E46 M3 Project

[MDifficult]

Sorry for the bump if I’ve got this wrong, but I think your old car is now for sale on Collecting Cars?

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2004-bmw-e46-m...

Edited to say: If I had the money and driveway space, I’d buy this car in a heartbeat. Probably THE best E46 M3 I’ve ever come across and gutted I’m not in a position to bid on it!

Edited by MDifficult on Tuesday 4th August 21:45

Edited by MDifficult on Tuesday 4th August 21:48

[mwstewart]

That's the one. It is a lovely example.

Matt has picked up a very nice 997 GT3 so the M3 is making way for that.

[Slippydiff]

mwstewart said:

That's the one. It is a lovely example.

Matt has picked up a very nice 997 GT3 so the M3 is making way for that.

I'd buy it in a heartbeat Mark, but these 3 items would really grate :









It's a stunning car, and if I were you, I'd be incredibly proud reading the auction's description of it

[dhutch]

The 'collecting cars' listings, and associated photos are always excellent, but it very much helps that often the cars they are listing are special.

This for instance: https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1996-bmw-e34-5...

No idea why there is a tool missing, but super easy to rectify, the inputs let down the whole of the rest of the job, but are also basically totally hidden by the central armrest. They are not technically in a cubby, but the might as well be.


Daniel

[MarkwG]

dhutch said:

No idea why there is a tool missing, but super easy to rectify
Daniel

I think it's the wheel brace & the warning triangle, neither are model specific I believe.

[Slippydiff]

dhutch said:

The 'collecting cars' listings, and associated photos are always excellent, but it very much helps that often the cars they are listing are special.

This for instance: https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1996-bmw-e34-5...

No idea why there is a tool missing, but super easy to rectify, the inputs let down the whole of the rest of the job, but are also basically totally hidden by the central armrest. They are not technically in a cubby, but the might as well be.


Daniel

MarkwG said:

I think it's the wheel brace & the warning triangle, neither are model specific I believe.

I was gently pulling Mark’s leg. Looking at the images of his old car and knowing his OCD tendencies, they must be making him twitch

Here’s why :

The two screws securing the aux jack socket are different.

There’s a securing screw missing from the carbon airbox cover.

The toolkit is incomplete.

Sleepless nights will ensue ...

Edited by Slippydiff on Thursday 6th August 07:07

[ATM]

mwstewart said:

M3's don't have a complete tool kit because they come with a gel repair kit and inflator I.e. no spare. The rear silencer takes up the space normally used for a spare.

I was going to write this but wasn't 100% sure.

Perhaps the car needs a 'deliberately missing' sticker in the wheel brace slot to help any OCD types with shorter bristles.

Side note - These tool kits must add a few extra grams and are totally irrelevant. Wandering if BMW still do this on their cars.

[mwstewart]

Ha ha you're worse than me...

The airbox is missing an M5 screw - I noticed that too.

The aux stuff is normally hidden under the rubber mat/cubby hole liner thing which must have been removed for the photo.

M3's don't have a complete tool kit because they come with a gel repair kit and inflator i.e. no spare. The rear silencer takes up the space normally used for a spare.

[dhutch]

mwstewart said:

M3's don't have a complete tool kit because they come with a gel repair kit and inflator i.e. no spare. The rear silencer takes up the space normally used for a spare.

Ah, cunning!

[StuntmanMike]

Slippydiff said:

dhutch said:

The 'collecting cars' listings, and associated photos are always excellent, but it very much helps that often the cars they are listing are special.

This for instance: https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1996-bmw-e34-5...

No idea why there is a tool missing, but super easy to rectify, the inputs let down the whole of the rest of the job, but are also basically totally hidden by the central armrest. They are not technically in a cubby, but the might as well be.


Daniel

MarkwG said:

I think it's the wheel brace & the warning triangle, neither are model specific I believe.

I was gently pulling Mark’s leg. Looking at the images of his old car and knowing his OCD tendencies, they must be making him twitch

Here’s why :

The two screws securing the aux jack socket are different.

There’s a securing screw missing from the carbon airbox cover.

The toolkit is incomplete.

Sleepless nights will ensue ...

Edited by Slippydiff on Thursday 6th August 07:07

Nice one I wondered what you were alluding to.

[MannersMakethMan]

mwstewart said:

Ha ha you're worse than me...

The airbox is missing an M5 screw - I noticed that too.

The aux stuff is normally hidden under the rubber mat/cubby hole liner thing which must have been removed for the photo.

M3's don't have a complete tool kit because they come with a gel repair kit and inflator i.e. no spare. The rear silencer takes up the space normally used for a spare.

Hi all, I bought the car from Mark last year and as he mentioned, am only selling due to the purchase of a 997 GT3 that was too good to miss. The M3 is a fabulous car and if money and space were no object it wouldn’t be going, but needs must.

I bought the car unseen from Mark and it was every bit as good as I hoped. It has spent much of its time under my ownership in professional storage but I did take it to the Silverstone Classic last summer, used it sporadically in dry weather and drove it to Monaco and back last September (which accounts for most of the mileage in the last year). It was the perfect companion for that trip, it rides really well and is very happy cruising on an autoroute, but we took some great detours (including parts of Route Napoleon and the Red Rock road)) and it was sublime there too - the induction noise bouncing off stone walls and through tunnels never got boring!

To address a couple of the points raised here - yes it does seem to be missing a screw from the air box, not sure why, should be simple enough to sort this weekend. The tool kit is as complete as an M3 should be - the compressor etc is present and correct under the boot floor. The warning triangle is on the boot (and can be seen in one of the pictures). The aux input and USB charging port are well concealed in the car - they are at the back of the centre console under the armrest, and as Mark says they are hidden by the little rubber tray when not in use. They add some great functionality and were a good addition from Mark.

Happy to answer any other questions anyone might have. It took me 45 minutes to collect it from service recently as the technicians and a couple of salesmen were keen to look around it and talk about it - it really is a wonderful example.

Matt

[MDifficult]

MannersMakethMan said:

Hi all, I bought the car from Mark last year and as he mentioned, am only selling due to the purchase of a 997 GT3 that was too good to miss. The M3 is a fabulous car and if money and space were no object it wouldn’t be going, but needs must.

I bought the car unseen from Mark and it was every bit as good as I hoped. It has spent much of its time under my ownership in professional storage but I did take it to the Silverstone Classic last summer, used it sporadically in dry weather and drove it to Monaco and back last September (which accounts for most of the mileage in the last year). It was the perfect companion for that trip, it rides really well and is very happy cruising on an autoroute, but we took some great detours (including parts of Route Napoleon and the Red Rock road)) and it was sublime there too - the induction noise bouncing off stone walls and through tunnels never got boring!

To address a couple of the points raised here - yes it does seem to be missing a screw from the air box, not sure why, should be simple enough to sort this weekend. The tool kit is as complete as an M3 should be - the compressor etc is present and correct under the boot floor. The warning triangle is on the boot (and can be seen in one of the pictures). The aux input and USB charging port are well concealed in the car - they are at the back of the centre console under the armrest, and as Mark says they are hidden by the little rubber tray when not in use. They add some great functionality and were a good addition from Mark.

Happy to answer any other questions anyone might have. It took me 45 minutes to collect it from service recently as the technicians and a couple of salesmen were keen to look around it and talk about it - it really is a wonderful example.

Matt

Stop it!!

I followed this whole thread and loved the development of the car, and I was gutted to see it sold. Now it's back on the market but I just can't do it (and Mrs M would murder me).

Whoever eventually gets their hands on it.. you have my envy!

[mwstewart]

It sure deserves another careful enthusiast owner like Matt.

I think the mark of a nice car is the interest it generates at service time. The M3 was never short of attention in fact at the last inspection 2 my local BMW main dealer wanted to buy it to retail.

[dhutch]

Matt, welcome to the thread, cracking car I am sure.

I have never seen this car, but know Mark and some of this cars through a shared friend, and am sure it is as per this thread and the listing.


Daniel

[MarkwG]

Slippydiff said:

MarkwG said:

I think it's the wheel brace & the warning triangle, neither are model specific I believe.

I was gently pulling Mark’s leg. Looking at the images of his old car and knowing his OCD tendencies, they must be making him twitch

apologies, rather a long day & missed the nuances. In my defence, I guess they use a standard tool box, but I hate those empty spaces, enough to try & fill them even if they're not needed...I know, I know

[PGN]

Just sold on Collecting cars for £25,500 + 6% buyer's premium. That's a bargain!

[Slippydiff]

Languished at £23K for the last 5-6 days, one or two other bids in the last couple of hours took it close to £23,500, then a £2K bid at 8.28 bought it. Someone (hopefully on here) got a cracking car.