e46 m3

Will Gill · 24 May 2011 at 17:21

Quickie (or maybe a lengthy thread!)

I need to free up a few grand to start paying for the c2s's illnesses, plus I've moved 1 mile from work so I no longer require a mileage muncher (result!), as such I've decided that I would like a nice summer car. As my BMW exposure thus far has been very pleasant I'm keen to contiune this and as such the E46 M3 has appeared on my radar.

deal on the table is

2005 E46 M3 SMG convertible

58k on the clock
had inspection 2, new discs and rear springs all within 8000 miles, SMG pump was changed 800 miles ago and it has full service history

its got all the toys, TV, sat nav, heated seats etc etc... its black with black leather so no gay "individual" purple anywhere!

he is offering £17,000 for mine and the M3 is on for £14,500 so I get a couple of grand to chuck at the porka.

questions

1. Should I do it?
2. if i do is there anywhere that would offer warranty given its nearing the dreaded 60k?
3. what else should I consider given my brief summary (summer fun, fast, bmw)

whatcha reckon sensible people am I mad or just mildly romantic to want the wind in my hair (litterally singular!)

Scania · 24 May 2011 at 17:25

Would you get more for your chop in than the £17k if you sold it privately? - If so, then this is what you need for the poorly Porker fund I feel.

As for the M3, love it, but why a convertible? You'll soon lose that hair.......

If you going down the convertible route, one of the lesser models is where I'd look, cheaper and pretty much does the same as a convertible M3 - Nice image, good performance etc etc.

To my mind, an M3 needs to be a tin top.

Morba · 24 May 2011 at 17:27

Great choice of replacement

Will Gill · 24 May 2011 at 17:31

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Would you get more for your chop in than the £17k if you sold it privately? - If so, then this is what you need for the poorly Porker fund I feel.

As for the M3, love it, but why a convertible? You'll soon lose that hair.......

If you going down the convertible route, one of the lesser models is where I'd look, cheaper and pretty much does the same as a convertible M3 - Nice image, good performance etc etc.

To my mind, an M3 needs to be a tin top.

I've always liked the E46 m3 (apart from the exhaust note!) and I love the idea of a convertible so I get the best of both worlds

I could probably get more for money if I bought privately and sold privately but I'm lazy and impatient and need the cash pretty much imemdiately if I'm going to do this at all.

the other option is to flog the porsche for peanuts (£13250 is the latest offer

) and have some fun with that cash, but I do like the idea of the porka as an almost project car, this cash would get me the replacement block I need (after porsche met me half way :cool:

) hence the reason I'm thinking these thoughts

panthro · 24 May 2011 at 17:39

Whats wrong with your 911?

Will Gill · 24 May 2011 at 17:40

cracked cylinder head

now answer the question

Scania · 24 May 2011 at 17:41

Will Gill said:
I've always liked the E46 m3 (apart from the exhaust note!) and I love the idea of a convertible so I get the best of both worlds

I could probably get more for money if I bought privately and sold privately but I'm lazy and impatient and need the cash pretty much imemdiately if I'm going to do this at all.

the other option is to flog the porsche for peanuts (£13250 is the latest offer ) and have some fun with that cash, but I do like the idea of the porka as an almost project car, this cash would get me the replacement block I need (after porsche met me half way ) hence the reason I'm thinking these thoughts

Pleased to hear Porsche are being helpful!

I'm just thinking with regard to the Porker fund (Yes, keep it, don't sell imo) spend less on the convertible BMW (330i?) get the Porker sorted quicker, then sell the Porker working, enough left for a really nice M3 Convertible!

I'm surprised you don't like the exhaust tone (of the e46 M3) - I love it. :confused:

Is the need for the funds quickly down to fixing the Porker in a limited period of time or because of the M3 deal?

Phate · 24 May 2011 at 17:43

Will Gill said:
cracked cylinder head

now answer the question

How the flippin eck did you manage that?

panthro · 24 May 2011 at 18:00

Will Gill said:
cracked cylinder head

now answer the question

Well I still own an E46 M3 so I say buy it. Even with an E92 M3 my heart (in a non autoerotic manner) is still won over by the E46. I love its relative simplicity and directness, and the S54 is still my all time favourite engine. Never driven a convertible but Id imagine it would have the usual vert vs coupe drawbacks.

I'll give you 14k for your 911

[TW]Fox · 24 May 2011 at 18:17

You will just sneak under 60k for BMW warranty purposes so you should be able to get the warranty for about 900 quid.

Will Gill · 24 May 2011 at 18:47

[TW]Fox;19214698 said:
You will just sneak under 60k for BMW warranty purposes so you should be able to get the warranty for about 900 quid.

car wise what are you thoughts? (apart from the fact it's not a smoker anymore

)

Phate said:
How the flippin eck did you manage that?

doing nothing more than driving it, **** happens it seems

although Porsche's willingness to assist financially leads me to believe it might be a manufacturing fault

[TW]Fox · 24 May 2011 at 18:49

Will Gill said:
car wise what are you thoughts? (apart from the fact it's not a smoker anymore )

I wouldn't want to spend that sort of money on an E46, its time has passed and they are getting on, but provided you realise this and are happy regardless then it sounds nice.

Will Gill · 24 May 2011 at 18:54

[TW]Fox;19214915 said:
I wouldn't want to spend that sort of money on an E46, its time has passed and they are getting on, but provided you realise this and are happy regardless then it sounds nice.

it is an aging car but for some summer fun I'll be content as long as its still worth £10k at the end of the year and hasnt cost me the same to run, I think I've done my homework, there are cheaper cars but they are missing inspection 2's or replaced discs etc... the subframe is covered by warranty for 10 years so I'm thinking all the major gotchas have been covered, nes pas?

Phate · 24 May 2011 at 19:01

Will Gill said:
doing nothing more than driving it, **** happens it seems although Porsche's willingness to assist financially leads me to believe it might be a manufacturing fault

Bet that cheered you up no end when that happened eh

Will Gill · 24 May 2011 at 19:07

came at the end of a long week of pure depression so it was almost expected

Phate · 24 May 2011 at 19:11

Will Gill said:
came at the end of a long week of pure depression so it was almost expected

You almost deserved it under sods law then

DRZ · 24 May 2011 at 19:48

I think you should get another S2000, the way you adored your last one makes me think you are itching to go back!

Django x2 · 24 May 2011 at 19:57

There are too many chavs picking these up now thinking they can afford to run them, sadly, they can't and end up being neglected.

If that's what you want, cool beans. I couldn't think of anything more disatisfying than buying a car that actually looks like it came out in 1999 (M3 wasn't facelifted remember).

Will · 24 May 2011 at 20:05

Part of me thinks that a BMW M3 is too close to the 911 to warrant having two such cars...both notionally seat 4, but more practically two, both can do the fun driving machine part as well as the reliable and comfortable daily driver, both are expensive to run and repair if something breaks....

Not tempted to sell both and go for one newer and 'better' car?

I suppose the convertible part separates this M3 from the 911, but for me it seems odd to choose to run both cars which seem to share quite a lot of the same good qualities?

Giddy · 24 May 2011 at 20:12

Sell the beamer, repair the pork and drive that to work... Alternatively walk!