RE: PH buying guide: BMW M3 (E46)
Discussion
Quite a lot of comment about the rear floor/subframe cracking, some of it uncomplimentary. The article mentions it and also points out that BMW would repair this issue under warranty on cars up to 10 years old. Seems quite evident to me. Anyway, for those who are worried, the only specialist to go to for checking and repair is Redish Motor Sport in Bristol. Check out their videos on YouTube. If they can't do it...it can't be done. Incidentally, I have no connection with Redish, other than I thoroughly enjoy their repair videos and, anyway, I drive a Mini (although I suppose that is a BMW, sort of !)
161BMW said:
What about £40k ?
Yes I wouldn't be surprised at all if it was worth 40k if its in perfect condition. I've just got mine out of hibernation today and took it for a drive, it makes me realise what a epic car they are when I haven't been out in it for a while, they have been undervalued for a long while but that's now changing.
I've owned a manual convertible for nearly 5 years, the longest I've ever kept any car! Had my ups and downs with it but love and appreciate it now more than ever. The only thing I consider replacing it with is a 996 911 but looks like I'd need another £4-5k?
I would say maintaining one even as a weekend car costs £2-2.5k a year due to some of the big jobs mentioned, as well as the fact they're old now and bits need replacing regularly to drive like they should.
Good work PH on updating the guide - seems comprehensive.
Here's mine.
I would say maintaining one even as a weekend car costs £2-2.5k a year due to some of the big jobs mentioned, as well as the fact they're old now and bits need replacing regularly to drive like they should.
Good work PH on updating the guide - seems comprehensive.
Here's mine.
sean ie3 said:
There is a sweet looking M3 on PH for 18K, seems original and nice colour with the red leather I find desirable and I know the original wheels are part of the icon but I would love to put CSL wheels on It. I would really love to make one of these mine. 
Well what's stopping you? Given how the last year has turned out we all need something to cheer ourselves up!And once you've bought it I'm sure plenty of people will have fitted CSL alloys to non-CSLs before, so why not? Although it might be worth keeping the original wheels for when you come to sell it as some people are really keen on originality.
Just be careful if you do go looking for CSLs as new ones are like unobtainium these days and used sets of genuine ones cost plenty, but there are loads of Replica copies around - like the set that was fitted to my Z4MC when I bought it.
Values seem to be rising steadily for the right car , plenty of information about the main issues that you need to be aware of so as is normally the case do your homework and buy wisely. Great to drive though the SMG for me doesn’t appeal as much ( mine is SMG) for interaction but the noise they make is fantastic.
It’s not too late to still get into one of these at sensible money, £15-20k will get a nice low mile manual coupe, numbers of cars for sale/available are dropping and if you want a car that’s not silver or black then choice is further limiting, but don’t be put off by things like vanos, rear subframe, and the servicing is not as bad as it used to be, tyres are cheaper now than when I bought mine 13 years ago, and you really don’t need £2-2500 a year to run one, half that will do just fine.
I mean look at what £15-20k gets you from the older hot hatch Market.... these M3 still look like good value cheap cars for what your getting, even an XR3i or XR2 are £10-15k now, cosworths are £40-100k, the E46 is still in my eyes a cheap car for what you get...
Had mine 13 years and came close to trading it for an air cooled Porsche and I’m glad I didn’t (even though air cooled porsches seem to still be rising) the M3 drives much better than any air cooled Porsche does.
What are you waiting for.... lockdown soon to lift, get onto the classifieds, summer here go enjoy one while we can!
I mean look at what £15-20k gets you from the older hot hatch Market.... these M3 still look like good value cheap cars for what your getting, even an XR3i or XR2 are £10-15k now, cosworths are £40-100k, the E46 is still in my eyes a cheap car for what you get...
Had mine 13 years and came close to trading it for an air cooled Porsche and I’m glad I didn’t (even though air cooled porsches seem to still be rising) the M3 drives much better than any air cooled Porsche does.
What are you waiting for.... lockdown soon to lift, get onto the classifieds, summer here go enjoy one while we can!
Edited by andyman_2006 on Monday 5th April 11:03
andyman_2006 said:
It’s not too late to still get into one of these at sensible money, £15-20k will get a nice low mile manual coupe, numbers of cars for sale/available are dropping and if you want a car that’s not silver or black then choice is further limiting, but don’t be put off by things like vanos, rear subframe, and the servicing is not as bad as it used to be, tyres are cheaper now than when I bought mine 13 years ago, and you really don’t need £2-2500 a year to run one, half that will do just fine.
I mean look at what £15-20k gets you from the older hot hatch Market.... these M3 still look like good value cheap cars for what your getting, even an XR3i or XR2 are £10-15k now, cosworths are £40-100k, the E46 is still in my eyes a cheap car for what you get...
Had mine 13 years and came close to trading it for an air cooled Porsche and I’m glad I didn’t (even though air cooled porsches seem to still be rising) the M3 drives much better than any air cooled Porsche does.
What are you waiting for.... lockdown soon to lift, get onto the classifieds, summer here go enjoy one while we can!
You have forgotten CLK 55 AMG and CLK 63 AMG which are even RARER and CHEAPER. The problem with M3s is apart from the original owners alot tend to get ruined with silly modifications.I mean look at what £15-20k gets you from the older hot hatch Market.... these M3 still look like good value cheap cars for what your getting, even an XR3i or XR2 are £10-15k now, cosworths are £40-100k, the E46 is still in my eyes a cheap car for what you get...
Had mine 13 years and came close to trading it for an air cooled Porsche and I’m glad I didn’t (even though air cooled porsches seem to still be rising) the M3 drives much better than any air cooled Porsche does.
What are you waiting for.... lockdown soon to lift, get onto the classifieds, summer here go enjoy one while we can!
Edited by andyman_2006 on Monday 5th April 11:03
161BMW said:
andyman_2006 said:
It’s not too late to still get into one of these at sensible money, £15-20k will get a nice low mile manual coupe, numbers of cars for sale/available are dropping and if you want a car that’s not silver or black then choice is further limiting, but don’t be put off by things like vanos, rear subframe, and the servicing is not as bad as it used to be, tyres are cheaper now than when I bought mine 13 years ago, and you really don’t need £2-2500 a year to run one, half that will do just fine.
I mean look at what £15-20k gets you from the older hot hatch Market.... these M3 still look like good value cheap cars for what your getting, even an XR3i or XR2 are £10-15k now, cosworths are £40-100k, the E46 is still in my eyes a cheap car for what you get...
Had mine 13 years and came close to trading it for an air cooled Porsche and I’m glad I didn’t (even though air cooled porsches seem to still be rising) the M3 drives much better than any air cooled Porsche does.
What are you waiting for.... lockdown soon to lift, get onto the classifieds, summer here go enjoy one while we can!
You have forgotten CLK 55 AMG and CLK 63 AMG which are even RARER and CHEAPER. The problem with M3s is apart from the original owners alot tend to get ruined with silly modifications.I mean look at what £15-20k gets you from the older hot hatch Market.... these M3 still look like good value cheap cars for what your getting, even an XR3i or XR2 are £10-15k now, cosworths are £40-100k, the E46 is still in my eyes a cheap car for what you get...
Had mine 13 years and came close to trading it for an air cooled Porsche and I’m glad I didn’t (even though air cooled porsches seem to still be rising) the M3 drives much better than any air cooled Porsche does.
What are you waiting for.... lockdown soon to lift, get onto the classifieds, summer here go enjoy one while we can!
Edited by andyman_2006 on Monday 5th April 11:03
The fact many M3’s got ruined just makes good ones even better, and why I’m not selling mine, but then some
Mods in the eyes of their owners are an improvement especially if they do track days, so it’s each to their own, but makes finding a standard car harder but still £15k what else manual, fast, desirable, classic, can you get that’s as good as an M3?
All For XR2/3 money?
Even a decent sub 100k mile B7 RS4 is now £18-25k
I guess all I was saying is, many have moaned they missed the boat looking back 5 years, here is the chance now to buy in at XR2/3 money... the opportunities won’t be here forever...
Remember the E36 we all said they were cheap and that bmw made loads but didn’t buy in lost the opportunity, now when you see a good one you go hmm and oh it’s £25k how did that happen....the E46 is going the same way, you can see already the manual 330i and 330 clubsports also creeping up, anybody who really wants one should in my view look to buy one soon or be disappointed....
Had mine a few years now, there are a few things not mentioned.
They are fragile cars, not like the e39 5 series far from the same quality in my experience.
The head gaskets go over time, well worth checking!
Noticeable from a rattle can noise on low rev acceleration, if left its big money. I had to have the head skimmed also.
Cooling system isn't great, check for leaks.
Heater resistor goes faulty under dash, very fiddly fix (All e46s had this issue - also called the "hedgehog resistor" due to its looks).
Also, the plastic trim goes very brittle over time as with most cars. Little fixings will break, pillar trim peels off. Coil packs fail.
Its worth finding a good one, and checking all the faults but the running costs are eye watering to say the least.
But, on the right day on the right road... awesome. And the looks - well that was a big part of it for me I'm afraid - I think they look great.
They are fragile cars, not like the e39 5 series far from the same quality in my experience.
The head gaskets go over time, well worth checking!
Noticeable from a rattle can noise on low rev acceleration, if left its big money. I had to have the head skimmed also.
Cooling system isn't great, check for leaks.
Heater resistor goes faulty under dash, very fiddly fix (All e46s had this issue - also called the "hedgehog resistor" due to its looks).
Also, the plastic trim goes very brittle over time as with most cars. Little fixings will break, pillar trim peels off. Coil packs fail.
Its worth finding a good one, and checking all the faults but the running costs are eye watering to say the least.
But, on the right day on the right road... awesome. And the looks - well that was a big part of it for me I'm afraid - I think they look great.
Edited by 1974foggy on Tuesday 6th April 12:48
I dont think running costs are high, especially for the amount of miles you're likely to do in it. If you do 10kpa in one then running costs will be high as things will break.
I do an oil change every year. Inspection services have much longer intervals and I do about 2k a year in it now (really should sell but every drive raises a smile).
fan resistor is a 10 minute job... Annoying but there are about 3 screws and a trim piece. the worst bit is positioning yourself upside down
I'm in my 9th year of ownership, i've not had anything horrendous go wrong (manual coupe). I need the bonnet resprayed and boot floor done and my alternator may need doing as the light comes on but still kicks out enough charge. The screen has some lines so would like to replace for a business cd unit. Not bad for a car coming up to 20 years old. The appreciation has also paid for the big ticket items.
I'd buy again however the E92's being a similar cost would be adding some confusion.
I do an oil change every year. Inspection services have much longer intervals and I do about 2k a year in it now (really should sell but every drive raises a smile).
fan resistor is a 10 minute job... Annoying but there are about 3 screws and a trim piece. the worst bit is positioning yourself upside down
I'm in my 9th year of ownership, i've not had anything horrendous go wrong (manual coupe). I need the bonnet resprayed and boot floor done and my alternator may need doing as the light comes on but still kicks out enough charge. The screen has some lines so would like to replace for a business cd unit. Not bad for a car coming up to 20 years old. The appreciation has also paid for the big ticket items.
I'd buy again however the E92's being a similar cost would be adding some confusion.
1974foggy said:
Had mine a few years now, there are a few things not mentioned.
They are fragile cars, not like the e39 5 series far from the same quality in my experience.
The head gaskets go over time, well worth checking!
Noticeable from a rattle can noise on low rev acceleration, if left its big money. I had to have the head skimmed also.
Cooling system isn't great, check for leaks.
Heater resistor goes faulty under dash, very fiddly fix (All e46s had this issue - also called the "hedgehog resistor" due to its looks).
Also, the plastic trim goes very brittle over time as with most cars. Little fixings will break, pillar trim peels off. Coil packs fail.
Its worth finding a good one, and checking all the faults but the running costs are eye watering to say the least.
But, on the right day on the right road... awesome. And the looks - well that was a big part of it for me I'm afraid - I think they look great.
I would agree with this to some extent. The E36 I had before felt more solid and better built inside, door cards have gone rattly on mine.They are fragile cars, not like the e39 5 series far from the same quality in my experience.
The head gaskets go over time, well worth checking!
Noticeable from a rattle can noise on low rev acceleration, if left its big money. I had to have the head skimmed also.
Cooling system isn't great, check for leaks.
Heater resistor goes faulty under dash, very fiddly fix (All e46s had this issue - also called the "hedgehog resistor" due to its looks).
Also, the plastic trim goes very brittle over time as with most cars. Little fixings will break, pillar trim peels off. Coil packs fail.
Its worth finding a good one, and checking all the faults but the running costs are eye watering to say the least.
But, on the right day on the right road... awesome. And the looks - well that was a big part of it for me I'm afraid - I think they look great.
Edited by 1974foggy on Tuesday 6th April 12:48
Then again isn't this inevitable for any car at this age? It's 18 years old and to make it drive and feel like new is going to take money and regular upkeep, you have to go eyes open into this with any older car I suspect.
Bought mine 5 years ago for £7,500, manual coupe as a weekend toy and it's definitely been a combination of driving fun and aural enjoyment (I love it when it's cold, being able to hear and feel every gear change, and then of course the unique and amazing noise when giving it the beans when warm) mixed with some costly preventative maintenance and some frustrating issues!
In my ownership I've had the bottom end bearings replaced and the boot floor professionally reinforced, a new steering rack, high pressure power steering hose (x2), exhaust hangers replaced, full set of sparks and coil packs, multiple oil changes, brake fluid, rear trailing arm bushes, subframe bushes, 1 wheel bearing, 1x full set of tyres (ps4s).
Then done myself; new, uprated front pads, drop links all round, new carbon fibre front wings (rusty front wings a common problem), hedgehog resistor (absolute pig to change unless you're a midget), removal of all interior to re-paint plastics and metal trim, exterior plastics around rear windows and faded windscreen cowl replaced, new shorter M5 gear stick and an alcantara steering wheel. The only thing that's evaded me and I hate is the drivers door trim which is still sagging down as I haven't found anything that keen keep it stuck down yet, painful!
It's got inspection 2 service and full set of shocks, top mounts and boots etc coming in 2 weeks time. It really then needs paint on the front end at some point soon due to stone chips etc, and i've noticed a small bit of lacquer peel on the rear arch caused by a stone chip which I'll do myself.
So it's cost me a lot of time and money to both maintain, prevent further issues and make it as I like it but I would argue that considering my purchase price and current rising prices I'd still be in profit selling it now, at worst, it's completely depreciation free motoring at the moment and that's a nice feeling. I don't think there are too many things at this price point you could say that about at the moment.
In my ownership I've had the bottom end bearings replaced and the boot floor professionally reinforced, a new steering rack, high pressure power steering hose (x2), exhaust hangers replaced, full set of sparks and coil packs, multiple oil changes, brake fluid, rear trailing arm bushes, subframe bushes, 1 wheel bearing, 1x full set of tyres (ps4s).
Then done myself; new, uprated front pads, drop links all round, new carbon fibre front wings (rusty front wings a common problem), hedgehog resistor (absolute pig to change unless you're a midget), removal of all interior to re-paint plastics and metal trim, exterior plastics around rear windows and faded windscreen cowl replaced, new shorter M5 gear stick and an alcantara steering wheel. The only thing that's evaded me and I hate is the drivers door trim which is still sagging down as I haven't found anything that keen keep it stuck down yet, painful!
It's got inspection 2 service and full set of shocks, top mounts and boots etc coming in 2 weeks time. It really then needs paint on the front end at some point soon due to stone chips etc, and i've noticed a small bit of lacquer peel on the rear arch caused by a stone chip which I'll do myself.
So it's cost me a lot of time and money to both maintain, prevent further issues and make it as I like it but I would argue that considering my purchase price and current rising prices I'd still be in profit selling it now, at worst, it's completely depreciation free motoring at the moment and that's a nice feeling. I don't think there are too many things at this price point you could say that about at the moment.
I've owned two E46 M3s. Nice place to sit, OK to drive, underpowered and very undertorqued. Find the right road and they're a great fun though. Quite fragile. Both mine leaked water through one of the rear quarterlights. I went to a 911 afterwards, a significant step up. Personally if I had to spend on a classic I'd go for an old Merc.
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