How big are your Kahunas? (E46 M3)
Discussion
MrBig said:
RB Will said:
blue seats, wood trim 
I know!! Both could be addressed easily enough though. I don't really have any designs on this particular example, I'm just staggered these are so cheap now!
Must be quite rare with a black exterior, don't think I've ever seen a Laguna Blue interior in anything other than a Laguna Blue exterior M3.
They are now cheap for a reason.......many have been 'neglected' as they come down in price and the potential for being a money pit is now very high on them.
Go in with your eyes open and a big enough slush fund in reserve to fix 'em and there's no real problem
aeropilot said:
Love that Laguna Blue interior
Must be quite rare with a black exterior, don't think I've ever seen a Laguna Blue interior in anything other than a Laguna Blue exterior M3.
They are now cheap for a reason.......many have been 'neglected' as they come down in price and the potential for being a money pit is now very high on them.
Go in with your eyes open and a big enough slush fund in reserve to fix 'em and there's no real problem
I really like the interior too. Potential resale issue I guess, but hardly relevant at that price. Wood an easy swap-out if it bothers you. Personally I'd probably just replace the gearknob with something nicer (from Storm or similar) and drive the thing. Must be quite rare with a black exterior, don't think I've ever seen a Laguna Blue interior in anything other than a Laguna Blue exterior M3.
They are now cheap for a reason.......many have been 'neglected' as they come down in price and the potential for being a money pit is now very high on them.
Go in with your eyes open and a big enough slush fund in reserve to fix 'em and there's no real problem
Looks like a good honest car for the money. IIRC from M3 Cutters there's a specialist based up in the North West (i.e near where this car is being sold) which does the subframe repair to a very good standard. I'd be tempted to get it inspected by them pre-purchase.
ETA - Another "don't worry about the mileage" comment here. I've had an E36 M3 Evo and an E39 M5 both with over 110k on the clock - both were great and the condition/way they drove very much belied their mileage.
Edited by _Neal_ on Friday 22 November 13:50
Ozzie Osmond said:
jon- said:
Must be a typo.
You could fix all the comon problems and replace the engine for less than that.
You could fix all the comon problems and replace the engine for less than that.
- Inspection 2
- Tyres all round
- Brakes all round
- Suspension fettled
- Additional engine work
- Inspection 2 - £600
- Tyres all round - £900
- Brakes all round - £900
- Suspension fettled - £1000 (assuming you're buying and fitting new coilovers)
- Additional engine work
jon- said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
jon- said:
Must be a typo.
You could fix all the comon problems and replace the engine for less than that.
You could fix all the comon problems and replace the engine for less than that.
- Inspection 2
- Tyres all round
- Brakes all round
- Suspension fettled
- Additional engine work
- Inspection 2 - £600
- Tyres all round - £900
- Brakes all round - £900
- Suspension fettled - £1000 (assuming you're buying and fitting new coilovers)
- Additional engine work
Don't know why you're all so surprised. I've seen similar service bills on Jag XJ-R and even bigger ones (over £10k) on Bentley.
The major inspection interval is typically when other work is found to need doing on these cars. Just because an Inspection Service is listed around £500 for the basic work doesn't mean that's going to be the final bill.
Just because you can buy them for Fiesta money doesn't mean you're safe from big bills. In fact, it's the markets fear of the big bills which makes the cars cheap to buy.
The major inspection interval is typically when other work is found to need doing on these cars. Just because an Inspection Service is listed around £500 for the basic work doesn't mean that's going to be the final bill.
Just because you can buy them for Fiesta money doesn't mean you're safe from big bills. In fact, it's the markets fear of the big bills which makes the cars cheap to buy.
Ozzie Osmond said:
Don't know why you're all so surprised. I've seen similar service bills on Jag XJ-R and even bigger ones (over £10k) on Bentley.
The major inspection interval is typically when other work is found to need doing on these cars. Just because an Inspection Service is listed around £500 for the basic work doesn't mean that's going to be the final bill.
Just because you can buy them for Fiesta money doesn't mean you're safe from big bills. In fact, it's the markets fear of the big bills which makes the cars cheap to buy.
Totally agree. Just the final figure of 7k seems a bit hard to swallow as a "service bill".The major inspection interval is typically when other work is found to need doing on these cars. Just because an Inspection Service is listed around £500 for the basic work doesn't mean that's going to be the final bill.
Just because you can buy them for Fiesta money doesn't mean you're safe from big bills. In fact, it's the markets fear of the big bills which makes the cars cheap to buy.
If he'd had a service and a supercharger, then we'd not be questioning it (but that would still be quite expensive for a healthy car!)
Rocketsocks said:
Have you checked with the dealer that the car is still for sale? Having spoken to him on the phone a couple of times in the past enquiring about different M3's, the fine looking examples that I've asked about are never available, yet he always has "others that are just as good".
I'm not particularly looking to buy that exact car, it's just I was thinking I would need £10k to buy and then go through bushes, brakes, tyres etc.. I was just staggered to see one at that money. My plan is to purchase as a 'keeper' so fully I expect to do a rolling restoration anyway. As I said I'm not doing it until spring anyway, just like to fully research these things first.
Ozzie Osmond said:
Don't know why you're all so surprised. I've seen similar service bills on Jag XJ-R and even bigger ones (over £10k) on Bentley.
The major inspection interval is typically when other work is found to need doing on these cars. Just because an Inspection Service is listed around £500 for the basic work doesn't mean that's going to be the final bill.
Just because you can buy them for Fiesta money doesn't mean you're safe from big bills. In fact, it's the markets fear of the big bills which makes the cars cheap to buy.
That bill must have come from a main dealer though and it must have been for a car that cost more than the one the OP posted.The major inspection interval is typically when other work is found to need doing on these cars. Just because an Inspection Service is listed around £500 for the basic work doesn't mean that's going to be the final bill.
Just because you can buy them for Fiesta money doesn't mean you're safe from big bills. In fact, it's the markets fear of the big bills which makes the cars cheap to buy.
Monaro5.7 said:
Get a M5 for around that kind of money aswell with a proper engine V8 
Both M cars for sure, but that genuinely is where the similarities end. The 3.2 inthe M3 is a screamer, maybe not as rev happy as the E90 but still not like the E39 M5 which just pulls from tick over in 6th.Also the M5 appeals to a different market in my opinion. Perhaps slightly older?
Having said that they are brilliant motors and well worth a look.
Captainawesome said:
Oh dear. You don't understand at all do you?? Quite surprised that you didn't also recommend a 'remapped 335d coz it's just as fast innit'
M, it's more than a trim level.
Yep, its much more than a trim level on so many ways. Servicing costs, parts prices, chav image etc etc
M, it's more than a trim level.
Yep, its much more than a trim level on so many ways. Servicing costs, parts prices, chav image etc etc
Doesnt look bad for 12 years old and 127,000 miles, dont even mind the Smurfhide and Co-op Coffin wood interior.
However, I was looking at E46 and the ads were generally depressing, this is much better than most of the ones I saw advertised, paying double doesnt guarantee you a better one. I think ropey E46s will continue down for a little while yet, decent, well kept ones with low miles seem to have gone up.
It is one of those you need to get inspected by someone who knows them, the boot floor is a worry, someone in Jap chat was pointing out the much better build quality relative to the 350Z, but to my knowledge, the Datsuns bodyshell doesnt start unravelling after a few miles, amazing how people confuse interior materials with structual integrity.
However, I was looking at E46 and the ads were generally depressing, this is much better than most of the ones I saw advertised, paying double doesnt guarantee you a better one. I think ropey E46s will continue down for a little while yet, decent, well kept ones with low miles seem to have gone up.
It is one of those you need to get inspected by someone who knows them, the boot floor is a worry, someone in Jap chat was pointing out the much better build quality relative to the 350Z, but to my knowledge, the Datsuns bodyshell doesnt start unravelling after a few miles, amazing how people confuse interior materials with structual integrity.
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