included – builds a car like the E46 M3 anymore.
And that brings us to Bring a Trailer’s 2004 M3 Coupe, our featured car this week. The Titanium Silver Metallic over black isn’t the most desirable color combo, but the car is well-optioned and its 18,000 miles seem like the perfect sweet spot for someone who wants an E46 to drive and enjoy. The mileage is low enough that the car has plenty of life left in it and should present as nearly new, but it’s also high enough that it has been driven regularly and high enough that you wouldn’t wince at every digit added to the odometer.


The window sticker on this M3 reads a total suggested retail price of $56,545, but that was oh so long ago. E46s depreciated for years as most cars do once they fall into the “used” category. Then, more recently, they’ve gained a new following as modern collector cars. Over the past five years, the #2 value has just about doubled in the Hagerty Price Guide. So, where do you think the virtual hammer will fall here? Keep scrolling to the comments below and start guessing. Closest to the magic number wins $500.
More ground rules:
- The commenter who guesses closest to the hammer price—without going over—wins. (Hammer price excludes auction house fees).
- One guess per commenter.
- If two people guess the same amount (within a dollar) the earlier guess wins.
- Commenters must provide first and last name in addition to email address.
- We will close the guessing on Sunday, May 8th at 1:50pm.
- Your privacy is important to us, and we’ll never sell your information. By providing your email you will receive the weekly Insider newsletter, and you can opt out at any time.
- You can read the full rules here.

Sale price will be $78,500
$38500
43,550
58,500
62,500
$53,700
$46800
$28,000
65k
32,000.00
$70000
$44246
$58,300
15579
$68,789
$68,788
$34206.90
$51,500
$53,250
$61,400.00
$73,750
$29000
57546
$66,500
25,777
139300
42369
$26,500
$13,000
$40,000
$45,000.00
$33,000
i say 25000.00
48,576
$51,333
32000
475000
$72,000
60000
$60,000
$32,600
$78500
I say $44,000
$52000
$49,550
$118,000.
$24,250
$88,500
$67,250
$71,320
I believe the sell price will be $53,750
$48,375
52695.00
$16,730
$49,999
$32,600
62,775
It all depends on how hungry the buyers are.
$46,680
41,395
$58750
$49,250
$46,220
53,200
72,500
$53,600
48,500
$ 88,750
74,389
47,250
$64,900
$43.500
The car will be worth $82,800.
$54,250
$66,150
$69,757
$56,450.
$88,000
$52,325
55,550.
35,200
Beautiful Car, $39,750
Sale price will be $41,500
44,500
$52,899
$67,800
75,750
$73,046
$59,501
$41998
$80,000
$98,765
38,500
31,200.00
$70,500
38,800
$68999
$36150
58
$68,795
57546
$30,001
$74,600
$ 96,060
65,500
The auction sale price will be $49,905
38,600
56,000
$42,520
$61,356
$53750
29,300
The Price will be $66,400
Hammer will fall at $76,500
78,500
$63,800
42,260
75,000
$56,950
$75,500
72,450$
$55,500.00
$ 79,200 for my shot at the roses
$ 93,000:00
$77,500.00
125,000 USD
26.500 for the 2004 m3
26.500
Nice car 26.500
66500
$51,786
27,000
43,500
$69,950