Possible E46 M3 in the future
Discussion
Hi,
I really fancy a facelift E46 M3 coupe or cabrio, I'm not fussed.
I want to ask, what are the running costs like?
I would try & buy one that has as new as possible brakes & tyres. I know that it will be quite expensive as 'M' parts will carry a premium over normal BMW parts.
I just haven't found any that take my fancy yet. Want silver grey, techno violet or interlagos blue with red or black leather, top spec & have CSL wheels. Full BMW service history is a must.
I am 27 so insurance isn't an issue, a bit more than my 2007 Focus ST3 but not too bad. I do less than 3k miles a year aswell.
I have never even driven one either
Thanks
Andrew
I really fancy a facelift E46 M3 coupe or cabrio, I'm not fussed.
I want to ask, what are the running costs like?
I would try & buy one that has as new as possible brakes & tyres. I know that it will be quite expensive as 'M' parts will carry a premium over normal BMW parts.
I just haven't found any that take my fancy yet. Want silver grey, techno violet or interlagos blue with red or black leather, top spec & have CSL wheels. Full BMW service history is a must.
I am 27 so insurance isn't an issue, a bit more than my 2007 Focus ST3 but not too bad. I do less than 3k miles a year aswell.
I have never even driven one either
Thanks
Andrew
Edited by thebigmacmoomin on Monday 12th August 19:36
depends how you want to look after it. if you insist on BMW servicing, premium tyres and Optimax, then its a very expensive car to run. around town dont expect much more than 15mpg. i used to average 13mpg with all town driving. probably isnt the step up in performance from your ST3 that you're thinking it is as well. low down there is zero torque and if you line up with a 330d on the motorway at about 60mph and both of you foot it, it takes a lot longer than you'd expect before you start to pull away.
cringle said:
depends how you want to look after it. if you insist on BMW servicing, premium tyres and Optimax, then its a very expensive car to run. around town dont expect much more than 15mpg. i used to average 13mpg with all town driving. probably isnt the step up in performance from your ST3 that you're thinking it is as well. low down there is zero torque and if you line up with a 330d on the motorway at about 60mph and both of you foot it, it takes a lot longer than you'd expect before you start to pull away.
Very surprising to read that. The E46 M3 makes 80% of its maximum torque from around 2200rpm? and revs to 8k. I always got around low 20's around town and high 20's and early 30's on the motorway.Great cars and plenty fast and a different league performance wise compared to either a Focus ST or a 330d.
Available performance is a different league to the Focus and a 330d - you are just going to have to work at it to achieve it. In normal driving, i.e. not changing down and being ready, the other cars will give you a run for your money.
Costs wise: my advice would be to buy the best you can afford, fuel cost is irrelevent given your 3k per year. Servicing won't be heavy cost again due to your mileage. Try to find a car that has had discs, pads and tyres changed recently as these would be the biggest w&t items that will need replacing.
Great cars and definitely one that becomes part of the family.
Costs wise: my advice would be to buy the best you can afford, fuel cost is irrelevent given your 3k per year. Servicing won't be heavy cost again due to your mileage. Try to find a car that has had discs, pads and tyres changed recently as these would be the biggest w&t items that will need replacing.
Great cars and definitely one that becomes part of the family.
JRBM5 said:
Available performance is a different league to the Focus and a 330d - you are just going to have to work at it to achieve it. In normal driving, i.e. not changing down and being ready, the other cars will give you a run for your money.
Costs wise: my advice would be to buy the best you can afford, fuel cost is irrelevent given your 3k per year. Servicing won't be heavy cost again due to your mileage. Try to find a car that has had discs, pads and tyres changed recently as these would be the biggest w&t items that will need replacing.
Great cars and definitely one that becomes part of the family.
+1Costs wise: my advice would be to buy the best you can afford, fuel cost is irrelevent given your 3k per year. Servicing won't be heavy cost again due to your mileage. Try to find a car that has had discs, pads and tyres changed recently as these would be the biggest w&t items that will need replacing.
Great cars and definitely one that becomes part of the family.
When I bought my CS, it had just an inspection 2 service done and brake pads and discs all round with nearly new tyres up front. It's very affordable if you get the right one as you suggest.
thebigmacmoomin said:
Hi,
I really fancy a facelift E46 M3 coupe or cabrio, I'm not fussed.
I want to ask, what are the running costs like?
I would try & buy one that has as new as possible brakes & tyres. I know that it will be quite expensive as 'M' parts will carry a premium over normal BMW parts.
I just haven't found any that take my fancy yet. Want silver grey, techno violet or interlagos blue with red or black leather, top spec & have CSL wheels. Full BMW service history is a must.
I am 27 so insurance isn't an issue, a bit more than my 2007 Focus ST3 but not too bad. I do less than 3k miles a year aswell.
I have never even driven one either
Thanks
Andrew
Andrew, where are you based?I really fancy a facelift E46 M3 coupe or cabrio, I'm not fussed.
I want to ask, what are the running costs like?
I would try & buy one that has as new as possible brakes & tyres. I know that it will be quite expensive as 'M' parts will carry a premium over normal BMW parts.
I just haven't found any that take my fancy yet. Want silver grey, techno violet or interlagos blue with red or black leather, top spec & have CSL wheels. Full BMW service history is a must.
I am 27 so insurance isn't an issue, a bit more than my 2007 Focus ST3 but not too bad. I do less than 3k miles a year aswell.
I have never even driven one either
Thanks
Andrew
Edited by thebigmacmoomin on Monday 12th August 19:36
I am on holiday currently but will be selling my m3 when I get back. While its a coupe and not a face lift, it has been well maintained at bmw and everything is just so.
I will post the ad on autotrader / pistonheads but if you pm me I'll tell you the details - for fear of being shouted at here....
The focus st3 is a fine car and handles well plus has plenty of oomph because of the turbo - the m3 engine relies on revs but makes a dirty howl at the upper reaches which is very very nice. I have a secret crush on the Focus st as it sounds like an old Skool Quattro !!!
Cheers
Trev
cringle said:
depends how you want to look after it. if you insist on BMW servicing, premium tyres and Optimax, then its a very expensive car to run. around town dont expect much more than 15mpg. i used to average 13mpg with all town driving. probably isnt the step up in performance from your ST3 that you're thinking it is as well. low down there is zero torque and if you line up with a 330d on the motorway at about 60mph and both of you foot it, it takes a lot longer than you'd expect before you start to pull away.
I would plan on BMW servicing. I use Uniroyal tyres now which I like but not premiums. I would also use normal fuel (not ultimate , optimax etc). The Focus does around 20mpg around town as where I live is all hilly & my drive to & from work is in town / traffic.I know that, as an NA car compared to a turbo car, it will peform differently.
TrickyTrevM5 said:
Andrew, where are you based?
I am on holiday currently but will be selling my m3 when I get back. While its a coupe and not a face lift, it has been well maintained at bmw and everything is just so.
I will post the ad on autotrader / pistonheads but if you pm me I'll tell you the details - for fear of being shouted at here....
The focus st3 is a fine car and handles well plus has plenty of oomph because of the turbo - the m3 engine relies on revs but makes a dirty howl at the upper reaches which is very very nice. I have a secret crush on the Focus st as it sounds like an old Skool Quattro !!!
Cheers
Trev
I am based in Torbay, South Devon. Really, I need to part-ex as I cant afford to buy an M3 & still have the Focus.I am on holiday currently but will be selling my m3 when I get back. While its a coupe and not a face lift, it has been well maintained at bmw and everything is just so.
I will post the ad on autotrader / pistonheads but if you pm me I'll tell you the details - for fear of being shouted at here....
The focus st3 is a fine car and handles well plus has plenty of oomph because of the turbo - the m3 engine relies on revs but makes a dirty howl at the upper reaches which is very very nice. I have a secret crush on the Focus st as it sounds like an old Skool Quattro !!!
Cheers
Trev
taters said:
Just got an insurance quote for reference on this car.Cheapest was £574.52 with Privilege & the dearest was £10722.50 with BG Insurance (who ???). All with protected NCB & £150 voluntary excess. Doesn't seem to bad, pay £367 for the Focus.
Naddy786 said:
Very surprising to read that. The E46 M3 makes 80% of its maximum torque from around 2200rpm? and revs to 8k. I always got around low 20's around town and high 20's and early 30's on the motorway..
Same here. I average 25mpg with a mix of driving but it's mainly A/B roads pottering about. 13mpg sounds like an unhealthy car. I've never seen anything near that bad. benny.c said:
Naddy786 said:
Very surprising to read that. The E46 M3 makes 80% of its maximum torque from around 2200rpm? and revs to 8k. I always got around low 20's around town and high 20's and early 30's on the motorway..
Same here. I average 25mpg with a mix of driving but it's mainly A/B roads pottering about. 13mpg sounds like an unhealthy car. I've never seen anything near that bad. I've just spent £1100 on brake discs & pads, front wishbones, rtabs, track rod ends, bushes. I paid £500 for an inspection 2 at my local indy. Tyres are expensive but as they are the same size as the 330's they are no more expensive. They aren't massively expensive cars to run if you shop around. My car wont be going anywhere near a BMW dealer unless i'm claiming on the warranty!!
cringle said:
depends how you want to look after it. if you insist on BMW servicing, premium tyres and Optimax, then its a very expensive car to run. around town dont expect much more than 15mpg. i used to average 13mpg with all town driving. probably isnt the step up in performance from your ST3 that you're thinking it is as well. low down there is zero torque and if you line up with a 330d on the motorway at about 60mph and both of you foot it, it takes a lot longer than you'd expect before you start to pull away.
Unless of course you drive the car the way it's designed to be driven, i.e. drop two cogs and accelerate, changing up as you go.13 mpg round stop start town driving is not unxpected at all - it's what i'd call average coming from an owner who does purely town driving (i've had two different examples so I highly doubt both were 'unhealthy').
Running costs are obviously potentially very high as its a 10+ year old performance car now, but not more so than any other car with similar performance. Doing 3,000 miles a year I think you'd barely notice any difference in costs compared to your focus. Main serviceable items (other tha the obvious discs / tyres) that ideally you'll want to have been replaced are: front control arm bushes, rear trailing arm bushes, rear coil springs, vanos solenoids can sometimes be problematic and they have a tendancy to like eating MAFs also when they get to higher miles. Check the arches for rust (fronts especially can be quite prone) and if you're buying one over 10 years old then make sure its had the subframe repair done or take that into consideration with your offer. It costs a little over £1000 to get it sorted privately outside of the BMW goodwill period.
If the road clears up and I reset the OBC while moving then yeah it will average mid 20s with ease until I hit more traffic, but if you do purely town driving you will be driving like a granny to get anywhere near 20. On the only motorway trip i've done in the car it managed 31 mpg and I wasn't trying to be economical then.
Great cars anyway. Find a nice empty B road and you really start to understand what it's all about, absolutely amazing induction noise, power delivery and chassis balance all while being able to carry 4 people in comfort if you wish!
I can't see me finding a replacement for this car for a long while without spending 2-3 times its value. Good luck with the search mate.
Running costs are obviously potentially very high as its a 10+ year old performance car now, but not more so than any other car with similar performance. Doing 3,000 miles a year I think you'd barely notice any difference in costs compared to your focus. Main serviceable items (other tha the obvious discs / tyres) that ideally you'll want to have been replaced are: front control arm bushes, rear trailing arm bushes, rear coil springs, vanos solenoids can sometimes be problematic and they have a tendancy to like eating MAFs also when they get to higher miles. Check the arches for rust (fronts especially can be quite prone) and if you're buying one over 10 years old then make sure its had the subframe repair done or take that into consideration with your offer. It costs a little over £1000 to get it sorted privately outside of the BMW goodwill period.
If the road clears up and I reset the OBC while moving then yeah it will average mid 20s with ease until I hit more traffic, but if you do purely town driving you will be driving like a granny to get anywhere near 20. On the only motorway trip i've done in the car it managed 31 mpg and I wasn't trying to be economical then.
Great cars anyway. Find a nice empty B road and you really start to understand what it's all about, absolutely amazing induction noise, power delivery and chassis balance all while being able to carry 4 people in comfort if you wish!
I can't see me finding a replacement for this car for a long while without spending 2-3 times its value. Good luck with the search mate.
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