M3 questions - Rotty,etc...

mad_allan · 27 Jan 2007 at 17:08

Hi all,

Well I have just been offered a cracking deal from a friend on a 51 plate M3. It has 80k on the clock and full history.

I remember a thread a little while ago, it was either Steve or Rotty with the running costs and consumables prices.

This is the SMG model, which I prefer but what are peoples opinions on the SMG?

Cheers

Rotty · 27 Jan 2007 at 18:15

Costs

Tyres

Front £200 each
Rear £240 each

Pads

£110 front
£70 rear

Discs

£250 per pair

Servicing on a cycle of Oil-Insp1-Oil-Insp2 and start again

Intervals about 12k miles

Oil service £200
Insp 1 £700
Insp 2 £850

These are AD prices, I think there is discount for cares over 4 years old

I average 25mpg

SMG is awesome but don't make a judgement based on a test drive, it will take 3 months to really get to grips with it

mad_allan · 27 Jan 2007 at 18:30

Cheers Rotty, he's letting me have it for the day tomorrow so I will see what it's like. I do like the concept of it

It also has the Harmon Kardon sound system pic below, is it any good? The only thing missing is the Sat Nav but I can get that from a dealer friend.

triggerthat · 27 Jan 2007 at 18:33

80K sounds a lot. Have a good look over it

mad_allan · 27 Jan 2007 at 18:41

triggerthat said:
80K sounds a lot. Have a good look over it

It's his old company car (he owns the company), travels around the country daily, very well looked after

Rotty · 27 Jan 2007 at 19:24

HK is ok , not stunning but more than adequate

retro it of sat nav is a very big job

Do you mind saying what you class as a good deal ?

I would assume less than £18k

Morba · 27 Jan 2007 at 21:17

triggerthat said:
80K sounds a lot. Have a good look over it

80k on a 6 year old car really isnt that bad at all, especially when serviced well.

Rhyzz · 27 Jan 2007 at 21:50

With 80k and no sat nav you should be looking to pay no more than £16k. SMG is good but it's 1 extra thing to go wrong!

Steve · 27 Jan 2007 at 22:01

that milage and no satnav would see only 15k from me

Hell I can get you my old m3 with 53k and 8k of mods (370+ bhp) for 18k off my mate

Rotty · 28 Jan 2007 at 11:26

oops , thought you meant the HK sound system, that is the ipod kit I think , don't know much about them

while satnav is a desirable option I wouldn't worry too much, the one that affects price most is 19 inch wheels probably followed by HK sound with satnav third

Tesla · 28 Jan 2007 at 11:35

Rhyzz said:
SMG is good but it's 1 extra thing to go wrong!

What a stupid way to look at a car. Better all stick to base-spec Ford Ka's as there is less to go wrong.

Rotty · 28 Jan 2007 at 11:37

there is no issue with SMG on E46 cars it is extremely reliable

Wicksta · 28 Jan 2007 at 11:54

I don't think HK really adds a lot, sat nav definitely does, people seem to forget it isn't just sat nav but a gateway to all your electronic devices like bluetooth, MP3 players with ID3 tags etc. I've got DAB radio, MP3 changer, ipod, USB/SD card reader which would be impossible without the nav screen

Most people on bmwland say HK is very disappointing.

Rotty · 28 Jan 2007 at 11:57

HK isn't amazing but is ok, what makes it desirab;e is that you have a finished solution, most people can't be arsed fitting amps,subs etc ( and losing bootspace )

you can add ipod/dab etc without the satnav unit

Wicksta · 28 Jan 2007 at 12:17

You can add DAB with either a messy external tuner or by replacing the standard radio, which looks awful in an e46. Ipod connectivity without a big screen is annoying and fiddly, whereas I can scroll through playlists from the steering wheel and get full ID3 tags etc. The 16:9 screen has been easily my best mod on my 3 series, I wouldn't do without it again. The navigation part is just a small part of it, and probably something I use the least.

PMKeates · 28 Jan 2007 at 12:21

Wicksta said:
You can add DAB with either a messy external tuner or by replacing the standard radio, which looks awful in an e46. Ipod connectivity without a big screen is annoying and fiddly, whereas I can scroll through playlists from the steering wheel and get full ID3 tags etc. The 16:9 screen has been easily my best mod on my 3 series, I wouldn't do without it again. The navigation part is just a small part of it, and probably something I use the least.

How much did the whole upgrade cost? What was involved? Do you have harmon/kardon?

Vanilla · 28 Jan 2007 at 12:22

A 51 plate with 80k miles, i'd consider a cracking deal to be around 12k.

PMKeates · 28 Jan 2007 at 12:23

Rotty said:
HK isn't amazing but is ok, what makes it desirab;e is that you have a finished solution, most people can't be arsed fitting amps,subs etc ( and losing bootspace )

I agree. I don't know if I could be bothered fitting extra audio equipment just to bring the normal BMW equipment up to standard, and so the h/k system does an excellent job of providing clear and well balanced audio. I don't think I'd ever change it

Scania · 28 Jan 2007 at 12:26

triggerthat said:
80K sounds a lot. Have a good look over it

80k is sod all.

Regardless of 8k 80k or 180k, he should indeed have a damn good look over it, and ideally get it inspected.

Wicksta · 28 Jan 2007 at 12:38

PMKeates said:
How much did the whole upgrade cost? What was involved? Do you have harmon/kardon?

Cost about £800 for the screen, nav, loom etc and I also retrofitted bluetooth which came to about £350. I don't have HK, but I have a small Sony XM-423SL amp which really improved the standard or the audio quality.

Fitting the nav and bluetooth took a day, and quite a bit of research beforehand plus help from dandle from these forums.