BMW E46 M3

Low Energy Eng

Merry Xmas folks,

I'm considering treating myself to an E46 M3 (with 200k on the clock);

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/BMW-M3-2001/OAG-AD-12205071/?Cr=1

It looks clean in the pics and description but I'm hoping someone around here may be able to warn me of anything I need to look out for in terms of maintenance or if there are many common faults? I'll probably be viewing it early in the near year.

Particularly, is that mileage asking for trouble?

Much appreciated.

Might be worth reading this...
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=92715113

Regarding the 200k kms, you won't be finding an e45 M3 with any less for sensible money imo at this stage.

chriity139

Congrats on going for an m3. I went on the hunt for a good one a few months ago but couldnt find one.

Mileage doesnt really matter with these cars they can go wrong at any miles. What you want to look out for is the following

Full service history showing all services including run in services 1200 miles, lots of inspection 1's and 2's. Especially 2's as these are expensive. If there is no record of them being previously done walk away unless you can get it fully checked out by a bmw specialist on a lift otherwise you could be looking at a huge bill and I mean huge.

Other things to look out for

Rattle on start up from engine or when driving around, this indicated vanos needs doing. 1k
Warped discs and pads 500-700 euro
Clutch should be light enough. If not could mean new clutch and flywheel. 2k
Check rear tire wear. Good tires can set you back 500 just for the rear 2
Try get it on the lift to look at the subframe. Can cost from 300-1000 to fix if damaged
The one you have in your link is the smg box. These can cause problems and the pump alone is around the 2k mark. If it was me I would try source a manual version. Much less problems

Check the usual after this such as rust in arches, boot, does the car have a straight body etc. One of the m3's I drove had all the above needed but it still drove fantastically so dont let the driving experience sway your decision.

Hopefully what I mentioned doesnt put you off ownership of this wonderful car as I certainly wouldnt let it put me off it. I just couldnt find one so I went for a different car.

Best of luck with your search

MarkN

UK seems to be the way to go for a minter but with a 2005/6 going for 12-15,000 sterling, throw in give or take 3,000 euro and you're talking mid 20s for a 10 year old one - you could get an Irish E92 for that money. :eek:

obezyana

Also check to see if the rear subframe was re enforced as I think on them they had an issue of the chassis pulling away from the body which causes hairline cracks and worse if it's not caught in time. I'm not 100% sure the M3 suffered this issue but other high litre e46s did and I know of this as I had one. Google it and you will see what I mean.

Low Energy Eng

Very informative, thank you all for your input

obezyana

Low Energy Eng wrote: »

Very informative, thank you all for your input

Good luck with it if you get it they are a smashing car. they go by smiles per gallon not miles per gallon.

b4bmm

The annual tax is the problem with these cars. How much is the top tax rate, E3000 or something ridiculous. What a Fckin joke.

Thats why you can probably pick one up much cheaper and have much more bargaining power in Ireland as opposed to the UK
when buying one. Of course there are far fewer ones available in Ireland and if you want a good one you will have to go across and get one there unless you are willing to wait for the hope that a good one may pop up. 200K KMS is a fair bit. Possibly lots of maintenance needed and really should try get someone to inspect it who knows/has worked on these cars.

Better buying a low mile example with F(BMW)SH if you want headache free driving IMO.

vandriver

b4bmm wrote: »

The annual tax is the problem with these cars. How much is the top tax rate, E3000 or something ridiculous. What a Fckin joke.

Thats why you can probably pick one up much cheaper and have much more bargaining power in Ireland as opposed to the UK
when buying one. Of course there are far fewer ones available in Ireland and if you want a good one you will have to go across and get one there unless you are willing to wait for the hope that a good one may pop up. 200K KMS is a fair bit. Possibly lots of maintenance needed and really should try get someone to inspect it who knows/has worked on these cars.

Better buying a low mile example with F(BMW)SH if you want headache free driving IMO.

Australia!

b4bmm

Whoops my bad, see that now. Pay another 10K to get a good one

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/BMW-M3-2001/AGC-AD-15937094/?Cr=3

Going for one like this and you have almost half the KMS and some resale value when you want to sell it on.

MetzgerMeister

If it was Ireland, the tax on an E46 M3 wouldn't be €3,000 but €1,809. A 2009+ E90/E92 M3 would be €2,350.