E46 Facelift- why some and not others

[Vvroom]

Forgive me if this is a bit naive, but I don't understand why a 53 plate 325ci (fully loaded) can not be facelifted, but other, sometimes lower spec cars on say, an 03 or even other 53 plates can.

Option?

I'm talking pointy, upturned headlights here fellas- the important stuff!

Edited by Vvroom on Thursday 4th February 10:02

[Vvroom]

Forgive me if this is a bit naive, but I don't understand why a 53 plate 325ci (fully loaded) can not be facelifted, but other, sometimes lower spec cars on say, an 03 or even other 53 plates can.

Option?

I'm talking pointy, upturned headlights here fellas- the important stuff!

Edited by Vvroom on Thursday 4th February 10:12

[mike325112]

6 speed box and more BHP on our 03 330d anyway.

[SJobson]

There are always cars in the dealer network which are registered late. Were there really facelift coupes registered on an 03 plate though? The saloon was facelifted for the 2002 model year but the coupe wasn't facelifted until the 2004 model year.

[NickXX]

Yes - it will be down to late registrations. I'd imagine the pre-facelift shells all ceased production at the same time.

It should also be noted that the saloon was facelifted in 2001, the coupe in 2003 - however, although the e46 M3 saloon was facelifted, it never got the upswept lights.

[AB]

As already said, some will be the first facelifts registered early and there will be some pre-facelifts that were left hanging around having not been registered hence being on a later plate.

Nothing to do with spec.

[obscene]

Also to randomly chip in, the preface is superior looking. M3 and CSL didn't get facelifted for a reason

[Vvroom]

obscene said:

Also to randomly chip in, the preface is superior looking. M3 and CSL didn't get facelifted for a reason

good point. I'm hopefully getting my hands on a pre-facelift 325 Ci this weekend. I love the way it looks, but just unsure about the above- hence the question. Thanks all for contributing.

[AB]

obscene said:

Also to randomly chip in, the preface is superior looking. M3 and CSL didn't get facelifted for a reason

... and its not that.

[Vvroom]

AB said:

obscene said:

Also to randomly chip in, the preface is superior looking. M3 and CSL didn't get facelifted for a reason

... and its not that.

Go on..............

[paoloh]

Vvroom said:

AB said:

obscene said:

Also to randomly chip in, the preface is superior looking. M3 and CSL didn't get facelifted for a reason

... and its not that.

Go on..............

The M3's air intakes are where the facelift indicators go.

Hence no front end facelift

[Max M4X WW]

Are the indicators not in the same place but a different design?

[john_p]

One theory I read - since the E46 M3 had different wings and bonnet to the non-M's; considering the small production run of the M3, and the total cost of manufacturing new wings/bonnet (retooling, TUV approval, crash testing etc), it wouldn't have been worthwhile.

[paoloh]

Max M4X WW said:

Are the indicators not in the same place but a different design?

No.

[diffstar]

john_p said:

One theory I read - since the E46 M3 had different wings and bonnet to the non-M's; considering the small production run of the M3, and the total cost of manufacturing new wings/bonnet (retooling, TUV approval, crash testing etc), it wouldn't have been worthwhile.

This some more likely, same reason as the new facelift E92 front end changes do not apply to the M3 only the rear.

Edited by diffstar on Friday 5th February 09:33

[SJobson]

paoloh said:

Vvroom said:

AB said:

obscene said:

Also to randomly chip in, the preface is superior looking. M3 and CSL didn't get facelifted for a reason

... and its not that.

Go on..............

The M3's air intakes are where the facelift indicators go.

Hence no front end facelift

The side repeaters might have moved but the front indicators didn't. Since the wings are different anyway, I don't think that's a reason not to facelift the M3; re-tooling the different wings is a far more logical reason.

[Devil2575]

obscene said:

Also to randomly chip in, the preface is superior looking. M3 and CSL didn't get facelifted for a reason

Are you blind?

The facelift version of the E46 looks far superior

[turbo-ww]

Vvroom said:

obscene said:

Also to randomly chip in, the preface is superior looking. M3 and CSL didn't get facelifted for a reason

good point. I'm hopefully getting my hands on a pre-facelift 325 Ci this weekend. I love the way it looks, but just unsure about the above- hence the question. Thanks all for contributing.

My advice is go for it. If it is in the right condition at the right price.

I have a pre facelift 330Ci - And it's fab...

[Vvroom]

Pick it up on Monday!

[Vvroom]

Pick it up on Monday!