Owning an E46 M3

[Rambam]

Hi everyone,

Saw a lovely E46 M3 on the way home yesterday and was wondering what owning one of these legends entails. Before I think about thinking about possibly taking the leap, I would appreciate some honest feedback from those currently privledged enough to own one.

Can you give me an idea on some of the following points?

1) What is your urban fuel consumption like?

2) Do you use your car as a daily runner?

4) Do you have kids, if so can you fit a booster seat in the back seats and a pram in the boot (sorry but have to ask )

5) What does your average service cost?

6) What are your maintenance costs like annually (roughly)

7) What are some of the more common "funnies" to look out for?

Have a good weekend!

 

[M3west]

Hi everyone,

Saw a lovely E46 M3 on the way home yesterday and was wondering what owning one of these legends entails. Before I think about thinking about possibly taking the leap, I would appreciate some honest feedback from those currently privledged enough to own one.

Can you give me an idea on some of the following points?

1) What is your urban fuel consumption like? around town 10L/100km. driving hard 12L, conservative highway 8L/100KM

2) Do you use your car as a daily runner? I have a daily driver but the M3 does make a great daily. I have the SMG and love not having a clutch when stuck in heavy rush hour traffic. If I did not have my other car my M3 would easily fit that role

4) Do you have kids, if so can you fit a booster seat in the back seats and a pram in the boot (sorry but have to ask ) I have twins, three and a half years old and they love it in the back. Some weekends we use the BM and it has never been an issue. The boot is big enough from a single pram plus plenty of extra baby paraphernalia. I had an E91 touring and the M3 might not have the height but the area is not that much off the touring. Note you can also fold the back seats flat in the M

5) What does your average service cost? no comment us mine is just in motorplan

6) What are your maintenance costs like annually (roughly) as above

7) What are some of the more common "funnies" to look out for? depends on age. What year and budget you looking at?



Have a good weekend!

 

[Nukleuz]

1) What is your urban fuel consumption like? Im getting 17L/100km , Just manage to squeeze 300km on my 60 litres

2) Do you use your car as a daily runner? I daily drive mine, and its never let me down once in the 3 years of owning it

4) Do you have kids, if so can you fit a booster seat in the back seats and a pram in the boot (sorry but have to ask ) The back seats are big enough for a baby seat for sure, and the boot is quiet sizable as well

5) What does your average service cost? Still under motorplan

 

[Naruto]

M3West you're getting 12l/100km while Nukleuz is getting 17l/100km :nonono:

 

[M3west]

M3West you're getting 12l/100km while Nukleuz is getting 17l/100km :nonono:

I know...17 !!!! ouch...I have never seen north of 14/15 and that was pushing hard.

Me thinks Nukleuz has a heavy right foot :rollsmile:

 

[Theo D]

Nukleuz must be serious leadfoot... :roflol:

I thought drive fast and I average 13.0 on mine\

@Nukleuz...Respect raise:

I think your diff ratio has a influence on it though :thinking:

 

[calypso]

I'm on 13.5r nearly all town driving

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

Was about to say... I've driven Burgy's M3 many times and its always around high 11's or high 12's... never seen it north of 13l per 100km.

My supercharged 323 does the same... high 12's when pushing hard.

 

[Nukleuz]

Would love to see 12 or 13's....I did an econo test once...got 370km on the tank as appose to 310....and it was the most boring week of my life. Never again :rollsmile:

 

[M3_FTW]

Would love to see 12 or 13's....I did an econo test once...got 370km on the tank as appose to 310....and it was the most boring week of my life. Never again :rollsmile:

The shorter diff ratio has a lot to do with it. I drove mine hard and averaged 13L/100km

 

[Naruto]

Hmmmm
Clearly I'm missing out on the M beacuse I thought it had insane fuel consumption.:idea: let the hunt begin :rollsmile:

 

[AdiS]

Is it jsut me or does an M3 seem the same or more fuel efficient compared to a 330i?

 

[Fordkoppie]

Is it jsut me or does an M3 seem the same or more fuel efficient compared to a 330i?

No.
When I still had my e46 M3, myself and Sankekur decided to have a small conservative consumption challenge on our way back from the breakfast run covering 100km of highway.
It has to be noted that it was never the intention to see what the absolute best fuel consumption would be, but simply to compare the 2 cars in exact similar and normal driving conditions.
Therefore I had the cruise control set on 120 wherever I could and the consumption would have been even better if we really tried all the tricks of the trade whilst driving miss Daisy.
Sankekur returned a VERY respectable total average figure of 6.5L/100 in his 330i and that included being stuck in terrible traffic @ William Nichol drive. I really think this is quite an achievement for a high performance 3.0L 6 cylinder engine.
I got 7.5 in the M3.
Sans William Nichol, Johannes would have had 6.2 and I was on 7.2 just before we hit the traffic

Now when you put pedal to the metal, the M3 can consume 2x the amount of fuel the 330 can even imagine to swallow

DD the M3 used to produce a figure of 11 - 13l/100 depending on mood

 

[kabal]

13 for me too.

on a long highway trip, I have managed to get 600km+ from 1 tank

 

[Naruto]

13 for me too.

on a long highway trip, I have managed to get 600km+ from 1 tank

Is this sticking to the limit(120kph)????

 

[kabal]

13 for me too.

on a long highway trip, I have managed to get 600km+ from 1 tank

Is this sticking to the limit(120kph)????

no, 140-160kph

 

[Naruto]

Impressive!!!

 

[Mahdi]

Hmmmm
Clearly I'm missing out on the M beacuse I thought it had insane fuel consumption.:idea: let the hunt begin :rollsmile:

Cough I know someone looking for a 320d cough :rollsmile:

 

[Naruto]

Hmmmm
Clearly I'm missing out on the M beacuse I thought it had insane fuel consumption.:idea: let the hunt begin :rollsmile:

Cough I know someone looking for a 320d cough :rollsmile:

Yeah me too a red one :biglol:

 

[Raybimmer]

:roflol: Petrol consumption depends on mood......Inline 6 bm driver is always in a good mood :thumbs: