e46 M3 or 235i?
Discussion
I Don't know which way to go any advice ?
always wanted the M3 but with prices all over the place i don't want to get burned! my budget is about 15,000 so a little low for both but that beingg said both are in that range.
what would you do ?
also is the M3 as it's older now would buying from a dealer be an issue ? the reason i thinking this way is because most private sellers are at pain's to mention the big 3 jobs having being done... but not so much from dealers!
so what would you do?
always wanted the M3 but with prices all over the place i don't want to get burned! my budget is about 15,000 so a little low for both but that beingg said both are in that range.
what would you do ?
also is the M3 as it's older now would buying from a dealer be an issue ? the reason i thinking this way is because most private sellers are at pain's to mention the big 3 jobs having being done... but not so much from dealers!
so what would you do?
I'd also add this - consider a really clean E46 330ci. It's as real-world quick as an M3, unless you're driving like a nutter everywhere or want to take it on track. It's also cheaper to run as the engines are tough and much cheaper to repair/replace. £7k should get you a really nice one.
Tracklover said:
Two very different cars.
If you want to boil it right down
E46 M3 is more fun, more iconic, feels special
235i is more "get in and drive", likely less hassle to maintain / run
Might be a heart vs head decision.
Pretty much this. If you want to boil it right down
E46 M3 is more fun, more iconic, feels special
235i is more "get in and drive", likely less hassle to maintain / run
Might be a heart vs head decision.
We have an M240i. It’s a really good car. Easy to live with, cheap to run (36mpg!) and very quick.
Whilst not an M3, we also had an E46 330i convertible. I absolutely adored it. A good one is a fabulous car, so sweet to drive.
Re the 3 jobs and Dealers v owners. Owners know the importance of addressing the M3 foibles. Many Dealers won’t know the car as intimately so won’t mention them.
If a 2 series goes past I don’t give it a second look. A good E46 gets me misty eyed. I’d try to make the M3 work but would be prepared with an emergency war chest.
Maxus said:
Pretty much this.
We have an M240i. It s a really good car. Easy to live with, cheap to run (36mpg!) and very quick.
Whilst not an M3, we also had an E46 330i convertible. I absolutely adored it. A good one is a fabulous car, so sweet to drive.
Re the 3 jobs and Dealers v owners. Owners know the importance of addressing the M3 foibles. Many Dealers won t know the car as intimately so won t mention them.
If a 2 series goes past I don t give it a second look. A good E46 gets me misty eyed. I d try to make the M3 work but would be prepared with an emergency war chest.
thankyou for you're time in answering this.. I'm still not sure which way to go!We have an M240i. It s a really good car. Easy to live with, cheap to run (36mpg!) and very quick.
Whilst not an M3, we also had an E46 330i convertible. I absolutely adored it. A good one is a fabulous car, so sweet to drive.
Re the 3 jobs and Dealers v owners. Owners know the importance of addressing the M3 foibles. Many Dealers won t know the car as intimately so won t mention them.
If a 2 series goes past I don t give it a second look. A good E46 gets me misty eyed. I d try to make the M3 work but would be prepared with an emergency war chest.
Edited by discusdave on Saturday 27th June 22:57
My thoughts being on my 6th E46 M3, regarding big 3:
Vanos - Not that common.
Rod bearings - Definitely do these for the sake of £900. Engine killer if you spin a bearing and an easy £8k-£10k to put right.
RACP failure - Not that common. A friend of mine breaks half a dozen E46s a week and he's come across 2 cracked floors in years of doing so. Mine was crack free when inspected (you need to drop the subframe and clean the RACP)
They also weep oil from the PCV valve. An uprated seal is a tenner and it's a (fiddly) DIY job to change. Also change the vanos feed line (£25, 10 minute job) and delete the viscous fan (free). The header tanks can get brittle and explode, albeit rare, £130 gets you a new one if you want to cover that base.
All that said, generally speaking, they are tough engines. Buy a good example and I'd give you a 90% chance of no issues in 5 years.
Vanos - Not that common.
Rod bearings - Definitely do these for the sake of £900. Engine killer if you spin a bearing and an easy £8k-£10k to put right.
RACP failure - Not that common. A friend of mine breaks half a dozen E46s a week and he's come across 2 cracked floors in years of doing so. Mine was crack free when inspected (you need to drop the subframe and clean the RACP)
They also weep oil from the PCV valve. An uprated seal is a tenner and it's a (fiddly) DIY job to change. Also change the vanos feed line (£25, 10 minute job) and delete the viscous fan (free). The header tanks can get brittle and explode, albeit rare, £130 gets you a new one if you want to cover that base.
All that said, generally speaking, they are tough engines. Buy a good example and I'd give you a 90% chance of no issues in 5 years.
Tracklover said:
My thoughts being on my 6th E46 M3, regarding big 3:
Vanos - Not that common.
Rod bearings - Definitely do these for the sake of £900. Engine killer if you spin a bearing and an easy £8k-£10k to put right.
RACP failure - Not that common. A friend of mine breaks half a dozen E46s a week and he's come across 2 cracked floors in years of doing so. Mine was crack free when inspected (you need to drop the subframe and clean the RACP)
They also weep oil from the PCV valve. An uprated seal is a tenner and it's a (fiddly) DIY job to change. Also change the vanos feed line (£25, 10 minute job) and delete the viscous fan (free). The header tanks can get brittle and explode, albeit rare, £130 gets you a new one if you want to cover that base.
All that said, generally speaking, they are tough engines. Buy a good example and I'd give you a 90% chance of no issues in 5 years.
thankyou for this.. i shall keep looking. it's my heart doing this NOT my head .Vanos - Not that common.
Rod bearings - Definitely do these for the sake of £900. Engine killer if you spin a bearing and an easy £8k-£10k to put right.
RACP failure - Not that common. A friend of mine breaks half a dozen E46s a week and he's come across 2 cracked floors in years of doing so. Mine was crack free when inspected (you need to drop the subframe and clean the RACP)
They also weep oil from the PCV valve. An uprated seal is a tenner and it's a (fiddly) DIY job to change. Also change the vanos feed line (£25, 10 minute job) and delete the viscous fan (free). The header tanks can get brittle and explode, albeit rare, £130 gets you a new one if you want to cover that base.
All that said, generally speaking, they are tough engines. Buy a good example and I'd give you a 90% chance of no issues in 5 years.
What are you using it for, a daily or a weekend toy?
The E46 M3 has always felt heavy to me, so as a daily I'd definitely avoid it, and I'd go with the M235i instead for sure. However I wouldn't want either as a weekend toy though, so it depends on how you're going to use them for me.
The E46 M3 has always felt heavy to me, so as a daily I'd definitely avoid it, and I'd go with the M235i instead for sure. However I wouldn't want either as a weekend toy though, so it depends on how you're going to use them for me.
It really depends how you intend to use whichever you buy.
For daily driving and 10K or more miles a year a 20 year old £15K M3 wouldn't be my choice. But if you work from home or commute using other transport and do 4 or 5K a year why not go with your heart and have an M3?
A 235i is probably more capable and easier to live with but I suspect you'd find an M3 felt much more special from the moment you started that wonderful S54 engine!
I've had my Z4M Coupe with the same engine for over 6 years and done 24K miles in it with no major issues, although I had the rod bearing shells replaced at 78K miles soon after I got it for peace of mind. The soundtrack still puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.
If you go the M3 route you need to have your eyes open for the pitfalls like bearing shells, boot-floors, etc. but for that reason at your budget I'd rather buy privately so you can get a feel for how the car has been treated.
Good luck whatever you decide.
For daily driving and 10K or more miles a year a 20 year old £15K M3 wouldn't be my choice. But if you work from home or commute using other transport and do 4 or 5K a year why not go with your heart and have an M3?
A 235i is probably more capable and easier to live with but I suspect you'd find an M3 felt much more special from the moment you started that wonderful S54 engine!
I've had my Z4M Coupe with the same engine for over 6 years and done 24K miles in it with no major issues, although I had the rod bearing shells replaced at 78K miles soon after I got it for peace of mind. The soundtrack still puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.
If you go the M3 route you need to have your eyes open for the pitfalls like bearing shells, boot-floors, etc. but for that reason at your budget I'd rather buy privately so you can get a feel for how the car has been treated.
Good luck whatever you decide.
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