Small/med, rapid, pretty, toys, under £7k?

Fantom said:
If its before 06 and less bhp its £275

If its after 07 with the more powerful engine then its £475

its a considerable extra outlay every year which will never go away, im convinced I can get something that was built before 06 and satisfies my needs

to be honest I havent checked out the less powerful cheaper to tax version as my brother tells me the newer one is "the one to have"

Edit: but I will!
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The first ones have 276bhp, the second one and the GT4 (gran turismo) have 300bhp, the final ones had 313bhp.

I think from 2007 the newer ones also got an updated/improved interior.
 
AndrewNR said:
The first ones have 276bhp, the second one and the GT4 (gran turismo) have 300bhp, the final ones had 313bhp.

I think from 2007 the newer ones also got an updated/improved interior.
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Yeah, I think all that coupled with the fact that my brother has one rules it out.

Ive never been a big fan of them either despite the fact that they tick a lot of my boxes
 
Right,

Ive had a think and Im now thinking of saving up a bit more and stretching to an e46 M3.

its looking like I could pick up a "not terrible" example for around £8k

Id appreciate any advice on what to look out for and potential weaknesses?

I know its an M3 but I believe its the car I can justify spending money on to maintain, also I normally do my own service and I'm no stranger to things going wrong, granted on my clio 172 Ive had in the last year or so:

cambelt change
auxbelt change
brakes all round
wheel bearings all round
balljoints all round
both drive shafts
2 alternators
new battery
exhaust welding
internal steering track rod ends

I know this is renault so cheap parts and some are easy to fit but please don't assume I'm going into this thinking nothing will go wrong.
 
Isn't a set of brakes for the E46 something stupid like £1k? Then there's the servicing which costs north of £700 for an inspection 2, tyres at about £7-800 per set. Overall running costs are meant to be lower on an M5 from what I've read.

Blindingly awesome cars, though.
 
Get the subframe professionally checked by a genuine BMW specialist, or buy one that has either been checked by said specialist already or repaired already.

Make sure it has FSH from the above also, especially the run-in service.

M3Cutters has more info and Pistonheads forum M section will prove useful. Get one in a decent colour, Estoril blue or red for example. Too many in 'dull' silver, black and grey.
 
I think with a garage like yours you'd be rude not to :cool:

There's a couple at work, neither owner has had any real major problems with them either in their ownership. Time to get on a decent M3 forum now I think to find that OCD type seller with the minter :D
 
"Stretching" a budget to reach an M3 (regardless of budget, or which generation of M3) just screams "terrible idea".

But by all means, go for it, what could possibly go wrong?
 
Ill do a lot of the servicing myself, built myself a garage might aswell use it :)

Im not sure If I will keep up the service history or do it all myself, I guess it depends on whats involved in the different intervals.

Thanks I will be aware of the subframe issue, Ill also read as many buying guides as possible, anyone know the best one? I guess there are a few online?
 
paradigm said:
"Stretching" a budget to reach an M3 (regardless of budget, or which generation of M3) just screams "terrible idea".

But by all means, go for it, what could possibly go wrong?
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Stretching it by a grand isn't a big deal, the worst comes to the worst it will break and have a repair bill of £2k so I will put it in the garage and cycle to work while I either save up for the repair bill or do the work myself as slowly as I see fit.

I appreciate your concern but I feel Id do myself an injustice If I didn't strongly consider the car I always wanted as a child.
 
fonzee said:
I think with a garage like yours you'd be rude not to :cool:

There's a couple at work, neither owner has had any real major problems with them either in their ownership. Time to get on a decent M3 forum now I think to find that OCD type seller with the minter :D
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on an unrelated note, putting the mrs on the insurance makes it go up £20 :o

Rude not to...

looks nice, Plymouth - Fox could turn up and try to talk me out of it :p:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-BMW-...1775962?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4ac28fadda
 
Doesn't appear like a typical "chav" advert to me.

It's a facelift with a good spec and the mileage, for the price, is pretty good.
 
fonzee said:
it's got tints and is parked on grass, onto the next one :p
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Says you who loves to photo cars on grass! tints might be standard?

I like the fact that he mentions subframe so must at least know "something" about them.

Anyone know if there are any expenditures to be expected at ~92k?
 
Fantom said:
Anyone know if there are any expenditures to be expected at ~92k?
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At 93,789 miles they turn into a 330d.

Just like any other car if it's well looked after it will just cost the usual servicing (which is pretty high on an m3) unless of course your unlucky.
 
paradigm said:
He does however then go on to say that SMG is rubbish, which is not only wrong, but irrelevant, as the E46 has SMGII, the E36 had SMG :p
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From What I can see the 2003 e46 had smg2 but I think the earlier ones had smg1.

Could be wrong though, hope I am as I would like an smg2 box
 
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