Can you actually fall in 'love' with a hunk of metal? E46 M3

[HannsG]

Sounds wrong, but I am fairly attached to my E46 M3. Its like an extension of myself. I can have the worst day shovelling st in board level meetings, looking at mind numbing dross on my screen.

But the minute I shut the door and turn the key. It just ebbs away and i forget everything for the 30 minutes it takes me to get home.

Obviously I love my dear Son and wife above all else. But somedays the car just lets me escape and I honestly don't think I could bear to part with it. The S54 engine.....unbelievable it came out in 2001.

Incredible.

Yes my wife hates that I love this car this much lol. Forget therapy go out and buy an M3. It has helped me a shedload to just remember that outside of all tbe responsibilities I have, it IS possible to have fun!

Best 10k I Ever spent in my life. Yes it rusts, wheels need a refurbishment, high maintenance and is 10 years old. But newer cars do nowt for me. I could go out and buy a car worth 5 times as much. But why would I bother?

Edited by HannsG on Wednesday 4th February 01:03

[TREMAiNE]

I feel the same about mine... I'm upgrading in a few months... I don't want or need to - I'm doing it because I can afford it... But I will miss my current car and probably mourn when its gone!


Also this guy loves his car a bit too much! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l66BZm_1rw

[0a]

And the sad thing is that BMW can/never make such an interesting engine ever again - the regulations would never allow it.

[Terminator X]

I feel like that about my 130i (baby M3 ).

TX.

[Quhet]

TREMAiNE said:

I feel the same about mine... I'm upgrading in a few months... I don't want or need to - I'm doing it because I can afford it... But I will miss my current car and probably mourn when its gone!

Surely this is the height of stupidity?
If you love something that much, keep it and save your money.

[robm3]

I loved my E46 CSL, sadly it was kept outside and when it used to snow I'd go outside with a blanket to put on the carbon roof. I did it because I didn't want the gel coat to crack but my wife said it looked like I was 'tucking it in'.
Who cares, I loved that car!

[samvia]

I've absolutely loved mine. I probably couldn't have asked for a better all rounder, even as an SMG which people love to hate.

It's not my daily driver but it does that job with no hassles when I have used it, it copes well with pounding round a track and it's a pleasure to take on long runs even with coilovers and a noisy exhaust. Other than the common boot floor repair and consumables, it's been completely reliable too.

It might not be the fastest, or the most exotic or special as a 2nd car, but it does so much so well with such little hassle.

[Devil2575]

In answer to the OP, No.

Unless you have a mental problem.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2792621/...

[Buff Mchugelarge]

robm3 said:

I loved my E46 CSL, sadly it was kept outside and when it used to snow I'd go outside with a blanket to put on the carbon roof. I did it because I didn't want the gel coat to crack but my wife said it looked like I was 'tucking it in'.
Who cares, I loved that car!

Awww bless

Cars have been better to me than some people tbh. My other half refers to my cars as 'my other girlfriends'

[swisstoni]

Given the time and effort people devote to their cars, when it doesn't make any sense, I don't think there is any other word for it.

[blearyeyedboy]

I'm reminded of a poem, which took a bit of googling to find: (www.environmetrics.ro/Text-Poze/Car.html)

MARRYING THE CAR
He loved his car above everything,
polishing, cherishing - always
easing into it with a serious smile.
Giving it quality time

Partners came and went. Hormones raged
in his blood, then unaccountably
drained away. Annoyingly
his last wife left with all his classical CDs

Is it wrong to love a car?
Who can say. Some people love a house,
a song, a dog, a view.
Whatever helps you through the day will do.

(Poem courtesy of Des McAllister, 2002)

[CRA1G]

I wouldn't go as far as "Love"... but you can certainly become attached... my daily is a New 640d M Sport Coupe which is purely a form of transport to me (all be it nice) but on the other hand I have my Dakar collection,BMW 840 Sport,Z3M Coupe and M3 Evo Cab which are special to me and I have become attached to them so much so i have no intention of ever selling them.

[HannsG]

blearyeyedboy said:

I'm reminded of a poem, which took a bit of googling to find: (www.environmetrics.ro/Text-Poze/Car.html)

MARRYING THE CAR
He loved his car above everything,
polishing, cherishing - always
easing into it with a serious smile.
Giving it quality time

Partners came and went. Hormones raged
in his blood, then unaccountably
drained away. Annoyingly
his last wife left with all his classical CDs

Is it wrong to love a car?
Who can say. Some people love a house,
a song, a dog, a view.
Whatever helps you through the day will do.

(Poem courtesy of Des McAllister, 2002)

Brilliant

[mwstewart]

I started mine up on Sunday for the first time since last August and - as you say - that engine is so special from the moment you turn the key. It reminded me why I don't plan to sell it.

[TREMAiNE]

Quhet said:

TREMAiNE said:

I feel the same about mine... I'm upgrading in a few months... I don't want or need to - I'm doing it because I can afford it... But I will miss my current car and probably mourn when its gone!

Surely this is the height of stupidity?
If you love something that much, keep it and save your money.

It is.... And also it isn't.

I don't know what my financial situation will be like in a year, 5 years, 10 years etc...

Whilst I can afford to upgrade to an expensive car I'm going to - my current daily can be picked up dirt cheap, I can always go back and get one again.

I do want the new car, I just don't want to sell my current one - and I can't afford to have both.

[JuniorD]

Whan I was young I lived near a well known supercar dealship (Di Cilia) just outside Vienna. One of the salesmen there told me about a customer who couldn't have sex unless his Ferrari was in his bedroom. I know, cool story bro.

[daveco]

0a said:

And the sad thing is that BMW can/never make such an interesting engine ever again - the regulations would never allow it.

I think in as little as 5 years it will start appreciating in value again mainly because;

-Shoddy and poorly maintained examples will be scrapped.
-They are already a relatively rare sight on the roads
-99.5% of other cars will be FI very soon
-BMW will never make another engine like it
-It probably represents the pinnacle of BMW M design
-It received almost universal praise from the motoring press
-The CSL version is appreciating rapidly

I went the 335 route for warranty reasons but every time I see one now my face goes

[Bennet]

A good working test for love:

Do you need it to survive?
Would you part with it for any amount of money?

If "no" to both, you love it.
Such feelings are normally reserved for family members and beloved pets.

[soad]

TREMAiNE said:

I feel the same about mine... I'm upgrading in a few months... I don't want or need to - I'm doing it because I can afford it... But I will miss my current car and probably mourn when its gone!


Also this guy loves his car a bit too much! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l66BZm_1rw

You caught the upgrade-itus...

[iloveboost]

daveco said:

I think in as little as 5 years it will start appreciating in value again mainly because;

-Shoddy and poorly maintained examples will be scrapped.
-They are already a relatively rare sight on the roads
-99.5% of other cars will be FI very soon
-BMW will never make another engine like it
-It probably represents the pinnacle of BMW M design
-It received almost universal praise from the motoring press
-The CSL version is appreciating rapidly

I went the 335 route for warranty reasons but every time I see one now my face goes

I agree, and so will the E39 M5. However an E46 M3, or E39 M5, will never be worth the same money today as the equivalent condition and mileage E30 M3, or E28/E34 M5. There are currently 10K 3.2 E36/E46 M3s in the UK, so it was the first 'mass market' M car. I think values will rise slowly for the best cars, some time after 2019.