New Member - info on E46 M3 please

[khakhi]

Hi guys,

Im a newbie. I currently drive a runx rsi based in Cape Town and im thinking about the E46 M3 as its my all time fav car that i have to own.
Last weekend i went to check out an M3 at a dealership in Voortrekker road and they selling an M3 e46 for R180K and mileage is 128K. the car has CSL wheels and the SMG geabox.

Although i have read on the next that SMG gearboxes are a no go, i must say i really like THE smg box because of the technology.

What should i lookout for when purchasing an E46 M3? and what are the maintanace costs involved?

How many kms do u get per tank? i get 430km-450km per tank in my 60L runx rsi.

Please let me know guys

Thanks

 

[Peter@AEW]

Let me get this straight

128 000 Kilometers
R 180 000

SMG box

I would propose you run away as the car has in all likelyhood been dipped into the fountain of youth.

 

[khakhi]

Let me get this straight

128 000 Kilometers
R 180 000

SMG box

I would propose you run away as the car has in all likelyhood been dipped into the fountain of youth.

Howsit,

Please tell me, what gives you that indication?

What must i look out for when checking one out? low mileage?

 

[Peter@AEW]

Open up the oil filler cap and have a look at the motor inside.
It should be a honey colour any other colour will indicate mileage beyond what is recorded.
Also condition of the leather switches safety belts suspension components and the general feel of the car.....if you lack the "instinctive" knowledge take someone with you who has it.

There are many pointers to indicate with a degree of certainty whether a car has the correct distance recorded, I guess one needs to have the feel.

GLW your search

 

[Dippies]

I would trust what Alex said on this one.

Also see if the tamper dot is activated.

 

[tyu333]

What's a tamper dot?

 

[AdiS]

What's a tamper dot?

See the dot next to the mileage.

 

[Dippies]

What's a tamper dot?

See the dot next to the mileage.

:thumbs::thumbs: Thanks only saw this post now wanted to respond thanks for reply.

 

[gconry18]

Are you talking about this car?

I was also looking at it, dealer seems shady to me though.

http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-cars/bellville/2003-bmw-m3-sedan/1001085446490910165828109

And it is not a 2003 model.

 

[Dippies]

Is this the CAR ??? :fencelook:

 

[nasser*]

Are you talking about this car?

I was also looking at it, dealer seems shady to me though.

http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-cars/bellville/2003-bmw-m3-sedan/1001085446490910165828109

And it is not a 2003 model.

this one is standing around the corner from me at williams hunt the isuzu dealer.

they are not shady afaik

 

[Andy1GP]

Hi guys,

Im a newbie. I currently drive a runx rsi based in Cape Town and im thinking about the E46 M3 as its my all time fav car that i have to own.
Last weekend i went to check out an M3 at a dealership in Voortrekker road and they selling an M3 e46 for R180K and mileage is 128K. the car has CSL wheels and the SMG geabox.

Although i have read on the next that SMG gearboxes are a no go, i must say i really like THE smg box because of the technology.

What should i lookout for when purchasing an E46 M3? and what are the maintanace costs involved?

How many kms do u get per tank? i get 430km-450km per tank in my 60L runx rsi.

Please let me know guys

Thanks

What should you look out for : SMG

Costs involved : it will break the piggy bank and make you cry.

Fuel consumption will be similar if you drive some highway. Very efficient engine the S54.

Cars in general are normally not to be trusted mileage wise. If you have access to diagnostics you can read the LCM and cluster to verify mileage. Otherwise you need a keen eye like a1exander mentioned to spot the gremlins.

Tamper dot only appears when the cluster vin does not match the real vin. (when cluster has been changed and not coded)

 

[nasser*]

Hi guys,

Im a newbie. I currently drive a runx rsi based in Cape Town and im thinking about the E46 M3 as its my all time fav car that i have to own.
Last weekend i went to check out an M3 at a dealership in Voortrekker road and they selling an M3 e46 for R180K and mileage is 128K. the car has CSL wheels and the SMG geabox.

Although i have read on the next that SMG gearboxes are a no go, i must say i really like THE smg box because of the technology.

What should i lookout for when purchasing an E46 M3? and what are the maintanace costs involved?

How many kms do u get per tank? i get 430km-450km per tank in my 60L runx rsi.

Please let me know guys

Thanks

get the M3 my personal opinion is to get a manual, as the smg is a bit jerky as a daily drive (my opinion)

as for km per tank LOL i sometimes used to get 250km off a tank
but they were 250 great km's

i owned my M3 for 3.5 years and only major expenses i had was replacing
front brakes discs and pads which was about 7.5k and the alternator

other than that it was just normal services. i also did oil services every 10k km instead of the prescribed 20k km

 

[khakhi]

Are you talking about this car?

I was also looking at it, dealer seems shady to me though.

http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-cars/bellville/2003-bmw-m3-sedan/1001085446490910165828109

And it is not a 2003 model.

Yes bru...THAT car heheheheh, y do you say its not a 2003 model?

 

[gconry18]

Are you talking about this car?

I was also looking at it, dealer seems shady to me though.

http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-cars/bellville/2003-bmw-m3-sedan/1001085446490910165828109

And it is not a 2003 model.

Yes bru...THAT car heheheheh, y do you say its not a 2003 model?

Managed to get the vin.

It is an 11/2002 build. Dealer is calling it a 2003 because it was registered in 2003.

 

[khakhi]

Hi guys,

Im a newbie. I currently drive a runx rsi based in Cape Town and im thinking about the E46 M3 as its my all time fav car that i have to own.
Last weekend i went to check out an M3 at a dealership in Voortrekker road and they selling an M3 e46 for R180K and mileage is 128K. the car has CSL wheels and the SMG geabox.

Although i have read on the next that SMG gearboxes are a no go, i must say i really like THE smg box because of the technology.

What should i lookout for when purchasing an E46 M3? and what are the maintanace costs involved?

How many kms do u get per tank? i get 430km-450km per tank in my 60L runx rsi.

Please let me know guys

Thanks

get the M3 my personal opinion is to get a manual, as the smg is a bit jerky as a daily drive (my opinion)

as for km per tank LOL i sometimes used to get 250km off a tank
but they were 250 great km's

i owned my M3 for 3.5 years and only major expenses i had was replacing
front brakes discs and pads which was about 7.5k and the alternator

other than that it was just normal services. i also did oil services every 10k km instead of the prescribed 20k km

Is the e46 m3 a 60L tank?

I read that its a jerky drive if u dont know how to drive the SMG

 

[nasser*]

Hi guys,

Im a newbie. I currently drive a runx rsi based in Cape Town and im thinking about the E46 M3 as its my all time fav car that i have to own.
Last weekend i went to check out an M3 at a dealership in Voortrekker road and they selling an M3 e46 for R180K and mileage is 128K. the car has CSL wheels and the SMG geabox.

Although i have read on the next that SMG gearboxes are a no go, i must say i really like THE smg box because of the technology.

What should i lookout for when purchasing an E46 M3? and what are the maintanace costs involved?

How many kms do u get per tank? i get 430km-450km per tank in my 60L runx rsi.

Please let me know guys

Thanks

get the M3 my personal opinion is to get a manual, as the smg is a bit jerky as a daily drive (my opinion)

as for km per tank LOL i sometimes used to get 250km off a tank
but they were 250 great km's

i owned my M3 for 3.5 years and only major expenses i had was replacing
front brakes discs and pads which was about 7.5k and the alternator

other than that it was just normal services. i also did oil services every 10k km instead of the prescribed 20k km

Is the e46 m3 a 60L tank?

I read that its a jerky drive if u dont know how to drive the SMG

yes 60l tank

well in my opinion when driven slowly the smg sucks a little bit
but when moering it, its awesome! drive one and decide for yourself

my advice is get a manual..... use it dont use it

 

[khakhi]

Hi guys,

Im a newbie. I currently drive a runx rsi based in Cape Town and im thinking about the E46 M3 as its my all time fav car that i have to own.
Last weekend i went to check out an M3 at a dealership in Voortrekker road and they selling an M3 e46 for R180K and mileage is 128K. the car has CSL wheels and the SMG geabox.

Although i have read on the next that SMG gearboxes are a no go, i must say i really like THE smg box because of the technology.

What should i lookout for when purchasing an E46 M3? and what are the maintanace costs involved?

How many kms do u get per tank? i get 430km-450km per tank in my 60L runx rsi.

Please let me know guys

Thanks

get the M3 my personal opinion is to get a manual, as the smg is a bit jerky as a daily drive (my opinion)

as for km per tank LOL i sometimes used to get 250km off a tank
but they were 250 great km's

i owned my M3 for 3.5 years and only major expenses i had was replacing
front brakes discs and pads which was about 7.5k and the alternator

other than that it was just normal services. i also did oil services every 10k km instead of the prescribed 20k km

Is the e46 m3 a 60L tank?

I read that its a jerky drive if u dont know how to drive the SMG

yes 60l tank

well in my opinion when driven slowly the smg sucks a little bit
but when moering it, its awesome! drive one and decide for yourself

my advice is get a manual..... use it dont use it

Cool thanks...any1 got an SMG i can test drive? ill let u test drive my Runx RSI pweeeeezzzzz.

---

How much are insurance premiums on the e46 m3? i herd of people cancelling their car finance requests because of high insurance premiums quotes.

 

[Shaaim]

I totally love the smg box it like bangs every gear in sports mode n comfit mode it's ok jus don like the pull back it has it resemble a manual gear box

 

[kabal]

were xenons an option pre 2003/facelift?

if so, who are these people that bought brand new m3's with halogens :flyfun::roflol: