RE: BMW M3 (E46): Spotted

[Bazil_Brush]

''car lightly used with an impeccable service record, but those cars are a) very difficult to find and b) expensive as when they were sold as a result.''

I beg to differ on the 1st part 'lightly used' unless it is stored in a dry environment similar to a car coon etc at the correct humidity, it will rust far quicker. The car which is lightly used tends to stand in a driveway and rots away, the oil completely drying away from the bores / crank, draining from the cylinder head and internals, wearing far more each time it is rarely started and for the short time until oil does it job, not to mention increased condensation build up internally which is never 'heated off' as engine / box not in use.

[fatboy b]

Too many problems. Bought mine a year old and 6k on the clock. Warranty queen through and through.

[anonymous-user]

It looks far too tired, I would spend a bit more and get a very clean, tidy low miles facelifted E46 M3.

[Taylor James]

aaron_2000 said:

mat205125 said:

Taylor James said:

£8500?

Laughable.

Please show me the better cars being advertised for less

Just the usual person that expects a brand new car for free. My £8500 would go into an STI wagon, but I don't really see how you can complain about the price of this. Seems fair to me.

If you think a 160,000 mile M3 which is only going to provide you with big bills is a good way to spend £8500 (just to start), you crack on.

There may or may not be cheaper cars out there. Doesn't alter the fact this one is priced way too high.

[crusty]

I know it’s not a M car but plenty left in the 8k budget to make it quicker than an E46

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

[asimmalik]

cerb4.5lee said:

Agree and I always remember when the E92 M3 first came out and BMW were championing it because it was more fuel efficient than the E46 M3...I'm not sure what they were smoking in fairness! The S65 engine is loads more thirsty than the S54 engine in my experience.

From memory they were more focussed on the fact it was a lighter engine despite the two extra cylinders, not more fuel efficient.

[cerb4.5lee]

asimmalik said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Agree and I always remember when the E92 M3 first came out and BMW were championing it because it was more fuel efficient than the E46 M3...I'm not sure what they were smoking in fairness! The S65 engine is loads more thirsty than the S54 engine in my experience.

From memory they were more focussed on the fact it was a lighter engine despite the two extra cylinders, not more fuel efficient.

I'm sure they mentioned the fuel efficiency as well and I've got an official BMW DVD on the E92 M3 somewhere. Don't get me wrong I think it is only miniscule in fairness but even so it is quite laughable for me.

It was quite a departure for BMW to use an engine like that for the M3(Merc were the experts at the V8 game) so I think that they were trying everything they could to justify it.

[mwstewart]

Brilliant cars for daily use.

[Water Fairy]

My E46 M Sport coupe has just turned 163k. Drives lovely. Admittedly not an M3 but the mileage on this wouldn't put me off given the service history.

In the last 2 years I've replaced one front wing (rusty arch) all 4 dampers, wishbone bushes, gearbox mounts, new OE wheels (worked out cheaper than refurbing mine), 4 wheel alignment, new cat, 2 services, front discs and pads, one caliper, radiator and intercooler.

DIY keeps the costs down. If I didn't have such a commute and a super naked bike for fun I'd have this in a shot.

[darreni]

mwstewart said:

Brilliant cars for daily use.

Totally agree. My CSL has just turned 100k miles & I use it everyday.

[Z3MCJez]

I have a 2005 facelift with just over half the miles. Lived inside for 13 of its 14 years and now used daily (and garaged). It’s used nearly daily and although the clutch is a bit heavy for traffic, and the gearbox notchy when cold, it’s a lovely car. And under the bonnet still looks like it did when it came out of the factory. Nearly.

Rust around the wing mirrors is the only issue which has been dealt with.

It did cost more than this though!

[2 GKC]

Why is it so difficult for bodyshops to put the badges back in the correct place?

[Origin Unknown]

darreni said:

mwstewart said:

Brilliant cars for daily use.

Totally agree. My CSL has just turned 100k miles & I use it everyday.

Nice to see a CSL that isn't being stored for resale. My 98' e36 M3 is my daily drive too.

[darreni]

Origin Unknown said:

Nice to see a CSL that isn't being stored for resale. My 98' e36 M3 is my daily drive too.

Life's too short for that carry on & besides, it'll never be a 1,000 miles collectors car.
They are better being used IMO.

[mat205125]

darreni said:

Life's too short for that carry on & besides, it'll never be a 1,000 miles collectors car.
They are better being used IMO.

Perfect attitude!

There's no shame what so ever in adding miles, and from a car having a natural level of wear & tear.

Remember visiting Goodwood for the Festival of Speed a number of years ago, and there was a row of F40s ..... most were gleaming show standard examples, however one in particular showed signs of fastidious maintenance, however wheels pitted by red hot brake dust, a nose and sills scraped and scuffed by race track kerbs or maybe a cut across a gravel trap, and a general patina of hard and serious use over many years ....... it was the most fantastic car of the display!

[Dr Nookie]

It's interesting how there is so much concern about high mileage on this.
I have a ZM Coupe with the S54 engine which is now on 120k. 70 added by me. I know several other owners who have passed 150 and 170k and haven't touched the head gasket or bearings.
I used to read threads like this and think - Jesus it's gonna blow up if I don't get this work done - and now I think, if it was gonna go it would've by now and I just look after it and enjoy it.

Hopefully I'm not rolling the dice every day and I've just been lucky- certainly doesn't feel like it. But if I'm not at the Silverstone Classic you know what's happened....

[bitcrusher]

Dr Nookie said:

I used to read threads like this and think - Jesus it's gonna blow up if I don't get this work done - and now I think, if it was gonna go it would've by now and I just look after it and enjoy it.

Hopefully I'm not rolling the dice every day and I've just been lucky- certainly doesn't feel like it. But if I'm not at the Silverstone Classic you know what's happened....

Best attitude to have right there. All the armchair experts will tell you that X, Y and Z always go on every single example of whatever marque it is by some arbitrary mileage, and it's usually so much hot air. The reality of course is that each car is different - driven differently, serviced (or not..) differently, stored differently... hell, even with modern manufacturing there can be differences in tolerances, materials and components used for better or for worse. It's great to know what the common foibles are when shopping for second hand cars but if it ain't broke and all that...

[aaron_2000]

Taylor James said:

aaron_2000 said:

mat205125 said:

Taylor James said:

£8500?

Laughable.

Please show me the better cars being advertised for less

Just the usual person that expects a brand new car for free. My £8500 would go into an STI wagon, but I don't really see how you can complain about the price of this. Seems fair to me.

If you think a 160,000 mile M3 which is only going to provide you with big bills is a good way to spend £8500 (just to start), you crack on.

There may or may not be cheaper cars out there. Doesn't alter the fact this one is priced way too high.

Can you show me where I said "That's a good way to spend £8500" please, Taylor? I believe I said:

"My £8500 would go into an STI wagon, but I don't really see how you can complain about the price of this. Seems fair to me."

Now if you want to put words in my mouth, you crack on. Otherwise, tell me what it should be priced at and show me the examples with about the same mileage and service records that you've based it on please, because the only ones I can find cheaper are the godawful convertibles.

[Taylor James]

aaron_2000 said:

Taylor James said:

aaron_2000 said:

mat205125 said:

Taylor James said:

£8500?

Laughable.

Please show me the better cars being advertised for less

Just the usual person that expects a brand new car for free. My £8500 would go into an STI wagon, but I don't really see how you can complain about the price of this. Seems fair to me.

If you think a 160,000 mile M3 which is only going to provide you with big bills is a good way to spend £8500 (just to start), you crack on.

There may or may not be cheaper cars out there. Doesn't alter the fact this one is priced way too high.

Can you show me where I said "That's a good way to spend £8500" please, Taylor? I believe I said:

"My £8500 would go into an STI wagon, but I don't really see how you can complain about the price of this. Seems fair to me."

Now if you want to put words in my mouth, you crack on. Otherwise, tell me what it should be priced at and show me the examples with about the same mileage and service records that you've based it on please, because the only ones I can find cheaper are the godawful convertibles.

If you read what I said, it was prefaced with the word 'if'.

Perhaps you can acknowledge I didn't claim that you said "That's a good way to spend £8500"?

[SuperVM]

vasario said:

I was the second owner of this car.

Loved it, one of the best cars I've had. Still got the original 18" wheels in my garage !

You should put them for sale if you aren't going to use them. I'd really like a set of 18s for mine, but my car came with nearly new 19" PS4S, which it seems a shame not to make use of first.