What do you think of this M3?
Discussion
Hello all,
Been quite tempted to have a look at the below M3. I'm not usually a fan of silver but it appears to be in good condition and comes with the 18" wheels which is preferable and quite low mileage.
What do you think of the car and price point?
Are there any glaringly obvious things I've missed? The pictures only show a tape deck which is a concern if that's the case (although I'm not afraid to rectify later). I've also not seen any commentary on the boot floor or any recalls either - anything to be concerned about?
Only looking to buy now if there is a bargain/great example to be had else wise I can easily wait a few months.
Cheers!
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
Been quite tempted to have a look at the below M3. I'm not usually a fan of silver but it appears to be in good condition and comes with the 18" wheels which is preferable and quite low mileage.
What do you think of the car and price point?
Are there any glaringly obvious things I've missed? The pictures only show a tape deck which is a concern if that's the case (although I'm not afraid to rectify later). I've also not seen any commentary on the boot floor or any recalls either - anything to be concerned about?
Only looking to buy now if there is a bargain/great example to be had else wise I can easily wait a few months.
Cheers!
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
Edited by CrouchingWayne on Saturday 1st December 20:31
Edited by CrouchingWayne on Saturday 1st December 20:32
It's on 'ditch finders' (sunew?),
O/S/F is in any case and the others appear to have similar sidewalls so could well be on all 4 wheels. IMO this is never a good sign.
The boot floor will need checking unless there is documentary evidence of it having been changed or reinforced, boot floor was never an official recall item and the age of that car will soon put it outside of BMW'S 10 year time frame.
Regardless of the impressively long list of equipment that all looks pretty much standard to me.
Does look like a clean car in the pictures though.
O/S/F is in any case and the others appear to have similar sidewalls so could well be on all 4 wheels. IMO this is never a good sign.
The boot floor will need checking unless there is documentary evidence of it having been changed or reinforced, boot floor was never an official recall item and the age of that car will soon put it outside of BMW'S 10 year time frame.
Regardless of the impressively long list of equipment that all looks pretty much standard to me.
Does look like a clean car in the pictures though.
Edited by E30M3SE on Saturday 1st December 20:57
That's a good spot I hadn't noticed the tyres.
Yea the spec is pretty much base as far as I can tell. Not sure what options are worth waiting for, initially I had thought the HK stereo would have been good but it seems to get mixed reviews online.
The car is purely for leisure so will be doing up to 5k a year absolute maximum.
Yea the spec is pretty much base as far as I can tell. Not sure what options are worth waiting for, initially I had thought the HK stereo would have been good but it seems to get mixed reviews online.
The car is purely for leisure so will be doing up to 5k a year absolute maximum.
Possibly the worst advert I've read in a while.
Vague service history details, s
te tyres, zero option spec.
The only way to know is to go & have a look/drive.
Be aware that even crap M3's can feel/sound great & turds can polish up well.
Go & drive a few, condition & history are the most important, price less so.
Vague service history details, s
te tyres, zero option spec.The only way to know is to go & have a look/drive.
Be aware that even crap M3's can feel/sound great & turds can polish up well.
Go & drive a few, condition & history are the most important, price less so.
The history is shown on the dealer site, only thing I thought was odd was it had two inspection 1's in a row.
Agreed that it needs to be seen, any tell tell signs of a bad one? I've not driven any e46's as I'm pretty new to looking for one and they dot come up at local dealers often.
For pictures:
www.buchananmotors.com/galleries/M3Arctic
Agreed that it needs to be seen, any tell tell signs of a bad one? I've not driven any e46's as I'm pretty new to looking for one and they dot come up at local dealers often.
For pictures:
www.buchananmotors.com/galleries/M3Arctic
Service history is in the last few pictures:
http://www.buchananmotors.com/galleries/M3Arctic/i...
Still welcoming opinions. Pricing looks good for mileage and year but then finding similar spec cars is hard as most are higher spec'd. Fairly common colour combination and poor tyres go against it.
http://www.buchananmotors.com/galleries/M3Arctic/i...
Still welcoming opinions. Pricing looks good for mileage and year but then finding similar spec cars is hard as most are higher spec'd. Fairly common colour combination and poor tyres go against it.
4+ years between services, should be done every 2 years regardless of mileage, that's probably why they've done an Inspection I instead of the oil service that should have been done after the initial Insp I.
0w30LL engine oil, I hope that isn't really what they've used, it should be run only on Castrol 10w60 or TWS.
These two thing coupled with the 'ditch finders' would be enough to put me off this particular car.
ETA; the Kwik fit service is a definite turn off.
0w30LL engine oil, I hope that isn't really what they've used, it should be run only on Castrol 10w60 or TWS.
These two thing coupled with the 'ditch finders' would be enough to put me off this particular car.
ETA; the Kwik fit service is a definite turn off.
Edited by E30M3SE on Saturday 1st December 23:20
CrouchingWayne said:
The history is shown on the dealer site, only thing I thought was odd was it had two inspection 1's in a row.
It's more likely the garage didn't know the difference between Oil, Insp 1 or 2. The last few services (bar the Bavaria one) were hardly done by specialists (Kwik Fit for one 
)They had a very nice back one for sale a while back - 120k miles but one owner, perfect history and on 18s, had it not been the other end of the country I would have had a look. To me this one doesn't look appealing, some things in the advert are a little odd - if you're a trader how can you say it's been run on V-Power??
I'd look for a car with better history, low owners and ignore the mileage to a certain extent. Also the stereo is irrelevant imo, they are fairly poor in any guise and a decent aftermarket head unit and component speakers will cost you well under £400.
Personally I'd walk away low mileage isn't necessarily that important.
I think the most concerning points for me is the 4 year gap between the services and the oil.
As others others have mentioned tyres are also a very good indication on how the previous owner has looked after the car i.e. if they have skimped out on st tyres then are they really going to spend the money / attitude required to look after the car properly. When I say attitude I mean always making sure the oil temp comes up before revving etc.
People seem to forget that a e46 M3 was once a 40k+ car even at basic spec. Yes you can buy them for 8k but just remember they still have the running costs (if maintained properly) of a 40k motor!
At that sort of money I'd look for a well looked after higher mileage example with a long term owner whose really looked after the car.
Good luck
I think the most concerning points for me is the 4 year gap between the services and the oil.
As others others have mentioned tyres are also a very good indication on how the previous owner has looked after the car i.e. if they have skimped out on s
t tyres then are they really going to spend the money / attitude required to look after the car properly. When I say attitude I mean always making sure the oil temp comes up before revving etc.People seem to forget that a e46 M3 was once a 40k+ car even at basic spec. Yes you can buy them for 8k but just remember they still have the running costs (if maintained properly) of a 40k motor!
At that sort of money I'd look for a well looked after higher mileage example with a long term owner whose really looked after the car.
Good luck
Bit of an update, had a chat with the dealer. Car has Continental tyres out back and the aforementioned ditch finders up front.
That invoice is from a specialist nearby believe it or not so I have no idea why it's the wrong oil? I was planning on putting any M car I owned there anyway but may need to rethink.
Car currently shows 7 former keepers although apparently 3 are dealers.
Guy instinct is suggesting this may not be the one for me!
That invoice is from a specialist nearby believe it or not so I have no idea why it's the wrong oil? I was planning on putting any M car I owned there anyway but may need to rethink.
Car currently shows 7 former keepers although apparently 3 are dealers.
Guy instinct is suggesting this may not be the one for me!
Where do you live?
Is it close by to the garage, might be worth a wee wander around.
To be honest at that price, i wouldnt bother. No sat nav, no heated seats, its a base spec car. You will find a full spec car for the same price so i would probably hold out.
the mileage is good, but like everyone says, buy on condition, i went to see low mileage exmaples, 30k to 60k etc. I bought one with 90k because it was in better condition. I did have to spend a little money on her though, none of which could have been picked up from a first look at the car.
Go see a few, try an SMG too.
I would check out M3cutters website, there are a few on there for sale which look good.
There are a few others in Scotland for sale for you to go see, possibly go check them out if you are close by you might be instantly sold on one of them. If you are in no rush and have the cash, dont buy the first one.
Just did a quick seach, 100 miles from Edinburgh or so, and came up with this one.......... looks good and i would chose this more than the silver, better spec etc and the write up. this is a first glance though. (ignore the evolution spec, dont know what thats there!)
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
This is far away, but only 1k more.
http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=630...
Anyway, there are just alternatives.
Is it close by to the garage, might be worth a wee wander around.
To be honest at that price, i wouldnt bother. No sat nav, no heated seats, its a base spec car. You will find a full spec car for the same price so i would probably hold out.
the mileage is good, but like everyone says, buy on condition, i went to see low mileage exmaples, 30k to 60k etc. I bought one with 90k because it was in better condition. I did have to spend a little money on her though, none of which could have been picked up from a first look at the car.
Go see a few, try an SMG too.
I would check out M3cutters website, there are a few on there for sale which look good.
There are a few others in Scotland for sale for you to go see, possibly go check them out if you are close by you might be instantly sold on one of them. If you are in no rush and have the cash, dont buy the first one.
Just did a quick seach, 100 miles from Edinburgh or so, and came up with this one.......... looks good and i would chose this more than the silver, better spec etc and the write up. this is a first glance though. (ignore the evolution spec, dont know what thats there!)
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
This is far away, but only 1k more.
http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=630...
Anyway, there are just alternatives.
Edited by shibby! on Sunday 2nd December 14:02
I'm based in Aberdeen but am happy to travel for the right car.
I'm most put off by the tyres and the lack of awareness of the boot issue. I think the low mileage would be fairly easily verified through HPI. The missing service is a bit of a shame as well - must say I didn't realise they went in every two years regardless.
I'm most put off by the tyres and the lack of awareness of the boot issue. I think the low mileage would be fairly easily verified through HPI. The missing service is a bit of a shame as well - must say I didn't realise they went in every two years regardless.
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