Looking at dipping into E46 M3 - Not easy
Discussion
Right, so I'm over Porsches and fancy buying an E46 M3.
I've seen a couple in the flesh, so to speak, including this one:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/406818163299
It looked OK, but the passenger side door had obviously been painted and was a poor match, dull.
The service book was fully stamped and included a £2500 service last year. But in that latter service, the technician had noted that the SMG pump "could fail at any time". Given how much had just been spent, it was spiteful in my view, but spooked me.
Another oversight by the seller was that he had failed to notice an obvious fluid leak running from the engine to the kerb. It wasn't present when I viewed it, and there was no evidence of a leak.
My question to the gathered experts - is it worth the risk?
My thinking when it comes to E46 M3's is that there's a hierarchy that goes something like:
1. Manual Coupe
2. SMG Coupe
3. Manual Convertible
4. SMG Convertible
So the SMG Cab is right at the bottom and deemed to be less desirable.
Thoughts?
I've seen a couple in the flesh, so to speak, including this one:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/406818163299
It looked OK, but the passenger side door had obviously been painted and was a poor match, dull.
The service book was fully stamped and included a £2500 service last year. But in that latter service, the technician had noted that the SMG pump "could fail at any time". Given how much had just been spent, it was spiteful in my view, but spooked me.
Another oversight by the seller was that he had failed to notice an obvious fluid leak running from the engine to the kerb. It wasn't present when I viewed it, and there was no evidence of a leak.
My question to the gathered experts - is it worth the risk?
My thinking when it comes to E46 M3's is that there's a hierarchy that goes something like:
1. Manual Coupe
2. SMG Coupe
3. Manual Convertible
4. SMG Convertible
So the SMG Cab is right at the bottom and deemed to be less desirable.
Thoughts?
Manuals in either form are the most desirable, prices have been picking up last 9 months, subject to condition and history. The Autostore Cab Manual was a belter, knew the car and owner, a Classic Heroes Maintained car, You will need 30’s for the best at fhe moment. Old Colonel Cars is worth a chat with if your budget is less.
Looking on eBay and Autotrader, manual coupes start around £15k. I wouldn’t own a convertible, don’t like the look of them with hard or soft tops up, look ok with roof down, just not my bag though. M3 cutters have cars for sale, generally enthusiast owned.
People will talk about the big 3 jobs being done but I think they have more issues to be mindful of.
Big end shells, boot floor condition, Vanos, head gasket and rust.
Read up on these topics and go in with eyes wide open. Internet does naturally make them sound terrible but if you do enough research you can judge for yourself what’s fact or fiction.
Colour combos can have an effect on value, individual colours can command a premium.
End of the line 2006 models fall into the super VED tax bracket, nearly £800.
SMG gearbox seem to be a bit marmite, I’ve not driven one so cant comment, again lots of opinions on the web. CSL only came with SMG, some owners converting them to manual so I guess that says something.
I bought my 2003 carbon black manual coupe in 2019 @119 k miles. Had boot floor done £2500, BE shells £1500, Vanos £1000, diff £1000. Now on 141k miles and driving around again for the summer.
Mine and someone I used to work with.
People will talk about the big 3 jobs being done but I think they have more issues to be mindful of.
Big end shells, boot floor condition, Vanos, head gasket and rust.
Read up on these topics and go in with eyes wide open. Internet does naturally make them sound terrible but if you do enough research you can judge for yourself what’s fact or fiction.
Colour combos can have an effect on value, individual colours can command a premium.
End of the line 2006 models fall into the super VED tax bracket, nearly £800.
SMG gearbox seem to be a bit marmite, I’ve not driven one so cant comment, again lots of opinions on the web. CSL only came with SMG, some owners converting them to manual so I guess that says something.
I bought my 2003 carbon black manual coupe in 2019 @119 k miles. Had boot floor done £2500, BE shells £1500, Vanos £1000, diff £1000. Now on 141k miles and driving around again for the summer.
Mine and someone I used to work with.
I think your listing in terms of desirability is probably right!
If you don't need rear seats the cheapest way to get an S54 engine is in a Z4M, especially the Roadster, and they are all manual. You also avoid the boot floor issues and they don't seem to have rust problems, but almost all of them are Band M Road Tax sadly.
I'd be much more comfortable buying from a forum like M3cutters than Ebay!
If you don't need rear seats the cheapest way to get an S54 engine is in a Z4M, especially the Roadster, and they are all manual. You also avoid the boot floor issues and they don't seem to have rust problems, but almost all of them are Band M Road Tax sadly.
I'd be much more comfortable buying from a forum like M3cutters than Ebay!
The smg to me is really horrible when just driving around sensibly. Had a go of one for a couple of days when it was nearly new, only had 3000 miles on it, and the box was so disappointing. It did start to make sense when spirited driving but just pottering around it was abysmal. Everything else about the car was really impressive.
Are there modern upgrades to make smgs a bit more liveable dy to day?
Are there modern upgrades to make smgs a bit more liveable dy to day?
maz8062 said:
Right, so I'm over Porsches and fancy buying an E46 M3.
I've seen a couple in the flesh, so to speak, including this one:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/406818163299
It looked OK, but the passenger side door had obviously been painted and was a poor match, dull.
The service book was fully stamped and included a £2500 service last year. But in that latter service, the technician had noted that the SMG pump "could fail at any time". Given how much had just been spent, it was spiteful in my view, but spooked me.
Another oversight by the seller was that he had failed to notice an obvious fluid leak running from the engine to the kerb. It wasn't present when I viewed it, and there was no evidence of a leak.
My question to the gathered experts - is it worth the risk?
My thinking when it comes to E46 M3's is that there's a hierarchy that goes something like:
1. Manual Coupe
2. SMG Coupe
3. Manual Convertible
4. SMG Convertible
So the SMG Cab is right at the bottom and deemed to be less desirable.
Thoughts?
I would say try and up the budget, and you are right with regard the hierarchy you listed, it’s not bmw there are other marques where that same hierarchy exists and that’s just down to things like supply or cars and what owners want. I've seen a couple in the flesh, so to speak, including this one:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/406818163299
It looked OK, but the passenger side door had obviously been painted and was a poor match, dull.
The service book was fully stamped and included a £2500 service last year. But in that latter service, the technician had noted that the SMG pump "could fail at any time". Given how much had just been spent, it was spiteful in my view, but spooked me.
Another oversight by the seller was that he had failed to notice an obvious fluid leak running from the engine to the kerb. It wasn't present when I viewed it, and there was no evidence of a leak.
My question to the gathered experts - is it worth the risk?
My thinking when it comes to E46 M3's is that there's a hierarchy that goes something like:
1. Manual Coupe
2. SMG Coupe
3. Manual Convertible
4. SMG Convertible
So the SMG Cab is right at the bottom and deemed to be less desirable.
Thoughts?
If you find a good car you won’t be unhappy.
Personally I’d opt for a coupe, manual, colour is very subjective mine is Phoenix yellow some love it some hate it!
Owned mine 18 years if you want to DM me You can, your profile doesn’t allow emails.
Andy
My view fwiw, outstanding cars, but be ready to spend fairly chunky amounts. Most performance cars seem to have one or two big bills for replaceable items, E46 M3's have quite a few so you can quickly be spending high percentages of the cars value.
Head gaskets will go
Vanos system will need work
RACP will need work at some point
Rod bearings maybe less of a thing, but perhaps consideration for higher mile cars
Diffs get clunky and may need a rebuild.
And then the bigger one for these cars now is rust imho. Lots of cars rear arches are starting to go, along with sills. You're getting into a lot of bodywork and paintwork to properly rectify.
So you either buy something which has had a lot of those attended to, or you buy lower end of the market and be ready to maintain.
I've also got a very early Phoenix yellow slicktop manual coupe with a CSL airbox - Sound is off the charts and to pedal down a good B road is not like a lot else, especially modern stuff.
Head gaskets will go
Vanos system will need work
RACP will need work at some point
Rod bearings maybe less of a thing, but perhaps consideration for higher mile cars
Diffs get clunky and may need a rebuild.
And then the bigger one for these cars now is rust imho. Lots of cars rear arches are starting to go, along with sills. You're getting into a lot of bodywork and paintwork to properly rectify.
So you either buy something which has had a lot of those attended to, or you buy lower end of the market and be ready to maintain.
I've also got a very early Phoenix yellow slicktop manual coupe with a CSL airbox - Sound is off the charts and to pedal down a good B road is not like a lot else, especially modern stuff.
Thanks for the contributions. I gave up in the end and bought a Cayman S, just so I can tick ownership of all of the Porsche sports car boxes.
Of the ones that I actually drove and saw, I can’t say that I was overly impressed. I’m guessing the action is all up the top of the reg range, and the SMG would take some getting used to.
My overriding take away from the jaunt was the scuttle shake on the cabs. It was brutal. When I look again I’ll look out for a coupe manual instead.
Of the ones that I actually drove and saw, I can’t say that I was overly impressed. I’m guessing the action is all up the top of the reg range, and the SMG would take some getting used to.
My overriding take away from the jaunt was the scuttle shake on the cabs. It was brutal. When I look again I’ll look out for a coupe manual instead.
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