BMW E46 M3 CS Competition Package - Silver Grey Manual
Discussion
sparks85 said:
Silver Grey is the colour in my eyes suits it best, though Titan Silver and Imola Red were both considered. It looks great in all colours though.
Silver Grey is one of those colours which looks good in every condition. Estoril Blue and Oxford Green only look good in direct sunlight.I think Titan Silver is just bland.
Absolutely love the fact that it doesn´t have a sunroof, i hate having a black square on the roof.
CHAPTER THREE – ODD JOBS
My first impression of the car, as I wound my way through some country backroads immediately after completing the sale, was how incredibly wiiiide the car felt. This was I suppose only natural given the step up in size from an MX5! However, I acclimatised very quickly and whilst it is a cliché, the car really did seem to shrink around me.
The steering was absolutely sublime, weighted and firm, but precise and offering excellent feedback – the thick rimmed CS wheel is a perfect form. The gearshift felt notchy with a very short throw meaning you have to be precise and firm with each change – although I understand that to be one of its characteristics rather than anything wrong with it. I found out later that a previous owner fitted a ZHP gear knob fitted with an alcantara gaiter.
As I drove around the M25 in rush hour, I didn’t have a chance to really stretch the M3’s legs – I was too preoccupied with dodging every single Van Man who wanted sit a few feet from my rear bumper. I kept an eye on engine and oil temperatures given this was my first extended drive in the car, however they were rock steady (and not in the dial-is-broken kind of way).
As my journey home drew to a close, I finally found a break in traffic and got the chance to give it some beans as I joined a dual carriageway and gosh, did the thing accelerate in a completely different way to anything I have driven before! I made it home without incident and had to pinch myself a few times over the coming days as I couldn’t quite believe I owned an M3!
I had promised myself this car would stay fairly stock but there are a number of smaller tweaks and bits I want to tidy up. The rear window appears to have been tinted and the tint is peeling away at the edges – I thought this was condensation from sitting in a lockup when I first saw the car, but it’s much clearer in direct sunlight – I’ll have to figure out if I can remove this cleanly, but already I can see this being an awkward and time-consuming job to do properly. I might have it re-tinted to match the rear quarter windows.
The car came with a GPS Snooper of unknown vintage that the previous owner hadn’t even tested out – I have no idea whether it functions, if it is totally outdated or you need a subscription for these things. I’ll give it a go at some point and if it’s no good, then I’ll take the opportunity to remove the power wiring that sits on the dash to the right of the steering wheel.
I bought myself an ‘M’ tricolour keyring as the main key didn’t even have a hoop attached to it. I though the keyring might be a bit cheesy and cheap, but it’s a lovely little thing and nice to add a splash of colour. The keys themselves are looking a little tired, so to spruce them up, I’m considering swapping it to a replacement key which look to be about a tenner from eBay.
The rear boot centre carpet section suffered from an oil spill under the previous owner, so I’m on the hunt for a replacement OEM item. Apparently, BMW don’t make these anymore so I will keep an eye on the breakers.
The toolkit in the boot lid was missing a few tools – the towing eye, the wheel brace and one of the spanners. I was going to buy replacements individually, but found someone on eBay selling half a toolkit which co-incidentally had most of the tools I needed, so I ordered that and slotted the missing tools in when it arrived. I’m still missing a couple and can’t figure out what they are..
Before:
After:
The chrome exhaust tips looked like they hadn’t been cleaned in about 5 years and really let the car down - though admittedly the whole car needed a damned good clean from top to bottom. I set to work with some Autosol, an old toothbrush and some microfibre cloths. For some reason I decided the best time to do this was in direct sunlight, in the middle of a boiling hot day. I got bored after ten minutes (there may have been a hangover involved) and gave up, though the one side I did do looked a whole lot better. The insides of the tips are really thick with carbon deposits that even the mighty toothbrush couldn’t shift, so I will have another go with wirewool or a scotchbrite pad at a later date.
I’d always preferred silver grey E46 M3’s with darker kidney grilles rather than the OE chrome items, so I purchased a set of matte black grilles from SSDD Motorsport. I know these aren’t to everyone’s tastes but the chrome really isn’t for me. I looked at a few on eBay but most seemed to either be items shipped from China (with a long delivery time and possible customs charges) or ones where the seller couldn’t confirm if they would fit the M3 – apparently the E46 3 series had a facelift where the kidney size changed. The SSDD items were a few pounds more expensive but I didn’t want to mess around with cheaper alternatives that may or may not fit.
The new matte black kidney grilles arrived promptly and well packaged, so reassured by a step by step guide of how incredibly easy they were to install, I attempted to remove the old chrome items. ‘Don’t bend the tabs back too far as they will snap’ seemed to be the biggest thing to worry about. Of course, I promptly snapped several but the old grilles came out easily enough. I gave the exposed paint a quick clean and popped in the new items.
Buoyed by the quality of the SSDD items and disliking the mismatch between the black kidney grilles and the chrome side vents, I purchased myself a set of matching matte black side vents (also from SSDD) which again turned up promptly and well packaged.
These proved slightly more tricky to install however – online guides suggest it is ‘simply’ a matter of using some small flathead screwdrivers to prise up two tabs inside the bottom edge of the existing vent, and they would pop right out. In practice this was far more fiddly and the tabs wouldn’t seem to bend up as expected – my patience was tested but they eventually came out, although I mangled the tabs quite badly so I’m not sure how snug they would be if refitted in the future. Again, I took the opportunity to give the paintwork on the lip a clean before the new items went in.
My first impression of the car, as I wound my way through some country backroads immediately after completing the sale, was how incredibly wiiiide the car felt. This was I suppose only natural given the step up in size from an MX5! However, I acclimatised very quickly and whilst it is a cliché, the car really did seem to shrink around me.
The steering was absolutely sublime, weighted and firm, but precise and offering excellent feedback – the thick rimmed CS wheel is a perfect form. The gearshift felt notchy with a very short throw meaning you have to be precise and firm with each change – although I understand that to be one of its characteristics rather than anything wrong with it. I found out later that a previous owner fitted a ZHP gear knob fitted with an alcantara gaiter.
As I drove around the M25 in rush hour, I didn’t have a chance to really stretch the M3’s legs – I was too preoccupied with dodging every single Van Man who wanted sit a few feet from my rear bumper. I kept an eye on engine and oil temperatures given this was my first extended drive in the car, however they were rock steady (and not in the dial-is-broken kind of way).
As my journey home drew to a close, I finally found a break in traffic and got the chance to give it some beans as I joined a dual carriageway and gosh, did the thing accelerate in a completely different way to anything I have driven before! I made it home without incident and had to pinch myself a few times over the coming days as I couldn’t quite believe I owned an M3!
I had promised myself this car would stay fairly stock but there are a number of smaller tweaks and bits I want to tidy up. The rear window appears to have been tinted and the tint is peeling away at the edges – I thought this was condensation from sitting in a lockup when I first saw the car, but it’s much clearer in direct sunlight – I’ll have to figure out if I can remove this cleanly, but already I can see this being an awkward and time-consuming job to do properly. I might have it re-tinted to match the rear quarter windows.
The car came with a GPS Snooper of unknown vintage that the previous owner hadn’t even tested out – I have no idea whether it functions, if it is totally outdated or you need a subscription for these things. I’ll give it a go at some point and if it’s no good, then I’ll take the opportunity to remove the power wiring that sits on the dash to the right of the steering wheel.
I bought myself an ‘M’ tricolour keyring as the main key didn’t even have a hoop attached to it. I though the keyring might be a bit cheesy and cheap, but it’s a lovely little thing and nice to add a splash of colour. The keys themselves are looking a little tired, so to spruce them up, I’m considering swapping it to a replacement key which look to be about a tenner from eBay.
The rear boot centre carpet section suffered from an oil spill under the previous owner, so I’m on the hunt for a replacement OEM item. Apparently, BMW don’t make these anymore so I will keep an eye on the breakers.
The toolkit in the boot lid was missing a few tools – the towing eye, the wheel brace and one of the spanners. I was going to buy replacements individually, but found someone on eBay selling half a toolkit which co-incidentally had most of the tools I needed, so I ordered that and slotted the missing tools in when it arrived. I’m still missing a couple and can’t figure out what they are..
Before:
After:
The chrome exhaust tips looked like they hadn’t been cleaned in about 5 years and really let the car down - though admittedly the whole car needed a damned good clean from top to bottom. I set to work with some Autosol, an old toothbrush and some microfibre cloths. For some reason I decided the best time to do this was in direct sunlight, in the middle of a boiling hot day. I got bored after ten minutes (there may have been a hangover involved) and gave up, though the one side I did do looked a whole lot better. The insides of the tips are really thick with carbon deposits that even the mighty toothbrush couldn’t shift, so I will have another go with wirewool or a scotchbrite pad at a later date.
I’d always preferred silver grey E46 M3’s with darker kidney grilles rather than the OE chrome items, so I purchased a set of matte black grilles from SSDD Motorsport. I know these aren’t to everyone’s tastes but the chrome really isn’t for me. I looked at a few on eBay but most seemed to either be items shipped from China (with a long delivery time and possible customs charges) or ones where the seller couldn’t confirm if they would fit the M3 – apparently the E46 3 series had a facelift where the kidney size changed. The SSDD items were a few pounds more expensive but I didn’t want to mess around with cheaper alternatives that may or may not fit.
The new matte black kidney grilles arrived promptly and well packaged, so reassured by a step by step guide of how incredibly easy they were to install, I attempted to remove the old chrome items. ‘Don’t bend the tabs back too far as they will snap’ seemed to be the biggest thing to worry about. Of course, I promptly snapped several but the old grilles came out easily enough. I gave the exposed paint a quick clean and popped in the new items.
Buoyed by the quality of the SSDD items and disliking the mismatch between the black kidney grilles and the chrome side vents, I purchased myself a set of matching matte black side vents (also from SSDD) which again turned up promptly and well packaged.
These proved slightly more tricky to install however – online guides suggest it is ‘simply’ a matter of using some small flathead screwdrivers to prise up two tabs inside the bottom edge of the existing vent, and they would pop right out. In practice this was far more fiddly and the tabs wouldn’t seem to bend up as expected – my patience was tested but they eventually came out, although I mangled the tabs quite badly so I’m not sure how snug they would be if refitted in the future. Again, I took the opportunity to give the paintwork on the lip a clean before the new items went in.
Very nice, looks great. completely get the reasons for not tracking it. Worth keeping not for rising prices but just to have a decent clean example, there's a lot out there that are in a poor state having been neglected. Had a standard non-cs e46 M3 coupe with a manual gearbox and it was great I've not driven another car with a quicker throttle response. Fantastic combo of daily usability and rewarding when driven spiritedly. Like the black grills completely agree with the chrome, BMW used to do a "shadow line" trim option in days gone by where all the chrome was replaced with black trim, think they still do this under a different name (probably using the "M" badge like every other option, diluting the title further imo) which is something I would tick on the options list were I in a position to buy a new BMW M car.
Lovely. Just needs a finishing touch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0MOOvg4zfw
https://www.geoffsteel.co.uk/shop/e46-csl-carbon-a...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0MOOvg4zfw
https://www.geoffsteel.co.uk/shop/e46-csl-carbon-a...
[quote=FELIX_5]Congratulations on the purchase, looks great! That was a good read, I enjoyed that.
I agree! I am an E46 M3 driver and I have loved every second of it! It is a black convertible model and is the fastest 4-seater I could afford, such good value. I have made laugh and even made one cry😂
The noise it makes in 'hooligan mode', oh the noise!
Mine is an SMG, not universally popular, but it means it is all things to all men; a cruiser when you can't be arsed, a fire-breathing monster when you want to leave motorbikes in your wake.
Buy one, they are like a fast sofa!
I agree! I am an E46 M3 driver and I have loved every second of it! It is a black convertible model and is the fastest 4-seater I could afford, such good value. I have made laugh and even made one cry😂
The noise it makes in 'hooligan mode', oh the noise!
Mine is an SMG, not universally popular, but it means it is all things to all men; a cruiser when you can't be arsed, a fire-breathing monster when you want to leave motorbikes in your wake.
Buy one, they are like a fast sofa!
Panthro said:
They aren't cheap to run and maintain, but will give you a huge smile every time you get into it.
Not sure how accurate the trip computer is, but mine tells me I average over 33mpg with the cruise control set at 75mph.The last full service (non-BMW of course, they are a rip-off of note!), was £400 and it hasn't missed beat in the 3 years I've owned it.
I just had a few clips snap on one of my kidney grilles; what was the turnaround time on your SSD items? I'm not sure I like the matt black but was planning on painting mine body colour (mystic blue).
If you can't stand the sight of the carpet stain, just flip it over for the time being and have it rubber-side up! I prefer it because if anything does spill it's a wipe-up job.
If you can't stand the sight of the carpet stain, just flip it over for the time being and have it rubber-side up! I prefer it because if anything does spill it's a wipe-up job.
JoshMay said:
Not sure how accurate the trip computer is, but mine tells me I average over 33mpg with the cruise control set at 75mph.
The last full service (non-BMW of course, they are a rip-off of note!), was £400 and it hasn't missed beat in the 3 years I've owned it.
Compared to specialists who do the job correctly BMW aren't that horrendously overpriced. ETA Motorsport may be one exception.The last full service (non-BMW of course, they are a rip-off of note!), was £400 and it hasn't missed beat in the 3 years I've owned it.
In parts alone my Inspection I came to £200. £100 or so was down to the gaskets for the valve clearances and the rest was down to 8 litres of Castrol 10W60 (I'll use the rest for the next oil change) and a genuine oil filter ; alot of the pattern ones aren't made to the later spec which BMW changed to later on. An Inspection II is closer to £400.
The trip is about 5% out. Mine on an accurate basis does around 24MPG with a mixture of town work but 30+MPG on a motorway cruise if I stay below 80.
It looks like a great purchase! A nice job done indeed!
Your story sounds similar to mine ; there is alot of junk for sale out there and like you I ended up getting one with more miles, principally because it was better maintained with evidence of that in place. Cheap however, it's not been to maintain!
mwstewart said:
The service prices above sound really good. Mine's going to BMW in a couple of weeks for an oil change which has gone up from £199 to £230. If I was running mine as a daily I would definitely use a specialist.
Try bartering with them but you already know that.I know that my local dealer came within £10 for a pair of tyres for a friend's 2 Series GT when he took it in a for a service when compared to Black Circles; they hinted to me that they would match a local tyre shop for prices when my E46 went in for a recall. I'm fairly sure that they do try to compete against better known specialists
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