RE: BMW M3 (E46): You Know You Want To
Discussion
Just a quicky on servicing; Yes the inspection II isn't something to look forward to at £800 (at a decent Indy) but it is only every four years. Factor in an inspection I at around £400 together with intermediate oil changes at around £100 ( or do it yourself) and it averages out at £350 per year. Not the cheapest but not horrendous either. If you can do your own discs/pads etc then other consumables aren't too bad either given the performance of the car.
For what it's worth, I've had an M3 and a 330 sport and the M3 is so much better in every way. Drive them back to back and you'd forget the 330 in an instant.
Oh and 18s, manual, non-sunroof. Proper PH spec.
For what it's worth, I've had an M3 and a 330 sport and the M3 is so much better in every way. Drive them back to back and you'd forget the 330 in an instant.
Oh and 18s, manual, non-sunroof. Proper PH spec.
benny.c said:
Just a quicky on servicing; Yes the inspection II isn't something to look forward to at £800 (at a decent Indy) but it is only every four years. Factor in an inspection I at around £400 together with intermediate oil changes at around £100 ( or do it yourself) and it averages out at £350 per year. Not the cheapest but not horrendous either. If you can do your own discs/pads etc then other consumables aren't too bad either given the performance of the car.
For what it's worth, I've had an M3 and a 330 sport and the M3 is so much better in every way. Drive them back to back and you'd forget the 330 in an instant.
True, depends if you want to leave it the two years or if you do the 15k miles sooner than that.For what it's worth, I've had an M3 and a 330 sport and the M3 is so much better in every way. Drive them back to back and you'd forget the 330 in an instant.
LMAO, cant win eh. Seems like on other posts every other car that is not an E46 M3 is chav, FWD rubbish, or crap build quality etc. Now we get a thread for the E46 M3, people are cussing them about the people who drive them and who car which seem to be the best German build quality seems plagued with subframe issues, rust etc. I guess many of these badge snob dreamers forget it is a car like any other car and has its fair share of problems.
J4CKO said:
Always had a hankering for one, but a lot seem to be driven by utter chimps, you know, geezers in puffer jackets, leant forward with their claw drapped across the wheel.
Plus, the cab looks a bit too showy for me, four seater cabs dont really work somehow, my problem is I cant quite run to a Z4M, so may go for a Z4 3.0, the M3 is in the middle and I dont really like the cab and I want an open car, think the 3.0 Si convertible will be the next best thing, probably not that far off an M3 cab performance wise, 265 bhp/1385 kilos vs 343 bhp/1650 kilos, about 2 seconds slower to 100.
Plus, the cab looks a bit too showy for me, four seater cabs dont really work somehow, my problem is I cant quite run to a Z4M, so may go for a Z4 3.0, the M3 is in the middle and I dont really like the cab and I want an open car, think the 3.0 Si convertible will be the next best thing, probably not that far off an M3 cab performance wise, 265 bhp/1385 kilos vs 343 bhp/1650 kilos, about 2 seconds slower to 100.
First M3 was in Estoril blue with light grey interior, SMG, TV/satnav, heated seats etc 42k, 2003.
Second M3 was in Carbon black, black interior, no gimmicks, manual with 34k, 2003.
Third and current M3 in Immola Red, black interior, sunroof, manual with 27k, 2002.
Couldn't get on with the SMG around town so when the dealer 12 month warranty came to an end traded for the second one. Wanted a basic driver's car so no gadgets and it was a great car.
A BMW dealer called me out of the blue to say he had a car I would want. Could only view it on the Sunday before 12 noon so was intrigued. Found a DB7 Volante sitting in the workshop and did a swap. After 2.5 years, time to move on so just got M3 number 3 - and got an old Cerbera to play with too. Finally, I've made it.
With 2 years no claims (on this policy), living in Wakefield, quotemehappy cost £550. I do all my own servicing so costs not bad at all. Drove the B1192 in Lincs at the weekend with the 'sport' button pressed. Bloody fandabidosi
Is there really a better all round car for the money?
Second M3 was in Carbon black, black interior, no gimmicks, manual with 34k, 2003.
Third and current M3 in Immola Red, black interior, sunroof, manual with 27k, 2002.
Couldn't get on with the SMG around town so when the dealer 12 month warranty came to an end traded for the second one. Wanted a basic driver's car so no gadgets and it was a great car.
A BMW dealer called me out of the blue to say he had a car I would want. Could only view it on the Sunday before 12 noon so was intrigued. Found a DB7 Volante sitting in the workshop and did a swap. After 2.5 years, time to move on so just got M3 number 3 - and got an old Cerbera to play with too. Finally, I've made it.
With 2 years no claims (on this policy), living in Wakefield, quotemehappy cost £550. I do all my own servicing so costs not bad at all. Drove the B1192 in Lincs at the weekend with the 'sport' button pressed. Bloody fandabidosi
Is there really a better all round car for the money?
Edited by N7GTX on Tuesday 13th August 20:45
DanBMW said:
Hi,
Well the 130i is a quick car, but not as quick as the M3 with out a shadow of a doubt, this is a video of me and my mate (who bought my 130i off me) on our road trip earlier in the year filmed from the 130.
Really I should have dropped down another gear so at the start he has a slight jump, then we level peg for a bit then when the revs climb you see what happens, I think he let off as I got about half way past but you can see the speed difference. My 130 was also remapped, though the 130i is underrated because it doesn't have an M badge, everyone assumes their Golf R32/Audi S3 is better.
The 130 sounded lovely, especially with a little modification to the induction, but it never felt special like the M3 does, the quality in the 1 series is also nothing on the e46 even more so if you get a pre facelift 1er. The M3 has much nicer steering largely due to it being hydraulic vs. electric.
Petrol wise throughout the Road Trip the 130 was always roughly 4-5mpg better than the M3 which isn't a massive gap. Tax is the same providing you get a pre May 06 M3.
Servicing on the M3 is more, as I said in my previous post I cant find an INSP II for less than £800+ and I would think a major service on a 130 would be no more than £500. Tyres will be more on the M3 unless you carry on buying run flats for the 130 (don't!). The DTC mode on the 130i is pretty good but it doesn't compare at all to the proper diff on the M3. One thing I did notice is that the chassis on the 1 did feel ever so slightly stiffer. I also fitted Eibach Pro springs on my 130 and the ride was improved aswell as body control, definitely worth the money.
It's hard to compare them really as they're quite different although they can be had for the same price.
Long and short Petrol will be more in the M3 and servicing will be a lot more, but, if you've really got an itch for an M3 nothing else will scratch it.
Dan.
Thanks for the detailed reply. Doesn't seam like running costs will be significantly more than the 130i then really, perhaps a 123D would offer a tangible running costs savings - but that's a comprise too far frankly.Well the 130i is a quick car, but not as quick as the M3 with out a shadow of a doubt, this is a video of me and my mate (who bought my 130i off me) on our road trip earlier in the year filmed from the 130.
Really I should have dropped down another gear so at the start he has a slight jump, then we level peg for a bit then when the revs climb you see what happens, I think he let off as I got about half way past but you can see the speed difference. My 130 was also remapped, though the 130i is underrated because it doesn't have an M badge, everyone assumes their Golf R32/Audi S3 is better.
The 130 sounded lovely, especially with a little modification to the induction, but it never felt special like the M3 does, the quality in the 1 series is also nothing on the e46 even more so if you get a pre facelift 1er. The M3 has much nicer steering largely due to it being hydraulic vs. electric.
Petrol wise throughout the Road Trip the 130 was always roughly 4-5mpg better than the M3 which isn't a massive gap. Tax is the same providing you get a pre May 06 M3.
Servicing on the M3 is more, as I said in my previous post I cant find an INSP II for less than £800+ and I would think a major service on a 130 would be no more than £500. Tyres will be more on the M3 unless you carry on buying run flats for the 130 (don't!). The DTC mode on the 130i is pretty good but it doesn't compare at all to the proper diff on the M3. One thing I did notice is that the chassis on the 1 did feel ever so slightly stiffer. I also fitted Eibach Pro springs on my 130 and the ride was improved aswell as body control, definitely worth the money.
It's hard to compare them really as they're quite different although they can be had for the same price.
Long and short Petrol will be more in the M3 and servicing will be a lot more, but, if you've really got an itch for an M3 nothing else will scratch it.
Dan.
And besides my Golf is pretty bloody ragged now no one would buy it! So a 2nd car makes more sense anyway.
Cheers.
why is the great pretender always allowed to be chipped against a standard halo model!!..i'd like to see a chipped 330D hold a candle to a chipped M3 so those posts are absolute toilet..seems funny that all the trackdays ive done ive come across shedloads of m3's but never seen ONE 330D..i think that tells you something
gruntmonster said:
why is the great pretender always allowed to be chipped against a standard halo model!!..i'd like to see a chipped 330D hold a candle to a chipped M3 so those posts are absolute toilet..seems funny that all the trackdays ive done ive come across shedloads of m3's but never seen ONE 330D..i think that tells you something
I've owned an e46 330d Sport that was remapped to around 250bhp and with an LSD fitted. Really enjoyed it but it was no M3 beater.A friend owned an e60 535d which had been remapped by DMS to 350bhp, quick car even if it never felt it or excited at all. Again, no M3 beater.
Recently sold my M3 CS and seeing that interlagos blue pic earlier brought back fond memories. Great car and the only colour to have CS in imho.
And a remapped M3 would piss all over your 330d remap for dust. You forget many M3's of the E46 are no longer standard.
adzpz said:
Is your 335d remapped though? Mine was remapped by Evolve and in a straight line it is marginally quicker than a M3, I've no doubt an M3 would leave me for dust in the twisty stuff. However as a baby carrier / dump dropper offer / B&Q picker upper machine my E91 335d leaves the M3 for dust 
Edited by adzpz on Tuesday 13th August 13:54
Oh to live in the UK... To get one in the spec listed in the article it'd still cost over well over 20,000 GBP in Australia. 
This was my dream car for so many years but they've bottomed out in price around the above value and aren't getting any cheaper now. Good E36s are around 15,000 GBP.
I'll just have to stick with my RenaultSport as most people don't realise how much fun the older ones are so they lose a lot of value although the current Megane is selling like hotcakes.
This was my dream car for so many years but they've bottomed out in price around the above value and aren't getting any cheaper now. Good E36s are around 15,000 GBP.
I'll just have to stick with my RenaultSport as most people don't realise how much fun the older ones are so they lose a lot of value although the current Megane is selling like hotcakes.
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