Discussion
After finding out that I couldn't insure a Porsche 911 without a massive hike in my insurance policy I decided to look for an E46 M3.
I had my perfect spec in mind and spent a couple of months looking around. Pretty much every car was an absolute dog in my budget. (Around £9K)
You can pick up one of these cars for any where upwards of £6k now which means that lots of them have fallen into the hands of people who can afford to buy them but not run them properly.
After looking at numerous cars both dealer and private I decided that I wasnt going to find one in my desired spec so decided that I just wanted to find a nice manual one.
I bought this one as it had had around £2k spent on it in the last 6 months all at main dealer including:
Rear Pads and Discs
Front Pads
Rear Subframe Checked
2 New Rear Tyres (Conti's)
Oil Service
2 new Rear Springs
Wheels Refurbed in the correct Chrome.
They guy who I bought it from had just had it machine polished and detailed.
Here are some pics. Its an 03 plate done 83K with full service history.
There are a couple of things I need to get done on it.
I need to find some side repeaters as the current ones are yellowy/misty. Also Need to sort out some way of getting my music on it as although it has Harman Kardon It wont play Mp3's
The Wheels are a pain in the ass. They look awsome but even though they were refurbed only 6 months ago the laquer is peeling near the centres of 2 of them.
Not sure what I want to do with them as for the price of proper refurbs I could have a set of good quality CSL Reps.
Lots of these cars have been modified badly so just not sure I want to mod such a nice standard example.
I was going to look for a Red Leather interior but I have warmed to the Blue now I think. It needs feeding and a bit of dye I think on the Drivers side base bolster.
The car is standard apart from an AC Schnitzer short shift kit. This makes it easier to change gear quickly when hammering it but it is a pain in the ass in traffic when the car is cold.
The car is wonderful to drive. The engine is a master piece. I love the noise of it when above 4k and it is remarkably refined on the journey to work.
I've had lots of BMW's and this is my favourite. Its probably no faster than my 335i but the noise makes me feel like I am about to break to sound barrier.
What you guys think?
I had my perfect spec in mind and spent a couple of months looking around. Pretty much every car was an absolute dog in my budget. (Around £9K)
You can pick up one of these cars for any where upwards of £6k now which means that lots of them have fallen into the hands of people who can afford to buy them but not run them properly.
After looking at numerous cars both dealer and private I decided that I wasnt going to find one in my desired spec so decided that I just wanted to find a nice manual one.
I bought this one as it had had around £2k spent on it in the last 6 months all at main dealer including:
Rear Pads and Discs
Front Pads
Rear Subframe Checked
2 New Rear Tyres (Conti's)
Oil Service
2 new Rear Springs
Wheels Refurbed in the correct Chrome.
They guy who I bought it from had just had it machine polished and detailed.
Here are some pics. Its an 03 plate done 83K with full service history.
There are a couple of things I need to get done on it.
I need to find some side repeaters as the current ones are yellowy/misty. Also Need to sort out some way of getting my music on it as although it has Harman Kardon It wont play Mp3's
The Wheels are a pain in the ass. They look awsome but even though they were refurbed only 6 months ago the laquer is peeling near the centres of 2 of them.
Not sure what I want to do with them as for the price of proper refurbs I could have a set of good quality CSL Reps.
Lots of these cars have been modified badly so just not sure I want to mod such a nice standard example.
I was going to look for a Red Leather interior but I have warmed to the Blue now I think. It needs feeding and a bit of dye I think on the Drivers side base bolster.
The car is standard apart from an AC Schnitzer short shift kit. This makes it easier to change gear quickly when hammering it but it is a pain in the ass in traffic when the car is cold.
The car is wonderful to drive. The engine is a master piece. I love the noise of it when above 4k and it is remarkably refined on the journey to work.
I've had lots of BMW's and this is my favourite. Its probably no faster than my 335i but the noise makes me feel like I am about to break to sound barrier.
What you guys think?
Lovely cars, but (if you REALLY want to know what I think) I'd have walked away from one with that colour interior...
Looks very smart otherwise and I'm quite jealous
Is the short-shifter a worthwhile mod, do you think? I've got one on my RX8 and it seemed great when I first fitted it, but after a while you adapt and don't notice the shortness
M.
Looks very smart otherwise and I'm quite jealous
Is the short-shifter a worthwhile mod, do you think? I've got one on my RX8 and it seemed great when I first fitted it, but after a while you adapt and don't notice the shortness
M.
I've only ever seen that interior with Laguna Seca exterior but I must admit it looks pretty good with Silver
With regards to getting your music in the car, I've heard these are meant to be good
http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/home.php?cat=16
With regards to getting your music in the car, I've heard these are meant to be good
http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/home.php?cat=16
petrolveins said:
Is it just me or are the wheels on these M3s, a little boring? 
Probably as a result of seeing them on every barry-E46 318i in the land.
But that interior I love, not seen it before, works really well with the Silver.
Personally I don't think so.Probably as a result of seeing them on every barry-E46 318i in the land.
But that interior I love, not seen it before, works really well with the Silver.
An untouched example still gets the ol' heart pumping when seen on the road.
The blue interior is amazing never seen one like it!
If the wheels are in nice nick but peeling, how about a colour change? I pass a silver M3 most days with black wheels as I guess his wheels did the same? How about a high metallic smokey grey? I think the black is maybe a little too popular now and it's a shame as i think in black, it would hide a nice wheel design
never seen one like it! If the wheels are in nice nick but peeling, how about a colour change? I pass a silver M3 most days with black wheels as I guess his wheels did the same? How about a high metallic smokey grey? I think the black is maybe a little too popular now and it's a shame as i think in black, it would hide a nice wheel design
Paz565 said:
The blue interior is amazing never seen one like it!
If the wheels are in nice nick but peeling, how about a colour change? I pass a silver M3 most days with black wheels as I guess his wheels did the same? How about a high metallic smokey grey? I think the black is maybe a little too popular now and it's a shame as i think in black, it would hide a nice wheel design
Not sure what to do about the wheels. Might bite the bullet for a set of CSL's never seen one like it! If the wheels are in nice nick but peeling, how about a colour change? I pass a silver M3 most days with black wheels as I guess his wheels did the same? How about a high metallic smokey grey? I think the black is maybe a little too popular now and it's a shame as i think in black, it would hide a nice wheel design
bigweb said:
Not sure what I want to do with them as for the price of proper refurbs I could have a set of good quality CSL Reps.
Lots of these cars have been modified badly so just not sure I want to mod such a nice standard example.
The rules can be broken for CSL Reps, which are gorgeous.Lots of these cars have been modified badly so just not sure I want to mod such a nice standard example.
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