Newb needs a E46 M3

[OverTheFence]

Hi Fanatics,

I'm in the market for a E46 M3. It's been my dream car since childhood.

I had given up owning on this dream since I have zero mechanical inclination. Your threads and deep insights including the sense of community has made me feel, that I may still have a chance.

I've noticed a few of these cars for sale and wanted to check if any Fanatic has some prior history/ knowledge about these particular cars and/ or sellers.

These prices seem high though, therefore any insight is appreciated, even a chaparone. I'm based in JHB.

In no particular order

2001 BMW M3 Coupe

Used BMW M3 Coupe for sale in Gauteng, car manufactured in 2001 (ID:8600912)

www.cars.co.za

BMW E46 M3 2002 Manual

BMW M3 E46 2002 Manual Sunroof Immaculate condition for age Stock standard 275 000km Just had a major service Drives very well Nothing to do Based in Centurion Rooihuiskraal Licence up to date...

www.facebook.com

2002 BMW E46 M3 For Sale

E46 M3 for sale Mint condition & Well looked after Start & Go Engine and gearbox 110% Papers in order Based in Soweto

www.facebook.com

Thanks in advance.

 

[modocrat]

@GGM

 

[Technician]

Hi,

Your price point is too low for anything that won't burn your pocket.

Need to look at the 350k mark, and get REAL lucky.
It seems the really good examples are over 400k
The garage queens are 600k+

My 2 cents.

 

[TBP88]

Search the forum, AdiS did a round up of what to look for on these.

My advise - get a Z4M, they're generally in similar nick around 100-200k cheaper, and the E46 rear seat is a joke anyway. Also it's always a manual that way.

 

[OverTheFence]

@Technician at R350k price range, should I be unyielding on having FSH, preventative maintenance (rods, vanos, racp, etc.)



@TBP88 Yeah, I saw that. Just wanted to also check if the forum has seen thes above M3s in a previous life also. It's hard to get my mind to a Z4M, but appreciate the insight.

 

[VinceM]

One on FB for R580k (seems on the high side, but looks damn clean). With current economy, try negotiate (cash is king).

2004 BMW M3

2004 BMW M3 E46. This car is very clean and no signs of any accident repair. Tyres are very good. This is an overall very clean M3. Please call rather than messenger. O[hidden information]

www.facebook.com

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[GravityLee]

Unless you can DIY most things, let your dreams be dreams and don’t turn them into nightmares.

 

[OverTheFence]

Unless you can DIY most things, let your dreams be dreams and don’t turn them into nightmares.

In all honesty, I can't DIY anything. But this is the one thing, that I'd make an effort. But a lot of things would need to align.

 

[Bernard///M3]

My 2c on the 4 cars posted above!

1st on seems to be sold so forget it

2nd one has high mileage but from the pics looks well looked after not a bad buy for the price if u dont mind the mileage, can probably still negotiate if needs bearings done and rear subframe, it’s a Pre-LCI but at least a manual

3rd one I wouldn’t even look at, he says it’s mint, only way it’s mint is if he plants “Mint” in that car😜
Front bumper not aligned (probably) bumped, left rear indicator gone dark compared to right, bonnet inner lining all messed up, interior looks like a dogs breakfast, CSL Rep Wheels no mention of mileage and just by looking at the state of the car I bet no preventative maintenance or minimum maintenance done.

4th car would be my pick, yes more expensive but looking at it I bet h don’t have to lift a finger, hopefully bearings done. Has 19” option wheel, manual, LCI, clean interior, nice colour and it’s just going to go up in value!

I bought my 2006 E46 M3 in 2017 and I paid “top dollar” for it in its day. But I never had to spend a cent except on the Brand New 19” wheels I bought, car has never given me a trouble, I used it “often” for the first 18months but since then it’s a garage queen, it came 2nd in class at BMW Car Club Concours 2021, ( actually had the highest overall score 49/50 for the engine bay, under carriage and wheels category)
If I were to sell it (which I won’t) it’s grown 2.5 times in value.

So my advice is check the car properly do your homework, rather pay a little more get the cleanest, lowest mileage example you can find that needs the least amount of work and you will see it appreciate nicely in value. The good clean ones are becoming hard to find and those that have them, tend to keep them😜

 

[OverTheFence]

My 2c on the 4 cars posted above!

1st on seems to be sold so forget it

2nd one has high mileage but from the pics looks well looked after not a bad buy for the price if u dont mind the mileage, can probably still negotiate if needs bearings done and rear subframe, it’s a Pre-LCI but at least a manual

3rd one I wouldn’t even look at, he says it’s mint, only way it’s mint is if he plants “Mint” in that car😜
Front bumper not aligned (probably) bumped, left rear indicator gone dark compared to right, bonnet inner lining all messed up, interior looks like a dogs breakfast, CSL Rep Wheels no mention of mileage and just by looking at the state of the car I bet no preventative maintenance or minimum maintenance done.

4th car would be my pick, yes more expensive but looking at it I bet h don’t have to lift a finger, hopefully bearings done. Has 19” option wheel, manual, LCI, clean interior, nice colour and it’s just going to go up in value!

I bought my 2006 E46 M3 in 2017 and I paid “top dollar” for it in its day. But I never had to spend a cent except on the Brand New 19” wheels I bought, car has never given me a trouble, I used it “often” for the first 18months but since then it’s a garage queen, it came 2nd in class at BMW Car Club Concours 2021, ( actually had the highest overall score 49/50 for the engine bay, under carriage and wheels category)
If I were to sell it (which I won’t) it’s grown 2.5 times in value.

So my advice is check the car properly do your homework, rather pay a little more get the cleanest, lowest mileage example you can find that needs the least amount of work and you will see it appreciate nicely in value. The good clean ones are becoming hard to find and those that have them, tend to keep them😜

Great feedback, thank you.

I was bleak last night, when I saw that the first vehicle is sold (I wanted to view the vehicles this weekend). Such is life though.

No. 3 definitely off the list now 😅.

 

[alving]

let us know how it goes - also pondering an e46 or e92 - I must get off this forum before I make a bad decision

 

[shauwn]

let us know how it goes - also pondering an e46 or e92 - I must get off this forum before I make a bad decision

We will support your bad decision dnt worry

 

[flyhid]

My 2c, if you a DIY person you don’t need to spend 500k on an e46. Get one for a decent price and restore it. Being part of the transformation makes it more special when in you drive it.


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[AdiS]

Take your time, you do -not- want to rush this.

DIY only gets you so far with saving money, it’s the parts that are the real cost problem.

Don’t be fooled into thinking you can pay 350k and not have at least another R100k-150k to spend after that.

The market is also cooling a bit on all these cars after being a little bubbly in the last 2 years. I don’t think they’ll lose value, but the market isn’t as hot as it was a year ago. Use that to your advantage.


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[TurboLlew]

Unless you can DIY most things, let your dreams be dreams and don’t turn them into nightmares.

Hallelujah.

I am seeing 150K+ cash bills and red flags on that first batch...

That 580K car might still even have things that you need to attend to but yes it is clean. As much as people 'know what they have', they also 'know what they are stuck with' in the current, cooler post 10-interest rate hikes world that AdiS mentions... and buyers (real buyers with actual money and not words behind a keyboard talking about how 'worth it' things are) are actually not all that common.

 

[TBP88]

Take your time, you do -not- want to rush this.

DIY only gets you so far with saving money, it’s the parts that are the real cost problem.

Don’t be fooled into thinking you can pay 350k and not have at least another R100k-150k to spend after that.

The market is also cooling a bit on all these cars after being a little bubbly in the last 2 years. I don’t think they’ll lose value, but the market isn’t as hot as it was a year ago. Use that to your advantage.


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If ever there was a person to listen to about a specific model - it's this. DIY won't save you from the small things of an M car that add up *very* quickly.

 

[GGM]

@GGM

yes ?

 

[modocrat]

yes ?

I think your friend has an E46 for sale..

 

[GGM]

I think your friend has an E46 for sale..

Sorry, he's not my friend any more because his car is not for sale.

 

[OverTheFence]

😂