RE: PH buying guide: BMW M3 (E46)

[Matt Bird]

Hi all,

Don't fret, PH hasn't entered a time machine! We've updated the E46 Buying Guide given quite a lot has changed (not least in terms of values - sob) for M3s since 2012. But there was lots of good info in the original that it would have been daft to abandon. So the Buying Guide has had a facelift. Hopefully it's useful for those considering an E46 M3. Which is everyone, right?

Cheers!


Matt

[urquattroGus]

I bought an M Coupe instead.... E46 M3 prices on the rise where as M Coupe values seemed to drop a bit about a year ago, so I pounced.

[Water Fairy]

leon9191 said:

Dont the rear sub-frames crack quite abit? Didnt spot that in ur guide, also no mention of service and running costs, little service is circa £600 and a major £1000. Pretty important for a guide to mention that sort of thing surely?

It's not just the M3s where this can happen. My modest 320cd had to have the rear subframe mounts repaired some time b4 I bought it. Torque I guess?

[T1berious]

Pretty sure Autocar figured the M3 at 4.8 to 60.

Road and Track got under that:

Linky

I just remember at the time it kept the 911 honest

[usualdog1]

If the boot floor cracks due to an inherent design fault, what's to stop it happening again after it's been repaired?

[BFleming]

usualdog1 said:

If the boot floor cracks due to an inherent design fault, what's to stop it happening again after it's been repaired?

It gets strengthened significantly, not like-for-like repaired.

[oliea79]

I have owned my CSL for 10 years now, it has 125k on the clock and won't be selling it anytime soon. im going to get buried in it.

Can definitely recommend and E46 M3 for anyone, great cars.

As the ad says the boot floor will go if it hasn't already. There are plenty of specialists out there who can deal with it.

[Jcwjosh]

Would love a CSL one day but by the time i can afford one im sure the prices will rocket again.

Its up there with one of the best cars ive had the pleasure of being passenger in.

[cerb4.5lee]

One of the dad's at my daughters school has one of these and I always really enjoy seeing it.

You just don't seem to see them knocking about much now. My brother in law used to have one and he absolutely loved it.

I've always thought that this generation is the most favourite generation for most people.

[Pereldh]

The rare Z4M Coupe is a cheaper (!!!) alternative, broadly the same car in a different body but with CSL steering & brakes, and manual only... And much better looking some might say.

[PaulsM3]

I bought my e46 about 7 years ago with 35k on it. Done 45k now. They were always the best cars I sold when I was working at Cambridge BMW. Yes some of the maintenance can be expensive if you keep it in the dealer network but to be honest the specialists are better as they see these cars more regularly now than the dealer network. I had Shell Helix on the invoice when I had an oil service at BMW!! They said it was an error but I made them change it whilst I watched through the window to make sure. So just keeping your car in the dealer network doesn’t mean anything. I’ve had no issues, just usual service items. Pics taken today for my guaranteed value insurance! .

[Maxus]

PaulsM3 said:

I bought my e46 about 7 years ago with 35k on it. Done 45k now. They were always the best cars I sold when I was working at Cambridge BMW. Yes some of the maintenance can be expensive if you keep it in the dealer network but to be honest the specialists are better as they see these cars more regularly now than the dealer network. I had Shell Helix on the invoice when I had an oil service at BMW!! They said it was an error but I made them change it whilst I watched through the window to make sure. So just keeping your car in the dealer network doesn’t mean anything. I’ve had no issues, just usual service items. Pics taken today for my guaranteed value insurance! .

That is superb. I think phoenix yellow would be my colour of choice. I'd just put up with my wife referring to baby sick everytime she saw it. Stunning.

[urquattroGus]

Pereldh said:

The rare Z4M Coupe is a cheaper (!!!) alternative, broadly the same car in a different body but with CSL steering & brakes, and manual only... And much better looking some might say.

Agree, although it's less usable and the ride is pretty harsh?

[Charlie_1]

I was lucky enough to own one these between 04 & 06 which was replaced with a Z4m Coupe , same engine very different cars. the M£ is one of the few cars that if I could have found a way to do it I would have kept

[Kettmark]

Recently bought a csl after having a 330 ci sport for 16 years & 200k + miles. The csl is a keeper for sure.

[GreatScott2016]

A good era for BMW, particularly compared to today’s offerings

[Mr Tidy]

urquattroGus said:

Pereldh said:

The rare Z4M Coupe is a cheaper (!!!) alternative, broadly the same car in a different body but with CSL steering & brakes, and manual only... And much better looking some might say.

Agree, although it's less usable and the ride is pretty harsh?

I'd have to agree with Pereldh!



Less than 600 Z4M Coupes were registered in the UK - and the boot floors don't seem to crack!

I'm not sure how it is less usable unless it's because there are no back seats, but for me that's a plus because sitting just in front of the rear wheels with a long bonnet makes it feel so much more special than an E46 (even if mine was only a 325ti).

I'm working on the ride side of things with mine at present because it came fitted with H & R coil-overs which are overly stiff for road use over potholes.

Interesting suggestion that bearing shell issues were solved - they weren't!

I had mine replaced last year at 76K miles and this is how they looked.

[cerb4.5lee]

urquattroGus said:

Pereldh said:

The rare Z4M Coupe is a cheaper (!!!) alternative, broadly the same car in a different body but with CSL steering & brakes, and manual only... And much better looking some might say.

Agree, although it's less usable and the ride is pretty harsh?

The Z4M is a flawed gem for me. It looks the mutts nuts for sure, but it misses many of the right ingredients that make a car great for me.

Given the choice between a Z4M and a E46 M3...I'd always go in the direction of the E46 M3(even though I prefer a 2 seater), because the M3 is a far more resolved car to drive imo.

The ride/suspension/gearbox can't be forgiven in the Z4M for me(even though I love pretty much everything else about it).

[helix402]

Coupe has a 26mm front arb, Conv has a 27mm. Apologies is anyone else has mentioned this already, I haven’t read the whole thread.

[ess]

Such a handsome, well proportioned design.
Even has a 'friendly' face.

Was fortunate to be invited for a pax lap in a CSL at the Ring in 2009.
Truly memorable experience.

S