I bought 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 E46 M3

[QikNish]

You guys might remember this grey E46 M3 from a few years ago on the forum. 🤣 Well I bought it last week without seeing it. Took a risk at a very reasonable price. Expected a heap of a project car when it arrived on the rollback.

Turns out a couple of hours in the workshop sorting out some hack fuel pump wiring issues (faulty Relay, yet someone decided to hot wire the pump to bypass it... go figure), ignition switch (again was hot wired when all it needed was a new switch that cost a couple hundred bucks), removed and correctly reinstalled radiator, oil cooler etc. Replaced some parts very cheaply. Fluid change (no iron filings in the oil), new plugs and filters. New maf. Regas aircon.

Started her up and surprisingly, no Vanos issues and engine is smooth and quiet. Gearbox fine. Diff groans on slight turns. Hoping that's just a need of Castrol SAF-XJ and some tight turns to free up the clutches. Undercarriage is rot free. Diff mountings already strengthened and no signs of cracks. I need to source braces ..waiting for Ultra Racing to get back to me on aftermarket pieces. Underside will need a good clean and sealer. Seems like it's been standing for a while... dead spiders and dried wasp nests. 🙄

Put on some wheels I bought of the forum years ago. And drove it around the block a few times. Shocker....Turns out, a usable car with a smooth drivetrain and fresh interior. Cost me faaaar less than what guys are buying E30's for these days.

Still needs work but hey, this one is satisfying 😌.

 

[Tinuva]

Very interesting. More photos and stories on this one please.

 

[r0ckf1re]

Congrats, that does look good.


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[Ahmedy]

Looks neat. Seeing this brings me happiness, knowing a car of this class hasn't made it's way further down the road . One more saved . Nice work keep it up and congratulations.

 

[FiRi@Rennzport]

You guys might remember this grey E46 M3 from a few years ago on the forum. Well I bought it last week without seeing it. Took a risk at a very reasonable price. Expected a heap of a project car when it arrived on the rollback.

Turns out a couple of hours in the workshop sorting out some hack fuel pump wiring issues (faulty Relay, yet someone decided to hot wire the pump to bypass it... go figure), ignition switch (again was hot wired when all it needed was a new switch that cost a couple hundred bucks), removed and correctly reinstalled radiator, oil cooler etc. Replaced some parts very cheaply. Fluid change (no iron filings in the oil), new plugs and filters. New maf. Regas aircon.

Started her up and surprisingly, no Vanos issues and engine is smooth and quiet. Gearbox fine. Diff groans on slight turns. Hoping that's just a need of Castrol SAF-XJ and some tight turns to free up the clutches. Undercarriage is rot free. Diff mountings already strengthened and no signs of cracks. I need to source braces ..waiting for Ultra Racing to get back to me on aftermarket pieces. Underside will need a good clean and sealer. Seems like it's been standing for a while... dead spiders and dried wasp nests.

Put on some wheels I bought of the forum years ago. And drove it around the block a few times. Shocker....Turns out, a usable car with a smooth drivetrain and fresh interior. Cost me faaaar less than what guys are buying E30's for these days.

Still needs work but hey, this one is satisfying .

View attachment 17314

Love the colour and rims

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[zabbo]

Great save!!!

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

Damn that is one stunning car. Well-done on saving it.

 

[Gordvisr]

Looking Hot

 

[Eust]

This needs to be dropped off at SavSpeed and boosted hard......

 

[shauwn]

You guys might remember this grey E46 M3 from a few years ago on the forum. 🤣 Well I bought it last week without seeing it. Took a risk at a very reasonable price. Expected a heap of a project car when it arrived on the rollback.

Turns out a couple of hours in the workshop sorting out some hack fuel pump wiring issues (faulty Relay, yet someone decided to hot wire the pump to bypass it... go figure), ignition switch (again was hot wired when all it needed was a new switch that cost a couple hundred bucks), removed and correctly reinstalled radiator, oil cooler etc. Replaced some parts very cheaply. Fluid change (no iron filings in the oil), new plugs and filters. New maf. Regas aircon.

Started her up and surprisingly, no Vanos issues and engine is smooth and quiet. Gearbox fine. Diff groans on slight turns. Hoping that's just a need of Castrol SAF-XJ and some tight turns to free up the clutches. Undercarriage is rot free. Diff mountings already strengthened and no signs of cracks. I need to source braces ..waiting for Ultra Racing to get back to me on aftermarket pieces. Underside will need a good clean and sealer. Seems like it's been standing for a while... dead spiders and dried wasp nests. 🙄

Put on some wheels I bought of the forum years ago. And drove it around the block a few times. Shocker....Turns out, a usable car with a smooth drivetrain and fresh interior. Cost me faaaar less than what guys are buying E30's for these days.

Still needs work but hey, this one is satisfying 😌.

View attachment 17314

Use 2583 (SAF-XJ + FM Booster) for the diff noise, used it on mine in Feb and noise is still gone, bit pricey but worth it!!

 

[QikNish]

Use 2583 (SAF-XJ + FM Booster) for the diff noise, used it on mine in Feb and noise is still gone, bit pricey but worth it!!

Yup, that's what I used. Around R900 a bottle x3. HUGE improvement.

 

[Nukleuz]

Congrats!

What are your feelings on ownership so far? Can you see yourself driving it over your newer cars?

I'm often temped into getting an e46 M3 again. I have such epic memories of that car, but
I just don't know if its nostalgia and its epicenes was because it was the benchmark in its day...or am i going to be left a little
disappointed with the performance compared to todays cars.

 

[FiRi@Rennzport]

Congrats!

What are your feelings on ownership so far? Can you see yourself driving it over your newer cars?

I'm often temped into getting an e46 M3 again. I have such epic memories of that car, but
I just don't know if its nostalgia and its epicenes was because it was the benchmark in its day...or am i going to be left a little
disappointed with the performance compared to todays cars.

You don't buy an older vechile for its speed, you buy it for its character I suppose.

Going between an early 2000s model and a mod 2015 upwards bmw is massive differences. But you have to love them respective for what they are.

E46 M3 is still the dream

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[328i Ruth]

Honestly that is a gorgeous example and certainly you will be on the road for under a 325 e30 price tag

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

You don't buy an older vechile for its speed, you buy it for its character I suppose.

Going between an early 2000s model and a mod 2015 upwards bmw is massive differences. But you have to love them respective for what they are.

E46 M3 is still the dream

Sent from my SM-S918B using Tapatalk

Congrats!

What are your feelings on ownership so far? Can you see yourself driving it over your newer cars?

I'm often temped into getting an e46 M3 again. I have such epic memories of that car, but
I just don't know if its nostalgia and its epicenes was because it was the benchmark in its day...or am i going to be left a little
disappointed with the performance compared to todays cars.

I mean, the E46 M3 is a very capable car in the environment for which it excels. It is not a straight line car by any stretch of the imagination, especially in todays world. But... because of its chassis and balance, its character and prowess come alive when you introduce some turns and bends.

Look at the laptime I did at Zwartkops for instance. As fast as a (991) 911 GT3 and (997) GT3 RS. Beating out F90 M5's and other faster newer BMW models. Farhaad Ebrahim went a second faster and almost into the 1:09's with his e46 M3. The car is a serious weapon when in its home ground. It is so well balanced for driving hard with corners.

Ultimately if you are just gonna highway cruise it and look to try take on newer cars in straight line speed at Johannesburg altitude, you'll be left disappointed. The car isn't made for that. You could add a CSL intake with some modifications to the cylinder head to find yourself another 30wkw if you're needing that extra oomf for straight line speed.

Lastly, if I may add one last cool factor about the car... the amount of heads that turn and take notice when you drive an e46 M3 is an awesome feeling.

 

[General.Massacre]

I mean, the E46 M3 is a very capable car in the environment for which it excels. It is not a straight line car by any stretch of the imagination, especially in todays world. But... because of its chassis and balance, its character and prowess come alive when you introduce some turns and bends.

Look at the laptime I did at Zwartkops for instance. As fast as a (991) 911 GT3 and (997) GT3 RS. Beating out F90 M5's and other faster newer BMW models. Farhaad Ebrahim went a second faster and almost into the 1:09's with his e46 M3. The car is a serious weapon when in its home ground. It is so well balanced for driving hard with corners.

Ultimately if you are just gonna highway cruise it and look to try take on newer cars in straight line speed at Johannesburg altitude, you'll be left disappointed. The car isn't made for that. You could add a CSL intake with some modifications to the cylinder head to find yourself another 30wkw if you're needing that extra oomf for straight line speed.

Lastly, if I may add one last cool factor about the car... the amount of heads that turn and take notice when you drive an e46 M3 is an awesome feeling.

I can fully agree with this, ive never been a "Drag Racer" type and actually find it quite boring, great to have a powerful car and push for power, but the true excitement of fast driving is through corners, thats where my experience is, and my passion is.

A E46 M3 is a dream of mine to own also, and with the prices slowly going up i may not achieve that as yet, but hopefully in the future.

The track, or twisty drives are where the E46 M3 shines, and as your laptimes and example reiterate, it definately is the best way to enjoy the car at its peak.

 

[922-ZN]

I mean, the E46 M3 is a very capable car in the environment for which it excels. It is not a straight line car by any stretch of the imagination, especially in todays world. But... because of its chassis and balance, its character and prowess come alive when you introduce some turns and bends.

Look at the laptime I did at Zwartkops for instance. As fast as a (991) 911 GT3 and (997) GT3 RS. Beating out F90 M5's and other faster newer BMW models. Farhaad Ebrahim went a second faster and almost into the 1:09's with his e46 M3. The car is a serious weapon when in its home ground. It is so well balanced for driving hard with corners.

Ultimately if you are just gonna highway cruise it and look to try take on newer cars in straight line speed at Johannesburg altitude, you'll be left disappointed. The car isn't made for that. You could add a CSL intake with some modifications to the cylinder head to find yourself another 30wkw if you're needing that extra oomf for straight line speed.

Lastly, if I may add one last cool factor about the car... the amount of heads that turn and take notice when you drive an e46 M3 is an awesome feeling.

I think those times speak more to the ability of the drivers than to the capability of the cars, there is no way an E46 M3 is hanging around with a 991 GT3.

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

The point remains… a 1:10 flat laptime in a daily driven e46 M3 shows it is still an enjoyable & capable car to drive. I was just pointing out thats it’s balance and precise handling are it’s strong suit, not it’s straight line speed.

 

[QikNish]

These cars FEEL great. Their performance is in alot of things other than straight line speed or power. Remember, they're 20 year old cars now.

But like Crash proved, these would be an absolute blast on track because you could flat out drive it and control it and it would out perform newer cars.

I hated the numbness of my f80 comp m3. Something I never felt in my E92 m3. E92 m3 is my favorite m by the way. Enough "moderness" with just the right amount of analog. Supercharged, it's a whole other level of enjoyment.

 

[///M3FAN]

that car looks to be in great condition, looks like you did some good clean up work on it already, has it been detailed or is the paint just in an already decent shape. Love the rims and interior colour.