E46 M3 CS - cheap(ish) entertainment for 6 months?

[Big E 118]

I'm currently running an e92 325i but looking at getting an e92 M3 March/April next year.

I can't free up the cash just yet due to tax implications but I'm a bit bored with my 325i.

I've seen a couple of E46 M3 CS's, with extended warranties and between 36 and 46k on the clock for approx £21k. I'm thinking they'd be pretty good fun for 6 months or so and should be able to re sell for fairly near that price (presuming they are already past big depreciation hits)when I go for an e92.

I'm willing to take a couple of grand hit just to have something new (to me) and fun for 6 months, do I go for it or should I just be patient?

[E21_Ross]

i'd personally be patient. you might take a hit on resale, many people start wondering why people keep cars for short periods of time and sell them on again quickly...

spend the rest on petrol in the M3 you won't be disappointed. it's a car that takes a while to get used to but it's sublime.

any excuse
silverstone II



not the best pic i have, but only on the computer

[Big E 118]

That's nice, Silverstone/black leather is the combo I'm going to go for!

I guess I'm like any other PHer, always browsing the classifieds and thinking about the next car!

[ESDavey]

TVR T350 or similar ? Once you travel to the dark side, you wont be back on here for years !!!

[Big E 118]

ESDavey said:

TVR T350 or similar ? Once you travel to the dark side, you wont be back on here for years !!!

A TVR is definitley on my "to have one day" list (along with many others) although a T350 probably isn't the best idea for 6 months of fun over the winter, call me a chicken if you like

[ESDavey]

Man Up !

[pjv997]

I'd probably go for the boring advice and say be patient. The extra money that you save could be spent on a slightly better car, sports exhaust or a spare set of wheels with winter tyres.

[Gruber]

I think the e46 CS is a super bit of kit. If I was in the fortunate position to be able to contemplate one as a toy for 6 months, I'd jump at the chance.

Your problem might be that you have to wait a while to find a buyer, when the time comes. They command a not-insignificant premium over the standard e46 and there's been some debate on here recently about whether they're worth the extra. Some (me included) think they are, but you might have to wait a while to find a like-minded buyer.

Mine was Interlagos Blue with SMG - beautiful car and an absolute blast to drive.

[Big E 118]

Gruber said:

I think the e46 CS is a super bit of kit. If I was in the fortunate position to be able to contemplate one as a toy for 6 months, I'd jump at the chance.

Your problem might be that you have to wait a while to find a buyer, when the time comes. They command a not-insignificant premium over the standard e46 and there's been some debate on here recently about whether they're worth the extra. Some (me included) think they are, but you might have to wait a while to find a like-minded buyer.

Mine was Interlagos Blue with SMG - beautiful car and an absolute blast to drive.

I'm looking at an Interlagos Blue SMG at the weekend, I'll let you know if I go for it!

I see what you're saying about resale taking some time. As I'm looking at the E92 April next year I'll probably be trading the CS in to a BMW dealer and well aware I'll be raped on trade in price but I just have to weigh up if 6 months of winter sideways action in a CS will be worth a few grand.

PH side of me says yes, bank account handling side says mmmmmmm....

[compocon]

Why not buy an actual CSL and sell it in two years for more than your E92 M3 will be worth?

Sorry, couldnt resist

[Big E 118]

compocon said:

Why not buy an actual CSL and sell it in two years for more than your E92 M3 will be worth?

Sorry, couldnt resist

I have thought about the CSL and they are a bit special but this will be my daily driver so having to consider the little luxuries the CS has that the CSL doesn't.

Call me ghey/old/soft but I just can't do without heated seats at 6:30am on a cold winters morning!!

[JNW1]

Big E 118 said:

I've seen a couple of E46 M3 CS's, with extended warranties and between 36 and 46k on the clock for approx £21k.

No bigger fan of the M3 CS than me but to be honest I think anything over £20k is steep unless it's a BMW AUC with low mileage and a high spec. Put differently, I think you'd struggle to get £19k for one in 6 months time so if you paid £21k I reckon your depreciation hit could be closer to £4k than £2k!

[Big E 118]

JNW1 said:

Big E 118 said:

I've seen a couple of E46 M3 CS's, with extended warranties and between 36 and 46k on the clock for approx £21k.

No bigger fan of the M3 CS than me but to be honest I think anything over £20k is steep unless it's a BMW AUC with low mileage and a high spec. Put differently, I think you'd struggle to get £19k for one in 6 months time so if you paid £21k I reckon your depreciation hit could be closer to £4k than £2k!

Thanks for the feedback and I fear you're right. If they are listed for £21k I wouldn't expect to pay that, I've always gone by the rule if buying from a dealer list less 5%, make sure that they know you'll buy it there and then if they accept. If they don't then walk away.

Still very tempting though! Anyone know the production numbers of CS's for the UK?

[jbbusybee]

We have just received a nice E46 M3 CS for sale, if your interested send me a message.

[AC Schnitzer]

Big E 118 said:

compocon said:

Why not buy an actual CSL and sell it in two years for more than your E92 M3 will be worth?

Sorry, couldnt resist

I have thought about the CSL and they are a bit special but this will be my daily driver so having to consider the little luxuries the CS has that the CSL doesn't.

Call me ghey/old/soft but I just can't do without heated seats at 6:30am on a cold winters morning!!

You don't need heating with Alcantara seats + you will get a lovely warming feeling everytime you start the CSL.

[JNW1]

AC Schnitzer said:

Big E 118 said:

compocon said:

Why not buy an actual CSL and sell it in two years for more than your E92 M3 will be worth?

Sorry, couldnt resist

I have thought about the CSL and they are a bit special but this will be my daily driver so having to consider the little luxuries the CS has that the CSL doesn't.

Call me ghey/old/soft but I just can't do without heated seats at 6:30am on a cold winters morning!!

You don't need heating with Alcantara seats + you will get a lovely warming feeling everytime you start the CSL.

Drove a CSL before I bought my CS; excellent machine but wasn't that keen on SMG and struggled to get comfortable in the fixed back seats. Therefore, the CS has the edge as an everyday road car IMO; CSL would probably represent the better financial investment though!

[five50]

Understand that the CS has the steering rack, brakes and rims of the CSL - but without the body lightening and carbon - and presumably the airbox - does it definitely justify the premium to the standard car? Interested to know what people think.

[Nords]

Five,

I have a CSL and know people who have had CSs. The CS is an M3 with the steering rack, M-Trak traction control, and CSL wheels (rears are the same, fronts are 0.5" thinner), so it has all the comfort and some goodies. It is worth it over a std M3, however you could argue a cheaper M3 with a set of real CSL alloys is just as good.

The CSL airbox makes the CSL, and the carbon interior, roof et al just make it extra special. I'm happy to live with the CSL's compromises (fixed seats make it awkward to get in the back etc) on a day to day basis, others will not be...

PS The brakes are little different, fine for road use but overheat on track. CS and CSL need a set of APs if tracked (ducks for cover from the incoming from the small brake brigade!)

Edited by Nords on Sunday 14th November 02:30

[JNW1]

five50 said:

Understand that the CS has the steering rack, brakes and rims of the CSL - but without the body lightening and carbon - and presumably the airbox - does it definitely justify the premium to the standard car? Interested to know what people think.

Two of the main dynamic weaknesses of the standard E46 M3 are the steering (bit lacking in the feel) and the ride (bit over-fidegty, especially on 19" wheels). The CS is much better in both respects and, as you lose very little in creature comforts compared to the standard car (cruise control and ability to operate the phone and stereo via the steering wheel), personally I'd say it's well worth the modest premium.

The CSL is of course more focussed again although I'd just question whether the weight saving many talk about is actually that significant on most cars. To explain, the weight quoted for a standard CSL excludes air conditioning (which was an option) but in reality I think most had that fitted; therefore, while a CSL with air con will still be lighter than a CS, I suspect the difference isn't as much as the official statistics suggest!

[Great Pretender]

AC Schnitzer said:

Big E 118 said:

compocon said:

Why not buy an actual CSL and sell it in two years for more than your E92 M3 will be worth?

Sorry, couldnt resist

I have thought about the CSL and they are a bit special but this will be my daily driver so having to consider the little luxuries the CS has that the CSL doesn't.

Call me ghey/old/soft but I just can't do without heated seats at 6:30am on a cold winters morning!!

You don't need heating with Alcantara seats + you will get a lovely warming feeling everytime you start the CSL.

Except you wouldn't. Not if you had a long, tedious stop-start commute ahead of you anyway.