E46 M3 SMG CONVERTIBLE - 2004
Discussion
I finally own an M3!!! After years of wanting, my 6th BMW is an E46 M3 convertible, carbon black and SMG.... (please excuse the iPhone photos for now)
I realise that I don't need to, but I'm going to explain my choice....
I have a company car, I use it for personal as well as work, it does everything I need it to, except it's not a fast car.
After owning 4 other BMW convertibles it's hard to go back to a tin top roof again and not be able to feel the wind on my head in the summer, as much as I love the coupe, it was always going to be a convertible.
Secondly, my left knee, my clutch leg, is in a bad state now, ravaged by osteoarthritis after a football injury destroyed it!!
I can drive a manual car, but prefer to have the luxury of not worrying if my knee will hold up and dread driving it, so SMG it is, and so far I'm really impressed.
The car is a facelift 2004 model, Carbon black, black leather, slightly lowered, appears to Tein front springs and unknown rear springs, decatted, diamond cut alloys, 10mm hubcentric rear spacers and 15mm hubcentrics on the front, it's also just had £2500 spent on the SMG transmission, and is in generally very good condition.
It's booked in for a full corrective valet in October, has new headlight lenses on route and my journey basically starts here...
I realise that I don't need to, but I'm going to explain my choice....
I have a company car, I use it for personal as well as work, it does everything I need it to, except it's not a fast car.
After owning 4 other BMW convertibles it's hard to go back to a tin top roof again and not be able to feel the wind on my head in the summer, as much as I love the coupe, it was always going to be a convertible.
Secondly, my left knee, my clutch leg, is in a bad state now, ravaged by osteoarthritis after a football injury destroyed it!!
I can drive a manual car, but prefer to have the luxury of not worrying if my knee will hold up and dread driving it, so SMG it is, and so far I'm really impressed.
The car is a facelift 2004 model, Carbon black, black leather, slightly lowered, appears to Tein front springs and unknown rear springs, decatted, diamond cut alloys, 10mm hubcentric rear spacers and 15mm hubcentrics on the front, it's also just had £2500 spent on the SMG transmission, and is in generally very good condition.
It's booked in for a full corrective valet in October, has new headlight lenses on route and my journey basically starts here...
matthias73 said:
Absolutely superb.
You'll notice my e46 thread sitting right below yours, albeit mine is only a 330i.
Make sure you get it cleaned underneath and in the arches and rustproof it! Any plans, driving or modifications wise?
Thank you. I was just off finding some photos to put onto your thread, I've come from 2 x 330ci Convertibles, the last one I just sold was this.... You'll notice my e46 thread sitting right below yours, albeit mine is only a 330i.
Make sure you get it cleaned underneath and in the arches and rustproof it! Any plans, driving or modifications wise?
BMW E46 330 CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on Flickr
BMW E46 330 CONVERTIBLE by Cliff Judson, on FlickrI will never ever look down on a 330, they are fantastic value for money and superb cars, the M3 though is a completely different animal.
I'll have all of the arches cleaned and protected, I did it with the car above, plus probably have the rear arches rolled to enable a wider stance.
I need some carbon fibre, front and rear, but until the car is minty mint I'm not thinking much beyond that
May I ask how much you sold that for?
I bought mine last year and looking at prices now I think they are at an all time low. So many e46s are now at the point where they are about to goose their owners with a massive bill and are getting scrapped or sold for parts. A good one with extensive service history will be ignored by all except those who can actually afford to run one properly, and they are likely to go for a good M3 over anything else.
When you say Carbon do you mean body panels or details? I think a lip and a diffuser...
I bought mine last year and looking at prices now I think they are at an all time low. So many e46s are now at the point where they are about to goose their owners with a massive bill and are getting scrapped or sold for parts. A good one with extensive service history will be ignored by all except those who can actually afford to run one properly, and they are likely to go for a good M3 over anything else.
When you say Carbon do you mean body panels or details? I think a lip and a diffuser...
matthias73 said:
May I ask how much you sold that for?
I bought mine last year and looking at prices now I think they are at an all time low. So many e46s are now at the point where they are about to goose their owners with a massive bill and are getting scrapped or sold for parts. A good one with extensive service history will be ignored by all except those who can actually afford to run one properly, and they are likely to go for a good M3 over anything else.
When you say Carbon do you mean body panels or details? I think a lip and a diffuser...
It sold for £3650 with 122k. It really was a fine example though. I bought mine last year and looking at prices now I think they are at an all time low. So many e46s are now at the point where they are about to goose their owners with a massive bill and are getting scrapped or sold for parts. A good one with extensive service history will be ignored by all except those who can actually afford to run one properly, and they are likely to go for a good M3 over anything else.
When you say Carbon do you mean body panels or details? I think a lip and a diffuser...
Yeah, carbon rear diffuser, carbon front lip, nothing crazy.
Cliff J said:
matthias73 said:
May I ask how much you sold that for?
I bought mine last year and looking at prices now I think they are at an all time low. So many e46s are now at the point where they are about to goose their owners with a massive bill and are getting scrapped or sold for parts. A good one with extensive service history will be ignored by all except those who can actually afford to run one properly, and they are likely to go for a good M3 over anything else.
When you say Carbon do you mean body panels or details? I think a lip and a diffuser...
It sold for £3650 with 122k. It really was a fine example though. I bought mine last year and looking at prices now I think they are at an all time low. So many e46s are now at the point where they are about to goose their owners with a massive bill and are getting scrapped or sold for parts. A good one with extensive service history will be ignored by all except those who can actually afford to run one properly, and they are likely to go for a good M3 over anything else.
When you say Carbon do you mean body panels or details? I think a lip and a diffuser...
Yeah, carbon rear diffuser, carbon front lip, nothing crazy.
matthias73 said:
Cliff J said:
matthias73 said:
May I ask how much you sold that for?
I bought mine last year and looking at prices now I think they are at an all time low. So many e46s are now at the point where they are about to goose their owners with a massive bill and are getting scrapped or sold for parts. A good one with extensive service history will be ignored by all except those who can actually afford to run one properly, and they are likely to go for a good M3 over anything else.
When you say Carbon do you mean body panels or details? I think a lip and a diffuser...
It sold for £3650 with 122k. It really was a fine example though. I bought mine last year and looking at prices now I think they are at an all time low. So many e46s are now at the point where they are about to goose their owners with a massive bill and are getting scrapped or sold for parts. A good one with extensive service history will be ignored by all except those who can actually afford to run one properly, and they are likely to go for a good M3 over anything else.
When you say Carbon do you mean body panels or details? I think a lip and a diffuser...
Yeah, carbon rear diffuser, carbon front lip, nothing crazy.
I paid £1800 for my current Coupe, with <100k miles and decent spec. They have a while to go before the price starts climbing out of the 'mire.
I can see the SMG gearboxes in these being good fun, especially with the manuals being typically BMW and quite notchy. No need to explain why you went for it over the 3 pedal set-up, as i'd probably go for this aswell and others have too.
They do look nicer than i thought in cab form. For me, personally, i'd go for a coupe but i can imagine more decent examples of these coming up for sale as they're probably a bit less popular. It's getting harder to find good ones of these now.
They do look nicer than i thought in cab form. For me, personally, i'd go for a coupe but i can imagine more decent examples of these coming up for sale as they're probably a bit less popular. It's getting harder to find good ones of these now.
culpz said:
I can see the SMG gearboxes in these being good fun, especially with the manuals being typically BMW and quite notchy. No need to explain why you went for it over the 3 pedal set-up, as i'd probably go for this aswell and others have too.
They do look nicer than i thought in cab form. For me, personally, i'd go for a coupe but i can imagine more decent examples of these coming up for sale as they're probably a bit less popular. It's getting harder to find good ones of these now.
Personally I love the SMG, but admittedly I need to learn how to use it properly with its many settings, that will come though. Quite enjoying playing with the flappy paddles. They do look nicer than i thought in cab form. For me, personally, i'd go for a coupe but i can imagine more decent examples of these coming up for sale as they're probably a bit less popular. It's getting harder to find good ones of these now.
The car is rapid, aggressive and very angry, I never test drove a coupe but I doubt i’d benefit from the lighter weight or better handelling, I’m not hardcore crazy like that, this ticks every box I need except if I had bought a coupe I would have styled it overly aggressive, which doesn’t work with a cab body.
C70R said:
As the owner of a (bargain) 330ci Sport Coupe, I wouldn't hold your breath. There are still a LOAD of cars out there, so getting "good money" means that the car needs to be absolutely exceptional (low miles, great spec/combo, fsh etc.).
I paid £1800 for my current Coupe, with <100k miles and decent spec. They have a while to go before the price starts climbing out of the 'mire.
I'm aware they are fully in the mire. It's great for parts.I paid £1800 for my current Coupe, with <100k miles and decent spec. They have a while to go before the price starts climbing out of the 'mire.
When I say good money I'm suggesting 3-4k for an immaculate 330 vert or clubsport.
Lurking on the e46 Facebook pages is an interesting experience. Lots of people trying to sell their 316 for top money and getting offended when people offer less.
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