• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

New ride

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
E46 is a very cool car. I consdered one for a short time. Became scared after a friend sent me this:
LINK to subframe repair

from what I found in my research, this will be an issue some time down the road. I don't want to be the downer, but just be aware of it
 
halik said:
Nice, I knew there are at least 3 guys on board with e46 m3s.

I just got the maintenance records - hit a jackpot. Car had new trans swapped in at 32K, VANOS rebuilt at 37K, Inspection II at 45K (currently 56K) and about 30 more pages of records I haven't gone thru yet.
Click to expand...

Awesome...hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine!
 
I have been debating the M3...I wish the E36 came with the better power. The E46 looks great, but the interior doesn't do it for me and the exhaust note as many say isn't great. Many don't care, but I love the way a car sounds.

I am debating the M3 and Charger SRT8 a lot...
 
Zivic said:
E46 is a very cool car. I consdered one for a short time. Became scared after a friend sent me this:
LINK to subframe repair

from what I found in my research, this will be an issue some time down the road. I don't want to be the downer, but just be aware of it
Click to expand...

Virtually all of those came from street driven cars with aftermarket race suspension. Mine was inspected for that specifically 🙂
 
Mine is a Carbon Black 2001, with 126,000 miles, and has no issues except an occasional minor cosmetic blemish, like a scratched up center console. The engine was replaced at 37,000 miles under warranty for the bottom end defect. I have replaced a shot throw out bearing (did the clutch and pressure plate as well since the trannie was down), a front caliper and disks, and rear shocks and mounts since I've had it at 70,000 miles just over four years ago. Aside from taht it's been scheduled maintenance.

It runs so well, I may just keep it for another couple years and then trade it in on a used Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca. It's nice having no car payment for two years so far, and it still turns heads and plasters a grin on my face.

2009_03_12-BMWM3-JustWashedw-New-3.jpg
 
papadage said:
Mine is a Carbon Black 2001, with 126,000 miles, and has no issues except an occasional minor cosmetic blemish, like a scratched up center console. The engine was replaced at 37,000 miles under warranty for the bottom end defect. I have replaced a shot throw out bearing (did the clutch and pressure plate as well since the trannie was down), a front caliper and disks, and rear shocks and mounts since I've had it at 70,000 miles just over four years ago. Aside from taht it's been scheduled maintenance.

It runs so well, I may just keep it for another couple years and then trade it in on a used Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca. It's nice having no car payment for two years so far, and it still turns heads and plasters a grin on my face.

2009_03_12-BMWM3-JustWashedw-New-3.jpg
Click to expand...
Could use a bit more polish on that paint.
 
That was just before I repaired the bumper, some scratches on the passenger side, and then had it detailed. This spring I am having the entire front end repainted to get rid of all the rock chips from 60,000 miles of commuting, and having the curb rash on the rims repaired.
 
I'm gonna kick my own ass one of these days for not getting one of these, yet...

Oh, and the sub-frame thing, there's a class-action law suit out there that covers it for free. I posted a link about this a long time ago.
 
Last edited:
papadage said:
That was just before I repaired the bumper, some scratches on the passenger side, and then had it detailed. This spring I am having the entire front end repainted to get rid of all the rock chips from 60,000 miles of commuting, and having the curb rash on the rims repaired.
Click to expand...
Before you repaint, you should try something like Dr. Color Chip or Langka. On chips I hear they do wonders.
 
alkemyst said:
I have been debating the M3...I wish the E36 came with the better power. The E46 looks great, but the interior doesn't do it for me and the exhaust note as many say isn't great. Many don't care, but I love the way a car sounds.

I am debating the M3 and Charger SRT8 a lot...
Click to expand...

I'm not going to try and convince you that the exhaust note is great as that is a very subjective aspect of a car...but I personally like the rawness of the exhaust note...especially when the engine itself is so smooth all the way to its glorious redline.
 
papadage said:
Mine is a Carbon Black 2001, with 126,000 miles, and has no issues except an occasional minor cosmetic blemish, like a scratched up center console. The engine was replaced at 37,000 miles under warranty for the bottom end defect. I have replaced a shot throw out bearing (did the clutch and pressure plate as well since the trannie was down), a front caliper and disks, and rear shocks and mounts since I've had it at 70,000 miles just over four years ago. Aside from taht it's been scheduled maintenance.

It runs so well, I may just keep it for another couple years and then trade it in on a used Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca. It's nice having no car payment for two years so far, and it still turns heads and plasters a grin on my face.
Click to expand...


Are you sure the motor was replaced? My car had the recall done and the paper work doesn't say anything about motor replacement
 
halik said:
Are you sure the motor was replaced? My car had the recall done and the paper work doesn't say anything about motor replacement
Click to expand...

The engine was replaced in 2004. I have a stack of maintenance and repair records from prior owners, including a $15,000 invoice that was zeroed out as a warranty repair that details a full engine replacement. It complicates maintenance a bit for me since I have to follow the engine mileage for certain things, like valve adjustments, and the body mileage for others, like the air cabin filter.
 
Nice ride 🙂

I have a steel grey (not this silver stuff!) with red leather, smg, 01 plate, 56k miles and everything apart from heated seats, rear blinds and power folding windows. Te sat nac is poor man...I would have gone for leguna seca blue but it was out of my price range.

The interior is a bit pants but it's fun to drive and fits 4 adults well.

There are 3 UK owners
Richuk
Dividebyzero

And looks like now 3 us owners!

How was the car up a hill with slush/ powder from a stand still? Mine was rubbish on the 19 contis. I nearly got stuck at a train station car park!

Koing
 
halik said:
Are you sure the motor was replaced? My car had the recall done and the paper work doesn't say anything about motor replacement
Click to expand...

Cars that blew the bottom end before the recall got new motors, those that didn't got new shells and the slip in the service book to say it was done.
 
Koing said:
Nice ride 🙂

I have a steel grey (not this silver stuff!) with red leather, smg, 01 plate, 56k miles and everything apart from heated seats, rear blinds and power folding windows. Te sat nac is poor man...I would have gone for leguna seca blue but it was out of my price range.

The interior is a bit pants but it's fun to drive and fits 4 adults well.

There are 3 UK owners
Richuk
Dividebyzero

And looks like now 3 us owners!

How was the car up a hill with slush/ powder from a stand still? Mine was rubbish on the 19 contis. I nearly got stuck at a train station car park!

Koing
Click to expand...

Haven't had a chance to try the contis on the snow (3mm-1mm left on em), scary as shit on on the ice in my driveway. Blizzaks in 215mm are solid in the snow, though a bit squirrely at speed.

I've got sunroof, HK sound, heated seats and xenons. It's kind of interesting that a boatload of stuff was optional on these things (homelink for example)
 
Because I saw this thread I did some quick research on Craigslist around here. There were quite a few '01 to '06 models available. A lot more convertibles than coupes. There was one that was an '04 and said it had 19k miles on it, but it was priced at like $37k which is only ~$15k less than what I've seen '08 models going for.
 
thegimp03 said:
Because I saw this thread I did some quick research on Craigslist around here. There were quite a few '01 to '06 models available. A lot more convertibles than coupes. There was one that was an '04 and said it had 19k miles on it, but it was priced at like $37k which is only ~$15k less than what I've seen '08 models going for.
Click to expand...

From my own research, it looks like you'll pay premium for low miles and the 6 speed. M3forum has a thread where people post the price/miles of the cars they just bought and it seems low mile cars are in the 20s and high miles drop to the teens, regardless of the year.
 
halik said:
Haven't had a chance to try the contis on the snow (3mm-1mm left on em), scary as shit on on the ice in my driveway. Blizzaks in 215mm are solid in the snow, though a bit squirrely at speed.

I've got sunroof, HK sound, heated seats and xenons. It's kind of interesting that a boatload of stuff was optional on these things (homelink for example)
Click to expand...

Yeah do let me know as I'm interested to know how the cold weather tyres make do in powder/ slush on hills. They are the conditions that my M3 and conti's just fail in.

Feels fine once it's moving on the flat but I don't think it's hugely smart to take it out as my drive is on a small incline and I've had to leave my car on a neighbours drive before 😛

Koing
 
Koing said:
Nice ride 🙂

I have a steel grey (not this silver stuff!) with red leather, smg, 01 plate, 56k miles and everything apart from heated seats, rear blinds and power folding windows. Te sat nac is poor man...I would have gone for leguna seca blue but it was out of my price range.

The interior is a bit pants but it's fun to drive and fits 4 adults well.

There are 3 UK owners
Richuk
Dividebyzero

And looks like now 3 us owners!

How was the car up a hill with slush/ powder from a stand still? Mine was rubbish on the 19 contis. I nearly got stuck at a train station car park!

Koing
Click to expand...

Ugh peer pressure 😛

I'd definately have to go with steel grey or interlagos blue. For me it would be the choice between a Mk4 Supra or E46 M3 (in either a dark metallic blue or charcoal) as a second toy. I'm leaning on the M3 for the utility, but .... ugh.
 
Last edited:
DOOOOOO EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTT exdeath!!!!!

My M3 is in the body shop having some dents and other paint issues fixed, along with all 4 wheels being reconditioned from the ground up and re-diamond cut. It's going to look factory fresh when I get it back, and I'll be posting a before and after thread.

Also, exdeath should buy an M3.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top