e46 M3 advice please.

[loud430]

hello all,
I will soon be selling my tvr chimeara & looking at buying an e46 m3 as ive always hankered after one, ive had a few bmw's in the past, the last one being an e30 that we put an e36 3.0 m3 lump in so don't mind a bit of general spannering.
what would you say are the most important things to look out for on an e46? ive been told its important it had its 1st service done & to check the rear subframe/area for cracks.
ideally im going to be looking for a manual one rather than smg,
any advice/tips greatfully received.
thanks in advance.

[joema]

Yeah they are easy enough to spanner on. Bushes etc are easy to do.

Boot floor is something to lookout for. Mine isnt hanging off yet but will get it reinforced sometime.

Dont get hung up on colour and spec. remember the sat nav etc is old and isnt really worth having so dont discount non nav cars.

[Type R Tom]

I'm not sure about the whole first service thing, these cars are 10+ / 100k miles old. If something was wrong it would have happened by now.

Springs are another thing to check as they can crack.

[mark.c]

http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=285...

A few basic pointers there, head gasket failure is becoming more common as these get older too.

Edited by mark.c on Wednesday 22 June 06:58

[pidsy]

Have a good look through this sub-section. No shortage of threads on this subject - there was a good one running for owners, but not sure where it's gone.

[SPORTSTER]

Rust is getting common too

[pidsy]

As above,

Rust - front arches particularly

Rear sub frame/boot floor

Head gasket

Rear Spring failure

Rear view mirror failure

All common.

[andyman_2006]

As per other posts here:

Head Gasket -£1500 at an Indy £2700 Main dealer. Had mine done.
VANOS - £799 fix from Mr Vanos
Rear springs - £70 each, or can upgrade to Eibach (well made but lowers the car 20mm i think) i kept standard ones on for this reason.
Rear Trailing arm bushes - £28 each (bmw ones) look to poly bush if they go
Subframe up to - £3000 so I've heard! not had mine done.
MAF sensors cost me - £280 all in
Coil packs - £48 each x6
Lack of servicing - watch out for some owners scrimping on servicing and not having Tappets/inspection services done
Brake discs - Full set swap are £600-800 depending on what you buy and what discount you get

Alloys - most have poor alloys, have kerb damage, and the lacquer lifting/milky - Its a £600 job to re-do them correctly but worth having done if you value how the car looks. I have seen many wheels done plain silver which is ok, but to go back Factory its min £125 a corner as they are diamond cut (assuming 19" are fitted) had mine done back to factory at pristine wheels £670 all in, they look amazing once done.

Not had the rust issue, but front wings have been known to rust from inside out.

Good luck.

Andy

[thebigmacmoomin]

As all comments above but rust was the main issue on my old one. As the car lived in Scotland in its previous life to me, the front drivers side wing was totally shot and past saving along with little patches on each of the rear wings. This was a 2004 car.

[loud430]

many thanks for the replies so far,
some people have mentioned a face lift, is that just the led back lights or is there more to it?
I have been told smg cars can be problematic & to stick to looking for a manual one, or is this just a myth?
also, I do like the look of the csl wheels on an e46, is there a certain brand of replica wheel that do staggered copies as I assume original csl wheels are mucho moolah!
ive have heard of spacers being fitted, is this a handling thing or just a looks thing?
sorry for so many questions, there will probably be lots more when I get one!
thanks again.

[thebigmacmoomin]

A longer boot handle & LED rear lights were the only facelift parts I know of.

[andyman_2006]

loud430 said:

many thanks for the replies so far,
some people have mentioned a face lift, is that just the led back lights or is there more to it?
I have been told smg cars can be problematic & to stick to looking for a manual one, or is this just a myth?
also, I do like the look of the csl wheels on an e46, is there a certain brand of replica wheel that do staggered copies as I assume original csl wheels are mucho moolah!
ive have heard of spacers being fitted, is this a handling thing or just a looks thing?
sorry for so many questions, there will probably be lots more when I get one!
thanks again.

---

I think from late 53 plate cars were facelifted. Led lights and the boot handle was it. Nothing major to shout home about. Many people retrofit aftermarket rear led lights some are good some are poor. Mine is non facelift so I've left it this way.

On csl wheels, it's each to their own I'd only have the factory 19" diamond cut wheels as the csl wheel is an acquired taste (looks wise) plus me personally I think they should be on a csl only and I'm not a fan of copy wheels generally. Fitting spacers will be for looks or to get the bad fitting wheels to look wider I suppose. I'd do more research.

Genuine csl wheels can be bought around £1500 a set used with no tyres. They are made by bbs and you should check the inside of the wheel it's stamped if it's not stamped it's fake, people are trying to pass off fakes as genuine.

Genuine csl wheels are lighter than the standard wheels. I'd imagine copies would be quite heavy whether or not they are heavier than the factory m3 wheel who knows and same regarding fitment they might need spacers to fit correctly.personally I'd stick with stock wheels you'll get less problems or go for a proper bbs wheel type with correct size and offset so it fits the car well.

Smg is a real marmite thing I'm not a fan they can be jerky and hard to live with have modes of shift etc speed and such I'm told you can set them up better so might work for you or not I'd advise driving one first! On the issues I'm told pumps and actuators can fail and I'm told (by a local Indy garage I use) they can if used hard eat clutches quicker than the manual. Others will dispute this but all I can say is what I've been told. Is it myth? Who knows, but I wasn't going to get one as didn't like it, so try one and see.

I went for a manual to avoid all the risks of pumps etc and premature clutch wear. Plus for me I thought it was easier to live with the manual long term.


Andy.

[NickXX]

Mar-01
• E46 Introduced to the UK
• Brushed Titanium replaced by Titan Shadow
• Business Radio with MD added (Europe)

Jun-01
• SMG-II Option Added (Europe)
• 19” Wheels Made Available (Europe)

Jul-01
• 19” Wheels made available (UK)

September 2001 (Model Year 2002)
• SMG-II Option Added (UK Only)
• Seat Width Adjustment Made Standard (UK Spec)
• SatNav Screen replaced with Wide Screen Model
• Auto-On Lights Added as Standard (UK)
• Individual Options permitted (UK)
• Standard Xenon lights upgraded to Bi-Xenon
• Black Gloss Interior trim discontinued (Replaced by Titanium shadow)
• Minidisc Option Added (UK)

Oct-01
• SMG Paddles Changed (Size & Colour of + and -)

Jan-02
• Minidisc / CD option combined with Nav/TV made possible.

February 2002 Changes
• M Racing Strut added to Coupe & Cab

March 2002 Changes
• Brushed Aluminium Interior Trim Added.
• M Rear Wing Spoiler option added (As on 330Ci Clubsport)

September 02 (Model year 2003)
• Cab Central Brake light made clear
• SatNav Control unit upgraded to DVD player.
• Bluetooth Phone Kit added.
• Interior buttons changed from printed to embossing.
• AUX Connections added to TV Unit

April 2003 Changes
• New LED Rear Lights Added
• Silver Grey Paint Added
• Mystic Blue Paint Added
• Steel Grey Discontinued
• Topaz Blue Discontinued
• SMG Logo removed
• Cabs now get "convenience opening"
• Climate Control Buttons changed
• Brushed Aluminium Interior trim added (UK)
• Boot lid handle changed

September 2003 (Model year 2004)
• SatNav CD replaced with DVD including TMC
• Le Mans blue added to Individual range of colours (UK)

September 2004 (Model year 2005)
• TV Module upgraded to digital
• Business CD Head Unit upgraded to play MP3

September 2004 (Model year 2005)
• M3 CS Model Added (Europe)
• Interlagos Blue Paint Added

April 2005 Changes
• Phoenix Yellow dropped
• Laguna Seca Blue dropped
• M3 CS model introduced (UK)
• Interlagos Blue Paint Added (UK)
• 3rd Point seat belt and headrest added

September 2005 (Model year 2006)
• CD Changer upgraded to play MP3

[joema]

andyman_2006 said:

As per other posts here:

Head Gasket -£1500 at an Indy £2700 Main dealer. Had mine done.
VANOS - £799 fix from Mr Vanos
Rear springs - £70 each, or can upgrade to Eibach (well made but lowers the car 20mm i think) i kept standard ones on for this reason.
Rear Trailing arm bushes - £28 each (bmw ones) look to poly bush if they go
Subframe up to - £3000 so I've heard! not had mine done.
MAF sensors cost me - £280 all in
Coil packs - £48 each x6
Lack of servicing - watch out for some owners scrimping on servicing and not having Tappets/inspection services done
Brake discs - Full set swap are £600-800 depending on what you buy and what discount you get

Alloys - most have poor alloys, have kerb damage, and the lacquer lifting/milky - Its a £600 job to re-do them correctly but worth having done if you value how the car looks. I have seen many wheels done plain silver which is ok, but to go back Factory its min £125 a corner as they are diamond cut (assuming 19" are fitted) had mine done back to factory at pristine wheels £670 all in, they look amazing once done.

Not had the rust issue, but front wings have been known to rust from inside out.

Good luck.

Andy

Most vanos issues can be fixed relatively cheaply as often its just the solenoid pack that goes.

SMG pumps are upwards of £1300new! Hence I have a manual.

Boot floors can be reinforced from as little as £700 through specialists using weld on plates.

[andyman_2006]

joema said:

andyman_2006 said:

As per other posts here:

Head Gasket -£1500 at an Indy £2700 Main dealer. Had mine done.
VANOS - £799 fix from Mr Vanos
Rear springs - £70 each, or can upgrade to Eibach (well made but lowers the car 20mm i think) i kept standard ones on for this reason.
Rear Trailing arm bushes - £28 each (bmw ones) look to poly bush if they go
Subframe up to - £3000 so I've heard! not had mine done.
MAF sensors cost me - £280 all in
Coil packs - £48 each x6
Lack of servicing - watch out for some owners scrimping on servicing and not having Tappets/inspection services done
Brake discs - Full set swap are £600-800 depending on what you buy and what discount you get

Alloys - most have poor alloys, have kerb damage, and the lacquer lifting/milky - Its a £600 job to re-do them correctly but worth having done if you value how the car looks. I have seen many wheels done plain silver which is ok, but to go back Factory its min £125 a corner as they are diamond cut (assuming 19" are fitted) had mine done back to factory at pristine wheels £670 all in, they look amazing once done.

Not had the rust issue, but front wings have been known to rust from inside out.

Good luck.

Andy

Most vanos issues can be fixed relatively cheaply as often its just the solenoid pack that goes.

SMG pumps are upwards of £1300new! Hence I have a manual.

Boot floors can be reinforced from as little as £700 through specialists using weld on plates.

---

Its not always just the solanoids, i was shown a bad one when i visited Steve (Mr Vanos) and on his site it shows what can happen to them:

http://www.mrvanos.com/E46-M3-32-S54-Vanos-Repair(...

Mine was checked out ok as he stripped and checked it, but this is when he found my head gasket issue :-( the Vanos would have been the cheaper and happier issue in the end.

I did hear those SMG pumps were pricey...ouch. I'm very pleased to have a manual, and enjoy changing gear as well. All my cars are manual so its what i'm used to. Its each to their own of course.

I wonder is there a point where you cant have the boot floors plated? as I've heard of scary stories of a lot more work being needed to resolve this issue.

Andy

[Gruber]

In defense of SMG... I quite like it and wouldn't dismiss a nice e46 M3 solely on the basis of SMG vs maunal. My CS is SMG and, while it is a little old school compared to the new crop of DCT-type boxes, there's an element of skill in learning your way around it and it really works well when pressing on.

And yes, the SMG pump will need replacing one day. But it's a once every 10 years sort of item on the e46, so if it has been done already then you're on to a winner, and if it hasn't been done then it's just something to bear in mind and get checked pre-purchase.

[loud430]

thank you for all the advice guys, much appreciated.
certainly lots to look into & think about!

[pidsy]

Let us know how you get on!

[loud430]

pidsy said:

Let us know how you get on!

will do, got to sell the tvr 1st & then look about but will post up when I get one.

[Superliminal]

Re: SMG, I've got it in mine and I love it, though was originally on the fence about it. On one hand it's a complex system and expensive if (when?) it fails. On the other hand, I hated the manual M3 box - it felt really agricultural and had masses of lever throw (though a short-shift kit helps here).

In the end I drove both and chose the SMG. If you're not used to it, or if the engine is cold, it can be really jerky. When warm, you can make the shifts really smooth by lifting off the throttle at the right time. You can also dial it up to S6 mode and have brutal shifts.

Opinion on pump failure and replacement is starting to shift a little bit. For a while a new pump from BMW was the only option, especially since a number of "refurbishers" turned out to be cowboys. In many cases the failure is the pump motor (worn brushes) and not the pump itself. A couple firms (one of which is IOilservice.de) offer the motors for £400. This is the way I'll probably go if mine fails, though it's not an established solution yet since the motors have only recently become available.

I'd recommend driving both and getting whichever one you prefer. Try not to worry too much about the SMG failing - even a manual e46 M3 can find a number of different ways to bankrupt you.

Finally, the 1200 mile 1st service. I've got no evidence of one being done on mine and it's going strong at 115k miles. I appreciate that 1 isn't a statistically valid sample however.

Matt