E46 M3 Convertible. Always had slow cars, until now.
Discussion
I've been on the road for just over 13 years, I had no interest in owning a car until quite late really but even still, that didn't stop the first 4 years from having a claim a year! This resulted in one year having a premium renewal of £2000 on a 95 Honda Civic 1.5 LSi..... Live an learn eh.
That was years ago, and now I've got the car I've been wanting for a good few years. I've already owned E46s before so knew what to expect on almost everything outside of the engine bay.
I won't bore you folks with paragraphs of stuff you already know about the E46 M3 and what it's like to live with (6 months on no less!), but I will say that it always puts a grin on the face, with the roof down and mashing the throttle from 3000rpm to redline. The noise, the ears popping, the acceleration... I can comfortably say that if I had this car for life, I honestly would not mind a single bit.
It so happens that there's an indy in Fareham that's highly regarded. The guy who runs it is a top bloke and has always given me a one to one service goes goes one step beyond. Service prices are very cheap too and everything is covered. This was the final nail for me to go ahead and buy an E46 M3 in fact.
Anyway, enough words, you want to see pics
^ Changed the exhaust tips for Euro style ones. Old tips were a bit naff really and Autosol didn't make them look fresh again. These are a bit larger too so fill the open gaps in the stock diffuser nicer. Not cheap, but worth it.
^ Had the paint detailed by Envy in Fareham (brilliant guy Tim is!)
^ Changed the side and front indicator bulbs to Weisslicht Spektrum lifetime LEDs.
^ Coded various things via the Android app.
^ Protected the roof!
^ New lenses to freshen up the lights.
^ Still making stock power 10 years on.
^ My cousin wanted to be driven to her wedding venue in "A convertible"!
^ Friends and family thoroughly enjoy passenger rides
I've also done a few other things mods wise.
1: Modded the window switches for the middle (controls all) and rear buttons to be one touch power up, they are one touch power down as standard but the up part of the switch is blocked due to some EU safety thing imagine. Once modded, the one touch control can be enabled via coding the GM5 module easily.
2: Head unit. Stock CD HU changed to a Parrot Asteroid Smart. I now have Waze, bluetooth music, and much better sound quality as well as full phone control. Steering controls work via unika interface between Parrot and BMW connector.
3: Dashcam wired up into the glovebox to come on and record on ignition and off when car is off. 32GB card ensures several days of footage will loop through.
That was years ago, and now I've got the car I've been wanting for a good few years. I've already owned E46s before so knew what to expect on almost everything outside of the engine bay.
I won't bore you folks with paragraphs of stuff you already know about the E46 M3 and what it's like to live with (6 months on no less!), but I will say that it always puts a grin on the face, with the roof down and mashing the throttle from 3000rpm to redline. The noise, the ears popping, the acceleration... I can comfortably say that if I had this car for life, I honestly would not mind a single bit.
It so happens that there's an indy in Fareham that's highly regarded. The guy who runs it is a top bloke and has always given me a one to one service goes goes one step beyond. Service prices are very cheap too and everything is covered. This was the final nail for me to go ahead and buy an E46 M3 in fact.
Anyway, enough words, you want to see pics
^ Changed the exhaust tips for Euro style ones. Old tips were a bit naff really and Autosol didn't make them look fresh again. These are a bit larger too so fill the open gaps in the stock diffuser nicer. Not cheap, but worth it.
^ Had the paint detailed by Envy in Fareham (brilliant guy Tim is!)
^ Changed the side and front indicator bulbs to Weisslicht Spektrum lifetime LEDs.
^ Coded various things via the Android app.
^ Protected the roof!
^ New lenses to freshen up the lights.
^ Still making stock power 10 years on.
^ My cousin wanted to be driven to her wedding venue in "A convertible"!
^ Friends and family thoroughly enjoy passenger rides
Edited by robbiekhan on Wednesday 3rd June 11:57
Edited by robbiekhan on Wednesday 3rd June 11:59
Edited by robbiekhan on Wednesday 3rd June 12:02
I've also done a few other things mods wise.
1: Modded the window switches for the middle (controls all) and rear buttons to be one touch power up, they are one touch power down as standard but the up part of the switch is blocked due to some EU safety thing imagine. Once modded, the one touch control can be enabled via coding the GM5 module easily.
2: Head unit. Stock CD HU changed to a Parrot Asteroid Smart. I now have Waze, bluetooth music, and much better sound quality as well as full phone control. Steering controls work via unika interface between Parrot and BMW connector.
3: Dashcam wired up into the glovebox to come on and record on ignition and off when car is off. 32GB card ensures several days of footage will loop through.
Edited by robbiekhan on Wednesday 3rd June 14:58
coopedup said:
lovely looking car there, can I ask how much the paint detailing was as Fareham is quite close to me and I would like this done soon
For mine it was £300, left it with him a few days. He will need to see your car though to give a solid quote. My buffering and swirls were quite heavy so needed a lot more work, something I personally would not be able to do on the driveway!hman said:
It looks like its in good condition.
What did you pay for it?
13k just before Christmas. This was with hardtop,new tyres and new wheel refurbs (finished in 3 stage American Chrome) and 64k mileage with recent Inspection 2. Only thing I need to do is get the subframe inspected by BMW soon as the warranty expires November this year.What did you pay for it?
N88 said:
Lovely, great pictures too!
Thanks!Martin_Hx said:
Lovely looking car, i really do love the look of these, would definatly have one in the future.
Love the last pic of the little lad in the back seat, put your foot down did we?
Just a tad Love the last pic of the little lad in the back seat, put your foot down did we?
If you liked that pic, you may like this!Very nice, love the red leather.
Really toying with the idea of one of these. Would never have considered a convertible due to the image, but now with 3 small kids it would maybe make more sense than the Boxster alternative I am considering. Great product and probably best suits my needs (manual box, at least 6 cylinders, open top) but not sure I can live with the image, and whether the kids need to come too (weekend car not daily).
Really toying with the idea of one of these. Would never have considered a convertible due to the image, but now with 3 small kids it would maybe make more sense than the Boxster alternative I am considering. Great product and probably best suits my needs (manual box, at least 6 cylinders, open top) but not sure I can live with the image, and whether the kids need to come too (weekend car not daily).
eddiefara said:
Could you tell me some more about this^, not seen or heard about it before.
A very nice post with great pictures and gifs by the way.
I used Carly for BMW (previously BMWhat) connected to the OBD2 port via cable and enabled the necessary option in the GM5 module to allow full comfort access with the convertible option enabled in addition.A very nice post with great pictures and gifs by the way.
supertouring said:
Great combination, Carbon black with red leather, I have the same in my coupe. (Too old for a convertible!)
Your looks in very good condition, enjoy.
Never too old for one surely! But the Coupe is superb of course Your looks in very good condition, enjoy.
jaacck said:
Love these. Would go for the coupe myself though. Been a dream car for years , will get one after my fiesta at as will be 25 and insurance won't be as ridiculous !
I know it's hard to find a well kept one and hell even mine didn't come without its initial issues with paint swirls and whatnot but I knew it was restorable without spending a huge amount on and the cabin was immaculate so I couldn't say no really!Good luck
nitrodave said:
I love these, my bro has one and swears by it. I nearly got one recently... but saw an e92 msport and went for that.
Whenever I see a nice e46 m3 I question if I made the right decision!
I think I would have done the same had I chosen something else. An E92 is more modern with more toys but ultimately the E46 M3 was one car I absolutely had to own at least once and when this popped up, what a better chance to own one and in convertible format to boot.Whenever I see a nice e46 m3 I question if I made the right decision!
There are a bunch of cars I simply have to own during my life, the E46 M3 has now been ticked off, many years before the next one haha!
Edited by robbiekhan on Wednesday 3rd June 15:12
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff