BMW E46 M3

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e30m3Mark

Original Poster:

16,205 posts

172 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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Over the past few years I have been running an E30 M3, that I modified pretty extensively for the track, but recent health issues have meant I am only able to work part time and I simply couldn't afford to have so much cash tied up in one car, so I had little option to sell and buy something a little cheaper. I had a budget of £15k, it needed to be quick, rear wheel drive and have a cool rating of 1k Megafonzies or more. In the end the choice was either Porsche 911/996 or BMW E46 M3? I checked the usual places to see what was available and pretty much the first M3 I saw was in my ideal specification. The first thing on the list being Laguna Seca blue paint, closely followed by CSL carbon airbox. Another bonus was the car was only an hour or so up the A30! Unfortunately, in the few days it took to sell my E30 the advert had ended and the seller was no longer keen to part with the car. Added to which the MOT had expired and it needed an Inspection 2 service. I can be quite persistent at times though and eventually the seller said he'd get an MOT done and we could decide from there, whether or not to proceed. Fortunately it passed, with no advisories and there was absolutely nothing of note in the MOT history check. There was also a video available from Reddish, who had carried out a thorough inspection of the car already, which included the boot floor and subframe mounts, all of which were perfect. Happy days!

So come last Saturday morning my Mrs and I headed off to Exeter. Her to go to Ikea, me to view the E46. As soon as it drove into view I was pretty much smitten. I love the chunky, aggressive look of a well sorted E46 M3 and Laguna Seca blue is definitely the best colour in my eyes. I checked all the obvious E46 problem areas and they were all fine. The paint wasn't quite as lustrous as it might have been and there was some light surface corrosion where the sill and front wing meet, but nothing that wasn't easily fixed. Overall it just had an honest, un messed with feel about it and things like the brand new matching set of Michelin were a clue to how well looked after the car was. The interior was even better than I had expected and I've always liked the back to basic feel of BMW interiors. (I don't want a branch of Maplin's to drive around in!) The condition is just lovely too. The test drive just confirmed what I had been thinking and I did what people always say you shouldn't and I bought the first car I had viewed. I then spent the next hour sat in Ikea's car park, reading through the service history and owners manual, while my Mrs went and bought 3 tons of tea lights.

The drive home was mainly A30 dual carriageway and the sun, which had kindly hung around for me to check the car out, made a hasty retreat to be replaced with heavy rain and grey skies. Laguna Seca blue looks awesome and moody with a grey backdrop. I did get to stretch the S54 a bit though and that carbon air box is just epic. It is hands down the best thing you can do for any normally aspirated M car but it's incredibly addictive, which isn't good for your fuel economy. Mind you, who buys an M3 for it's MPG figures?

Fortunately, there was still enough left in my budget to allow me to sort the few niggles with the bodywork. I also bagged myself some AP brakes, CSL type front lips, a front strut brace, wheel stud conversion and adjustable rear camber arms. I do want a set of either Intrax or Bilstein coilovers too if anyone has some sat in their garage?

Yes, I most certainly miss the E30 but the E46 M3 is a great car and I'm very lucky to have one. Anyway, a few pictures from the past couple of days. I'm really looking forward to seeing it after the bodywork and paint correction though.

Mark
















94OD

1,072 posts

121 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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Looks great, Mark.

I'm sure the E30 will be missed but it's not a bad switch at all - will be following. cool

Ocsltd

952 posts

196 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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Great purchase, congratulations!

Really enjoyed reading that, in for updates.....

M4CK 1

469 posts

126 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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That's a sweet looking car with a good spec!!!

Have you thought about replacing your seats for some recaro pole position and removing the back seats and putting CSL carpet. Should lighten the car a fair bit and increase the driving experience.
After reading Sebrings Experience these can get quite expensive. Have you any plans for maintenance, has the rear been reinforced??

Anyway enjoy!!

martin mrt

3,768 posts

200 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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Bloody hell that interior is like chickens teeth nerd

Lovely looking E46, I fitted Intrax coilovers to mine some years ago, fantastic upgrade.

e30m3Mark

Original Poster:

16,205 posts

172 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
quotequote all
Thanks guys.

I'm thinking I might change the seats (after putting these in storage for safe keeping) for something like Recaro Speed. I'm not going to go as far with the mods as I did with the E30 and I think those Recaro are a nice compromise. I'm going to change the steering wheel for something like the MoMo 78 in 330mm, unless I get the OE one done by Royal? Also got some facelift rear lights as prefer the look of the LED's.

There's simply no such thing as a cheap M car. I know that from past experience. Right now I'm just getting as much out of my original budget as possible and future mods, like a colour coded rear cage, will just have to wait till I've saved enough to pay for them. Meanwhile I just intend enjoying the car as much as possible. smile

Nunga

332 posts

107 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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Congratulations from another E46 owner. If you’ve poured money into an E30, you’ll have no trouble doing the same with an E46. It sounded like yours has been inspected but has NOT had RACP plating done? Curious the previous owner would go to the effort because you really need to remove the carrier and bushes to check for cracking. Anyway, that’s certainly a point to consider.

Love LSB as well, but the F2AT M-Textur is a rare find these days so think twice if you wish to sell the seats. I’d keep them personally.

Has VANOS been done?

e30m3Mark

Original Poster:

16,205 posts

172 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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No I won't be selling the interior. As I said, it'll just go in to storage for safe keeping if I do swap the seats for something track orientated.

Reddish have a pretty good reputation when it comes to floor / subframe inspections so I'm pretty confident in their findings, although that's not to say I won't have the floor strengthened at a later date though.

shalmaneser

5,930 posts

194 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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e30m3Mark said:
Thanks guys.

I'm thinking I might change the seats (after putting these in storage for safe keeping) for something like Recaro Speed. I'm not going to go as far with the mods as I did with the E30 and I think those Recaro are a nice compromise. I'm going to change the steering wheel for something like the MoMo 78 in 330mm, unless I get the OE one done by Royal? Also got some facelift rear lights as prefer the look of the LED's.

There's simply no such thing as a cheap M car. I know that from past experience. Right now I'm just getting as much out of my original budget as possible and future mods, like a colour coded rear cage, will just have to wait till I've saved enough to pay for them. Meanwhile I just intend enjoying the car as much as possible. smile
Will be interested to see what the interior looks like with the Recaro Speed seats. Having updated the brakes and suspension on my M3 the only thing holding it back on track really are the standard seats that just don't hold you in tight enough.

Sadly I've got a grey interior so I'd have to swap to a black one I think to match the black Recaros if i were to swap them...

mwstewart

7,554 posts

187 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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That's nice - you don't see many of the MY01 cars around.

GregK2

1,651 posts

145 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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That would be my ideal E46 too, bravo, looks immense!

Sport220

619 posts

74 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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Wow, that has to be one of the best looking E46 I have seen. The combination of colour, CSL tyle boot, wheels and seats is wonderful.

Hope these don't shoot up in value too much as I still hope to buy one one day, my absolute favourite BMW.

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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Gutted you had to sell your E30 - I saw it at Donnington a couple of years ago and it was simply stunning. cloud9

But your E46 looks terrific, and it looks like it will soon also be stunning!

I'm really looking forward to reading future instalments. thumbup

But is it time for another username change though? laugh



e30m3Mark

Original Poster:

16,205 posts

172 months

Friday 14th December 2018
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Thanks.

Have been looking at making a preemptive strike on the boot floor / subframe mounts.

scottos

1,139 posts

123 months

Friday 14th December 2018
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Nice one Mark, glad to see you're sorted and what a replacement for the e30, not a bad position to be in now! Least you can now focus on getting better.

I've always wanted an e46 m3 but it would have to be a daily car so i've never had the balls for it. Maybe one day but the 2002 is the focus at the moment!

Scott

e30m3Mark

Original Poster:

16,205 posts

172 months

Friday 14th December 2018
quotequote all
Thanks Scott.

Just off the phone with one of the dealers that serviced it back in the day. The good news is it had the main bearing shells done but they didn't know when or by who? I think I will have to just ring around all the dealerships who have stamped the history.

Also been reading about the 'goodwill' BMW offered in relation to the boot floor and subframe mounts. Evidently there are a couple of people who had repairs after the 10 year cut off point. I also saw that BMW USA accepted liability after being prosecuted down to the risk through the potential for a structural failure. It's definitely a job I want to get done one way or another as I want to replace the subframe bushes.

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Friday 14th December 2018
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Main dealers used to change the big end bearings as a recall item, not the main bearings. The new car looks good.

e30m3Mark

Original Poster:

16,205 posts

172 months

Friday 14th December 2018
quotequote all
helix402 said:
Main dealers used to change the big end bearings as a recall item, not the main bearings. The new car looks good.
Thanks for that. I'm still getting up to speed on E46's as they're way more modern than I'm used to. smile

Anyone know (or have a link) to what went on in relation to the subframe mounts 'goodwill' from BMW?

HM-2

12,467 posts

168 months

Friday 14th December 2018
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Wheels, are they Apex ARC-8s?
Looks like it's had a great deal of love lavished on it.
LSB + CSL bits + APs is a pretty cracking spec.

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Friday 14th December 2018
quotequote all
e30m3Mark said:
Thanks for that. I'm still getting up to speed on E46's as they're way more modern than I'm used to. smile

Anyone know (or have a link) to what went on in relation to the subframe mounts 'goodwill' from BMW?
When I worked at a main dealer (94-05), the bodyshop changed a few rear floor pans on M3s under warranty. Reddish have posted somewhere with a pic/video of the part they used to change.