E46 M3 White Dials / Not White Dials

[stopgo]

Does anybody know when the when these came in? Its not listed on bm3w's list of changes and on autotrader some 2003 cars have them and one car listed as 2004 does not. Does it signify any other changes. As you can tell I am mainly sat at home tonight thinking wouldn't it be nice to have an M3!
Cheers
SG

[m3desmo]

Don't think the E46 M3 ever came with white dials???

The factory dials on all M3 models are actually grey in colour with the 'M' symbol in the middle.

[stopgo]

OK thanks m3desmo
Now you've said that, I've taken another look at the random Autotrader photos - in thumb nails the dials look white, enlarged they look grey. I guess between fubar'd white balance and heavily compressed jpegs (and looking too long at my computer) I got that wrong.
Alright, end of thread.

[mc_blue]

I'm sure Individual would do it at the right price but it was never a standard option on the car.

[Zod]

The dials look white in flash photographs. They are grey and must have some reflective element in them.

[stopgo]

Good point Zod, I'm glad I wasn't being completely crap. I don't know if I would <i>want</i> white dials anyway - its a bit of a cheap trick...
SG

[Zod]

stopgo said:

Good point Zod, I'm glad I wasn't being completely crap. I don't know if I would <i>want</i> white dials anyway - its a bit of a cheap trick...
SG

I got fooled by this before I bought my first one. I thought from the dealer's photo that it had white dials and said I wanted them changed back.

[stopgo]

Question for you Zod, since you are qualified to answer, and anyone else who wants to. How much difference is there between a standard E46 M3 and a 330? Night and day or more of the same..
Stopgo

[m3desmo]

stopgo said:

Question for you Zod, since you are qualified to answer, and anyone else who wants to. How much difference is there between a standard E46 M3 and a 330? Night and day or more of the same..
Stopgo

The M3 is a different animal to the 330. No comparison other than the BMW badge. The M3 blows the 330 away in all departments! Having owned a 330 and now in an M3 for the last 2 1/2 years, there is no way I would go back!

[Zod]

stopgo said:

Question for you Zod, since you are qualified to answer, and anyone else who wants to. How much difference is there between a standard E46 M3 and a 330? Night and day or more of the same..
Stopgo

Night and day.

The 330Ci is a pleasant, quick, smooth car. The M3 has a completely different character: it is fast rather than quick, louder, harsher (not unduly so, but then I'm a CSL fan). The 330Ci is a good car, but the M3 is much more fun to drive.

[Andrew D]

stopgo said:

How much difference is there between a standard E46 M3 and a 330? Night and day or more of the same..

Not to labour the point but; Night and day.

Apart from having 50% more power than the 330Ci, pretty much every element of the car is different. It's not just more power and stiff suspension (as I'm told AMG and Audi RS tend towards). M cars are totally different to the normal models, that's why they're special.

[stopgo]

Thanks chaps, that seems pretty bloody unanimous - I better go and drive one then!!