Reliability

[leon7788]

I've now noticed the bmw e46 m3 coming down greatly in price e.g. 10k for 60k miles & 52 plate being regularly up for sale. Are there alot of problems with this age of car or do they still retain a good amount of reliability. Only reason is after insurance (21) and tax fuel etc wouldnt have so much money spare for repair bills!

[Housey]

The E46 M3 is a solid car and a well maintained car with 60K on the clock and a full set of stamps will be fine. Having said this its a £40K car and comes with running costs you'd associate with such a car. It's not a car to be run on a tight budget!

[Mats]

I agree with Housey on this one. You really need to keep these cars serviced in order for them to be in tip top shape. The problem is whilst the Oil Service is relatively cheap, inspections are not... These cars will also not give you much more than 300 miles per tank. Throw in the ///M premium with parts at dealers and what looks like a bargain can become quite a costly number. Notwithstanding tyres and insurance. 52reg for 10K is pretty cheap even at todays prices. I'd stick my neck out and say that it would be a pretty worn version for that money IMO of course... But if you still have the stomach for it. Have a look around. Don't buy the first one you see and take the plunge. Bullet proof cars with fantastic useable power. I always found that I could drive mine quicker point to point than my Tuscan, but I digress.....

Cheers

[Johnwebster12]

I agree also, i am now on a z4m but have had a e46 prior to this. If you dont have the funds to run and maintain it properly, it could be nothing more than a nightmare. Serviceing / tyres / fuel / insurance & warranty will cost you £500 per month at least. And thats prior to the car purchase. Dont kid yourself these cars are no fiat 500 to run.

[nottyash]

Some mention expensive servicing, well a local BMW main dealer just qouted me £600 for an inspection 2 saying they needed it for 2 days as it needs to be cold to set valve clearances.
Apparently its cheaper for cars over 4 years old and never used to include M cars, but now it does.
I dont think £600 for a main service on an M3 at a main dealer is expensive.
What you want to watch are indy garages saying they service your car cheaper, when in fact they charge more.
Thorney motorsport charge £750 for example.

[thehos]

600 is a good price for a spec2, yes they need it for a while/overnight. ive heard its for the oil to be cold. MAKE NO MISTAKE these cars ARE costly to run, I'm getting 18-20mpg and spent a shed load on tyres, fuel, repairs, servicing, etc.
Just saying go into ownership with your eyes wide open, its been said hundreds of times "remember they were £40 oddk new and need to be looked after properly".
From personal experiance i would only take it to a main dealer, cheaper in the long run, not trying to put you off, its one hell of a car/machine, if you can afford it go for it.

Edited by thehos on Monday 26th January 21:05

[nottyash]

Johnwebster12 said:

I agree also, i am now on a z4m but have had a e46 prior to this. If you dont have the funds to run and maintain it properly, it could be nothing more than a nightmare. Serviceing / tyres / fuel / insurance & warranty will cost you £500 per month at least. And thats prior to the car purchase. Dont kid yourself these cars are no fiat 500 to run.

So servicing fuel and tyres are £500 a month, At least??
Thats 6 grand a year!!
1. Servicing intervals are £600 max per 15000 miles. thats at set intervals not every 1500 miles.
2. Insurance for me is less than £300 for 15000 miles a year (with the Wife)
3. Tyres are about £600 a set shopping around for pretty decent ones. Dont know how many miles from a set yet.
4. Fuel depends on milage. My average over 1600 miles is 28.9mpg. Around town I get 23mpg and on the long runs I mostly do i get over 29mpg. NORMAL DRIVING.

I think you are way over estimating this.

[thehos]

nottyash said:

Johnwebster12 said:

I agree also, i am now on a z4m but have had a e46 prior to this. If you dont have the funds to run and maintain it properly, it could be nothing more than a nightmare. Serviceing / tyres / fuel / insurance & warranty will cost you £500 per month at least. And thats prior to the car purchase. Dont kid yourself these cars are no fiat 500 to run.

So servicing fuel and tyres are £500 a month, At least??
Thats 6 grand a year!!
1. Servicing intervals are £600 max per 15000 miles. thats at set intervals not every 1500 miles.
2. Insurance for me is less than £300 for 15000 miles a year (with the Wife)
3. Tyres are about £600 a set shopping around for pretty decent ones. Dont know how many miles from a set yet.
4. Fuel depends on milage. My average over 1600 miles is 28.9mpg. Around town I get 23mpg and on the long runs I mostly do i get over 29mpg. NORMAL DRIVING.

I think you are way over estimating this.

can you please let me know where you get your servicing,insurance,tyres and fuel!

Long runs agreed you can get close to 29mpg

[nottyash]

thehos said:

nottyash said:

Johnwebster12 said:

I agree also, i am now on a z4m but have had a e46 prior to this. If you dont have the funds to run and maintain it properly, it could be nothing more than a nightmare. Serviceing / tyres / fuel / insurance & warranty will cost you £500 per month at least. And thats prior to the car purchase. Dont kid yourself these cars are no fiat 500 to run.

So servicing fuel and tyres are £500 a month, At least??
Thats 6 grand a year!!
1. Servicing intervals are £600 max per 15000 miles. thats at set intervals not every 1500 miles.
2. Insurance for me is less than £300 for 15000 miles a year (with the Wife)
3. Tyres are about £600 a set shopping around for pretty decent ones. Dont know how many miles from a set yet.
4. Fuel depends on milage. My average over 1600 miles is 28.9mpg. Around town I get 23mpg and on the long runs I mostly do i get over 29mpg. NORMAL DRIVING.

I think you are way over estimating this.

can you please let me know where you get your servicing,insurance,tyres and fuel!

Long runs agreed you can get close to 29mpg

North Eastern Tyres supplied my Continentals x4
Servicing is a local BMW main dealer
Insurance is Swiftcover.
Petrol, wherever I am! about 82.9p at moment.
I honestly dont know what some of you are doing to spend so much.

[Pork]

82.9p! Blimey. I filled up at 84.9 recently and was close to offering to put a splash in the chaps car next to me too.

Is that for UL or SUL?

Re other cost, you're insurance is a bargain!

[daz05]

nottyash said:

Johnwebster12 said:

I agree also, i am now on a z4m but have had a e46 prior to this. If you dont have the funds to run and maintain it properly, it could be nothing more than a nightmare. Serviceing / tyres / fuel / insurance & warranty will cost you £500 per month at least. And thats prior to the car purchase. Dont kid yourself these cars are no fiat 500 to run.

So servicing fuel and tyres are £500 a month, At least??
Thats 6 grand a year!!
1. Servicing intervals are £600 max per 15000 miles. thats at set intervals not every 1500 miles.
2. Insurance for me is less than £300 for 15000 miles a year (with the Wife)
3. Tyres are about £600 a set shopping around for pretty decent ones. Dont know how many miles from a set yet.
4. Fuel depends on milage. My average over 1600 miles is 28.9mpg. Around town I get 23mpg and on the long runs I mostly do i get over 29mpg. NORMAL DRIVING.

I think you are way over estimating this.

Agreed... stop scaremongering!!

[leon7788]

thanks for the comments but its put me off of having one don't want to be having to spend the majority of my wages on a car which sounds like it would be! bmw 330 more realistic choice then it seems!

[nottyash]

Pork said:

82.9p! Blimey. I filled up at 84.9 recently and was close to offering to put a splash in the chaps car next to me too.

Is that for UL or SUL?

Re other cost, you're insurance is a bargain!

I only use normal unleaded as feel no benefit after trying that other overpriced superunleaded.

[shamrock]

nottyash said:

Pork said:

82.9p! Blimey. I filled up at 84.9 recently and was close to offering to put a splash in the chaps car next to me too.

Is that for UL or SUL?

Re other cost, you're insurance is a bargain!

I only use normal unleaded as feel no benefit after trying that other overpriced superunleaded.

Using normal unleaded and still getting nearly 29mpg on an E46 M3?

[Pork]

nottyash said:

Pork said:

82.9p! Blimey. I filled up at 84.9 recently and was close to offering to put a splash in the chaps car next to me too.

Is that for UL or SUL?

Re other cost, you're insurance is a bargain!

I only use normal unleaded as feel no benefit after trying that other overpriced superunleaded.

Fair enough. I find the car drives a lit better on SUL (though that may be placebo!). I certainl has stopped pinking in previous cars, this one has almost always run on SUL.

[thehos]

leon7788 said:

thanks for the comments but its put me off of having one don't want to be having to spend the majority of my wages on a car which sounds like it would be! bmw 330 more realistic choice then it seems!

a 330 will return about the same mpg as a m3, but the other costs will be less

[nottyash]

Pork said:

nottyash said:

Pork said:

82.9p! Blimey. I filled up at 84.9 recently and was close to offering to put a splash in the chaps car next to me too.

Is that for UL or SUL?

Re other cost, you're insurance is a bargain!

I only use normal unleaded as feel no benefit after trying that other overpriced superunleaded.

Fair enough. I find the car drives a lit better on SUL (though that may be placebo!). I certainl has stopped pinking in previous cars, this one has almost always run on SUL.

Your timing could be out. They are designed by BMW to run on 95 octane and above.

[thehos]

well nottyash when my car needs tyres and a service I'm driving to the northeast to get it done and book into a hotel for a night and it will still be cheaper than down here!, average mpg you are getting is very good you must drive like my nan! lol I'm paying 87.something for sul and not getting 20mpg.

just had a spec 2, and was quoted over £600 from a dealer

[leon7788]

thehos said:

leon7788 said:

thanks for the comments but its put me off of having one don't want to be having to spend the majority of my wages on a car which sounds like it would be! bmw 330 more realistic choice then it seems!

a 330 will return about the same mpg as a m3, but the other costs will be less

I didnt realise the consumption was as bad but not worried so much by this as i only do 10-15k at the moment. but servicing seems obscene!!

[Pork]

nottyash said:

Pork said:

nottyash said:

Pork said:

82.9p! Blimey. I filled up at 84.9 recently and was close to offering to put a splash in the chaps car next to me too.

Is that for UL or SUL?

Re other cost, you're insurance is a bargain!

I only use normal unleaded as feel no benefit after trying that other overpriced superunleaded.

Fair enough. I find the car drives a lit better on SUL (though that may be placebo!). I certainl has stopped pinking in previous cars, this one has almost always run on SUL.

Your timing could be out. They are designed by BMW to run on 95 octane and above.

Possibly. That was never mentioned when I said about it at the dealer. Mind, if it makes any difference this was my M5 a few years back not my current car. After that, the M5 and subsequent M's have had Super.