Keeping my E46 M3 as a weekend car

[Zebrs]

Hi all, have been considering my options with my M3. Fundamentally, the question I keep coming back to is whether it's special enough for just a weekend car?

I bought it 4 years ago, used it as a daily for a couple of years including a trip to the Alps, not missing a beat the whole time, then garaged it 2 years ago. Since then, it's done roughly 1500 miles, and probably only a handful this year. If it was a little less practical you could almost justify it, and while it's a great car, I don't think it's special enough to hang on to and get so little use out of.

Anyone else just use one as a weekend/occasional car? Interested to know people's thoughts.

Cheers,

Z

[MBeemerman]

Thats all I've ever used my for.
Bought it new in 2003 and still have it, spent a bit on some choice mods over the years to get it to my ideal spec but still feels very special even after the best part of 13 years!

[david_h]

Mine was a daily originally, but about 4 years ago moved it to weekend only use. Because I no longer drive it everyday it is more of a special event, but mine is fully restored to new condition.

there are a lot of them out there, but not so many in really good condition especially individual spec. Manuals.

[Billy_Whizzzz]

There's no standard of what is special enough - it's what it means to you. I've done similar in the last in terms of having a daily that ends up being a weekend car as it becomes older and a classic - for what it's worth, I do think an e46 m3 is special enough to use as a summer car and weekend.

[rog007]

Some may say: 'if you have to ask...'

If you had an empty garage and the same value as the M3 in cash, what would you buy? If it's an M3, then keep it. If it's not, then let it go and buy your ideal weekender.

Let us know how you get on.

[Gruber]

At the start of this year I went back to an e46 M3 as my / our weekend car. Sure, we could have bought something more focussed, but I needed something that would comfortably accommodate our toddler in the back and some luggage. Without those attributes it would have hardly been used.

So, as others have said, what's "special enough" to justify the costs of running another car as a weekend treat is really a matter of personal choice and circumstances. For me, the e46 was ideal.

[FraserLFA]

rog007 said:

Some may say: 'if you have to ask...'

If you had an empty garage and the same value as the M3 in cash, what would you buy? If it's an M3, then keep it. If it's not, then let it go and buy your ideal weekender.

Let us know how you get on.

Good way of looking at it.

Just supercharge it or something and have something even more special

[slipstream 1985]

Not special imo but it is my weekend car just now.

[andyman_2006]

I've had mine for 9 years, and for the first 3 years used as a daily.

Then got a lease car and just started to use it as a weekender, and must say you do appreciate it more having a diesel for the daily, then a blast in the M3 on a nice sunny weekend.

Its also meant the car stays in much better condition, less goes wrong, means its cheap to run, i tax it monthly and Sorn it during winter.

Plus is i never have to wash it, just dust it off and drive it on nice dry sunny days.

It a perfect idea if you can justify it.

Andy

[skillimz]

I sold my pork last year and fancy another e46.

Awesome all rounder cars.

[Shuks76]

Keep it, sold mine and regret it every single day. I used it as a weekend car and miss it terribly. Plus if it is in good condition and mileage reasonable the prices are climbing. I sold mine for more than I bought it a few years back.

[e21Mark]

Can we see a few pics to see how special it isn't?

My initial thought is you could well regret selling and maybe you just need reminding of what a great car the e46 M3 really is?

[Zebrs]

e21Mark said:

Can we see a few pics to see how special it isn't?

But of course

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/zebrs1/7...

[e21Mark]

Zebrs said:

e21Mark said:

Can we see a few pics to see how special it isn't?

But of course

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/zebrs1/7...

That's very nice. I'd prefer the ox blood red interior and some CSL alloys but bottom line, it's certainly special enough for weekends. Especially now decent ones are getting harder to find.

[Zebrs]

Thanks for the replies chaps. Have been weighing it up over the weekend, and I think, much as I love it, it's probably going to go. I've done the grand sum of 144 miles in the last year. If anyone's looking for a good E46 M3, large folder documenting all mechanical work and services, subframe reinforced, let me know

[pidsy]

I keep trying to sell mine but my brain won't let me do it.
I want to keep it as a weekend car to cap the miles (108k currently) but can't cos I love it.

I know it's one of the best out there but still can't bring myself to sell. I'm gonna have to get a v8 at some point though.

[SebringMan]

pidsy said:

I keep trying to sell mine but my brain won't let me do it.
I want to keep it as a weekend car to cap the miles (108k currently) but can't cos I love it.

I know it's one of the best out there but still can't bring myself to sell. I'm gonna have to get a v8 at some point though.

Sounds nuts, but it is why I bought one with over 100k. Some would call me mad, but I myself have had cars go to 300k without many issues and still be OK : I may still have one on the drive (a 1.8 Mondeo my sister now uses!).

I enjoy driving a car I like. While my Clio was in great condition and at 69k I almost stopped driving it to stop it getting closer to the 100k mark, the barrier of death to some people. When you stop driving a car, it becomes a monument, not a car.

Before anyone says anything I've had a few classics in my time as well with me tending to use them.

[Zebrs]

Finally took the plunge and put it up. Thanks for the replies. Will be back to M in either an F10 M5 or maybe an E63 M6 one day.

(shameless plug alert...)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

[Smuler]

Zebrs said:

Finally took the plunge and put it up. Thanks for the replies. Will be back to M in either an F10 M5 or maybe an E63 M6 one day.

(shameless plug alert...)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

Not sure whether a bump here, will help the sale, but I enjoyed reading the thread and wish Zebrs. good luck.
Just taken mine past 60k. It is a weekend. road trip car, but that's cos otherwise it would be hammered as I do 20k p/a and would be frustrated putting miles on it on dull journeys.

It may not be the most obvious weekend car, see if you can name the 4 others in my video from the other week; but it feels special to me.




https://youtu.be/DNoojxpZDOM

[robbiekhan]

Mine is a weekend car, but even still the past year I've put 13k miles on it! Gotta use it to enjoy it I say

I think it certainly is special enough to warrant that kind of usage though. The S54 is unique in many ways.