Tuesday 13th August 2013

BMW M3 (E46): You Know You Want To

The "you could buy a used M3 for that much!" threshold just got lower still...

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Sorting ads in the PH classifieds by 'Price low to high' is a risky strategy; each well written and comprehensive listing is frequently outnumbered by hordes of adverts featuring dreadful grammar and pictures seemingly taken with a 10-year-old phone. In the dark.

Phoenix Yellow and 18s a rare spec

Still, with some persistence, bargains can be found with the cars listed by ascending value. Bargains such as this £5,995 BMW E46 M3.

First of all, it conforms to some key personal 'good advert' criteria; all 12 available images have been used, the vendor can string a sentence together, there's a contact number (rather than an email) plus there are details on the tax and MoT. The car has even been run on V-Power and comes with four Michelin Pilot Sports.

Moreover, it's an M3 in a desirable spec. A manual car on 18-inch wheels (recently refurbished) is the PH double whammy, and Phoenix Yellow wins it a few extra points from some round these parts. [Hello! - Ed.]

Of course, 11 years and 103,000 miles after it was made, this M3 isn't flawless. There's apparently some minor rust and the interior isn't the freshest. But, from the photos at least, it looks far more presentable than the age and price may first suggest.

One of BMW's finest straight-sixes, surely?

Behind those quite dainty looking rims now sit a fresh set of OEM discs and pads, fitted at a recent service. So at least the brakes are as good as BMW intended, even if that standard is probably lower than it should be...

Nobody needs us to elaborate on why a cheap E46 M3 is a very alluring car indeed. The next M3 will return to six cylinders but will add turbos, and three pedals appears unlikely. Sure, the underrated CS or mesmerising CSL make the E46 package even greater, but neither of those will ever drop to such an affordable level.

Other options? A Nissan 350Z is fun but a rather blunt instrument compared to M Division's effort, whilst a Boxster S will match the M3 for enjoyment in a far less practical package. Whilst unmolested E46s aren't exactly rare, this looks like an exceptional M3 for the cash. Grab it whilst you can.

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BMW M3
Price: £5,995
Why you should: It's one of M Division's greatest cars in a good spec for £6K.
Why you shouldn't: Oh, it's in Falkirk. Road trip perhaps?

See the original advert here

[Mermaid]

Best value M3, ever.

[tannedstamina]

WANT!

If only I wasn't getting married, and didn't really even need a car in the first place...

[kambites]

Hard to beat if you want a performance car with four proper seats.

Lovely colour, too.

[cjgreaves41]

Yu should be able to buy one for that! Its 11 years old with 103k on! TBH im still suprised they are so much!

[Escy]

The real dogs are closer to 5k these days. Surely they can't drop much further?

[Axionknight]

Is it wrong to love that colour? I like it on the E46, providing it has dark leather seats to contrast and not some nasty cream ones. These certainly are looking like a tempting buy these days, as with just about any of these articles though, if I was taking the plunge I'd pony up a few grand extra for a slightly better one.

Good find!

[rossi1]

Always wanted an M3 and in a way i still do but lately have been massively put off by the amount of M3`s starting to crack the rear of the floors.
Its a major problem,it seems if it hasn't happened yet it will do for sure sooner or later, Also if your out of your 10 good will period with BMW your up the creek without a paddle
Still a lot of motor for your money now days though

[kambites]

Escy said:

The real dogs are closer to 5k these days. Surely they can't drop much further?

Well the bottom end of the E36 market seems to have plateaued at about 3k; I see no particular reason to believe that the E46 wont do the same?

[e21Mark]

I've seen them go for 3800 - 4200 but you'd spend a chunk of cash just making it usable. They break for considerably more too. That said, I hope to find myself a decent one in a few months from now, but a manual car in Imola red.

[bmthnick1981]

e21Mark said:

a manual car in Imola red.

Nice, with 18" wheels, manual box and black interior please.

[nick-elise]

Door looks a different colour to rest of the car, although at 6k you cant really complain!

[e21Mark]

bmthnick1981 said:

e21Mark said:

a manual car in Imola red.

Nice, with 18" wheels, manual box and black interior please.

That's the one.

[va1o]

Not a big M3 fan myself but that example looks very clean and tidy. Can't really go wrong with the price

[monthefish]

It's a dreadful colour, but otherwise, what a car for the money.

[Krikkit]

Horrible colour, but what a cracking car! Hope to get my hands on one in the next few years, how are they from a home spanner-jockey POV? Presumably not too technical.

[hwajones]

Imola red or silver for me!
Wish i could justify the fuel...

[Dagnut]

kambites said:

Well the bottom end of the E36 market seems to have plateaued at about 3k; I see no particular reason to believe that the E46 wont do the same?

Plus factor in there are a lot more E46s about

[TaylotS2K]

Shame it's tarnished by lots of rude boys owning them. Puts me off owning one. I'd rather seek out a nice E39 M5.

[james_gt3rs]

TaylotS2K said:

Shame it's tarnished by lots of rude boys owning them. Puts me off owning one. I'd rather seek out a nice E39 M5.

They both look great, can't think of any cars with 4 seats that I prefer over these two.

[Joe M]

Bought one recently in the non PH spec of 19"s and SMG. Its awesome, if your tempted and have never drove one definately go see one.