BMW E46 M3

[sputnik]

Hello all BMWFanatics,

I am a noob with BMWs but I am an avid fan of motor vehicles in general.

I am thinking of acquiring a late model BMW E46 M3 Coupe powered by the NA S54. Personally I think this was the ultimate BMW between old and new, NA and Turbo, however I stand to be corrected if there are alternate views on this forum.

Questions:

1. What is the difference between a normal M3 and the CSL (if any)? I have read somewhere that the CSL was a limited run production car.
2. What is the availability like in South Africa?
3. What is the general asking price? (preferably from a fanatics point of view)
4. Apart from the subframe, vanos, big ends, mains, cooling and miscellaneous breakages, what else must be looked out for?
5. As these were meant to be thrashed, what else must be looked out for in cars that might have been driven hard.
6. What is available out there right now, if any?

Please remember that I am a total newbie, so I would like to choose a car that is fairly good, so all advise, warnings and expertise is welcomed, even the negative stuff.

 

[KPM3_30]

Have a read through the following threads for more information.

BMW E46 M3 Buyer's and Maintenance Guide

Introduction There is a strong argument to be made that for the money, one cannot buy a better driver’s car than a BMW E46 M3. Of course, this is a matter of opinion subject to ones personal desires, but if you yearn for an exciting and engaging sports car that is naturally aspirated, rear wheel...

www.bmwfanatics.co.za

BMW E46 M3 Buying advice (another one )

Here's another buyers guide for the E46 M3. I wrote this for a blog, not as comprehensive as Adis's post, but covers a few things not mentioned there. Wheel Index Blog article The BMW E46 M3(manufactured between 2000 and 2006) is a high performance M car from BMW that will put a big grin on...

www.bmwfanatics.co.za

 

[sputnik]

Have a read through the following threads for more information.

BMW E46 M3 Buyer's and Maintenance Guide

Introduction There is a strong argument to be made that for the money, one cannot buy a better driver’s car than a BMW E46 M3. Of course, this is a matter of opinion subject to ones personal desires, but if you yearn for an exciting and engaging sports car that is naturally aspirated, rear wheel...

www.bmwfanatics.co.za

BMW E46 M3 Buying advice (another one )

Here's another buyers guide for the E46 M3. I wrote this for a blog, not as comprehensive as Adis's post, but covers a few things not mentioned there. Wheel Index Blog article The BMW E46 M3(manufactured between 2000 and 2006) is a high performance M car from BMW that will put a big grin on...

www.bmwfanatics.co.za

Thank you

Sent from my S31 using Tapatalk

 

[shauwn]

welcome..eish to get a proper one that was looked after ur best bet would be a fanatics one..otherwise you would need to do research coz a good one is very hard to find

 

[sputnik]

@shauwn - thanks for the welcome. I would prefer a fanatics one and pay the price, or I must get a dodge one at a cheap price and pay the price in maintenance. It is one or the other, but if you get a dodge one then the price must be low to offset the maintenance to be paid.

 

[TBP88]

Comes down to your budget - truth is the decent E46M3s are really rare - generally you'd be looking at well over R300, perhaps even R400k for a really neat one. a CSL will run probably closer to R1m.

If it's the engine you're after a Z4M has the same engine and that'll give you a few more cars to look at. If it's E46M3 or bust then best is to try to find a decent nick (emphasis on decent, not perfect) manual car and spend your own dime sorting it, rather than spending a ton to get a low mileage or perfect example.

 

[shauwn]

check this one out to get a feel of what is out there

2004 BMW M3 (e46)

Used BMW M3 (e46) for sale in Gauteng, car manufactured in 2004 (ID:7027864)

www.cars.co.za

 

[sputnik]

Thanks for the advice @TBP88. For me the E46 M3 will keep it's value, age gracefully and become a modern classic. I am very keen on driving experience. It is really about the philosophy of cars. If you think about it, the age of the ICE cars are over, from now on it is just electric all the way. I want a car that embodies the peak of what ICE cars were. For me that is BMW and if I look at the BMW stable, anything beyond 2006 is turbo and driver's assists that takes away the experience of driving from the driver. The Z4 is a beautiful car, and is in my opinion a throwback to the 507, but I don't think it will age that gracefully. I would still own one if I can, but if it is a choice between the Z4 and the E46 M3, I will rather have the E46.

If there is another vehicle in the BMW stable that fulfills this strange desire, I am open to suggestions. The E46 M3 seems to be just the right blend of understated clean classic lines that I am looking for in a package that was well engineered. I hope that all makes sense.

 

[sputnik]

check this one out to get a feel of what is out there

2004 BMW M3 (e46)

Used BMW M3 (e46) for sale in Gauteng, car manufactured in 2004 (ID:7027864)

www.cars.co.za

Thanks @shauwn, that looks really good, I will check it out.

 

[VinceM]

Might be the lightning but the paint doesn’t match across panels! If looking at that one Shaun suggested, check for accident damage


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[sputnik]

Might be the lightning but the paint doesn’t match across panels! If looking at that one Shaun suggested, check for accident damage


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

@VinceM - thanks, will do.

 

[TBP88]

That one looks quite rough for R250k. This is the thing. You do need to be quite careful because at this sort of level. R50-100k could easily be spent on the car just getting it to decent shape again.

 

[shauwn]

exactly..hence i said since he is newbie he can start checking out what is out there and get a feel for what direction he can go in

 

[Rotinaj]

Thanks @shauwn, that looks really good, I will check it out.

Dunlop SP Sport 6060...... on a M3. And mismatched nasty E90 manual gearknob No.

Frankly about the first thing you should look at when buying a car like this. Is the tyres it is fitted with a off size from OEM and what pricerange do they fall in.

Cheap tyres- cheap on maintenance.
Off size tyres - did you go for it because it was cheaper?

If the car is fitted with cheap ass nasty tyres what else was cheapened out on.

 

[sputnik]

That one looks quite rough for R250k. This is the thing. You do need to be quite careful because at this sort of level. R50-100k could easily be spent on the car just getting it to decent shape again.

Yup, the interior looks rough. Can't really judge the exterior.

 

[sputnik]

Dunlop SP Sport 6060...... on a M3. And mismatched nasty E90 manual gearknob No.

Frankly about the first thing you should look at when buying a car like this. Is the tyres it is fitted with a off size from OEM and what pricerange do they fall in.

Cheap tyres- cheap on maintenance.
Off size tyres - did you go for it because it was cheaper?

If the car is fitted with cheap ass nasty tyres what else was cheapened out on.

This is good, these are the things I would not have noticed. Thanks @Rotinaj.

 

[Rotinaj]

This is good, these are the things I would not have noticed. Thanks @Rotinaj.

Frankly depending on where you stay find a forum member who has owned one who was a pedantic son of a mother and ask them to go tyre kicking with you. Negotiating from a place of knowladge is easier.

 

[individj]

i could work with the interior it would be on the lower end of my list....with that being said when i let go of my E46 the interior looked 10 times better with the same mileage....wonder if its on original shocks it came out with because its sitting really high in my opinion

 

[Woodies]

The e46 M3 is also my personal favorite. But they are definitely becoming much harder to find good examples. There were a couple of nice Z4M on the forum a while back. Just due to production numbers I would expect the Z4M to hold or increase value more than e46.
Just have a lot of patience and keep looking till the right one pops up. The good ones go quick, so be ready to commit when the right one pops up.

 

[shauwn]

The e46 M3 is also my personal favorite. But they are definitely becoming much harder to find good examples. There were a couple of nice Z4M on the forum a while back. Just due to production numbers I would expect the Z4M to hold or increase value more than e46.
Just have a lot of patience and keep looking till the right one pops up. The good ones go quick, so be ready to commit when the right one pops up.

true..you can always sell yours in good faith hehe