RE: BMW M3 (E46): You Know You Want To
Discussion
carinaman said:
s m said:
Remember Tiff Needell's first go?
I was unaware of that test.More LSB:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlnMUnB06_8
Patrick Bateman said:
Hellbound said:
The real question here is how low will the E9* M3's price drop?
Fewer sold (at a guess) and that V8. Maybe they'll bottom out at £10k.
Well, they haven't budged far off £20k for about 2 years now.Fewer sold (at a guess) and that V8. Maybe they'll bottom out at £10k.
Ignoring the 1M (too few sold and no replacement in sight), I think the popular M135i, along with the soon to be released M235i, the next M3 and M4 will all have at least some effect on the value of the V8 cars (by virtue of the increase in M models on sale). Granted that unique engine has provided some protection from depreciation though and there's still a few years left for the new cars to trickle down into the used market. Perhaps a V8 is the safer bet as I don't see them getting down to £5k at any time.
Unless you want a 997 carrera...which have also dipped under £20k.
The 335d with an Evolve remap is effortlessly fast, but has one flaw, and its a big one......the gearbox.
On a motorway its fine. But it doesn't do what I want it to do, the kickdown is pointless, it drops the gears making it rev to high so out of the powerband. Add to that no engine braking whatsoever and you have a big disappointment, which is quite fast in a straight line if your in the right gear.
The M3 manual is in a different league.
I actually think that box loosed about 50bhp., hence why I sold mine a few months ago.
On a motorway its fine. But it doesn't do what I want it to do, the kickdown is pointless, it drops the gears making it rev to high so out of the powerband. Add to that no engine braking whatsoever and you have a big disappointment, which is quite fast in a straight line if your in the right gear.
The M3 manual is in a different league.
I actually think that box loosed about 50bhp., hence why I sold mine a few months ago.
Animal said:
kambites said:
How much does it cost to get the rear subframe fixed if it does go?
A quick Google suggests about £800 for reinforcement or £1k + VAT for repair, reinforcement and geo set-up: http://www.redish-motorsport.com/E46M3FloorSubfram...In five to ten years good manual M3s will be very sort after - the last analogue BMW 6. (Oh - I forgot the 1 series...)
I don't think there is much doubt the 46 and 9X will continue to drop for the foreseeable future - the question is how low will they go, and will they bounce back a la E30?
(I'd wager the answer being "NO" to the latter question. Who knows what the first one could be - £3.5k and £6k respectively, with E36s down to £2k? All for average cars with no significant faults. We shall see!)
(I'd wager the answer being "NO" to the latter question. Who knows what the first one could be - £3.5k and £6k respectively, with E36s down to £2k? All for average cars with no significant faults. We shall see!)
Loved my m3, but figuring out why it was running like a dog cost about £500 in sensors , first service with brakes was in excess of £1000, but once all that was done she ran sweet for a year before I moved it on, after the diff needed doing of course !
No such thing as a cheap M3 though is there !
No such thing as a cheap M3 though is there !
Rollcage said:
I don't think there is much doubt the 46 and 9X will continue to drop for the foreseeable future - the question is how low will they go, and will they bounce back a la E30?
(I'd wager the answer being "NO" to the latter question. Who knows what the first one could be - £3.5k and £6k respectively, with E36s down to £2k? All for average cars with no significant faults. We shall see!)
But good E36s are beginning to come back into demand, now that a lot of the badly-modified ones have been driven to their graves and the image is improving(I'd wager the answer being "NO" to the latter question. Who knows what the first one could be - £3.5k and £6k respectively, with E36s down to £2k? All for average cars with no significant faults. We shall see!)
Have you seen the demand for LHD GTs now? They're not far off Alpina B8 asking prices
s m said:
Remember Tiff Needell's first go?
Intersting to hear him rave about how good the brakes are; didn't everyone else in the world view them as a weak point of the car?Rollcage said:
I don't think there is much doubt the 46 and 9X will continue to drop for the foreseeable future - the question is how low will they go, and will they bounce back a la E30?
Unlikely, although rarer editions, like the GT, might be more sought after? E30 M3 are rarer and are seen as the ultimate sport saloon (even by people who've never driven one!) and have had rave media reviews for years now. I don't think the E36 has the same amount of kudos although opinions are definitely turning in their favour.E46 will drop below £5k in the next few years, easily. They are already being advertised every now and again under 5k with faults or with higher mileage and no faults around £5.5k.
E36 M3 are slightly rising in price for a really good one, but even so they are still swapping hands for under £5k.
E36 M3 are slightly rising in price for a really good one, but even so they are still swapping hands for under £5k.
monthefish said:
e21Mark said:
Colour choice is a bit subjective though isn't it? It doesn't change the fact that the e46 M3 is a bit of a bargain and a terrific car.
I like Phoenix and
I think Phoenix suits the E46 better.
Hang on, so you're saying that a car built from 2001-2006 - ie, a 21st-century model from a so-called 'premium' manufacturer - has serious rust problems in its sills and wheel arches, and the boot floor will split and shed the rear sub-frame? Yeesh, what a sh*tbox!
It's so monumentally feeble that it makes a Lancia Beta seem well engineered.
Pity PH didn't raise the E46 M3's bodywork issue(s) with BMW's smug and oleaginous sales and marketing director:
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...
It's so monumentally feeble that it makes a Lancia Beta seem well engineered.
Pity PH didn't raise the E46 M3's bodywork issue(s) with BMW's smug and oleaginous sales and marketing director:
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...
t. I have just purchased my first BMW and have gone for an e46 M3, there is no other car that interested me below £8k price bracket.
Having previously been used to fwd VAG cars the BMW is amazing. The car is so capable in the corners and luckily mine came with Michelin Pilot Super Sports so I can make the most of this.
I am eagerly waiting for the next Sunday service so I can turn up in petrol power not to mention an M car.
This car is worth twice as much in Germany and the US - this in itself is saying a lot! Taking into account the high petrol prices we have in the UK this car still makes a lot of sense for me, it really is a performance bargain.
Also everyone saying these cars are dropping to the £5k level, they are not looking seriously as a potential owner, I very much believe the price of these has firmed up in the last 6 months. When this car was hit the hardest with depreciation the low mileage top money cars were selling for £11k, these are now commanding close to £13-£14k.
To find a good facelift manual car you are looking at £7500 minimum, lucky for me mine has also had the sub frame replaced already so I did not have to limit my search to 04+ cars (so they are still in the 10yr warranty)
Anyway I guess my point is anyone who has wanted one and does not have one yet, do everything you can to get one!
Having previously been used to fwd VAG cars the BMW is amazing. The car is so capable in the corners and luckily mine came with Michelin Pilot Super Sports so I can make the most of this.
I am eagerly waiting for the next Sunday service so I can turn up in petrol power not to mention an M car.
This car is worth twice as much in Germany and the US - this in itself is saying a lot! Taking into account the high petrol prices we have in the UK this car still makes a lot of sense for me, it really is a performance bargain.
Also everyone saying these cars are dropping to the £5k level, they are not looking seriously as a potential owner, I very much believe the price of these has firmed up in the last 6 months. When this car was hit the hardest with depreciation the low mileage top money cars were selling for £11k, these are now commanding close to £13-£14k.
To find a good facelift manual car you are looking at £7500 minimum, lucky for me mine has also had the sub frame replaced already so I did not have to limit my search to 04+ cars (so they are still in the 10yr warranty)
Anyway I guess my point is anyone who has wanted one and does not have one yet, do everything you can to get one!
pstruck said:
Was/is the sub-frame issue potential there on all E46 M3's, or was it dealt with by a modification or re-design at the factory after a certain registration date?
That may help:http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
okgo said:
My issue with M3's isn't the cost as such, or the running costs, I really like the cars, but they're astronomic to insure, to the extent that I could insure nearly anything for less than an E46 M3.
if your under 25 maybe!!I insure two cars with admiral for £408 per year, fully comp, protect NCD, £250 excess. (118D msport coupe 13plate, and a 52plate e46 m3) so not sure where your looking for your quotes! Try Admiral.
Andy
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