E46 M3 - Should I?

[smith94]

Currently own a Z4 Coupe 3.0si and keep getting the itch to get an E46 M3. Question is should I scratch it?

I drive a fair amount, circa 300-350 miles a week on A roads, motorways and occasional B road blast. My commute to work is 50 miles round trip, currently getting 33.5mpg out of the Z4 (calculator, not OBC) Can anyone give me realistic estimate of how much it would cost me to run the M3 over and above what I currently drive?

I'd be getting a nice one, not at the lower end of the market. preferably one owner, clockwork service history and reassuring history.

So what I's like to know is mpg, servicing, brakes, tyres for costs - and the likelihood of big bills also.

FYI for reference I'm having the brakes done on the Z4 soon and have been quoted £800 for the full job (Discs, Pads, Sensors, Shoes and Fitting Kit + labour).

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[james28]

LoL was in the same position as you and i chose the z4 coupe also but i often wonder should i of gone with the m3.The shape of the coupe is just awesome though.

[gizlaroc]

When commuting I used to get 28mpg average from the M3.

Servicing is expensive if you stick with BMW servicing, and if you buy a one owner car with full BMW history I guess you wil have to to keep the value up.

however, if you are doing 350 miles a week in the Z4 I reckon you can add 100 miles a week to that when you get the M3, it is the only car I have gone out at midnight, in the rain and just driven for 2 hours, it is that sort of car.

So maybe don't get so hung up about 1 owner and full BMW history and low miles?

Remember these are the sort of cars that do have many owners, I always think 1 owner for year one, then a new owner every 2-3 years, and the bonus is new owners tend to get them spot on again. I found the single owner cars the worst, not intentionally, but they just didn't realise the suspension was getting tired or the trim was creaking, it happened over time and so they hadn't noticed.

I would be more than happy to look at nice 80k mile car with maybe 4 owners on it, and then use it properly, don't worry about racking miles up on it, and use an indi garage to do the work.

I loved mine, in fact I preferred my SMG M3 to my CSL if I am honest, I was too precious with the CSL to really enjoy it, plus keeping it mint and the warranty going etc. costs thousands and thousands. Worst month was nearly £7,000 with warranty, insurance, fuel and two new bumpers. Don't ask!

The regular M3 is just a really fun, pretty raw (in todays world) car that deserves to be used every minute you can.

[smith94]

Thanks gizlaroc, great info!

gizlaroc said:

When commuting I used to get 28mpg average from the M3.

Was this OBC or real consumption worked out?

I only said about the one owner etc because there's a rather lovely example for on the classifieds at the minute.

I'm all up for a nice honest car with a few owners. I use a very good indie at the minute so could anyone tell me estimates for servicing the car (oil, insp1 and insp 2) as well as brakes and tyres.

With the subframe, am I right that if it hasn't gone by now it should be fine? Or is it stress induced?

Other than the subframe, anything else I should be wary of? How susceptible is the vanos to going pop?

Cheers

[jayemm89]

Can I ask what's stopping you from getting a Z4 M?

[greggy50]

Judging by your profile assuming you are 20?

I would run an insurance quote as even at 22 I am still getting quotes in at around 1400 whereas a Z4 3.0SI are more like 800 for me personally.

[STW2010]

smith94 said:

FYI for reference I'm having the brakes done on the Z4 soon and have been quoted £800 for the full job (Discs, Pads, Sensors, Shoes and Fitting Kit + labour).

Well, my advice would be to do this yourself. That's about £400 too expensive

[smith94]

I like them but they are more to purchase.

I've always hankered after an E46 M3 too. Just something about them.

[smith94]

greggy50 said:

Judging by your profile assuming you are 20?

I would run an insurance quote as even at 22 I am still getting quotes in at around 1400 whereas a Z4 3.0SI are more like 800 for me personally.

Yeah I'm 20. Insurance is fine, I'll be 21 next month and will have 4 years NCB by April, favourable postcode and good named drivers. I pay about £600 a year for the Z4 and the M3 will be circa. £840.

Edited by smith94 on Sunday 18th January 19:56

[mr2turbogts]

Real world mpg 25-30.

Inspection 2 at Indy = circa £650
Oil change = £100 just on oil
Tyres = £150 a corner
Brakes = £150 a corner

Check the sub frame has checked as this can be big ££

Don't be put off by big miles/many owners as these are cars people have for a year and move on.

I would really recommend you have one as they are fantastic all round cars, once you have one you will hard pushed to find a replacement.

Check out m3cutters so good advice on there

[smith94]

STW2010 said:

Well, my advice would be to do this yourself. That's about £400 too expensive

Hmmm, sounds crass but I don't trust myself and like the peace of mind. I did get a quote from BMW for parts only and they said £460. SO given 4/5 hours of labour on top of that I don't think £800 is far off.

[smith94]

mr2turbogts said:

Tyres = £150 a corner
Brakes = £150 a corner

Check the sub frame has checked as this can be big ££

What tyres are recommend for them? I was looking at the Goodyear Eagle Asyms earlier.

So what would be the comparable price of the brake work I'm having done on the Z4 re. brakes? A simple case of £150x4?

[gizlaroc]

smith94 said:

Was this OBC or real consumption worked out?

Real, my OBC was bang on in the M3. I only brim tested it as I was shocked at the 28mpg it was showing.

[jayemm89]

Your brakes quote does sound a bit high, if memory serves on my E46 3 series (which shares many components with your Z4) BMW main dealers offered fixed price disc/pad jobs, about £269 for the front, £239 for the rear or something like that.

In any case I got mine done at an indy for £500 all in - it was about one hour labour on the front, one and a half on the back (because of handbrake) - parts were about £380 in one of ECP's many sales

[smith94]

jayemm89 said:

Your brakes quote does sound a bit high, if memory serves on my E46 3 series (which shares many components with your Z4) BMW main dealers offered fixed price disc/pad jobs, about £269 for the front, £239 for the rear or something like that.

In any case I got mine done at an indy for £500 all in - it was about one hour labour on the front, one and a half on the back (because of handbrake) - parts were about £380 in one of ECP's many sales

Ok thanks for the advice. I'm pretty matey with the indie but never ask for discount or push on price. Maybe I'll shop around a bit and go back to him.

[smith94]

gizlaroc said:

Real, my OBC was bang on in the M3. I only brim tested it as I was shocked at the 28mpg it was showing.

You're not helping me get rid of the urge to get one haha.

This thread was an attempt to wean me off constantly looking at them in classifieds and old magazines!

[Welshbeef]

I guess the one thing to consider is these are now at the newest 10 years old oldest (Y reg?) 17 years.

These must be in the realm of needing over and above/age related/preventative servicing now.



That said I've driven one with anger on track and was blown away amazing handling and what an engine really superb. Find a good one and enjoy it

[jayemm89]

If anything kills it for you it will be the insurance.

I looked at an E46 last year and wound up with a 645Ci - many reasons, totally different car I know, but the insurance was about half which is absured for a car that is about 10bhp difference and probably not much slower in a straight line (plus much more expensive to repair).

My 911s were both much cheaper to insure than M3s and the Z4 M is also cheaper to insure by about 50% - simply I think as insurance companies have probably got bored of many M3s "hitting a patch of diesel" and rolling several times with a young lad and his mates in the car!

Still great motors though!

James

[smith94]

Can anyone also comment on wheel size??

I much prefer the 18 inch wheels for looks. Bar slightly cheaper tyres, does the smaller wheel size give a bit more pliancy/nicer ride?

[smith94]

jayemm89 said:

If anything kills it for you it will be the insurance.

It'd only be another £240 a year and I'll be honest and say that although I pay for everything concerning running my cars myself, I'm fortunate to have insurance paid for me and I have the go ahead for the additional cost.