Test Drive is tomorrow!!!

"GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo" (jackolson)
02/26/2014 at 19:30 • Filed to: Test Drives

So my date tomorrow with a 2003 E46 M3 is on. Now some nerves and/or excitement is setting in and I don't like that. What questions should I be asking tomorrow? Also it doesn't sound like the dealer is taking me very seriously.

Here's the car I'm looking at tomorrow

http://www.autotrader.com/dealers/dda/de…

http://coventrymotorcar.com/inventory-2/

DISCUSSION (21)

Tom McParland > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/26/2014 at 19:35

If you want to be taken seriously, whatever you do...don't say "Track day bro!" on the test drive.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/26/2014 at 19:35

Great car just don't let it go to your head AKA. don't be an asshat

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/26/2014 at 19:39

It being a northern car check it very very carefully for rust. I bought a 2000 E46 in January of 2009 and it already had some pretty significant rust. The worst was at the bottom of the doors.

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
02/26/2014 at 19:41

Thanks for the tip!

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > Tom McParland
02/26/2014 at 19:45

Well I sent him an email with a few questions and he didn't get back to me in what I would have considered timely so I called when I got out of work just to see if its was available. All I asked was what should I bring with me tomorrow, how many owners has the car had, and what/when was the cars last major service. Don't think those questions we're too much to ask, and I better get answers tomorrow.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/26/2014 at 19:45

My biggest problem buying from dealers is you don't get much insight in to the history of a car. Have the recalls been addressed, if applicable? Rear sub-frame, passenger airbag, and I believe there was a rod bearing recall on these as well?

Car looks super clean and well cared for - but as always with high performance cars, getting an independent pre-purchase inspection would be a good idea (and would probably show the dealer you're serious about this as well)?

Tom McParland > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/26/2014 at 19:49

I wouldn't take it personally. That happens to me like every damn day. They get busy customers in the showroom are more important than customers on the computer.

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
02/26/2014 at 19:50

Still on my to do list is find a good shop to do a PPI. I was thinking of Turner Motorsport until I google mapped the distance between the two and realized it was 120 miles away, probably wouldn't be too cool of me to drive the 240 miles and say no thanks. So now I'm looking for a shop in CT but don't know where to start.

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > Tom McParland
02/26/2014 at 19:53

I wasn't mad or upset or anything and when I talked to him on the phone he sounded like he had a long day so I just asked what I should bring.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/26/2014 at 19:55

Make sure the blinker fluid has been topped off.

awe46m3zcp > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/26/2014 at 19:55

Dealers get a lot of time waster calls. Want to be taken seriously, show up in person. I doubt they will provide any service records, but take the VIN to a local BMW dealer and see what they can provide. I would also suggest looking at examples of subframe failures, putting this car on a lift and looking with your own eyes to make sure there are no cracks.

AM3R > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/26/2014 at 20:09

Nice! I looked at this car too as I'm on the east coast. Get a PPI if you can, even at a BMW dealership if you have to. Check the rear subframe VERY VERY VERY carefully. Also, $18k is a stretch. If you could go $16.5-17k out the door you'd be golden. Looks like an early build 2003 as it doesn't have the 2003.5 facelift but I'm on my phone so I may be wrong.

Montalvo > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/26/2014 at 20:43

I was looking at that same one not too long ago just knowing someone was going to jump on it before I got the space for it, at least this one might have a fellow oppo in charge of the keys. Dealers can always be a hit or miss unfortunately, maybe when they meet you in person they can see you are a serious buyer. Hope everything checks out on it.

N51fanatic > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/26/2014 at 21:46

20k for a 12 yr old M3 with 80k miles? I love BMW's, I wanted an M car, but i just dont see the logic in that purchase. Isnt a 335 better in every performance characteristic? Why not buy a 335? Newer, faster, cheaper.

efme > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/26/2014 at 23:03

get VIN and call a BMW dealership. see if its ever gotten an inspection II. subframe inspection (do it yourself)

and obviously do the typical checking for wet leaks underneath.

looked for turned fender panels (if they're not touched it probably hasn't had its fenders resprayed from accidents.

um check to see if it was modded by looking for modded parts?

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > N51fanatic
02/26/2014 at 23:04

Except 335s in my price range are the early models and those from what I have heard are the ones with a lot of issues. Plus with newer cars insurance is higher and I would pay a lot more in property taxes, for minimal gain in performance and have to worry about when something related to those turbos is going to fail. Plus the E46 M3 I think was one of the last good looking cars BMW has made and I predict the E46's legend will surpass that of the E30.

It's a "Porch-uh" > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/26/2014 at 23:24

For $19K that thing better be spotless! Even with "low" miles.

Like the others have said, get history from a dealer and have a shop you know and trust (that are BMW specialists) do a PPI. The $150-$200 is well worth it.

Formula4speed > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/26/2014 at 23:25

In my experience, it's hard to go wrong when picking a shop if you're just doing a PPI, since they don't have much to gain from screwing you over. Is there an actual BMW dealership nearby? They'll definitely have techs familiar with the car (of course) and will provide both a very thorough inspection and a grossly overpriced estimate of any repairs required, giving you a negotiation edge.

Good luck though, man. You're gonna love it. My e39M is the best car per dollar I've owned, hands down, and IMO the e46M offers the same basic ingredients with a dash of extra finesse thrown in in place of the 5er's power. Go in with a hyper-critical mindset so you don't let the experience blind you to any issues.

hethoughtofcars > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/27/2014 at 01:00

I bought an e46 coupe (from a dealer) that I ended up losing a ton of money on. All the advice here is spot on. Make sure you check everything. Do the two front windows go smoothly down and up? Do the motors in the pop-out rear windows work flawlessly? Check the trim around the doors. Mine was basically just holding on by a couple threads of cheap glue. I didn't notice it because it was on the passenger side! I noticed a gash in the alloy wheel later. A couple months later I found out that the spare tire was flat. Of course this happened on the side of the interstate during morning rush hour. The first tow truck wouldn't do it and they had to call in a flatbed. The ABS light would come on for 15 seconds when you started the car and then blink out, but hey, I didn't know the dash lighting sequence on a car I'd never driven AND there was so much more to look at! This was a BMW! 5 speed! sport package! topaz blue! It could be mine with creative financing! Within months (although possibly on the test drive as I was distracted) The oil pressure light would go out after starting the car and then come back on for 30 seconds before disappearing again. The E-Brake light would occasionally stay on regardless of what position the brake was in. Sometimes even the ABS light would join it in solidarity.

Still, it was my BMW and it was AWESOME. It was the first car I would start getting excited to drive while getting ready for bed the night before. I didn't believe any of the non-sense about it attracting "chicks" or getting treated better because people might think you have money. And none of that happened. E46 are great cars. Make sure you get an independent inspection and don't be afraid to walk away. There's still plenty of these out there and you will get yours someday (even the dealers know that). Don't get too emotionally attached to this one before you even drive it, don't let the dealers and sales managers fuck with you. Point out everything you notice wrong, and say you won't give them a dime for this car until they fix it. Always make it extremely well known that are willing to walk if you don't get everything your way.

If this car is the one: Congratulations! You bought a car most of us OPPOs dream about. But if you have any doubt about anything, let it go. You will find the one! GOOD LUCK!

DudeDoYouEvenPeanutButter > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/27/2014 at 02:06

I'd argue that's a tad over priced. Check the RTAB's/subframe. But an excellent decision, there's not much more car to be had for <$20k than an E46 M3.

norcalnorway > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
02/27/2014 at 04:53

I completely agree with the PPI. If you plan on purchasing this car it is smart to seek out a shop that can perform a Vanos test because this was in issue with this car. If the seller/dealer doesn't allow you to do a PPI and you are not very well versed with this car I would walk away. the 2001-early 2003 cars had an issue with bearing or the oil pump that caused a recall. I know there are regular inspection intervals too. They are referred to as inspection 1 and inspection 2. I believe the latter includes a valve adjustment which can be quite costly since it is 3-6 hours of labor. Pretty solid car though if the known issue have been taken care of and you have the ability to maintain it properly.

In regards to the dealer not taking you seriously.

1.) Can you actually afford the car?

2.) This isnt a Mclaren F1 so always remember you have the ability to walk away.

3.) If the salesman is not taking you seriously see if there is a sales manager that you can speak with.

4.) Test driving a car is one of the most important parts of finding out if the car is right for you. You are doing them a service in getting them closer to a commission so walk and talk confidently.

5.) Be patient.

Hope you find some of my 2 cents helpful.