Buying an e46 M3

[JIM M3]

Hi Everyone, i am new to this forum.
Forgive me if i am posting in the wrong section, still getting use to the forum.

I am looking to buy an e46 M3 +/- R250000, but where do you find one in good condition?
I have looked everywhere on the internet, if i find one and phone it is sold or when I pull the records at BMW with the vin number, the car has problems or was in an accident.

I am from Rustenburg and no one here is selling any m3's, so if any of you can put me in the right direction or know of someone who is selling please let me know.

 

[nasser*]

Hi Everyone, i am new to this forum.
Forgive me if i am posting in the wrong section, still getting use to the forum.

I am looking to buy an e46 M3 +/- R250000, but where do you find one in good condition?
I have looked everywhere on the internet, if i find one and phone it is sold or when I pull the records at BMW with the vin number, the car has problems or was in an accident.

I am from Rustenburg and no one here is selling any m3's, so if any of you can put me in the right direction or know of someone who is selling please let me know.

will keep an eye out for you, here in cape town i saw an imola red 05 model in that price range for sale about 2weeks back will check if its still available :thumbs::thumbs:

 

[Burgy]

Hey bud,

Good luck with the find, they are really beautiful cars.

Some advice would be to do your homework, before you buy, get the car AA tested, check service history and check if there are any police reports (stolen or accident)

Some things to look out for:

Manual: Any gear scraping or noise - walk away, it means your gearbox is about to break (like mine did)
If there is a clunck when changing gears, its usually a diff problem - walk away

Check the bodywork for any overspray, inconsistencies and gaps, these are tell tail signs that she's been in a crash.

Check that ALL electronics work, from electronic side mirrors to electric seats (cant be too carefull)

E46 M3 parts are VERY expensive. I didnt do my homework and have spent thousands fixing my M.

Ive replaced: Gearbox, end links, shocks, brakes, suspension bits, interior bits etc etc etc

There are very few still in motorplan, but if you can, try get one.

If you need anymore advice, feel free to pm!

Hope this helps and good luck!

-Burgy

 

[nasser*]

Hey bud,

Good luck with the find, they are really beautiful cars.

Some advice would be to do your homework, before you buy, get the car AA tested, check service history and check if there are any police reports (stolen or accident)

Some things to look out for:

Manual: Any gear scraping or noise - walk away, it means your gearbox is about to break (like mine did)
If there is a clunck when changing gears, its usually a diff problem - walk away

Check the bodywork for any overspray, inconsistencies and gaps, these are tell tail signs that she's been in a crash.

Check that ALL electronics work, from electronic side mirrors to electric seats (cant be too carefull)

E46 M3 parts are VERY expensive. I didnt do my homework and have spent thousands fixing my M.

Ive replaced: Gearbox, end links, shocks, brakes, suspension bits, interior bits etc etc etc

There are very few still in motorplan, but if you can, try get one.

If you need anymore advice, feel free to pm!

Hope this helps and good luck!

-Burgy

very good advice:thumbs:

 

[calypso]

Just take your time. It can take a year to find a good one.

 

[JIM M3]

Hey bud,

Good luck with the find, they are really beautiful cars.

Some advice would be to do your homework, before you buy, get the car AA tested, check service history and check if there are any police reports (stolen or accident)

Some things to look out for:

Manual: Any gear scraping or noise - walk away, it means your gearbox is about to break (like mine did)
If there is a clunck when changing gears, its usually a diff problem - walk away

Check the bodywork for any overspray, inconsistencies and gaps, these are tell tail signs that she's been in a crash.

Check that ALL electronics work, from electronic side mirrors to electric seats (cant be too carefull)

E46 M3 parts are VERY expensive. I didnt do my homework and have spent thousands fixing my M.

Ive replaced: Gearbox, end links, shocks, brakes, suspension bits, interior bits etc etc etc

There are very few still in motorplan, but if you can, try get one.

If you need anymore advice, feel free to pm!

Hope this helps and good luck!

-Burgy

Thanks for the advice, this is my firs BM and don't want to buy the wrong one. There was a nice one i found from a private seller, BMW told me the car was send to savespeed for managment problems, so i thought ok, phone save speed and the said managment sorted, but still R60000 something stuff that needs to be fixed. Phoned the owner back and told him i will buy it, but then he must fix the car, he got rude and hung up.

Just hope i will find one that will give me as many happy years as my 20v RSi corolla have.

 

[Burgy]

That sounds a little suspect..

Also be on the watch for guys who have done mods and removed them to sell the car.

Look at the condition of the exhaust hangers, condition of the airbox and filter (if its brand new and hasnt had a service in a while, he had an intake)

My opinion, stay away from private sellers, and only go to reputable dealers.

The dealer I bought my car from said it had no accident damage.. Turns out she had a front left impact.. If they do say no accident damage, get it in writing!

If he needed to have the management sorted, then he was probably fiddling with the ecu.. He probably had it chipped and ended up locking the ecu. Management problems dont just appear and get sorted by a tuner (who is known for highly modifying cars).

Just my 2c :rollsmile:

 

[Twinz]

Nothing can beat the reliability of a corolla...the M is in a different class to your ex Rsi...expect that the M was driven much more enthusiastically over the years :thumbs:

 

[Carbon M3]

Just take your time. It can take a year to find a good one.

Or you find a good one and stalk the owner till he decides to sell it!!

:roflol:

 

[moranor@axis]

e46 is easy look at the subframe mount at the back left wheel... if there are any signs of cracks or repair work you know it has been driven hard...

 

[Edwinz]

Jezebel is for sale. Look at todays posts. Best E46 for 250 K you will ever find.