E46 M3 Buyer

[Denver09]

Why do M3 Drivers feel compelled to buy an M3 license plate. Searching the classifieds if I see a car has an M3 license plate I move to the next one immediately. Only seems to be M3 drivers. Maybe im buying the wrong car..

[VinceFox]

I didnt let it put me off mine, but then i had looked at a lot of crappy ones first.

Plate is irrelevant imho, having a good look over the car is what matters. For balance, id prefer mine not to have one though.

[Denver09]

How has yours been since you bought it? Any horror stories or things to look our for. Minimun specs etc?

[Yanto]

Denver09 said:

Why do M3 Drivers feel compelled to buy an M3 license plate. Searching the classifieds if I see a car has an M3 license plate I move to the next one immediately. Only seems to be M3 drivers. Maybe im buying the wrong car..

I see it on all sorts of brands from Audi to Ferrari..

I'd be looking at things like FBMWSH/ warranty etc. before worrying about a number plate....

How do you know if the non M3 plated cars have not just had their M3 plate removed for retention by owner for their next M3 ?

[Denver09]

Yeh I guess you're right.

[Denver09]

My Budget is 18k. Here is my choice;

E46 M3
Porsche 911 Carrera C2
Mercedes R230 (350 or 500)
Mercedes E Class E55
BMW 730D
Mercedes CL 500

I've always always wanted a 911 but I cannot quite stretch to a clean C4S which is the one I really want. What do you think

[Yanto]

I personally wouldn't drop £18k on an E46. They are a great car but $hit their value.

Plenty of nice ones at the £12-£13k mark unless you are dead set on low mile /mint CS as a keeper.

Alternatively, I would save an extra £3k and put in a cheeky bid for a CSL similar to this http://mobile.pistonheads.com/sales/3914894.htm which will prob retain 70-80% of its value after 3 yrs

[krisdelta]

I had a specific plate on mine - I'd saved long and hard for my M3, and it looked nice on the car with my initials.

Shouldn't put you off a car, you can always relinquish it to the DVLA and get the original plate back

[Cheib]

I saw a Y reg car on 18's yesterday....obv manual too given the age. Would have been among the very first cars in the country. That is just the perfect spec.....sounded as good as they did when new.

Made me want to buy one again...had one from 2002 to 2004 but mine had SMG and 19's.

[0836whimper]

Yes, not sure why it's an issue.

I bought mine with an M3 plate, wasn't particularly fussed as I'm not the sort that buys a personalised plate, but never got round to taking it off and it does make it a bit different. And anyway, a plate with M3 on it is better off being on an M3.

But I never didn't consider a car just because of a plate, doesn't make sense. Easily swapped.

The car I've got now originally had the perfect plate put on by BMW GB....but it's changed hands a few times since. Shame.