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My new toy - E46 M3 content inside

Don Vito Corleone

Don Vito Corleone

Elite
I have been looking for a suitable weekend/track car for a LONG time. I actually came close to buying a particular E46 M3 last year but was concerned about some potential issues.

This week a car popped up on Craigslist that I couldn't resist. It's a 2002 BMW M3 with only 35,000 miles and an impeccable, documented title and service history. I'm actually buying it from a couple, both of whom are employed at a BMW dealer and who cherrypicked it when it was traded in by a neurosurgeon. Jet black over black leather with Xenon, Harman/Kardon with CD changer, and power seats. No sunroof, which is perfect for me (more room for my helmet!). The car has a Dinan cold air intake/high flow air mass meter, Stage 3 software and short-shift kit, and Bilstein adjustable coilover suspension, as well as cross-drilled, vented two-piece brake rotors. It's in near-perfect condition and has been lovingly dealer-maintained, including having the rod bearing recall and costly Inspection II performed. Tires (ContiSportContact M3s) are brand new.

Picking it up tonight!

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Nice dude, very nice.

I want an M3 pretty bad, I can't very well own a 65 mustang and an M3 though, so I need to decide to either fix up the stang or sell it and pick up an M3.

My daily driver is a 07 328 and I love it.

If you don't mind me asking, how much?
 
Maleficus said:
Nice dude, very nice.

I want an M3 pretty bad, I can't very well own a 65 mustang and an M3 though, so I need to decide to either fix up the stang or sell it and pick up an M3.

My daily driver is a 07 328 and I love it.

If you don't mind me asking, how much?
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It was $23K. Definitely on the high side for a car of that vintage, but I'm not sure there is a better early E46 M3 around. It's remarkable that a 9-year-old car could be in that kind of condition - not even a wheel scuff on it.

The one I almost bought last year was a 2003 with 93K miles and some issues and stories - I could have had that for $17-18K, but frankly I wasn't confident in the car. This one is just perfect. While I don't feel I'm really paying for the mods to the car, they are all things I would either have done or wanted to do, so they just sweeten the pot from my perspective.
 
Wow. That's one sexy bitch.

$23k might seem high to some. But to find an E46 M3 with so few miles and a clear comprehensive history, worth it. Congrats.
 
Awesome pickup. Do you know which Bilstein suspension? PSS, 9, 10? I have PSS10s (not on an M3 though) and they're awesome for what they are. I too know the "need room for the helmet" feeling.
 
Imported said:
Awesome pickup. Do you know which Bilstein suspension? PSS, 9, 10? I have PSS10s (not on an M3 though) and they're awesome for what they are. I too know the "need room for the helmet" feeling.
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I believe they're PSS10s but am not 100% sure. The ride is amazingly comfy for how low the car is set up - it's less choppy than my E90 330i sport.
 
i'm not a BMW fan, but that's a good looking car. the last effort of ze germans before the aesthetics gently went FUBAR.
 
brblx said:
i'm not a BMW fan, but that's a good looking car. the last effort of ze germans before the aesthetics gently went FUBAR.
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Thanks! What's interesting to me is that this is a Chris Bangle design. I actually own an E90, which is a more modern Bangle car, but to me the E46 is a classically beautiful design, whereas the E90 manages to be both slightly overstyled and slightly bland.
 
Don Vito Corleone said:
Thanks! What's interesting to me is that this is a Chris Bangle design. I actually own an E90, which is a more modern Bangle car, but to me the E46 is a classically beautiful design, whereas the E90 manages to be both slightly overstyled and slightly bland.
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Wrong, while Chris Bangle was Chief when the E46 was produced, he didn't ink it. Get your facts straight.

Do you still have your E90 330i?

Edit: and I would KILL for a sunroof - delete M3. More rigidity = win.
 
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i had thought the e46 was the last of the 'non-bangle' bmw's. i love the look of bmw 3's from the 70's and 80's and on towards this gen- but i can't stomach the bangle crap that evolved from it.
 
SSSnail said:
Wrong, while Chris Bangle was Chief when the E46 was produced, he didn't ink it. Get your facts straight.

Do you still have your E90 330i?

Edit: and I would KILL for a sunroof - delete M3. More rigidity = win.
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Everything I've read indicates that he designed the E46, though it's possible that isn't correct. In any case I'm not sure why you need to be so surly about it. Yes, I still have my E90.
 
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Go forth and spread this knowledge amongst other BMW enthusiasts, so that no one will ever give credits to the Destroyer of BMW ever again for possibly the most beautiful BMW ever created.

ERIC GOPLEN (or ERIK) is the designer of the E46, left because he didn't like Bungle much (but he's back working for BMW again after the departure of Mr. Flamer Surfacing guy - I'm very hopeful and cannot wait to see the new ones).

Here's a complete designer lineage http://www.bmwism.com/bmws_designers.htm
 
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Don Vito Corleone said:
No sunroof, which is perfect for me (more room for my helmet!).
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...not to mention less weight and a more rigid chassis...a wise choice if you don't absolutely require a sun roof and like to track your ride. *EDIT* - i see someone already mentioned those benefits. anyways, congrats on the new purchase. :thumbsup:
 
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That car is barely broken in. Good find. I rather pay couple thousand more for a nice one from the start than spending the time and the money to bring rough one up to par.

ATOT Garage is now M3 forum.
 
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