Discussion
Soon to be swapping my MX5 for a Sante Fe for my wife - I will be left with her Civic as my commuter (12 mile round trip). Both cars are diesel - I don't think we need two diesel cars in the household!
So...considering convincing the wife I should sell the Civic (now she has her big car to ferry the kids around in) and get an E46 M3.
What budget should I be looking at - hoping £10k?
What should I look out for?
What are the expensive bits that go wrong?
How do they drive?
Should I do it?
So...considering convincing the wife I should sell the Civic (now she has her big car to ferry the kids around in) and get an E46 M3.
What budget should I be looking at - hoping £10k?
What should I look out for?
What are the expensive bits that go wrong?
How do they drive?
Should I do it?
The SMG makes this car unbelievable! I had one, and it was a joy to drive, I used to love changing gear for the fun of it. Forget the 'button' paddles like on most automatics, the SMG feels like what I would imagine an F1 gearbox feels like.
Yes they're expensive if they go wrong, but this is a risk worth taking IMO.
Yes they're expensive if they go wrong, but this is a risk worth taking IMO.
Personally I love the SMG 
as previously said it really suits the car imho and the shifts in s5 and s6 are really addictive.
Not sure how it can be irritating when manoeuvring? Each to their own though all pretty subjective.
On some of the other points...
Just a fantastic engine the s54, some people say it lacks torque but I disagree although its 4k where you realise your in an //m car
The whole package of speed, noise, handling, comfort, toys, road presence etc takes some beating for that money.
Worth considering an e39 m5 though owners / past owners seem to have nothing but good things to say about them.
Finally.. Just do it you only live once!
as previously said it really suits the car imho and the shifts in s5 and s6 are really addictive.Not sure how it can be irritating when manoeuvring? Each to their own though all pretty subjective.
On some of the other points...
Just a fantastic engine the s54, some people say it lacks torque but I disagree although its 4k where you realise your in an //m car
The whole package of speed, noise, handling, comfort, toys, road presence etc takes some beating for that money.
Worth considering an e39 m5 though owners / past owners seem to have nothing but good things to say about them.
Finally.. Just do it you only live once!
Edited by leeson660 on Thursday 7th June 23:41
Legend83,
I mean this with the very best intentions: For god sake do some research before going for a test drive in an M3!!!!
I have an E46 M3 - Manual. Had it for a couple of years now. Its a great thing and once I got the 'heel and toe' action down, was hopeleesly hooked by it.
Thing is, its pretty pricey when the clutch goes, but then again a faulty SMG2 can be a painfully, horribly expensive too. In fact, anything on an M car can b, but its worth it. My point is this: I drove both, loved the engine in both (its mental once over the 3k threshold) and for me, I preferred the manual.
Last week Autocar did a section on old M Cars - you should read it - they think the E46 is languishing at the low end of valuations as it is neither the current model or has classic status. So now is a good time to buy.
If I were to impart some advice, I would say this - research, providence and history is key though. I would spend some money buying back issues of petrolhead magazines on ebay if you are serious though - 30/40 quid should get you the M3 book by BMW Car magazine and the Gold Portfolio M3 book too, as well as some old EVO magazines and Autocars (both have done 'Buyers Guide' features on the car).
Read ALL of the materials you can first BEFORE you test drive a single car - SMG or otherwise ....... because once the needle passes 3k on the first test drive, and the induction noise fills the cabin of the M3, try as you might, you will probably convince yourself to buy the car you are sitting in then and there .... If the test drive goes near any tunnels or you open the windows, you are screwed for sure !
THE NOISE !
(I had and E39 M5 too - depending on the family situation, try that, but all of the above applies to that too - including the noise!)
Have fun!
TrickyTrevM5
I mean this with the very best intentions: For god sake do some research before going for a test drive in an M3!!!!
I have an E46 M3 - Manual. Had it for a couple of years now. Its a great thing and once I got the 'heel and toe' action down, was hopeleesly hooked by it.
Thing is, its pretty pricey when the clutch goes, but then again a faulty SMG2 can be a painfully, horribly expensive too. In fact, anything on an M car can b, but its worth it. My point is this: I drove both, loved the engine in both (its mental once over the 3k threshold) and for me, I preferred the manual.
Last week Autocar did a section on old M Cars - you should read it - they think the E46 is languishing at the low end of valuations as it is neither the current model or has classic status. So now is a good time to buy.
If I were to impart some advice, I would say this - research, providence and history is key though. I would spend some money buying back issues of petrolhead magazines on ebay if you are serious though - 30/40 quid should get you the M3 book by BMW Car magazine and the Gold Portfolio M3 book too, as well as some old EVO magazines and Autocars (both have done 'Buyers Guide' features on the car).
Read ALL of the materials you can first BEFORE you test drive a single car - SMG or otherwise ....... because once the needle passes 3k on the first test drive, and the induction noise fills the cabin of the M3, try as you might, you will probably convince yourself to buy the car you are sitting in then and there .... If the test drive goes near any tunnels or you open the windows, you are screwed for sure !
THE NOISE !
(I had and E39 M5 too - depending on the family situation, try that, but all of the above applies to that too - including the noise!)
Have fun!
TrickyTrevM5
TrickyTrevM5 said:
Legend83,
I mean this with the very best intentions: For god sake do some research before going for a test drive in an M3!!!!
I have an E46 M3 - Manual. Had it for a couple of years now. Its a great thing and once I got the 'heel and toe' action down, was hopeleesly hooked by it.
Thing is, its pretty pricey when the clutch goes, but then again a faulty SMG2 can be a painfully, horribly expensive too. In fact, anything on an M car can b, but its worth it. My point is this: I drove both, loved the engine in both (its mental once over the 3k threshold) and for me, I preferred the manual.
Last week Autocar did a section on old M Cars - you should read it - they think the E46 is languishing at the low end of valuations as it is neither the current model or has classic status. So now is a good time to buy.
If I were to impart some advice, I would say this - research, providence and history is key though. I would spend some money buying back issues of petrolhead magazines on ebay if you are serious though - 30/40 quid should get you the M3 book by BMW Car magazine and the Gold Portfolio M3 book too, as well as some old EVO magazines and Autocars (both have done 'Buyers Guide' features on the car).
Read ALL of the materials you can first BEFORE you test drive a single car - SMG or otherwise ....... because once the needle passes 3k on the first test drive, and the induction noise fills the cabin of the M3, try as you might, you will probably convince yourself to buy the car you are sitting in then and there .... If the test drive goes near any tunnels or you open the windows, you are screwed for sure !
THE NOISE !
(I had and E39 M5 too - depending on the family situation, try that, but all of the above applies to that too - including the noise!)
Have fun!
TrickyTrevM5
So true about the tunnel I mean this with the very best intentions: For god sake do some research before going for a test drive in an M3!!!!
I have an E46 M3 - Manual. Had it for a couple of years now. Its a great thing and once I got the 'heel and toe' action down, was hopeleesly hooked by it.
Thing is, its pretty pricey when the clutch goes, but then again a faulty SMG2 can be a painfully, horribly expensive too. In fact, anything on an M car can b, but its worth it. My point is this: I drove both, loved the engine in both (its mental once over the 3k threshold) and for me, I preferred the manual.
Last week Autocar did a section on old M Cars - you should read it - they think the E46 is languishing at the low end of valuations as it is neither the current model or has classic status. So now is a good time to buy.
If I were to impart some advice, I would say this - research, providence and history is key though. I would spend some money buying back issues of petrolhead magazines on ebay if you are serious though - 30/40 quid should get you the M3 book by BMW Car magazine and the Gold Portfolio M3 book too, as well as some old EVO magazines and Autocars (both have done 'Buyers Guide' features on the car).
Read ALL of the materials you can first BEFORE you test drive a single car - SMG or otherwise ....... because once the needle passes 3k on the first test drive, and the induction noise fills the cabin of the M3, try as you might, you will probably convince yourself to buy the car you are sitting in then and there .... If the test drive goes near any tunnels or you open the windows, you are screwed for sure !
THE NOISE !
(I had and E39 M5 too - depending on the family situation, try that, but all of the above applies to that too - including the noise!)
Have fun!
TrickyTrevM5
I was driving home with a mate late at night a few months ago, we entered a tunnel that is about 500m long with dual carriageway afterwards. With 250m to go, all the windows down, sunroof open and rear windows out gave it the beans from first gear up into 2nd etc....
OH MY THE NOISE!
Really quite an experience, must do that again v soon.
As above, make sure you carefully check out any car you look at and buy a car with the options you really want. Don't just settle on the first car.
SMG is brilliant. Its even more great once you learn how to drive with it properly - too many people fall out with it because it doesn't do what they expect straight away. Once learnt it is different though. Its a personal choice though so try BOTH!
If your buying on a budget then you have to plan for things going wrong which can be massive. The price of these cars does not reflect the maintenance costs.
SMG is brilliant. Its even more great once you learn how to drive with it properly - too many people fall out with it because it doesn't do what they expect straight away. Once learnt it is different though. Its a personal choice though so try BOTH!
If your buying on a budget then you have to plan for things going wrong which can be massive. The price of these cars does not reflect the maintenance costs.
I had to buy SMG due to health issues. The trick I've found with it is never use the Auto option, always drive with the paddles, this way you can keep the changes smooth when the revs are low.
Hands down best handling and driving car I've ever owned. I even purchased 12mths tax for mine, which is a massive commitment for me.
They can be expensive to run, although it's mainly consumables (brakes & tyres predominantly), so the less you drive it the cheaper it is to run. The engine's are bullet proof, the SMG pump issue is a bit internet hyped, actual failures are rarer than you'd imagine, quite often it's other sensors/relays and knowledge of common faults of the system has improved a lot over the last few years.
Hands down best handling and driving car I've ever owned. I even purchased 12mths tax for mine, which is a massive commitment for me.
They can be expensive to run, although it's mainly consumables (brakes & tyres predominantly), so the less you drive it the cheaper it is to run. The engine's are bullet proof, the SMG pump issue is a bit internet hyped, actual failures are rarer than you'd imagine, quite often it's other sensors/relays and knowledge of common faults of the system has improved a lot over the last few years.
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