BMW E46 M3, what is it to you, iconic, overrated, epic etc.?

[Cheib]

Mr Tidy said:

Cheib said:

That’s a.good question...don’t know ! I’d really like to go for a CSL but CS is the “thinking mans”CSL isn’t it. My car was an SMG was a pig if you tried to drive off cold....proper bunny hops down the road but god I loved how it slammed the gears in S5. Don’t have any desire to own an E36 again...I had an E36 328i Sport before the M3....that was a great car. The first non M car with an M badge on its IIRC.

If I was buying an E46 M3 I'd want a manual, so a CS would be what I'd go for - other than a CSL converted to manual as someone on here has done!

But for now my Z4M Coupe works for going shopping!

Yup, manual box is the right answer. That manual CSL has had some great reviews in the press....although owner tried to selll it recently through Collecting Cars and didn’t get what he wanted for it. Would be amazing to buy a tidy sensible miles CSL and convert it to manual. The special edition versions BMW kick out these days aren’t a patch on what the CSL was. A very special version of what is the best M3 BMW has made (once it became a series production car)

[Felix79]

My old man had a stunning individual spec convertible E46 M3, but it had the SMG gearbox. However, it was still a great car and when he would take me out hooning in it, the SMG box was tolerable. Now with kits that convert SMG's to a full manual, there are now options to have a manual without paying such a high premium.

I think the E46 M3 is one of the best M3's (M4) BMW produced and I would say only the E30 M3 is more sought after.

With my own car, I went for an Z4M-Roadster (going to trade it in against a Z4M Coupe this year mind you) as it's as close to an E46 M3 with the sound and drive, but in a smaller 2 door package and around the same sort of price. The S54 is just one of those engines that just work perfectly for the M3 and Z4M.

[thebigmacmoomin]

Felix79 said:

My old man had a stunning individual spec convertible E46 M3, but it had the SMG gearbox. However, it was still a great car and when he would take me out hooning in it, the SMG box was tolerable. Now with kits that convert SMG's to a full manual, there are now options to have a manual without paying such a high premium.

That's what they did on Wheeler Dealers recently, Ant did the SMG to Manual conversion as its the same gearbox.

[CRA1G]

thebigmacmoomin said:

That's what they did on Wheeler Dealers recently, Ant did the SMG to Manual conversion as its the same gearbox.

Yes I watched that,and it didn't look that difficult to someone who knows what their doing... mines a factory Manual so I'm happy...

[Cheburator mk2]

Haters gonna hate and all that...

Went for an essential hoon today in my SMG-ed Imola Red E46 M3 with CSL inertia/255 software and also an engine remap. Guess what - because I have a properly set up SMG I didn’t miss having a manual box at all. And yes, thank you, I did have a Z4M Coupe from new back in 2007, and another three manual E46 M3s, so I guess I know what I am on about...

And yes, I also have the antidote too - a 996.1 GT3 CS Manthey K400 which is a manual only

[gizlaroc]

I agree, SMG I thought was brilliant, S5, lift off the throttle slightly as you change and it is fast and smooth, or keep your foot planted and it gives a nice kick.
I found it felt more special than the manual, the manual clutch can be heavy and ruin it imho.

I had the CSL and a regular E46 with SMG and liked both.

[Pereldh]

Jonstar said:

List below:

Alfa 159 - 31,400 Nm/deg

Hehe interesting, I remember at Saab this platform (which would underpin the new 9-5) would get 6 stars in EuroNCAP had it been possible, and the 159/Brera was indeed a pretty heavy car.
(Of course, GM pulled out of the deal and only Alfa Romeo ended up using this, heavily invested, platform).

[Jonstar]

Pereldh said:

Hehe interesting, I remember at Saab this platform (which would underpin the new 9-5) would get 6 stars in EuroNCAP had it been possible, and the 159/Brera was indeed a pretty heavy car.
(Of course, GM pulled out of the deal and only Alfa Romeo ended up using this, heavily invested, platform).

There are some questionable figures in that list to be fair!

[NelsonM3]

CSL remap on the gearbox is like night and day when compared with standard software.

I was considering ditching the SMG but there’s no way I’d do the swap now.

[RSVR101]

NelsonM3 said:

CSL remap on the gearbox is like night and day when compared with standard software.

I was considering ditching the SMG but there’s no way I’d do the swap now.

Where did you get it done and how much was it?

[NelsonM3]

RSVR101 said:

Where did you get it done and how much was it?

M3Carbon1 on m3cutters

[thegermancarguy]

What are we looking at for sub 50k miles manual coupes with good history? I’ve been trawling the classifieds and there aren’t many about. The good ones seem to come up, and you think that’s a bit expensive. And then.. they’re just gone!

[daviekiwi]

seem to be starting about £18k upwards, bargin compared to e30 m3! some are at f80/ m2 money now?
Better than money in the bank! .001%

[greenarrow]

I haven't looked at M3 prices for a while before today, but this thread piqued my curiosity. It seems that a car with over 100,000 miles on it is now around the £12K mark, compared with under £10K 2 or 3 years back. Then there's the 38,700 mile manual on Autotrader just now which is up for £33995! Wow! That's M4 money!

Are we getting to the point where E90 and E46 prices are starting to converge?

Seems that if you want an E46 M3, you need to buy now before its too late....

[thegermancarguy]

Not many cars on sale which have had a lot of common weak point done- subframe, vanos, besting shells etc. Surely buying one with these done would be better than buying a slightly lower miles car with non of the above sorted?

[trackdemon]

thegermancarguy said:

Not many cars on sale which have had a lot of common weak point done- subframe, vanos, besting shells etc. Surely buying one with these done would be better than buying a slightly lower miles car with non of the above sorted?

But the percentage of real problems is massively exaggerated, plenty cars out there with loads of miles and no problems because they've been looked after, like not thrashing from cold. So, waste money on something that probably isn't necessary or leave it look after it?.....

[4941cc]

greenarrow said:

Are we getting to the point where E90 and E46 prices are starting to converge?

Seems that way, having been looking today. Genuinely a tough decision to make:

2006 E46 M3 SMG with 74k miles £14,995



Or:

2008 E92 M3 DCT with 49k miles £14,500

[Gouki]

In my humble yet qualified opinion, buy black leather seats for that 49k E92 and you're onto a winner.

I think what cripples the E92 prices in the UK is the eye watering road tax - since they're all registered after 2005 and fuel costs. You'll get 30+ mpg in an E46, not sure that's real world possible in an E92.

[thegermancarguy]

That’s e46 looks great!
I suppose it you were to keep a while and decided to have subframe reinforcement, rod bearings as a preventative and then at some point done the vanos you’d be talking a few £k.
Lower miles cars (<50k) shouldn’t need the above if treated well.

[Jonstar]

Gouki said:

In my humble yet qualified opinion, buy black leather seats for that 49k E92 and you're onto a winner.

I think what cripples the E92 prices in the UK is the eye watering road tax - since they're all registered after 2005 and fuel costs. You'll get 30+ mpg in an E46, not sure that's real world possible in an E92.

I really don't think many a couple hundred pounds difference in road tax would stop many people buying an M3, much bigger issues to worry about.

To own I would have the e46 anyway, the e92 is a bit of a pudding in comparison, although much like the V10's it's worth experiencing just for the engine.