The e46 M3 thread
Yes, after much consideration to all car options I have decided I want the E46 M3; the blowing up was an 01 - 03.5 SMG specific issue (I'm looking at 04 & newer, and not SMG so I'm in the clear on that). I've got an excellent shop and other cars I can drive, so I'm not too concerned about that either. The Rover (which everyone likes to tell me is the least reliable vehicle out there) is proving to be the most reliable thing in the stable right now (yea, it's doing better than my IS300) so when people tell me my M3 will spend a lot of time in the shop I just shrug and say I'm ok w. that.
Keep lookin' my co-worker found one recently and he's working out the details of buying and shipping it right now. I've started to sort of look again, albeit not too intensively, but don't see anything I like.
I was considering getting one over the IS350 a few months ago but the IS won because of better practicality. My neighbor's dad had one. Got it new in 04 and sold it half a year ago. His tranny imploded twice, once at 60K miles and again at 85K. Both times the fix cost almost $10K. I'd be careful when buying one. Just because you buy it for 20K doesn't mean it will be cheap. You're still paying maintenance on a high strung top of the line German performance sedan.
DRL is dealer programmable. As to how much stealer will charge you to turn it off or on depends on stealer/SA. Some - if you know them etc - might do it for free specially if you are already in for other services whereas other jackasses will charge 1hr labour even though it would take no more than 20 seconds.
so, this guy ... turns out he has TWO silver on blk M3s and it's some dealership and is using the same pix for both cars ... not cool, I don't trust him now. I'm still going to follow up (mostly for comparisson & relative information at this point)
On the DRLs: I think I have a couple people that can just do it for me.
So now if the bumpers don't need anything I think I'm in the clear on required modifications
On the DRLs: I think I have a couple people that can just do it for me.
So now if the bumpers don't need anything I think I'm in the clear on required modifications
so, this guy ... turns out he has TWO silver on blk M3s and it's some dealership and is using the same pix for both cars ... not cool, I don't trust him now. I'm still going to follow up (mostly for comparisson & relative information at this point)
On the DRLs: I think I have a couple people that can just do it for me.
So now if the bumpers don't need anything I think I'm in the clear on required modifications
On the DRLs: I think I have a couple people that can just do it for me.
So now if the bumpers don't need anything I think I'm in the clear on required modifications

craigslist should be your good friend though (just do BY OWNER).
competition package looks so bomb, look for one of those
so, this guy ... turns out he has TWO silver on blk M3s and it's some dealership and is using the same pix for both cars ... not cool, I don't trust him now. I'm still going to follow up (mostly for comparisson & relative information at this point)
On the DRLs: I think I have a couple people that can just do it for me.
So now if the bumpers don't need anything I think I'm in the clear on required modifications
On the DRLs: I think I have a couple people that can just do it for me.
So now if the bumpers don't need anything I think I'm in the clear on required modifications

The seller of the one my co-worker was looking at backed out on him so now he's back to looking again.
At this point, the two (well, one now) on this side of the country are more for comparasson than anything.







