Stung by an E46 M3...

spiderz17 · 03-24-2011, 12:56 PM

Well, I'm officially out. I wasn't even shopping for an E46 M3, but one just fell into my lap: 2004 M3, SMG, 13k miles. It's like new and, for my purposes (read: street use) is performance-wise nearly on-par with the 1M, so for about half the price I couldn't say no. So the 1M is no longer in my sights. I'm still following the forum because the 1M is still a bad ass machine and, who knows, maybe I'll find myself a used one a few years down the road. Good luck to all on their allocations!

And yes, I know, this thread is worthless without pics, so here ya go:

Art__Vandelay · 03-24-2011, 01:16 PM

Great car (except the headlights, though) with a fantastic engine.

Is that carbon black? I've had a M3 E46 in CB, too. Such a great color in person.

DrPig57 · 03-24-2011, 01:18 PM

Nice. One of my all time favorite BMW's. I'm still looking for a 2006 with low miles/manual transmission.

SamS · 03-24-2011, 01:25 PM

Nice car.

Did the E46 M coupes ever come with the facelifted/up-turned headlights like the other LCI E46 coupes?

spiderz17 · 03-24-2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Croatian test driver

Great car (except the headlights, though) with a fantastic engine.

Is that carbon black? I've had a M3 E46 in CB, too. Such a great color in person.

Good eye, yes it is CB.

ES BMW · 03-24-2011, 01:48 PM

Great looking M!

21450 · 03-24-2011, 01:54 PM

Congrats Spider! Good choice, that S54 engine is so sweet

Are those Brembo brakes I see thru the wheels?

Grey Dove · 03-24-2011, 02:01 PM

Black is the way to go! Cool car and I wish you many happy driving hours.

Twinsturbo · 03-24-2011, 02:15 PM

SamS: No they didnt!

spiderz17 · 03-24-2011, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 21450

Congrats Spider! Good choice, that S54 engine is so sweet

Are those Brembo brakes I see thru the wheels?

Rotora, actually.

These are the mods that have been done to the car:
Evosport Headers/Pulleys, OEM Euro Cats, Powerchip Gold 93, K&N 63 w/ Streamline filter, Rotora BBK, P7 III Brake Pedal

spiderz17 · 03-24-2011, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamS

Nice car.

Did the E46 M coupes ever come with the facelifted/up-turned headlights like the other LCI E46 coupes?

From what I've read, the E46 M3 never received a true facelift. It only received a couple of minor cosmetic upgrades through the years (such as LED tail lights for 03.5 and later).

Robert · 03-24-2011, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Croatian test driver

Great car (except the headlights, though) with a fantastic engine.

Is that carbon black? I've had a M3 E46 in CB, too. Such a great color in person.

What's going on with the headlight?

spiderz17 · 03-24-2011, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert

What's going on with the headlight?

Not sure what's different about it... maybe the smoked corner lenses make it look darker than normal??

Going to pick it up tomorrow, I'll ask the seller if the headlights are stock.

PokerJohnM3 · 03-24-2011, 03:54 PM

Looks like it's in beautiful condition. I still miss my '03 Mystic Blue E46 M3. I still think it's one of the best looking 2-dr coupes BMW has ever made.

Robert · 03-24-2011, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderz17

Not sure what's different about it... maybe the smoked corner lenses make it look darker than normal??

Going to pick it up tomorrow, I'll ask the seller if the headlights are stock.

Looks great to me. I may reconsider it as my next car. Wanted a E46M3 so badly back in college.

gatorfast · 03-24-2011, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxnix

Interesting that an ex-owner of similar car (6MT) was telling me how much better performing his 135i N54 6MT is.

Gotta love the E46 look, though. Enjoy.

Better performing how? Stock for stock I would think the E46 would be better in every performance category.

Impervious · 03-24-2011, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PokerJohnM3

I still think it's one of the best looking 2-dr coupes BMW has ever made.

+1

I think the E46 M3 was the best looking car BMW has made yet. Not to mention the engine they put in it. The styling is perfect.

Congrats on Spiderz your M3! The noise the S54 makes.

MrRoboto · 03-24-2011, 04:32 PM

Price?

dmw16 · 03-24-2011, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Better performing how? Stock for stock I would think the E46 would be better in every performance category.

If memory serves the 135i has a better power-to-weight ratio than the E46 M3. But really, who cares? That is just such a beautiful car

Every now and again I think of trading in my 135i on an E46 M3 when I drive past a CarMax or BMW dealer that has an M3 in stock.

Great choice OP. Awesome car!

Boxtyp3 · 03-24-2011, 05:11 PM

Best BMW ever. I still miss my e46 coupe.

RIbimmer · 03-24-2011, 05:42 PM

You totally scored. Congratulations!

JasonCSU · 03-24-2011, 05:42 PM

It looks like the headlight housings have been painted black to match the rest of the car.

03-24-2011, 12:56 PM	#1
spiderz17 Not a BMW Insider 13 Rep 302 Posts Drives: X5 M50i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Stung by an E46 M3... Well, I'm officially out. I wasn't even shopping for an E46 M3, but one just fell into my lap: 2004 M3, SMG, 13k miles. It's like new and, for my purposes (read: street use) is performance-wise nearly on-par with the 1M, so for about half the price I couldn't say no. So the 1M is no longer in my sights. I'm still following the forum because the 1M is still a bad ass machine and, who knows, maybe I'll find myself a used one a few years down the road. Good luck to all on their allocations! And yes, I know, this thread is worthless without pics, so here ya go:
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03-24-2011, 01:16 PM	#2
Art__Vandelay Lieutenant Colonel 1951 Rep 1,511 Posts Drives: 2023 G80 M3 xDrive Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	Great car (except the headlights, though) with a fantastic engine. Is that carbon black? I've had a M3 E46 in CB, too. Such a great color in person.
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03-24-2011, 01:18 PM	#3
DrPig57 Second Lieutenant 16 Rep 291 Posts Drives: Crimson/Coral 135i M// package Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	Nice. One of my all time favorite BMW's. I'm still looking for a 2006 with low miles/manual transmission. __________________ Don't force me to taunt you a second time
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03-24-2011, 01:25 PM	#4
SamS Banned 867 Rep 6,248 Posts Drives: Tesla M3 Perf + '18 X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Nice car. Did the E46 M coupes ever come with the facelifted/up-turned headlights like the other LCI E46 coupes?
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03-24-2011, 01:48 PM	#6
ES BMW Captain 68 Rep 883 Posts Drives: '12 E92 M3 ZCP 6MT Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Florida iTrader: (3)	Great looking M! __________________ '12 E92 M3 \| 6MT \| ZCP
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03-24-2011, 01:54 PM	#7
21450 Second Lieutenant 43 Rep 250 Posts Drives: 01 M5, 23 X5 45e Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston,Texas iTrader: (0)	Congrats Spider! Good choice, that S54 engine is so sweet Are those Brembo brakes I see thru the wheels?
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03-24-2011, 02:01 PM	#8
Grey Dove Major 125 Rep 1,297 Posts Drives: Sold for a reptile Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Here & There iTrader: (0)	Black is the way to go! Cool car and I wish you many happy driving hours.
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03-24-2011, 02:15 PM	#9
Twinsturbo Private First Class 23 Rep 130 Posts Drives: M2 Competiton AW MT Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	SamS: No they didnt!
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03-24-2011, 03:54 PM	#14
PokerJohnM3 New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: AW 1M scheduled 6/23 at PDC Join Date: May 2008 Location: Fairfax Station, Va iTrader: (0)	Looks like it's in beautiful condition. I still miss my '03 Mystic Blue E46 M3. I still think it's one of the best looking 2-dr coupes BMW has ever made.
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03-24-2011, 04:32 PM	#18
MrRoboto Brigadier General 1846 Rep 4,836 Posts Drives: VO 1M Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Price?
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03-24-2011, 05:11 PM	#20
Boxtyp3 Major 78 Rep 1,353 Posts Drives: 2015 F32 MG Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 F32 435 [0.00] 2002 E46 cp [0.00] 2010 E82 135i [0.00] 2013 E92 335i [0.00]	Best BMW ever. I still miss my e46 coupe.
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03-24-2011, 05:42 PM	#21
RIbimmer Private First Class 24 Rep 179 Posts Drives: '09 128i, '17 i3 BEV Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0)	You totally scored. Congratulations! __________________
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03-24-2011, 05:42 PM	#22
JasonCSU Colonel 702 Rep 2,548 Posts Drives: '08 135i, '88 325is Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (0) Garage List 1988 BMW 325is [0.00] 2008 BMW 135i [0.00]	It looks like the headlight housings have been painted black to match the rest of the car. __________________ Delivered in Munich, broken in on the Nurburgring.
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