It appears that every time a new M vehicle will make its debut, the need for common M, as properly as their values, cars goes up. Newer M cars and trucks, with their bloated control weights, overcooked styling, and deficiency of truly feel make fans pine for the great previous days of vehicles like the E46 M3. Even so, obtaining a proper E46 M3 can be a bit challenging these days, as values are getting out hand and you don’t constantly know what you are obtaining for your money. So Amassing Cars place alongside one another a useful buyer’s manual to acquiring and bidding on E46 M3s.
To do that, Amassing Cars went to Almost everything M3s, a British isles-based shop that designed a name for alone swapping manual transmissions into M3 CSLs. It’s also began swapping manuals into E60 and E61 M5s. Basically, changing the significantly-maligned SMG gearbox has grow to be the shop’s specialty. Nevertheless, you never develop into an qualified in accomplishing gearbox swaps in 1 of BMW’s rarest cars without understanding the motor vehicle like the again of your hand. So if you want to know, properly, almost everything about M3s, that is where you go.
There are rather a couple points you have to have to check out when purchasing an E46 M3, specifically now that it is quite an old vehicle. Rust and corrosion are massive challenges in specific areas, this kind of as the rear wheel arches. Nonetheless, there are also some difficulties that appear main but aren’t, these kinds of as rust on the front fenders. Whilst the the rear wheel arches involve major physique function to be finished to restore these kinds of rust, the front fenders are bolt-on, so they can be taken off and replaced with brand name-new types from BMW. Shockingly, they are not even much too high priced. A lot less than £1,000 can replace each, even soon after paint.
A different key issue that looks to come about with all E46 M3s is structural cracking in the trunk floor. I can even be a low-mileage car and still have cracking in trunk flooring, plenty of to call for reinforcing. Rear subframes can also crack, also. Then there are VANOS concerns, worn differentials, and different other parts to observe out for.
The E46 M3 is a single of the finest driving BMWs in history and among the finest sporting activities vehicles of its period. Owning a single is very specific and gratifying if you know what to seem for and can resolve any of its key challenges. Even so, that can get dear, rapidly. So keep that in intellect when purchasing for a person. And if you are buying for one particular, watch this 52-moment, incredibly comprehensive video clip about the numerous checks that need to be created when inspecting and buying an E46 M3.