Buying Advice Needed for '01 onwards M3 - SMG or Manual?

[philiphunter]

I have come to the decision to sell my S2 Elise for a car with more seats - and over 300hp

All I know about the M3 is that it comes with a manual or SMG box and also with options such as TV, Sat Nav and the like.

I want to spend no more than 20K and would prefer to buy from a trusted dealer.

I have looked around the net and found many available.

I would prefer one in black or anthracite but there don't seen to be many about for my price range, and I'd like the TV/Sat nav option.

Am I likely to get a car with average mileage and comms. pack option with FSH for this budget from a dealer?

Anything else I should look out for?
SMG or Manual (Does the SMG ever malfunction?)
Weren there any other options beside the comms. option?

[blueb8]

I don't think you will get what you are looking for £20k, certainly not from a dealer. satnav and smg are probably the two most desirable options, apparently satnav, tv can add upto £2000 compared to the same car without. Only chance would be a highish mileage one. or a lower mileage one without those options.

[Andrew330Ci]

I dont think youll be disappointed with an M3 which ever gearbox, ive not heard of any major issues with an SMG box, it all depends which you prefer, but as blueb8 says it does add a heafty chunk of money on to the car if it has satnav/tv

[m3dan]

i've just bought one for 20k privately, carbon black, red leather, sat nav, t.v.,harmon kardon hi fi, 19" wheels, smg box, i had the car in a main dealer for a used car inspection ( £250) which revealed that it didnt have bmw approved anti freeze. the fella selling the car paid for that which cost £140!!!,and i have a bit of piece of mind. the car has done 55k and although its got no warranty its got fbmwsh and with the inspection i feel i'll be o.k for a good few miles without any problems(fingers crossed). i had a e36 m3 evo before and sold that with 110k on the clock and that was bomb proof really. it didnt have smg but i am just getting used to it and when you get it right it doesnt half put a big smile on your face. i dont think you can go wrong with either car but i am enjoying the smg at ther moment so i'd probably go for that. it cant be as bad as some people say if the csl only comes with smg can it ?

[GTRene]

Also when you buy a M3 or M coupe made between 2000 and 2003 beware of the engine recall did it have the "problem fixed??!!" some needed some new parts like oilpump and some other stuf and some died to early and got a whole new type engine with the update installed, check that otherwise you could see big bills coming specialy when you use revs above 7-Trpm! then it goes much faster because of the not to good working oil stuff!
when the update is done or a complete new engine is in just use the best oil then its oke
GTRene

[AndrewL]

Just bought an M3 with SMG from BMW main dealer, 2002, 52 plate, 40K, £20995 including £500 off next Inspection 2 service. So i think you will get a deal near £20K

[deutscher]

No difference in SMG or manual prices.

Some love SMG, some manual - you takes your choice.

You'll save a few bob if you buy one without Sat Nav, which will more than cover the cost of a £200 Tom Tom, which is better anyway.

Privately £20K will buy you a top 2001 car with under 40K miles.

[philiphunter]

I test drove a SMG M3 at the weekend and it was awesome.


The car was a '52 plate with 69k on the clock, FSH, sat nav/TV, 19" alloys, Xenon lights, and from a trusted garage for 20k.

Lovely car and a top price, just need to sell my car first.

In your opinion is this a good deal?

[nos4a2]

deutscher said:

No difference in SMG or manual prices.
You'll save a few bob if you buy one without Sat Nav, which will more than cover the cost of a £200 Tom Tom, which is better anyway.

I'd second that, skip the BMW sat nav/TV, buy a Tom Tom and save a healthy wedge.

[oola]

Avoiding sat nav in my opinion is bad advice. There are a hell of a lot of E46 M3's out there at the moment for sale, so when it comes to selling again, you'll find it easier to sell with sat nav than without it.

From a practical point of view, then yes a Tom Tom is as good but it won't help you when it comes to selling the car. With such a high number of cars produced, you'll need every selling point when it comes to off loading it again.

[outnumbered]

Sat Nav will become largely irrelevant to the price of E46 M3 pretty soon (apart from late cars at BMW dealers). The standard system's not supposed to be great, and as the cars get older, there will be no significant premium for it since the £150 TomTom is actually better. On 5-6y/o cars, people will be buying mostly on condition, and a nail even with Sat Nav will always be worth less than a well-looked after car without it.

So if you're buying now, getting a cheaper one WITHOUT nav might actually save you some depreciation, as long as you look after it well.

"Proud owner of E46 M3 without Sat Nav!"

Edited by outnumbered on Saturday 10th February 22:46

[deutscher]

outnumbered said:

Sat Nav will become largely irrelevant to the price of E46 M3 pretty soon (apart from late cars at BMW dealers). The standard system's not supposed to be great, and as the cars get older, there will be no significant premium for it since the £150 TomTom is actually better. On 5-6y/o cars, people will be buying mostly on condition, and a nail even with Sat Nav will always be worth less than a well-looked after car without it.

So if you're buying now, getting a cheaper one WITHOUT nav might actually save you some depreciation, as long as you look after it well.

"Proud owner of E46 M3 without Sat Nav!"

Edited by outnumbered on Saturday 10th February 22:46

Spot on!

[newbie01]

I think the M3 SatNav is excellent. It gets me where i want to go, looks good integrated into the dash, and you also get a TV with it too. Dont think the tomtom has that function yet. Granted, the cd version of satnav is sh1te but the dvd on is excellent. IMO of course. I dont think a non satnav car will be selling at the same price of a car with it any time soon. Maybe in 5yrs or so when the nav is totally defunct.