Bought an old BMW M3, filled with regret...

Car looks great, I do like the E46's.

Can't say I'm surprised to see rust on the wings tbh, and I assume you've had the subframe done.

If it makes you feel better, the standard brakes on the E92 M3 are cack also. Two laps of Nurburg, and I wasn't even going that fast having been in an accident in someone else's car earlier in the day and they started to fade. :(

So am gonna fit, better pads, fluid and braided hoses in the spring hopefully improve them a bit as I do wanna go back.
 
Let's hope my rear wings remain shiny and chrome for a long time then!

T0pPredator said:
I've considered carbon fibre wings to end it once and for all, but read mixed comments about their fitment.
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Just seen a post crop up on ///M3ntal, was this you or just coincidence? :p

SimonC said:
Car looks great, I do like the E46's.

Can't say I'm surprised to see rust on the wings tbh, and I assume you've had the subframe done.

If it makes you feel better, the standard brakes on the E92 M3 are cack also. Two laps of Nurburg, and I wasn't even going that fast having been in an accident in someone else's car earlier in the day and they started to fade. :(

So am gonna fit, better pads, fluid and braided hoses in the spring hopefully improve them a bit as I do wanna go back.
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I thought BMW saw the light and improved the standard brakes in the E92 given that it's a big V8 with more weight all round!

Pads, fluid and braided hoses seem to be the accepted solution. I have mine by the front door waiting to be fitted (already have hoses fitted though). Just need some time to set aside.
 
mrk said:
Just seen a post crop up on ///M3ntal, was this you or just coincidence? :p
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Coincidence, but I am in that facebook group. I wonder if a really top drawer bodyshop could get those GSR carbon wings to fit and look OEM..
I really, really don't like fixing things twice..
 
mrk said:
I thought BMW saw the light and improved the standard brakes in the E92 given that it's a big V8 with more weight all round!

Pads, fluid and braided hoses seem to be the accepted solution. I have mine by the front door waiting to be fitted (already have hoses fitted though). Just need some time to set aside.
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I've never driven a E46 M3, so the standard E92 M3 brakes might be better. There fine for normal road use mind.

Weight wise I don't think there's really that much in it between the E92 coupe and E46 convertible.
The S65 engine in the E92 weighs less than the S54 in the E46.

I was trying to find out the weights of them, looks like there around 1550/1560kg ish, one sites says one weight and another site says something else, then how much fuel, driver etc etc.
 
Yeah V engines are naturally more compact, and the S54 is a cast iron block :p Imagine dropping the S65 in there along with running gear :eek:

As high as the TCO has been to date, I don't regret keeping it in my hands this long. The engine totally makes up for it, the noise and feel is just special. And thankfully the engine has been utterly reliable. The bulk of costs have been things that come with a car that is approaching 93K miles after 11.5 years.

Having said that, I see the new gadgets and tech BMW have put the latest models and I ask myself why not just think about getting with the times soon...
 
mrk said:
Yeah V engines are naturally more compact, and the S54 is a cast iron block :p Imagine dropping the S65 in there along with running gear :eek:

As high as the TCO has been to date, I don't regret keeping it in my hands this long. The engine totally makes up for it, the noise and feel is just special. And thankfully the engine has been utterly reliable. The bulk of costs have been things that come with a car that is approaching 93K miles after 11.5 years.

Having said that, I see the new gadgets and tech BMW have put the latest models and I ask myself why not just think about getting with the times soon...
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Yeah, I've driven loads of new cars recently and its so, so tempting to get with the times, but I think my problem is I'd end up spending £20K-£28K on something like:
Audi S5 Facelift Convertible
BMW E93 M3 Convertible
Mercedes E400 Convertible
BMW M240i Convertible
BMW M435i Convertible

But I can't really justify spending that much on something I personally only do a few miles in each year,.. the financials just don't stack up, In just finance and depreciation costs on a £25-£30K car, I could spend £2 - £3k a year on the E46 and still be better off..

I did see an awesome Supercharged (500bhp) E46 Coupe on Cutters, £14K it went for after the owner had spent £30K in the last 2 years, complete bargain and what a hoot that would have been!
 
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The problem with supercharging one of these is that whilst you gain some 200 more HP typically and oodles more torque, you lose what makes the engine great in the first place. The induction noise and feel as you climb the rpm range.

There is still a lot of gain to be had from component upgrades and keeping it all N/A still, though. But again these cost £thousands. Evolve's stage 1 and 2 bolt ons can take the engine to 400HP. It's just down to how much money you're willing to throw at modifications. For me, a stage 1 remap and carbon intake was the limit for cost effective gains in both noise and performance :p
 
mrk said:
The problem with supercharging one of these is that whilst you gain some 200 more HP typically and oodles more torque, you lose what makes the engine great in the first place. The induction noise and feel as you climb the rpm range.

There is still a lot of gain to be had from component upgrades and keeping it all N/A still, though. But again these cost £thousands. Evolve's stage 1 and 2 bolt ons can take the engine to 400HP. It's just down to how much money you're willing to throw at modifications. For me, a stage 1 remap and carbon intake was the limit for cost effective gains in both noise and performance :p
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Amazingly on seeing quite a few reviews, supercharging retains all the best bits, super linear power delivery as the NA, can have the rasp still if you want it, and obviously as much intake noise as you want depending on which kit..

e.g.


Just out of interest, I presume this is the kit you have on yours?
http://www.evolveautomotive.com/eventuri-carbon-fibre-intake-system-bmw-e46-m3.html

If I see one pop up for a reasonable price, it does look and sound nice so I might be tempted..
 
mrk said:
Yeah V engines are naturally more compact, and the S54 is a cast iron block :p Imagine dropping the S65 in there along with running gear :eek:

As high as the TCO has been to date, I don't regret keeping it in my hands this long. The engine totally makes up for it, the noise and feel is just special. And thankfully the engine has been utterly reliable. The bulk of costs have been things that come with a car that is approaching 93K miles after 11.5 years.

Having said that, I see the new gadgets and tech BMW have put the latest models and I ask myself why not just think about getting with the times soon...
Click to expand...


There's a few vids on youtube with E46 S65 DCT conversions, gotta be a great conversion to do. Lighter engine with more power, better gearbox, sounds much much better...

Yer I hear what you say about getting with the times with modern tech, although I don't use half of it in mine, think I can get internet in it with apps and stuff, never looked into though tbh. Who the **** wants to drive and check for twitter updates..

If I could install doom though....
 
mrk said:
Having said that, I see the new gadgets and tech BMW have put the latest models and I ask myself why not just think about getting with the times soon...
Click to expand...

Like you, I have recently been peeking at other cars - but none take my fancy at all. The only car that I would want is an E92 M3, so I had a thought of selling the M3 whilst it's still worth a good deal, rocking around in the Mini for a couple of years, then picking up a nice 09/10 E92 M3 for hopefully around £13-14k.
 
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^^ thing is, if you put the car up for sale, I as a potential buyer come around to view and see the rust, I'm gonna knock you down on price to get it fixed.
Even if you advertise for a cheaper price to begin with and got asking price, you'll still be loosing money.

Far better to get it sorted and sell a car with no known issues, that way you can hold out for more, unless it's got something really going for it people will just move on to the next one.

IMO of course. :)
 
If only BMW pulled a Nokia and re-released a modern E46, true to its roots, same engine and dynamics, but with all the gadgets of the current fleet.

If only.
 
No touch features on that and no touch ECU, so can't add later either.

IMO the Dynamic and OEM style Android units offer more scope whilst still looking mostly OEM.

As in:

4RO55Bw.jpg
 
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