M3 E46. Any drivers here?? UPDATE

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Ibonibo

Ibonibo

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Already paying my Isp 4 Access
So, i'm playing with the idea to buy a M3.

After a bit of internet research i walked away scared.
What i read on the net:

Motor is super fragile, espacially the early models. The oil pump is one of the problems and the big/large end bearings (is that correct)
This:
Pleuellager.jpg

They were exchanged by BMW.

But when i talk to bimmer drivers, they don't know about this problems as being the norm, but being an exception.

If we have any exdrivers or drivers here that can give me some advice. Please, i need it.

The car i'm looking into has this specs :

4-2002
manual (not SMG)
67000 km
all inspections made by BMW
never had an accident
2nd owner
Never driven in the winter
22000€ (price also due to the yellow paint which is not a seller)


I still have an ace in the sleeve. When i go visit the car i will take an "expert" with me. The guy owns a lot of Bimmers, does hill racing with them, so has quite a knowledge.
The guy was a client at the business i work and sold an 3Csi to my brother for a nice price.

But i take all the info i can get. So ... hit it off....
 
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My friend had a 2002 but the motor was fine. It was the SMG that went, twice.
 
The fact it has had its inspections done by BMW & a 2nd owner is a buy for me. That's a good mileage point for the price as well. 👍
 
The first version of the SMG was faulty, SMG II is better, but i want manual. Much funnier to drive.

Yeah the milage is very low.

Luxemburgs M3e46 market:
There is another M3 in Luxembourg to sell with low milage but cost 30000€ has SMG, and is a late 2005 model, and has a better colour (has a whole Csl body kit :D) .
In all, in Luxembourg there are around 17 M3e46 to sell, 12 of them have SMG, some of those are cabs or are out of the money i want invest, 2 are suspicious, and the others are higher priced for more milage (makes sense 👍), The only other alternative is a 2004 model for a grant more but has 120000km, which is kind of a lot for the price, but it has 12 months warrenty.


If this car is as good as it sounds, it's a great deal.
Tomorrow i get an answer regarding the engine of a M3 enthusiast, if that's positive i will look to test drive it this week.

Still all experience with M3 (personal or related ) is very welcome
 
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*ibo* S3 Racer
The first version of the SMG was faulty, SMG II is better, but i want manual. Much funnier to drive.

Yeah the milage is very low.
There is another M3 in Luxembourg to sell with low milage but cost 30000€ has SMG, and is a late 2005 model, and has a better colour.

If this cars is as good as it sounds, it's a great deal.
Tomorrow i get an answer regarding the engine of a M3 enthusiast, if that's positive i will look to test drive it this week.
Click to expand...

If you driving a manual is funny, I suggest the SMG.
 
eSZee
If you driving a manual is funny, I suggest the SMG.
Click to expand...

Why?

Apart from the fact that is a fragile part, having a pedal more for less money is win ;)
No, seriously, i like a clutch on cars, espacially on rear wheel, so that i can put weight on the front if needed.

But please if you got a reason why a SMG, sound it of.

NB: i never drove an SMG, but drove tiptronics, and DSG
 
He was having fun on account of your typo. You typed "funnier" instead of "funner." Which, to nit pick, should be "more fun."

Anyway, he wasn't saying you should get an SMG; just merely making a pun.
 
So i had an BMW specialist over tonight and we talked about the whole thing, showing him the m3 i choose.

He said : that m3 are generally pushed a lot. except when an "old" driver drove it.
And the 3.2, is a fragile motor, espacially when not drove correctly (warm up, let it turn a moment before turning off, not red lining it a lot,...) and the pre 2004 models, but even after they are not built like tanks (like an 3.2 or 1.8t audi for exemple)
So i will go take a look at the M3 I choose, and decide then, he will come with so i have an BMW expert near me.

But we searched the internet a bit an found another jewel, infact 2:

Z3M
http://www.luxauto.lu/fr/occasion/bmw-z3m-coupe-32.html?id=411449&rq=919593
and this Z4:
http://www.luxauto.lu/fr/occasion/bmw-z4-coupe-30-si-performance.html?id=407789&rq=916520&page=1
Which I honestly fell in love.
Not a lot of milage, fair price, 12 months warrenty, and an 3.0Si

he also said the 3.0 is a bit more reliable than the 3.2...

So i go look the different models, and hope one of them is in good shape, so i can take it home. Cause if not, i'm not pressed in getting a new car, i have time to find the one.
And i have my S3. So no worry...

(if you ask yourself why buy a new car if i still have my S3... 1st my S3 the paintjob is messed up, it's on the court at the moment, so selling is not an option or i would lose to much money, and i will never sell the S3, I want to make a collection of cars, across different makes, but performance level cars.)
 
That black M Coupe would be awesome.

I can't comment on the price of that car since I don't know what old M Coupes go for in Europe. However, those cars are decently rare and can be quite a fun and unique experience. From what I understand, it's a different animal than the M3, but an interesting car nonetheless. Those cars tend to also be quite polarizing, people either love them or hate them, so I think it's worth checking out if its within your budget.

Too bad it's one of the early M Coupes. The ad says it's from 1998, and those had the old S50 engines (the same ones as the 96-99 European M3) instead of the S54s that were fitted from 2001-2002. It seems to have pretty low miles (or kms) though, and from the ad, the car looks to be in alright condition. I would say its at least worth checking out and see how you like it.
 
*ibo* S3 Racer
So i had an BMW specialist over tonight and we talked about the whole thing, showing him the m3 i choose.

He said : that m3 are generally pushed a lot. except when an "old" driver drove it.
And the 3.2, is a fragile motor, espacially when not drove correctly (warm up, let it turn a moment before turning off, not red lining it a lot,...) and the pre 2004 models, but even after they are not built like tanks (like an 3.2 or 1.8t audi for exemple)
So i will go take a look at the M3 I choose, and decide then, he will come with so i have an BMW expert near me.
Click to expand...
Define redlining a lot. You mean bouncing off the limiter or taking it up to 8,000rpm?

The S54 runs at its peak at 7,950rpm, so personally, I would run the car up there a few times during the test drive to really see how the car runs.
 

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