Is an e46 still an every day car?

[SBN]

Seen a few threads with m3pics lately and I'm getting twitchy feet with my e90 330i, the wheel we thread is mainly to blame.

I need it for work which is just the occasional 200 mile round trip.

I know a car will always go wrong and things need replacing etc etc how hard it's driven blah blah blah. But at some point cars just end up in the garage and become annoying with issues that can't be explained or just eat savings.

Just looking for owner opinions.... Oh and e92 m3 are just too much as I only have sub 15k

[M3Alan]

I've used mine as an every day car for nearly 2 years now. Never given any problems, I think the key is making sure you take your time to find a good one when purchasing.

[Cheburator mk2]

My dad commutes in his 2001 SMG on a daily basis - 6miles each way in city traffic. Has been doing it since 2010. The only thing that has gone wrong in the meantime - a burned out side light bulb. Car has 132,000 kilometers (abt 90k miles) and has been maintained with BMW throughout its life...

[krisdelta]

I had mine for 2.5 years as a daily drive (I sold it at 77k I think), never let me down. One of the easiest and most enjoyable daily drives out there for under £20k.

Do the usual checks (subframe etc) and you can't go too far wrong.

[NotNormal]

echo comments in the 3 posts above

[R8Steve]

I use my 2001 E46 M3 as a daily driver - 400 miles a week - and haven't had any problems apart from routine maintenance/servicing. The car has now done approx 80k miles and still feels tight and does not show it's miles at all

There was a slight wheel bearing noise coming from the front recently so i changed both front hubs, that's the only thing i would say was slightly out the norm.

I still get comments on how good the car looks, it's comfy and reliable, fairly economical for what it is and more than fast enough - not bad at all really for 7k!

[HustleRussell]

If you need the best reliability, buy one and budget £1.5k for preventative maintenance and improvement. Suspension bushings and links, tyres if necessary, belts, cooling system parts. No reason why it shouldn't be as reliable as an E90 if you invest a little in taking out some of the ten year old parts and replacing with new.

[TEKNOPUG]

HustleRussell said:

If you need the best reliability, buy one and budget £1.5k for preventative maintenance and improvement. Suspension bushings and links, tyres if necessary, belts, cooling system parts. No reason why it shouldn't be as reliable as an E90 if you invest a little in taking out some of the ten year old parts and replacing with new.

This. You'd be better off spending £12k on one and then throwing a couple of grand at it straight away, with the knoweldge that everything has been addressed that needs doing, to your satisfaction, than blowing your whole budget only to find that it's not quite as perfect as you thought.

That's always been my approach to buying cars anyway. M3's are more than capable of being driven everyday. They aren't fragile, save for a few known issues such as subframe cracks. Probably the last M car that doesn't have potential big bills from complex engines and fancy drivetrains.

[benny.c]

I've been using mine as a daily driver for the last year and can't think of anything I'd replace it with for the money. As I've said elsewhere, I've had quicker cars, better looking cars and more comfortable cars, but not one that does all three so well.

[shibby!]

Of course it is!

Its hardly a classic, and it was designed to be a daily driver.

Mine is an every day car like most are, there are a small few who dont, but those people are weird.

[SBN]

Ohhhh dear I'm now on the usual sites looking at m3's. Found a lovely one in estoril blue.

Some one say something bad about them ha ha ha lol

[R8Steve]

SBN said:

Ohhhh dear I'm now on the usual sites looking at m3's. Found a lovely one in estoril blue.

Some one say something bad about them ha ha ha lol

I've nothing bad to say about them, get one would be my advice. Great cars.

[SBN]

Do they suffer the normal bushes getting worn like the e46 coupes? The old tramlining and wooly steering?