E46 M3 Best spec?
Discussion
Chaps,
Am continuing my search for a sub £14k car, had settled on a 911 (964) but am beginning to think it will be too impractical and hard to find a good one at that price. Therefore am revisiting the venerable M3. Is there anything I should be aware of in terms of options, colours and so on when buying? were there any significant updates during it's lifespan? basically i guess I am asking what year, mileage and spec I should looking for, in the case of the M3 I want to spend a max of £11K, seems doable with what I have seen around. Any advice appreciated.
Am continuing my search for a sub £14k car, had settled on a 911 (964) but am beginning to think it will be too impractical and hard to find a good one at that price. Therefore am revisiting the venerable M3. Is there anything I should be aware of in terms of options, colours and so on when buying? were there any significant updates during it's lifespan? basically i guess I am asking what year, mileage and spec I should looking for, in the case of the M3 I want to spend a max of £11K, seems doable with what I have seen around. Any advice appreciated.
varsas said:
Might be best putting this in general gassing, I think there have been a few threads about them recently so might be worth giving the search a go.
Do you consider an E46 M3 a classic car? (honest question)
I consider it a future classic! Good suggestion, will look a t link and search and then perhaps post in General gassing..Do you consider an E46 M3 a classic car? (honest question)
I have had a 2002 M3 for 18 months. I looked at various other cars - Maserati 3200, Alfa Brera Prodrive and then I spotted a 2002, M3 in carbon black, black leather, SMG, sunroof but no Nav (the BMW nav is now pretty outdated) with 35,000 miles on it - I paid £9400. Since then I was a bit unlucky the Vanos has gone (£750 - could have been worse, thanks go out to Mr Vanos) and its needed another £1000 of bits and bobs. Great car. Kangaroos a bit when cold, the SMG can be a bit unrefined and I guess they are starting to look their age but a lot of car for the money. Loads of them out there. It will also take my 3 kids easily, has a big boot and goes like stink. A great all rounder....and if you like petrol station forecourts, then thats a bonus as you will spend a fair amount of time there!
bruciebonuz said:
I have had a 2002 M3 for 18 months. I looked at various other cars - Maserati 3200, Alfa Brera Prodrive and then I spotted a 2002, M3 in carbon black, black leather, SMG, sunroof but no Nav (the BMW nav is now pretty outdated) with 35,000 miles on it - I paid £9400. Since then I was a bit unlucky the Vanos has gone (£750 - could have been worse, thanks go out to Mr Vanos) and its needed another £1000 of bits and bobs. Great car. Kangaroos a bit when cold, the SMG can be a bit unrefined and I guess they are starting to look their age but a lot of car for the money. Loads of them out there. It will also take my 3 kids easily, has a big boot and goes like stink. A great all rounder....and if you like petrol station forecourts, then thats a bonus as you will spend a fair amount of time there!
I currently have a 1980 380 SL that i am selling to fund the M3. After a weekend of mainly motorway, super economy style driving I got 20 mpg out of it. Town driving drops this to around 12mpg. So I am actually expecting the M3 to be more economical (unless thrashed!)The biggie to watch out for is the reas subframe mounts on the chassis.
They have been known to start to tear (I'm talking metal here, not rubber). BMW were fixing these well outside warranty, but I don't know if they still are.
I've had a few E46s and never had a problem but far more serious than a Vanos job if you have got it.
They have been known to start to tear (I'm talking metal here, not rubber). BMW were fixing these well outside warranty, but I don't know if they still are.
I've had a few E46s and never had a problem but far more serious than a Vanos job if you have got it.
Dave Dax builder said:
The biggie to watch out for is the reas subframe mounts on the chassis.
They have been known to start to tear (I'm talking metal here, not rubber). BMW were fixing these well outside warranty, but I don't know if they still are.
I've had a few E46s and never had a problem but far more serious than a Vanos job if you have got it.
They do still fix the subframe mounts out of warranty, it takes persistence to get them to do it though. My brother bought one last year and discovered it had some bad cracks after he bought it. It was fixed under warranty but it was turned down initially.They have been known to start to tear (I'm talking metal here, not rubber). BMW were fixing these well outside warranty, but I don't know if they still are.
I've had a few E46s and never had a problem but far more serious than a Vanos job if you have got it.
A future classic - yes, current classic, no
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