E46 M3 in Laguna Seca Blue

[ac427]

neutral 3 said:

Crazy money for a pre facelift ! And with the worry that the bottom end could grenade !

It could if it hasn't had the recall done

[ndj]

Love the colour, would be my choice.

More concerned about the type of former owner who thought... "Hell yeah! I'm buying a 'BE FUN' plate for my pride and joy M3"

[roygarth]

When did facelift happen and what was changed?

[Wills2]

It doesn't matter you decided not to buy one....

All info is on this thread:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=493...

[roygarth]

Wills2 said:

It doesn't matter you decided not to buy one....

All info is on this thread:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=493...

Thanks!

Never say never...part of the fun is in the looking and the learning.
I've got an M itch which will be satisfied one day

[Wills2]

roygarth said:

Wills2 said:

It doesn't matter you decided not to buy one....

All info is on this thread:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=493...

Thanks!

Never say never...part of the fun is in the looking and the learning.
I've got an M itch which will be satisfied one day

Only joshing, I know I'm the same

[aeropilot]

Brew said:

Fantastic colour - not sure about the matching interior.

The matching LSB interior is what makes the car for me.....this was the only colour combo I was looking for back when I was interested in buying a E46 M3.

[Cactussed]

I'm not too bothered on the interior colour.
but there are literally none about other than the highly priced one above.

I've seen 3 sell around £8k or less before I made my mind up.

Now nothing. Nada.

[Craigwww]

roygarth said:

Thanks!

Never say never...part of the fun is in the looking and the learning.
I've got an M itch which will be satisfied one day

That car is way over priced !

The colour is actually very desirable but the interior is what will affect the future value. Easily swapped out though.

Don't worry about facelift cars, very few changes which were purely cosmetic anyway.

They are great cars but buying a 'mint' standard M3 at top money is false economy IMO, they will lose too much over the next few years. Better getting a 'CS' which are holding strong money and will continue to rise a little every year. CSLs already over-priced.

[roygarth]

Craigwww said:

roygarth said:

Thanks!

Never say never...part of the fun is in the looking and the learning.
I've got an M itch which will be satisfied one day

That car is way over priced !

The colour is actually very desirable but the interior is what will affect the future value. Easily swapped out though.

Don't worry about facelift cars, very few changes which were purely cosmetic anyway.

They are great cars but buying a 'mint' standard M3 at top money is false economy IMO, they will lose too much over the next few years. Better getting a 'CS' which are holding strong money and will continue to rise a little every year. CSLs already over-priced.

Thanks Craig. Which price point and mileage would you go for if buying a normal, non-'CS' car? I'd probably keep for 2 years.

(Have you seen the prices of manual 430's?!?!)

[Cactussed]

Where would you value a Cat D car?

[Craigwww]

roygarth said:

Thanks Craig. Which price point and mileage would you go for if buying a normal, non-'CS' car? I'd probably keep for 2 years.

(Have you seen the prices of manual 430's?!?!)

Please don't mention manual F430s.. wish I had kept it another year!

The E46 M3 market is a tough one because there are so many cars for sale. Prices are all over the place and they don't seem to reflect which is a good or a bad car. As a bare minimum. If I was looking for a car this would be my ultimate spec for a car that's going to be desirable 2 years down the line and retain most/all of it's value:

1. Budget 10k - 13k
2. Sub 60-75k miles with full FBMWSH, MY2004 onwards
3. Rear subframe fixed under warranty by BMW (alternatively reinforcement plates and resin injection by Reddish etc.)
4. If SMG, New pump fitted by BMW (not recondiiotned - it can't be done)
5. Genuine CSL/CS wheels or OEM only. (check for BMW/BBS logos etc)
6. Cared for leather in Black/Red/Cinamon or Cream only (avoid Blue,Kiwi,Grey)
7. Interior trim - original Piano Black or Storm Grey
8. Body colour in Laguna Seca Blue, Red, Silver Grey, Sapphire Black, Yellow (not Silver/Carbon Black/Phoenix Yellow - too common)
9. Full options inluding rear blind, (rare), must have Sat Nav/HK system.

Acceptable Modifications:

1. Any 'GENUINE' CSL parts (front bumpers, rear diffuser, bootlid, airbox, wheels)
2. Any Storm Motorwerks interior accessories
3. KW, Bilstein coilovers fitted and setup properly

Avoid:

1. Cars with replica CSL Parts (Genuine parts desirable though)
2. 'Reconditioned' SMG Pumps
3. Cheap/Budget tyres
4. 'Inspected and no cracks found' cars above 80k... only a matter of time
5. Cheap coilovers, cars on non OEM springs

If it was me.. I would be pouncing on this one..

http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=139...

[roygarth]

Craigwww said:

roygarth said:

Thanks Craig. Which price point and mileage would you go for if buying a normal, non-'CS' car? I'd probably keep for 2 years.

(Have you seen the prices of manual 430's?!?!)

Please don't mention manual F430s.. wish I had kept it another year!

The E46 M3 market is a tough one because there are so many cars for sale. Prices are all over the place and they don't seem to reflect which is a good or a bad car. As a bare minimum. If I was looking for a car this would be my ultimate spec for a car that's going to be desirable 2 years down the line and retain most/all of it's value:

1. Budget 10k - 13k
2. Sub 60-75k miles with full FBMWSH, MY2004 onwards
3. Rear subframe fixed under warranty by BMW (alternatively reinforcement plates and resin injection by Reddish etc.)
4. If SMG, New pump fitted by BMW (not recondiiotned - it can't be done)
5. Genuine CSL/CS wheels or OEM only. (check for BMW/BBS logos etc)
6. Cared for leather in Black/Red/Cinamon or Cream only (avoid Blue,Kiwi,Grey)
7. Interior trim - original Piano Black or Storm Grey
8. Body colour in Laguna Seca Blue, Red, Silver Grey, Sapphire Black, Yellow (not Silver/Carbon Black/Phoenix Yellow - too common)
9. Full options inluding rear blind, (rare), must have Sat Nav/HK system.

Acceptable Modifications:

1. Any 'GENUINE' CSL parts (front bumpers, rear diffuser, bootlid, airbox, wheels)
2. Any Storm Motorwerks interior accessories
3. KW, Bilstein coilovers fitted and setup properly

Avoid:

1. Cars with replica CSL Parts (Genuine parts desirable though)
2. 'Reconditioned' SMG Pumps
3. Cheap/Budget tyres
4. 'Inspected and no cracks found' cars above 80k... only a matter of time
5. Cheap coilovers, cars on non OEM springs

If it was me.. I would be pouncing on this one..

http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=139...

Thanks Craig, that is very helpful.

[GT Kevin]

That car was at KGF classic cars forsale for 15k 2months ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka6DlbyihWQ

Edited by GT Kevin on Tuesday 17th November 13:37

[MOTK]

Make sure you don't buy this one in endiburugh, it's been written off, hence the seller having 'lost' the v5.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bmw/bmw-m3-individual-%C...
info here
http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=139...

[Cactussed]

Yup, I called about it.
Dodgy as hell

[robbiekhan]

Nice exterior colour, but oh god that interior colour is just barf worthy. Leather should be either red, brown or cream (if on a black car).

[anonymous-user]

Too much money for that IMO, I'd follow the guide above from Craig.

[tomtom]

Interesting to see some good chat and demand for nice, (mostly) standard cars. When robbiekhan and I were out for a drive with 2 other E46 M3 owning friends, we'd stopped at a petrol station and some guy came over, said he was a trader and wanted to buy one or more of our cars because he couldn't find decent unmolested E46s now.

robbiekhan said:

Nice exterior colour, but oh god that interior colour is just barf worthy. Leather should be either red, brown or cream (if on a black car).

Looks mint m8. It even has a '355' plate!

Shame it's a manual.

I found my car on cutters about 6 months ago. It's not immaculate but it's pretty damn good for the £8.4k I paid for it.

[robbiekhan]

tomtom said:

Interesting to see some good chat and demand for nice, (mostly) standard cars. When robbiekhan and I were out for a drive with 2 other E46 M3 owning friends, we'd stopped at a petrol station and some guy came over, said he was a trader and wanted to buy one or more of our cars because he couldn't find decent unmolested E46s now.

Shame it's a manual.

I found my car on cutters about 6 months ago. It's not immaculate but it's pretty damn good for the £8.4k I paid for it.

Hah yes I remember that guy!

It's true though, just looking at owners clubs on social networks and all you will see are examples that have been visually modified just too far, beyond what most folks would like to call "tasteful".
Of course what someone does to their car is completely their choice and fair play to them, but a car like an E46 M3 is nearly perfect as it is - And a near OEM example will be more desirable, and will turn more heads for the right reasons.



Aside from the Parrot Asteroid Smart I installed in mine (very much needed really to bring the infotainment up to modern standards at least), everything else I have chosen to refresh in a manner that could mistaken as a factory option.

I checked the M3 dealer I bought my car off, and a year on he's still selling examples for similar money to what I paid for mine, he also has a slew of CS and CSLs going for top coin, so people are clearly buying them and the value is there, even at the upper end of the price band some are selling them for.

tomtom said:

Shame it's a manual.

Oh no you didn't! Technically the SMG is a manual too though, just in different attire

Edited by robbiekhan on Friday 20th November 18:47

Edited by robbiekhan on Friday 20th November 18:48