RE: BMW M3 (E46): You Know You Want To
Discussion
pstruck said:
Was/is the sub-frame issue potential there on all E46 M3's, or was it dealt with by a modification or re-design at the factory after a certain registration date?
it affected ALL models, inc the halo CSL!Also worth noting is the head gasket issues, i visited a well known VANOS specialist a year or two back, and he had 3 black CSL in his workshop all with head gasket failures!!
I've had mine done, and it hadn't quite gone fully,it wasnt high mileage either at 64k, but it was caught before head damage occurred. a main dealer fix quote was £2200! (labour alone was £1600) i had mine done by an independent for £1300 as its 13 hours labour to do it so massive saving, parts are minimal (total costs £600 ish if i remember inc head work) syptoms are a flat spot and misfire had to detect, and many are misdiagnosed as VANOS issues hence my visit to the VANOS chap....many are in fact head gasket fails, a cylinder head leak test needs to be done, as they go between cylinders and not between oil and water like a normal gasket fail (rover style!)
Anyone who says an M3 is cheap to run, either isn't fixing or maintaining it correctly or doesn't use it! Mine has been much cheaper to run since its been a weekend toy!
Summary of many of my costs:
-Head gasket £1300, (head skimmed, valves re-ground, gasket kit, labour, oil, valve clearances done, new head bolts, and head de-coke)
-rear RTABs and springs (been done 3 times) over £400
-Tyres front £210 each, Rear £230 each
-Brakes, front discs and pads £300, Rear discs and pads £500 (all fitted)
-Plugs and Coil packs (plugs £25 each x6, coils £40 each x6)
-MAF sensor £225 fitted
-Exhaust costs over £1500 (from the CAT back) centre/rear section and its not repairable! (I've changed mine for a Milltec rear/centre -as the factory one corroded between the centre and rear box (know issue) and new ones only have a 2 year warranty -hence the milltek
Servicing costs (Of course may vary between dealers):
main dealer:
Oil changes £180, Insp1, £660, insp2 £899 (Main dealer)
independant:
Oil changes, £160, insp1 £300, insp2 £599
All insp services should include the valve clearances, and oil should be Castrol Edge 10w 60 (nothing else)
I've owned mine for 7 years and there is more i've had to do, and as long as you dont scrimp the car is awesome. just buy carefully, a 6K car i would expect to be a money pit!! these cars are fairly high maintenance if you compare with say a civic type R or an Astra VXR, or any of your VAG stuff (RS4 excl!!)
someone pointed out you can get one for 6k and have 2k spare for running, however 2K may not go too far depending on the issues, factor brakes and tyres could set you back that, or just a exhaust failure?
Anyway Good luck!
ns38 said:
I have just purchased my first BMW and have gone for an e46 M3, there is no other car that interested me below £8k price bracket.
Having previously been used to fwd VAG cars the BMW is amazing. The car is so capable in the corners and luckily mine came with Michelin Pilot Super Sports so I can make the most of this.
I am eagerly waiting for the next Sunday service so I can turn up in petrol power not to mention an M car.
This car is worth twice as much in Germany and the US - this in itself is saying a lot! Taking into account the high petrol prices we have in the UK this car still makes a lot of sense for me, it really is a performance bargain.
Also everyone saying these cars are dropping to the £5k level, they are not looking seriously as a potential owner, I very much believe the price of these has firmed up in the last 6 months. When this car was hit the hardest with depreciation the low mileage top money cars were selling for £11k, these are now commanding close to £13-£14k.
To find a good facelift manual car you are looking at £7500 minimum, lucky for me mine has also had the sub frame replaced already so I did not have to limit my search to 04+ cars (so they are still in the 10yr warranty)
Anyway I guess my point is anyone who has wanted one and does not have one yet, do everything you can to get one!
i agree on the value thing, I've noticed (autotrader) that there are only 6 manual coupe yellow m3's for sale, and the cheapest is £8500, the red cars fetch even more as they are rarer.Having previously been used to fwd VAG cars the BMW is amazing. The car is so capable in the corners and luckily mine came with Michelin Pilot Super Sports so I can make the most of this.
I am eagerly waiting for the next Sunday service so I can turn up in petrol power not to mention an M car.
This car is worth twice as much in Germany and the US - this in itself is saying a lot! Taking into account the high petrol prices we have in the UK this car still makes a lot of sense for me, it really is a performance bargain.
Also everyone saying these cars are dropping to the £5k level, they are not looking seriously as a potential owner, I very much believe the price of these has firmed up in the last 6 months. When this car was hit the hardest with depreciation the low mileage top money cars were selling for £11k, these are now commanding close to £13-£14k.
To find a good facelift manual car you are looking at £7500 minimum, lucky for me mine has also had the sub frame replaced already so I did not have to limit my search to 04+ cars (so they are still in the 10yr warranty)
Anyway I guess my point is anyone who has wanted one and does not have one yet, do everything you can to get one!
There are no manual imola red coupe e46 m3's for sale on autotrader, and only one SMG car which is over £10k
Could be b
ksed....
Or said trader might have taken it in on p/ex. Made good margin on the car he was selling. And wants to flip the M3 on quickly.
He must be confident that the car is healthy enough other than that why retail it? Far easier to chuck it in the block or on trade mail if it's bksed and get an easy £4500 with no obligations.
Reckon it's just fine. Cars can be too cheap sometimes.
ksed.... Or said trader might have taken it in on p/ex. Made good margin on the car he was selling. And wants to flip the M3 on quickly.
He must be confident that the car is healthy enough other than that why retail it? Far easier to chuck it in the block or on trade mail if it's b
ksed and get an easy £4500 with no obligations.Reckon it's just fine. Cars can be too cheap sometimes.
What's Trademail ?
olly755 said:
Could be bksed....
Or said trader might have taken it in on p/ex. Made good margin on the car he was selling. And wants to flip the M3 on quickly.
He must be confident that the car is healthy enough other than that why retail it? Far easier to chuck it in the block or on trade mail if it's bksed and get an easy £4500 with no obligations.
Reckon it's just fine. Cars can be too cheap sometimes.
ksed.... Or said trader might have taken it in on p/ex. Made good margin on the car he was selling. And wants to flip the M3 on quickly.
He must be confident that the car is healthy enough other than that why retail it? Far easier to chuck it in the block or on trade mail if it's b
ksed and get an easy £4500 with no obligations.Reckon it's just fine. Cars can be too cheap sometimes.
Chipmunk1 said:
What's Trademail ?
http://www.autotrade-mail.com/index.cfm?ATM=c.Deal...olly755 said:
Could be bksed....
Or said trader might have taken it in on p/ex. Made good margin on the car he was selling. And wants to flip the M3 on quickly.
He must be confident that the car is healthy enough other than that why retail it? Far easier to chuck it in the block or on trade mail if it's bksed and get an easy £4500 with no obligations.
Reckon it's just fine. Cars can be too cheap sometimes.
ksed.... Or said trader might have taken it in on p/ex. Made good margin on the car he was selling. And wants to flip the M3 on quickly.
He must be confident that the car is healthy enough other than that why retail it? Far easier to chuck it in the block or on trade mail if it's b
ksed and get an easy £4500 with no obligations.Reckon it's just fine. Cars can be too cheap sometimes.
dharding02 said:
As much as I love Piston heads, a "Look how cheap this is" Article a couple of days before you intend to put your car up for sale is far from "Helpful". Such is life!
For a current owner £6k is worryingly cheap. But like all these things you just have to scratch the surface and soon realise if you want a really nice car with good spec and good condition £6k all of a sudden doesn't get you very far at all...
Shameless plug here - but anyone feel free to get in touch with me if they fancy a tidy 2004 Carbon Black SMG with every optional extra available.
You will not be disappointed. Advert and up to date pictures will be composed this weekend. After 3 years, Easily one of the best cars I've ever owned.
I had to close my eyes whilst writing it, but the Advert is reluctantly complete...For a current owner £6k is worryingly cheap. But like all these things you just have to scratch the surface and soon realise if you want a really nice car with good spec and good condition £6k all of a sudden doesn't get you very far at all...
Shameless plug here - but anyone feel free to get in touch with me if they fancy a tidy 2004 Carbon Black SMG with every optional extra available.
You will not be disappointed. Advert and up to date pictures will be composed this weekend. After 3 years, Easily one of the best cars I've ever owned.
Edited by dharding02 on Tuesday 20th August 13:11
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
cerb4.5lee said:
Mermaid said:
Best value M3, ever.
Agree & I am a massive E46 fan it's also arguably the most loved of all the generations & everyone raved about it when it was launched unlike the the stick the E36/E92 got. The E92 faces a tougher time because Mercedes-Benz has really stepped up with the CLK 63 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe
Audi with the RS5 Coupe
Porsche with the 997 C2S
Jaguar with the XKR
And they are all lookers where with the E46 M3 was probably the best looking though the original XKR, 996.2 C2, Maserati 4200 weren't bad either.
rossi1 said:
Always wanted an M3 and in a way i still do but lately have been massively put off by the amount of M3`s starting to crack the rear of the floors.
Its a major problem,it seems if it hasn't happened yet it will do for sure sooner or later, Also if your out of your 10 good will period with BMW your up the creek without a paddle
Still a lot of motor for your money now days though
Its not a recent problem with the E46 its been known for years. There are affordable repair schemes these days so its not the end of the world.Its a major problem,it seems if it hasn't happened yet it will do for sure sooner or later, Also if your out of your 10 good will period with BMW your up the creek without a paddle
Still a lot of motor for your money now days though
will261058 said:
rossi1 said:
Always wanted an M3 and in a way i still do but lately have been massively put off by the amount of M3`s starting to crack the rear of the floors.
Its a major problem,it seems if it hasn't happened yet it will do for sure sooner or later, Also if your out of your 10 good will period with BMW your up the creek without a paddle
Still a lot of motor for your money now days though
Its not a recent problem with the E46 its been known for years. There are affordable repair schemes these days so its not the end of the world.Its a major problem,it seems if it hasn't happened yet it will do for sure sooner or later, Also if your out of your 10 good will period with BMW your up the creek without a paddle
Still a lot of motor for your money now days though
carinaman said:
A rather unusual interior combination. Not sure I could stomach that every day.MissChief said:
carinaman said:
A rather unusual interior combination. Not sure I could stomach that every day.MissChief said:
carinaman said:
A rather unusual interior combination. Not sure I could stomach that every day.I'd say it has been Gulzar'd but that would be a discredit to Gulzar. Not even he has taste foul enough to spec something like that
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