OPPO- Remind me why i DONT want another e46 m3

"magman007" (magman007)
05/21/2014 at 12:33 • Filed to: BMW, E46m3, m3

Pic Related, its my old steed.

So, I currently drive an '06 STi with 57k miles on it. A cherry of a car, fantastic in pretty much every way, and there are not many ways I can fault the car. Sure the interior isn't anything anyone would call luxury, but thats about the cars only crux. That, and the fact that it isn't as tail happy as I had been hoping.

So I have been given an opportunity to sell my STi, not lose a cent from what I paid for it a year ago, and I have enough equity in my loan that I can get into an e46 m3 with similar mileage to the STi, for a much lower car payment.

Now, the problem is, I cannot reasonably remember the stuff about the car that royally pissed me off. I can only remember the good times, and forgot the bad. I remember the window seals would fall on you like an anaconda attack if you looked at them wrong, and I vividly remember hating the little german guy who decided

A) the rear windows should be powered by the slowest jack screw motor known to man

and

B) that while the front windows that are rapid can have auto up functionality, the rears that take 40 seconds to open and and close you have to sit there and hold the switch like a plebian.

I also remember replacing rear tires every 10k. Not a fault of the car by any means, more a lack of self control! $80 oil changes weren't my favorite either, stupid castrol 10w60.

So Oppo, remind me of the bad things, talk me out of this nonsense. remind me why an e46 m3 is not the logical choice, because right now I am absolutely enamored with the car again and cannot wait to get into one a second time.

DISCUSSION (36)

Brian Silvestro > magman007
05/21/2014 at 12:36

Just get an M235i or an M2!

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > magman007
05/21/2014 at 12:39

E92 that goes to 8250?

magman007 > Brian Silvestro
05/21/2014 at 12:42

Too Pricey, and this lets use the same turbo motor for EVERYTHING nonsense seems a little E36ish to me. I enjoyed the bespoke s54 with its lovely individual throttle bodies and 7900 rpm redline!

Brian Silvestro > magman007
05/21/2014 at 12:44

This is true. That engine is in EVERYTHING NOW

N51fanatic > magman007
05/21/2014 at 12:45

The 335 is better in every way. I'd get one of those, newer, lower mileage.

magman007 > N51fanatic
05/21/2014 at 12:48

no rear differential, heavier, and too common. Nothing special, no racing heritage really other than the brand. I like the homologation special as it were.

magman007 > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger
05/21/2014 at 12:49

Possibly when the m4 comes out it will drive e92 prices low enough, I doubt it though, they're still hovering in the 30's for a clean title that you would actually want to own and drive.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > magman007
05/21/2014 at 13:00

Sounds like you've already made up your mind. But I think e92 prices will continue to drop. They'll not be a future classic for another 20 years.

For me, there are many many cars our there I want to own and drive. Life is short, I'll try something different every time.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Brian Silvestro
05/21/2014 at 13:19

On the plus side, that will make making M235i clones in the future much, much easier.

Brian Silvestro > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
05/21/2014 at 13:32

This is completely true.

E92M3 > magman007
05/21/2014 at 14:07

Kinja'd!!!

I just sold mine Friday and I already regret it....

Finding a AW E90 with black interior and the competition package is proving impossible.

Manuél Ferrari > magman007
05/21/2014 at 14:16

I'm not going to talk you out of it.

If you find a clean E46 M3 6MT and take care of it then it will be fun and a good use of your cash. Sure the maintenance isn't cheap and there are possible repairs that will cost cash. But the car itself is so much cheaper than buying a new BMW. And no silly turbos to deal with.

Manuél Ferrari > E92M3
05/21/2014 at 14:16

Manuél Ferrari > N51fanatic
05/21/2014 at 14:50

Not true. The E46 M3 is the better track car despite its age.

magman007 > E92M3
05/21/2014 at 16:00

FUUUU how many miles? what interior?

Kinja'd!!!

I would kill for an oxford green with low miles, SMG or 6mt, doesnt matter on black. Owned SMG, the only reason I would want to go 6mt is for better burn out control. I loved SMG.

AW is my top choice since oxford is a unicorn, followed by the blues (lemans preferably, but lsb or the other one will do) then the grays, blacks, reds, and silvers.

BKRM3 > magman007
05/21/2014 at 16:20

Pros:

Kinja'd!!!

Cons: None.

As the owner of an E90 M3, I refuse to acknowledge the possibility that the value of my car will ever decline, so you'd be waiting on that until infinity (I'm actually only half joking - the new M3/M4 isn't special in the way the previous M3s are...I really don't think people are going to jump ship en masse from the E9X platform, and, further, they're the most reliable model in the entire E9X fleet statistically - you don't even have to get valves adjusted! I believe the E9X is going to be an "instant classic" for these reasons as well as for its best-on-the-goddamn-planet S65B40 engine). Therefore: buy an E46 that has already had the subframe reinforcement done and has a good service history, treat the door seals and leave the back windows alone =)

brakesnow > magman007
05/21/2014 at 17:01

Because the fiesta ST is more fun

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j…

N51fanatic > Manuél Ferrari
05/21/2014 at 17:56

and how many times is said car daily driven vs tracked? Listen, OP can buy what he wants, but the 335 is better.

Manuél Ferrari > N51fanatic
05/21/2014 at 18:03

I dunno. He didn't say whether he tracks or not. So it might never be tracked. In that case yeah the 335 would be the more comfy DD.

E92M3 > magman007
05/21/2014 at 21:43

52k miles, black interior.

I got spoiled by SMG, and I'm now looking for a DCT. Thats one requirement I won't compromise on.

E92M3 > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger
05/21/2014 at 21:52

I think they will be just like the E36 as far as collectability. The ok car in the middle of the E46 (the last real drivers M3), and the F80 (the M3 with gobs of torque, light weight technology, and FINALLY proper brakes).

magman007 > E92M3
05/22/2014 at 13:22

Damnit, mind saying what you sold for? That checks all of my boxes. Low miles, SMG, and not dove interior. AW is a massive plus.

I loved SMG, there are a lot of haters, but its really a genius system. The opposition always shuts the hell up once they experience the first flat foot redline shift in S6. I will take either option at this point, just no verts.

magman007 > N51fanatic
05/22/2014 at 13:23

I disagree. I probably wont be tracking, but I will be AutoXing. The 335i just doesn't spark any interest in me. The IS.... maybe, but you're constantly thinking about how you should have just bought the M at that point, NO LSD=NO GO. Lets have none of the fun of rwd, LSD is always a must.

magman007 > Manuél Ferrari
05/22/2014 at 13:27

Luckilly I have access to a lift, and a garage full of friends with whom we will be able to accomplish all of the little, stupid stuff that usually requires dealer or shop assistance. Rtabs, motor mounts, guibos, fluids, parts will all be easy to do, so I am actually worried less about maintenance the first time around.

Also, the first time I owned one, I was paying $665 a month for on my loan, this time around it will be more like $250, so I am much less worried about the car bankrupting me. SMG is the onlything I am on the fence about, that said I will happily own one again should the rest of the car be correct.

PPI is a must as well, best $100 I ever spend.

magman007 > brakesnow
05/22/2014 at 13:51

I dont think I believe the video. Not sure why, I usually allign with matts views, but there is no way fwd is more fun than rwd.

Manuél Ferrari > magman007
05/22/2014 at 14:49

Mine is SMG. I knew it was a risk. But I couldn't find a clean, low-mileage, later model year coupe that had a stick. I shopped for a couple months and none came up within 500 miles of me. There was one across country but I didn't feel like making the trip.

I haven't had any issues so far. The car is a 2004 with about 43K miles on it now.

magman007 > Manuél Ferrari
05/22/2014 at 16:32

Feel like selling? :) I have taken a road trip to acquire my last 2 cars. Thats why I always have a PPI done. Last one I went up to connecticuit for, and the previous one out to chicago. Its nice actually, its an adventure. You're worried you will get there and find out something is terribly wrong with the car, and some how the deal will fall through. Then you get to the car, everything is perfect, and you know in just a few minutes of small talk and signing some wanna be official documents you will take their key, their car, and it becomes yours (really the banks but who cares)

Then its off into the sunset, just you, possibly a driving buddy, and the open road. Time to open her up, question every little creek and rattle, and really really get to know the car in and out. Its like being stuck in an elevator with someone, you have to spark up a conversation eventually, only this conversation occurs with gentle caresses of the steering wheel, followed by floor mashing, man handling of the shifter. You beat her up a bit, then apologize. Its like an episode of jerry springer followed by an episode of oprah, with a side of barbara walters most fascinating people. around the 10th hour you will discover a light bulb

Manuél Ferrari > magman007
05/22/2014 at 16:36

Haha that is an awesome description of the road trip. I actually do want to do a trip like that one day. I'm just waiting for the right time and right car. I want to do a Doug Demuro style road trip except across the whole country. That would be an adventure!

Actually I am interested in selling, I just haven't put serious effort into it. I marketed it once on Oppo a while back when I was really struggling for cash but haven't listed it anywhere since. I will sell if it's to the right person at the right price. Otherwise I'll enjoy it for longer while I save for the next toy :)

magman007 > Manuél Ferrari
05/22/2014 at 17:27

If you want to e-mail me, feel free to. william.badnaruk@gmail.com

Color, interior and asking price?

Manuél Ferrari > magman007
05/22/2014 at 17:29

Cool, emailing you now

E92M3 > magman007
05/22/2014 at 23:14

$24,500 Only because I was moving 1500 miles, and would of had to flown back to drive it (towed the wifes car behind the u-haul). And there was a really nice AW E90 comp package that I wanted here in Atlanta. Unfortunately that car turned out to be declared a lemon, and was bought back by BMW.

brakesnow > magman007
05/23/2014 at 01:35

I haven't driven either car so I can't comment myself, but I would way rather drive an e46 m3 than just about any hot hatch short of a Clio v6.

magman007 > brakesnow
05/23/2014 at 11:21

Agreed. I have not driven the focus ST, I am sure its great, I am also sure its very similar to a mazda speed 3, with less torque steer. MS3 is a great car, its not as throttle off oversteery as the ST, but its a great car.

Its not e46 m3 great though, and I also disagree with his views on S54. That engine is fucking fantastic, and just now the Vq motors are catching up in power production, 14 years after the e46 m3 was first released and they sound like a dying sheep. the engine I feel really is something special, it pulls to redline similarly to a rotary almost, and free revs almost as freely also it produces something like 80% of its tq at 1800 rpm, and holds that to redline. So while its not the torquest motor, 280 lbs/ft of it is more than enough to get it moving, and its more useable than say my STi where I have no TQ until turbo time at 3k.

brakesnow > magman007
05/23/2014 at 11:57

As a LegacyGT driver I definitely have to agree the sub-3k torque gap can be tough to live with around town, I think I'm going to look for the opposite character engine in my next car. Smooth predictable powerband with power everywhere, preferably free and high-revving. I'm thinking e90 m3. The S54 is one of the best straight sixes ever, but I do love me a good old V8.

magman007 > brakesnow
05/23/2014 at 12:06

I actually have not owned a v8 my self yet. It seems a bit sacrilegious, and part of the reason I was considering a new 5.0 mustang, but its just so COMMON, I see 5 every time I leave my house, and there isn't anything special about the engine either other than its power. I like a unique engine. Straight 6, no one else produces a straight 6 any more. Same with the boxer, very unique motor, rotary? you bet!

I just love less than conventional ways to go about things in the name of performance.

brakesnow > magman007
05/23/2014 at 12:59

True, the 5.0 'stang with the track pack is an incredible performance bargain, but they really are a dime a dozen these days. I'm also a fan of unique performance technology, I almost bought an S70R instead of the legacy GT because I love the T-5 sound and the sleeper factor of a fast volvo, but the reported angle gear issues put me off. I think BMW still produces a straight six with the turbocharged N55 in the current 335i, also the new m3/m4 will have a straight six.