E36 M3 OR E46 M3 - looking to keep for a while ???

[ManOpener]

BUG4LIFE said:

J4CKO said:

BUG4LIFE said:

Is the rear floor really a big issue on the E46...there are a a number of ways of getting it sorted if you were unlucky?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvyfSpHpx6A

It can be sorted, seem to remember £1500 to sort it, it put me off to be honest, the Vanos thing did as well though neither are reputedly as prevalent as internet lore would imply, was that, and the number of dodgy looking ones that put me off more, I would say dont buyt the first one you see, be prepared to travel.

I've heard these guys mentioned a lot - http://www.redish-motorsport.com/E46M3FloorSubfram...

It does happen to the standard cars, particularly those that are tracked. If it hasn't gone yet there are braces and reinforcement kits that will stop it from going in the future that can be had fitted much cheaper than £1500.

Or you could find one that's already had it fixed, which will be easy.

IMO, the E46 is one of the few cases of a later, newer model of a performance car being more involving to drive than the earlier one. It's also arguably better looking, will doubtlessly be better equipped, shouldn't cost too much more to run if you keep abreast of servicing and consumables in both cases and is probably easier to live with, not that either should be a chore to own.

Edited by ManOpener on Tuesday 15th April 13:31

[csampo]

gaz1234 said:

James is very good. WIll use them soon.

+1 Redish is the place to go in the SW for anything BMW really; James seems to be particularly well known for E46 M3's judging by the number you'll see racked and stacked outside their premises!

[blade7]

csampo said:

gaz1234 said:

James is very good. WIll use them soon.

+1 Redish is the place to go in the SW for anything BMW really; James seems to be particularly well known for E46 M3's judging by the number you'll see racked and stacked outside their premises!

I've read the official BMW repairs can be iffy, probably depends how good the fitter is. I think it was a Redish clip on youtube showing a diff almost detached from the floor .

[JimmyRb5Pro]

I know for the age of them they are ok but I can find a few 40-55k mileage ones but they are all SMG !! I guess cos no one wants to do the miles in them

A few of the 70-90k ones that are well looked after and original will get further investigation

Cheers

[Adenauer]

I don't know about prices in the UK, only that they are a lot lower than here in Germany, however, would you be able to pick up an E36 M3GT for that sort of money?

If you could, that would be what I'd be looking for.

[Shaoxter]

jonah35 said:

To answer your question, a mint, low miles, original, non modified, low owners, fsh e36 m3 in Estoril blue.

Dakar yellow! Or techno violet.
Actually they're all much better and more exciting than today's colours.

[jonah35]

Shaoxter said:

jonah35 said:

To answer your question, a mint, low miles, original, non modified, low owners, fsh e36 m3 in Estoril blue.

Dakar yellow! Or techno violet.
Actually they're all much better and more exciting than today's colours.

I love Dakar but too marmite. Techno violet, imola red, silver, black, Estoril, most colours are good.

[JimmyRb5Pro]

M3GT v rare and nearly double the price over here !

[Leins]

JimmyRb5Pro said:

I know for the age of them they are ok but I can find a few 40-55k mileage ones but they are all SMG !! I guess cos no one wants to do the miles in them

A few of the 70-90k ones that are well looked after and original will get further investigation

Cheers

Don't believe the hype on SMG2. I think most who give out about it are only repeating what they were told about a friend's brother who may have walked by one once. Go drive it and you might be surprised

Adenauer said:

I don't know about prices in the UK, only that they are a lot lower than here in Germany, however, would you be able to pick up an E36 M3GT for that sort of money?

If you could, that would be what I'd be looking for.

UK E36 GT is a lot less desirable IMO than a LHD one. Still nice though

[E30Addict]

IME buy on condition, not mileage. The S50 is a strong engine as long as it has been maintained well.

As an example my E36 M3 was purchased with "high miles", but had a low number of owners, FBMWSH (and even BMW warranty!) and a huge stack of receipts.

I'd argue that such a car is a better ownership proposition than a low mileage car with iffy service history and/or many owners.

[carreauchompeur]

....and my 121k M3 has just had £1200 spent on a brand new Bilstein suspension setup.

Eeek

[Ag51bye]

4.5k will buy a nice one .

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/165214/1993...

In all seriousness, amazing cars, little can touch them as a package for the price.

[RedBull]

I have no experience of the E46 bt I own an E36 convertible. I was supposed to sell it when I bought my Corvette but I like it so much I couldn't bring myself to part with it. Much to my wifes dismay I decided to keep it. Thankfully she has come round to it now but I have been forbidden to have any more cars.
Mine is mint, low mileage (42K), and a very rare colour (pics in profile if interested) and I know that if I had sold it and regretted it, I would struggle to ever replace it with another as good. It's had a few minor modifications such as Eibach springs and a few interior bits.
The fact that I couldn't part with it speaks volumes about the pleasure of ownership. I do occasionally think I should sell but I can't bring myself to advertise it, and really think I would regret it.
Most prefer the coupe but I wanted a convertible as roof down in the summer adds a lot to the pleasure of driving for me. It does suffer from some scuttle shake but nothing untoward. It's all down to personal preference but I don't think a coupe would put quite as big a smile on my face when the sun is out.

[JimmyRb5Pro]

Let me know if you are interested in selling then Paul

[Dannbodge]

It depends what you want from it really.

As someone else said the E36 is more Raw where as the E46 is more comfortable and refined.

I would struggle to make the same choice but would probably go for the E36 M3.

Just make sure the Vanos has been looked after and that you don't get a SMG one.

[TEKNOPUG]

I'd be going straight to an E39 M5 if I had your budget. However, if it's really a 3 series you want, I'd probably plump for an E36 for £4-5k and keep £4k fighting fund for general servicing, preventative maintenance and big bills when items let go.

[JimmyRb5Pro]

Was looking at m5 ? Do you think they will hold their value ?

[aeropilot]

JimmyRb5Pro said:

Was looking at m5 ? Do you think they will hold their value ?

I think a nice E39 is a pretty good bet, good ones are holding their value, in the the same way that good E28's did 10 years ago and now good E28's are only going one way in price.....up.
The E39 will follow that trend in time.
Now is probably the right time to get in on good E39's.

[csampo]

A few years ago, on the 'which cars will soon start to appreciate' threads that come around every few weeks on PH, any suggestion of an E36 BMW was dismissed rapidly; all focus was on the E30. I think fact that consensus seems to be changing in favour of the E36 suggests that now is a good time to be buying. Having a garage would be a big advantage as the bodywork - especially the arches - rot quite badly unless well cared for. I loved my old E36 328 - much preferred it to my partners current E90 330i in fact - and will buy myself the M3 as soon as circumstances allow. The size of the car, and a suspension tune mindset that wasn't obsessed with overly high spring rates, crashy damping and ultra low profile tyres, made that generation so well suited to our roads.

Of course the E46 is also lovely, but I think if residuals are a key consideration then you should be looking at the runout CS variant which unfortunately sits outside of your budget. Your budget will get you your pick of E36's with room to spare.