Should I buy an E46 M3?

[repoman0]

Yeesh, thats the exact kind of inspection that is preventing me from even bothering with these cars seriously. Just old with lots of problems, which most of the time havent been fixed. I took an 05 Mini JCW to a mini dealer and they came back with like 5 grand worth of work. They wanted 1200 for new tires lol. Car had like 50k on it... such a joke.

Yep, long list but honestly pretty much all of it could be crossed off in a weekend of DIY, maybe $500 or less worth of parts, and a day at the shop (subframe / diff). I already found the bumper support used for $100 right near the dude in CT. The only things that can't be crossed off are accident history and paint. If he'll accept a relatively low offer I may overlook that since it doesn't really affect anything and the paint job on the door has held up well since before the guy owned it (2006).

There are definitely nice ones out there with low miles that require nothing -- the problem is they're $25-30k cars instead of $18-19k, which is where this one falls IMO. I'm still going to go look at it this weekend but definitely would not pay his asking price.

 

[halik]

I would pass on a car with front end collision and paintwork.

The big ticket items are Vanos and Subframe fix, the rest of the stuff is small potatoes that you can DIY. Can't undo shit paint though and missing galvanization under it.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Holy crap what a laundry list of broken stuff. Anything more than $12-13K is a rip. Low 20K gets you a CPO warrantied 2011 mustang GT that will chew up an E46 M3 and spit out a roundel. Or a nice Pontiac G8/GTO. Hell, why not a C5?

Before anyone gets all silly I bought an E46 328 sport brand new when I was stationed in Germany. I get it. They ARE awesome, look great, one of the best driving cars I've ever owned....etc. The premium pricing on used BMW's is just not justified, especially when they are not particularly reliable. The pricing should be more in line with used mercedes. Cheap.

 

[jlee]

I would pass on a car with front end collision and paintwork.

The big ticket items are Vanos and Subframe fix, the rest of the stuff is small potatoes that you can DIY. Can't undo shit paint though and missing galvanization under it.

I agree. There's enough of them around that I wouldn't want one with collision damage.

 

[repoman0]

Holy crap what a laundry list of broken stuff. Anything more than $12-13K is a rip. Low 20K gets you a CPO warrantied 2011 mustang GT that will chew up an E46 M3 and spit out a roundel. Or a nice Pontiac G8/GTO. Hell, why not a C5?

Before anyone gets all silly I bought an E46 328 sport brand new when I was stationed in Germany. I get it. They ARE awesome, look great, one of the best driving cars I've ever owned....etc. The premium pricing on used BMW's is just not justified, especially when they are not particularly reliable. The pricing should be more in line with used mercedes. Cheap.

I know there are things that will destroy the M3 but I don't like any of them as much. The E46 pretty much nailed the "classy yet blends in" look and feel that I really like. I definitely wouldn't daily drive a mustang GT or corvette or park it on the street or whatever else, can't carry bikes or kayaks on the roof, etc. The Pontiac G8 is more in line with what I'm looking for but that goes a bit in the other direction of "blends in too much." I did look at those when I was first buying a car and may take another look. Also used 330s ARE cheap, problem is it's hard to find any with under 75k or even 100k miles because they're always daily drivers

You guys are right, I will pass on this one, didn't think about the lowered rust resistance. I've got my eye on a 2005 zcp with 53k miles ...
http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/cto/4679074166.html

 

[satyajitmenon]

You guys are right, I will pass on this one, didn't think about the lowered rust resistance. I've got my eye on a 2005 zcp with 53k miles ...
http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/cto/4679074166.html

That looks like a pretty good one. Especially with the sunroof delete and some tasteful mods. But why no pics of interior in the ad?

 

[repoman0]

That looks like a pretty good one. Especially with the sunroof delete and some tasteful mods. But why no pics of interior in the ad?

I was wondering that too for a day .. Then I saw the video he linked :thumbsup:

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Wow that one is spendy but is probably a pretty damn rare bird and it is modded very appropriately. Definitely worth a look, just be damn sure you want a car that will ride that firmly as a DD. I wonder if the springs were a worthwhile/appropriate upgrade on a ZCP though. Not familiar enough with the M3s and their mods.

 

[halik]

hink about the lowered rust resistance. I've got my eye on a 2005 zcp with 53k miles ...
http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/cto/4679074166.html

Sunroof delete, manual seats, ZCP = mad win. Would jump on that right away; rare options combo.

 

[repoman0]

Yep, I'm talking to the guy, he seems responsive, responsible, keeps the car in a heated garage and keeps it well maintained, etc. He said he could take it in for a PPI for me so if it comes back clean, I'll gladly hand over his asking price. It's on the high side for me but it's fair and is actually one of the few I've found that's below the suggested NADA price.

 

[repoman0]

Jeez, it seems impossible to find a decent one of these cars that hasn't been crashed .. Everyone thinks they're race car drivers immediately rather than going to a track or autocross to learn, apparently.

I just got the ppi back for the 2005 comp .. Mostly fine except one of the frame rails was welded and the left front strut tower was replaced. The inspecting mechanic wasn't even sure about the quality of the work. He said it looks okay, not great but not terrible either, and it'd be a deal breaker for most buyers. Back to looking I suppose

 

[satyajitmenon]

Have you tried http://www.enthusiastauto.com/ ? They're expensive, but known to have good cars.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

How about this one?

https://portland.craigslist.org/clc/cto/4752635567.html

 

[repoman0]

Have you tried http://www.enthusiastauto.com/ ? They're expensive, but known to have good cars.

I have been tempted by them. But, their prices are just too high .. even the cheapest they have in stock is above the max I'm willing to spend. Lots of nice cars there though.

How about this one?

https://portland.craigslist.org/clc/cto/4752635567.html

Anyway, I've been looking more and more at 6MT ZHPs instead. The practical and cost conscious part of me started to take over a little. But, then I found a 34k mile interlagos blue comp pack, like the above one, in basically brand new condition for $25k. If all checks out, I'm getting it and will finally have an update to this thread with some pics.

 

[iamwiz82]

I have been tempted by them. But, their prices are just too high .. even the cheapest they have in stock is above the max I'm willing to spend. Lots of nice cars there though.






Anyway, I've been looking more and more at 6MT ZHPs instead. The practical and cost conscious part of me started to take over a little. But, then I found a 34k mile interlagos blue comp pack, like the above one, in basically brand new condition for $25k. If all checks out, I'm getting it and will finally have an update to this thread with some pics.

I stay just down the road from Enthusiast Auto when I am in Cinci for work. They have an unbelievable inventory. They seem very picky about what cars they pickup. The number of Z4Ms they have is pretty staggering.

 

[halik]

I have been tempted by them. But, their prices are just too high .. even the cheapest they have in stock is above the max I'm willing to spend. Lots of nice cars there though.






Anyway, I've been looking more and more at 6MT ZHPs instead. The practical and cost conscious part of me started to take over a little. But, then I found a 34k mile interlagos blue comp pack, like the above one, in basically brand new condition for $25k. If all checks out, I'm getting it and will finally have an update to this thread with some pics.

Yeah but they're not ///M3s

 

[Kushina]

Checked out some of the E46 sites along with their for sale sections ?

 

[SSSnail]

Seems like you're proficient at maintaining these things, so yeah, you should go for it. If you do though, consider investing in a valve adjustment kit. You can get one from getbmwparts.com for very reasonable price (I'm sure you're familiar with that site by now).

 

[repoman0]

I'm working through the paperwork now for this 34k mile one! The PPI came back extremely clean, only problem being a small leak at the diff. The shop dude said they almost never see them in this condition anymore and he'd buy it for sure if he wasn't just looking for a deal.

Trying to decide how to deal with getting it here. I got some shipping quotes at uship.com and they want $900+ to ship to my dad's in NH Shipping to my mom's in Philly is ~$500 and I'm going to be there for New Year's so might take the train or bus down and drive back, particularly since I'd be driving there/back anyway in my current car. And then I could start learning manual for a bit on empty back PA roads. I don't really want to fly to Florida and drive back because it's a solid day of boring highway driving and the flight probably isn't particularly cheap anyway. Anyone have any suggestions?

Few mods that I remember ..

AP headers + Rogue El Diablo exhaust (catless, slightly iffy about this and may have to change stuff out depending on if it's too loud, but there's a few Youtube videos with this setup and it seems fine and sounds great. Either way I'll probably put some cats downstream)
Evolve tune -- no codes or CEL for lack of cats
Apex ARC-8 18s (good -- cheaper tires, nicer ride than stock 19s)
KW v2 coilovers (seem to get great reviews for street driving)
Autosolutions SSK
CSL-rep CF trunk, shop dude said fitment and paint was great, stock trunk is included
No subframe or VANOS issues

 

[Kushina]

Looks beautiful! I'd say drive it, I've got a 335i with a pretty similar setup, KW v3, and PSS tires. I'm happy to drive down there with you, since I've gotta break in my new turbos anyway. I'm in Northern VA. I think the E46 M3 vs a 335i would be a great drive.

Track it on your way lol. I'm sure we can get some other E46 and E9x cars to go with us.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Sight unseen purchase? Uhm, no thanks.

 

[repoman0]

Looks beautiful! I'd say drive it, I've got a 335i with a pretty similar setup, KW v3, and PSS tires. I'm happy to drive down there with you, since I've gotta break in my new turbos anyway. I'm in Northern VA. I think the E46 M3 vs a 335i would be a great drive.

Track it on your way lol. I'm sure we can get some other E46 and E9x cars to go with us.

Ha, well it'd be a one way trip back from FL No track yet, I need to learn to drive it on the street competently first!

Sight unseen purchase? Uhm, no thanks.

Everyone's got their own comfort levels. I'm fine with having a known reputable shop who knows more about the car than I and sees them daily look at it instead. If they were at all iffy about it, different story and obviously I've passed on two so far, but they went so far as to tell me they rarely see them in this condition anymore, cosmetically and mechanically, and they knew the weak areas to check.

 

[Insomniator]

Moar pics!

 

[repoman0]

Moar pics!

A few more from the shop:

A clean engine bay is always a good sign:

Everyone's got their own comfort levels. I'm fine with having a known reputable shop who knows more about the car than I and sees them daily look at it instead. If they were at all iffy about it, different story and obviously I've passed on two so far, but they went so far as to tell me they rarely see them in this condition anymore, cosmetically and mechanically, and they knew the weak areas to check.

Also, to add to this, EAG was mentioned above: this guy bought the car from EAG 8k miles / 2 years ago, at which time it was a 1 owner car with 26k miles. Even if my PPI shop wasn't part of the deal, there's only so much the current owner could have F'd up in that amount of time

edit: oops .. took out the shot of the rear to remove the guy's plate

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Damn, that thing is really clean. That's a nice mod list too. If I remember correctly (and I'm probably thinking of the wrong kit), that short shift kit is like a rifle bolt. If you end up hating it I'd spring for the Rogue one.