E46 M3... Talk to me
Discussion
Looking at buying an e46 m3. Have opwned many other m sports and Ive done my research into subframes etc and vanos issues.
I would like an idea on price.. a rough guide if you like.
Low mileage cars - 50-60k miles with full history and prefacelift in good condition..
What would one be worth?
I would like an idea on price.. a rough guide if you like.
Low mileage cars - 50-60k miles with full history and prefacelift in good condition..
What would one be worth?
9-15k (depending if it's a CS or not) haven't you been looking in classifieds? 
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Edited by scottlotus111r on Saturday 7th December 14:15
Post 04 with the 12 year anti corrosion warranty.
Late 05 onwards with revised exhaust manifolds.
The CSL steering rack is exactly the same price from BMW as a standard M3 rack, I have had a 330 ZHP rack which is faster than the CSL rack fitted to my car which also costs the same price. (I had the CSL rack previous to the 330 rack).
The brakes are fine for road use but track use will ruin them and the CSL brakes, budget for AP's for track unless you're good/easy on the brakes. I'm lead footed on throttle and brakes so OEM's were no good, AP's are much better.
I would go for a good standard M3 over an ok CS. I personally wanted cruise control and the steering buttons as I was using my M3 during the week so made sense to add brakes + steering rack to the standard car.
Would advise to find one with AUC warranty because it gives the peace of mind.
Late 05 onwards with revised exhaust manifolds.
The CSL steering rack is exactly the same price from BMW as a standard M3 rack, I have had a 330 ZHP rack which is faster than the CSL rack fitted to my car which also costs the same price. (I had the CSL rack previous to the 330 rack).
The brakes are fine for road use but track use will ruin them and the CSL brakes, budget for AP's for track unless you're good/easy on the brakes. I'm lead footed on throttle and brakes so OEM's were no good, AP's are much better.
I would go for a good standard M3 over an ok CS. I personally wanted cruise control and the steering buttons as I was using my M3 during the week so made sense to add brakes + steering rack to the standard car.
Would advise to find one with AUC warranty because it gives the peace of mind.
Edited by Babw on Saturday 7th December 14:45
Just look in the classifieds here, on Gumtree, Ebay and Autotrader.
Not a car to buy if you don't have a clue how much they are worth…
Might be £9000 asking price but needs £600 for two back tyres, £1000 on brakes and a big service might be due…
Or £9000 asking price with all the above done.
Which would you buy?
So the value depends on many things.
Buy some cream for those burnt fingers.
Not a car to buy if you don't have a clue how much they are worth…
Might be £9000 asking price but needs £600 for two back tyres, £1000 on brakes and a big service might be due…
Or £9000 asking price with all the above done.
Which would you buy?
So the value depends on many things.
Buy some cream for those burnt fingers.
I have to agree with people on here about the miles. When I was looking for my car, an e46 coupé, I saw some shocking examples of cars with 40/50k on the clock. One was at a dealers (dodgy as f
k), low miles but crap bodywork (rusty scratches all over and and a rusty dent on the lower seal just in front of the passengers door). People think that if it has low miles then everyone will want to buy it. Don't get me wrong, low miles is appealing. That said, I would rather buy a higher mileage car from someone like myself who spends his sunday afternoons washing the wheel arches and treating the leather seats than from someone who does not look after their car and puts tesco value oil in the engine etc.
k), low miles but crap bodywork (rusty scratches all over and and a rusty dent on the lower seal just in front of the passengers door). People think that if it has low miles then everyone will want to buy it. Don't get me wrong, low miles is appealing. That said, I would rather buy a higher mileage car from someone like myself who spends his sunday afternoons washing the wheel arches and treating the leather seats than from someone who does not look after their car and puts tesco value oil in the engine etc.Thingsofbeauty said:
So if we are talking a 52 plate car with mileage in late 50s, full history etc in a normal colour like topaz blue, sat nav and leathers I'd be looking at around 9k?
6k buys one with twice that mileage.
"6k buys one with twice that mileage". Is that a question or a statement? 6k buys one with twice that mileage.
Curiosity has just got the better of me, and I looked at your profile...
You have asked the same/similar questions about Golf R32's and E39 M5's. "How much are they?"
M3's etc are not sold on some kind of black market…"What is a black market?"…"Is it fast?"…"Does it use much petrol?"
"How much is a £1 coin?"... "Should I get two 50p coins or a single £1 coin?"
Also, saying things like 'your' M3 coming with "leathers" is like saying "my M3 must come with wheels".
Instead of 'buying' a car, why not buy a couple of 'Peter & Jane' books first. There is one on Amazon called 'Peter & Jane Join A Forum" and it tells you how to actually use a forum constructively.
"How much is a Peter & Jane Book?"…"Is Amazon any good?"…"Is the sun hot?"…
Be aware that the boot floor cracking issue isn't easy to spot at all.
Don't think a cursory glance will reveal the problem (unless it's in a really bad state).
I had mine done under warranty a few months back, my crack was by the nearside rear subframe mounting and was only revealed when I took it to Reddish Motorsport in Bristol to be inspected as my car was nearing the 10 year cut off and I wanted to be sure it didn't need the repair before the goodwill period expired.
To repair 'properly' requires the entire bootfloor to be replaced at a cost approaching £5K from the dealer.
There are other fixes available (reddish do a set of strengthening plates which they will fit for about 1K) but really the root cause is the captive nut that the subframe bolts into becoming loose inside the box section. The only way to sort that is to replace to floor and then add expanding resin foam to stop is becoming loose again in the future.
I'd be looking for a car that was either under 10 years old, had evidence of the repair being done or evidence it had been recently thoroughly checked by someone like reddish and given a clean bill of health.
Don't think a cursory glance will reveal the problem (unless it's in a really bad state).
I had mine done under warranty a few months back, my crack was by the nearside rear subframe mounting and was only revealed when I took it to Reddish Motorsport in Bristol to be inspected as my car was nearing the 10 year cut off and I wanted to be sure it didn't need the repair before the goodwill period expired.
To repair 'properly' requires the entire bootfloor to be replaced at a cost approaching £5K from the dealer.
There are other fixes available (reddish do a set of strengthening plates which they will fit for about 1K) but really the root cause is the captive nut that the subframe bolts into becoming loose inside the box section. The only way to sort that is to replace to floor and then add expanding resin foam to stop is becoming loose again in the future.
I'd be looking for a car that was either under 10 years old, had evidence of the repair being done or evidence it had been recently thoroughly checked by someone like reddish and given a clean bill of health.
BlimeyCharlie said:
Thingsofbeauty said:
So if we are talking a 52 plate car with mileage in late 50s, full history etc in a normal colour like topaz blue, sat nav and leathers I'd be looking at around 9k?
6k buys one with twice that mileage.
"6k buys one with twice that mileage". Is that a question or a statement? 6k buys one with twice that mileage.
Curiosity has just got the better of me, and I looked at your profile...
You have asked the same/similar questions about Golf R32's and E39 M5's. "How much are they?"
M3's etc are not sold on some kind of black market…"What is a black market?"…"Is it fast?"…"Does it use much petrol?"
"How much is a £1 coin?"... "Should I get two 50p coins or a single £1 coin?"
Also, saying things like 'your' M3 coming with "leathers" is like saying "my M3 must come with wheels".
Instead of 'buying' a car, why not buy a couple of 'Peter & Jane' books first. There is one on Amazon called 'Peter & Jane Join A Forum" and it tells you how to actually use a forum constructively.
"How much is a Peter & Jane Book?"…"Is Amazon any good?"…"Is the sun hot?"…
andymc said:
I wondered that, on one post he has only owned diesel BMW's and on this one many M variants...
Cheers! And then there was silence from the original O/P…And by his earlier reference to 'M Sport' models what is that exactly? Is it an energy drink? M Sport? M Tech? M People?
What is it worth?
Surely that is when you sell something? It is worth what someone wants to pay.
Perhaps he'll be back on here with some fresh questions when he's finished his homework.
Been a Porsche man for about 8 years but always needed to scratch that M3 itch so 4 weeks ago I sat on a train for 8 hours down to Penzance to pick up an immaculate 53 plate M3 with 84k on the clock.
All I can tell you is that out of all the cars I have ever owned, and I do mean all, it is the most connected and together car I have ever owned.
I agree that mileage isn't everything, mine feels like it's done 30k! I paid £7,600
All I can tell you is that out of all the cars I have ever owned, and I do mean all, it is the most connected and together car I have ever owned.
I agree that mileage isn't everything, mine feels like it's done 30k! I paid £7,600
fatboynash said:
Been a Porsche man for about 8 years but always needed to scratch that M3 itch so 4 weeks ago I sat on a train for 8 hours down to Penzance to pick up an immaculate 53 plate M3 with 84k on the clock.
All I can tell you is that out of all the cars I have ever owned, and I do mean all, it is the most connected and together car I have ever owned.
I agree that mileage isn't everything, mine feels like it's done 30k! I paid £7,600
Better than your 993 C2S ?All I can tell you is that out of all the cars I have ever owned, and I do mean all, it is the most connected and together car I have ever owned.
I agree that mileage isn't everything, mine feels like it's done 30k! I paid £7,600
Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff