[reeltime]

Whats up guys?? i currently own and love my e90 BSM 330i, but i've always loved the E46 M3s..i'm debating selling my E90 and buying an e46 m3. I love the looks of my e90 but there's something about that ///M that keeps me asking the question...which one do i really want?

Just thought i'd ask the question and open it up to some of you guys..I know in the end it's my own choice and opinion but i wanna see what your guys' opinion on this.

E46 M3 or E90 330i??

[Kolyan2k]

These are lots of factors involved...what you have now (miles, price-wise), what you are planning to get, how much money you wanna spend, do yo have money for maintenance for M3, do you track or daily drive, etc.

E46 M3 is obviously a better car in terms of performance, e90 is more refreshed look i think (actually e92, i dont like e90s), more comfortable....

ps. there are so many kids driving M3s with 100k+ miles these days...they are not that special anymore, but i sure wouldnt mind a fresh looking 2005-2006 Competition pkg M3 or the one with CSL conversion perhaps.

[kudos]

Can you afford to repair the m3? If yes then go ahead. Gas is going to cost you more also I'm guessing.

[reeltime]

These are lots of factors involved...what you have now (miles, price-wise), what you are planning to get, how much money you wanna spend, do yo have money for maintenance for M3, do you track or daily drive, etc.

E46 M3 is obviously a better car in terms of performance, e90 is more refreshed look i think (actually e92, i dont like e90s), more comfortable....

ps. there are so many kids driving M3s with 100k+ miles these days...they are not that special anymore, but i sure wouldnt mind a fresh looking 2005-2006 Competition pkg M3 or the one with CSL conversion perhaps.

My e90 is just racking on miles.. at 82k right now, so thats why i thought getting an M3 with low miles would be a good idea. I do have the money for maintenance but i am a mechanic so i can take care of things that goes wrong with it myself. I wish i could afford an E92 M3 but they're way too expensive for me at the moment If i don't get the M i was looking at i'm going to try and get some money to buy a e92 335i. This M was in insanely good condition though..its an 03 with 23k miles. i mean truly looks brand new haha.

Can you afford to repair the m3? If yes then go ahead. Gas is going to cost you more also I'm guessing.

Yup thats not really a big deal to me. ehh gas mileage on my e90 is usually 18-20mpg in mixed driving so it won't drop that much. Plus i'd rather trade a couple MPGs for a couple extra horses

[boogiee90]

Go for it. E46 m3 never gets old. Its an icon id say.

[reeltime]

Originally Posted by boogiee90

Go for it. E46 m3 never gets old. Its an icon id say.

That's what im saying. Highly considering it...i'd just have to sell my car first

[J02 335i]

I loved my E46 M3, but I would honestly take my tuned 335i over it any day.

[reeltime]

Originally Posted by J02 335i

I loved my E46 M3, but I would honestly take my tuned 335i over it any day.

If i could actually find a nice 07-08 335i with CPO and low miles for a good price i would've gone that way as well, but i haven't yet and i just found this M so the M is heavily swaying my decision right now! Plus, an M will always be a beast no matter what

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by e90driva

That's what im saying. Highly considering it...i'd just have to sell my car first

if i was looking at e46 m3, it would be 05-06. my 02 low miles m3 had many annoying issues.

[Kolyan2k]

01 was the worst year, never heard of 02 being the worst. Competition pkg is wheels, cross drilled rotors from CSL, M dynamic mode, and steering ratio maybe also from CSL

[M340i Pride]

Originally Posted by e90driva

My e90 is just racking on miles.. at 82k right now, so thats why i thought getting an M3 with low miles would be a good idea. I do have the money for maintenance but i am a mechanic so i can take care of things that goes wrong with it myself. I wish i could afford an E92 M3 but they're way too expensive for me at the moment If i don't get the M i was looking at i'm going to try and get some money to buy a e92 335i. This M was in insanely good condition though..its an 03 with 23k miles. i mean truly looks brand new haha.



Yup thats not really a big deal to me. ehh gas mileage on my e90 is usually 18-20mpg in mixed driving so it won't drop that much. Plus i'd rather trade a couple MPGs for a couple extra horses

03 with only 23k miles? that will definitely make the decision easier. how much though? some e46m3 goes a bit high if they are low miled. 330i is a heck of a car but m3 will be better than that so if the price is right and you can get good price for your car for a low miled m3 go for it. heck you are machanic so you will be as prepared as anyone in this scenerio...

[reeltime]

Don't know how to multi quote on the mobile app..but yeah I heard by 03 most problems were fixed.

Yeah the mechanic part comes in handy though The guy is asking for about 20k even.

The price is actually really good

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by e90driva

Don't know how to multi quote on the mobile app..but yeah I heard by 03 most problems were fixed.

Yeah the mechanic part comes in handy though The guy is asking for about 20k even.

The price is actually really good

isn't there 03 and 03.5 with some updates ?

I wonder which problems you are referring to....that got fixed from 02 to 03 ? rod bearings were fixed by 02 by the way.

[reeltime]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

its there 03 and 03.5 with some updates ?

I'm not sure the exact production date of it but id figure even if it wasn't 03.5 it still would be fine

[jkman510]

If you can deal with the e46 m3 quirks, go for it

Just remember to consider the main e46 m3 issues : Subframe repairs, camshaft bolts, and the exhaust hub tabs breaking. The last one having no known 100% repair/solution.

[Doctor///M]

e46 without a doubt!!

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

isn't there 03 and 03.5 with some updates ?

I wonder which problems you are referring to....that got fixed from 02 to 03 ? rod bearings were fixed by 02 by the way.

as far as I know the only reason why many people recommend 03.5 M3 is because of LED tails and trunk lip. No one actually knows anything about any other changes. So 02 to 03 might actually have no changes except for visual. But just like with every other car, newer years means less bugs for the most part. Also an old car with low miles might have dried seals.

[MisterEm]

A ton of good advice in this thread...but also a lot of BAD 46M information.

I'm a former e90 335is owner from 09-11. Fabulous DD car. Much easier for our family. Loved the torque. But the 335 doesn't give you goose-bumps hanging through a corner like a 46M (owned since Jan 08).

The 46M is a momentum car. The 335is is a flat out beast in a straight line. Two COMPLETELY different animals.

Originally Posted by boogiee90

Go for it. E46 m3 never gets old. Its an icon id say.

Amen. In 30 years, the high revving six will be looked upon fondly.

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

if i was looking at e46 m3, it would be 05-06. my 02 low miles m3 had many annoying issues.

05-06 have the most VANOS failures. 01-02 have more subframe failures due to age, but this is easily rectified.

Originally Posted by CAPSGOD

I remember someone telling me that 02 was the worst years for M3's. The competition pack has a tighter steering ratio and came in the later years, I would look at one of those.

That is garbage. The 01-02's even with the bearing recall have lagged way behind the late model years in VANOS/engine failures. I have no clue why, but the results have been totaled. You pay up the yin-yang for an 05-06 ZCP....when the truth of the matter is you can flash the available options with any INPA/EDIABAs device.

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

01 was the worst year, never heard of 02 being the worst. Competition pkg is wheels, cross drilled rotors from CSL, M dynamic mode, and steering ratio maybe also from CSL

01 is one of the most robust years. Sorry, that is false. Steering ratio is a waste in the ZCP. If you want to upgrade the steering rack, get one from a Z4M coupe. That will tighten up the steering much more than the weeny ZCP rack.

Originally Posted by bmwpride335i

03 with only 23k miles? that will definitely make the decision easier. how much though? some e46m3 goes a bit high if they are low miled.

Plenty of S54's with well north of 100k still putting down 300whp SAE N/A. Be wary of the low mileage older cars. They have gremlins...and they are not worth the extra money.

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

isn't there 03 and 03.5 with some updates ?I wonder which problems you are referring to....that got fixed from 02 to 03 ? rod bearings were fixed by 02 by the way.

Rod bearing source was changed in 03, not 02. LED tails added and a slightly different DSC module. Otherwise, very much the same.

Originally Posted by jkman720

Just remember to consider the main e46 m3 issues : Subframe repairs, camshaft bolts, and the exhaust hub tabs breaking. The last one having no known 100% repair/solution.

Bolded for false information.
There is a fix. It's a chromoly hub. The source that makes this cannot stand the BMW forums and refuses to pay sponsorship dues so his threads get largely deleted.

There is also a cryo-treated hub available from Dr. Vanos. However, this will only delay the inevitable failure.

To reiterate, we owned both cars for several years and still own the 46M.

Just trying to give my objective opinion from owning both vehicles. If you have serious inquiries OP, feel free to PM me and we I'd be happy to chat on the phone with you regarding the two vehicles. It really comes down to your needs, wants, and desires.

Mike

p.s. If a close friend of mine asked me to help him find a 46M, I would tell him to look for 01-03 models with a 2" binder of receipts. There is a lot you can learn about the car by sitting down and having a cup of coffee, or a beer, with the previous owner. Avoid dealer trade-ins.

[gary88]

E46M is timeless, do it.

[Kolyan2k]

^ perhaps my 02 was late production because I never had any rod bearing recalls.

but i did have many other issues: water pump, oil temp sensor, windows/doors control module, navigation unit issue, xenon harness broken, water in both side markers, oil leaking from main seal....i think thats it.

my friend blew engine on 01 stock....

[MisterEm]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

^ perhaps my 02 was late production because I never had any rod bearing recalls.

but i did have many other issues: water pump, oil temp sensor, windows/doors control module, navigation unit issue, xenon harness broken, water in both side markers, oil leaking from main seal....i think thats it.

my friend blew engine on 01 stock....

You are but one data point my friend in a 45,000+ sample size. Water pumps go around 80-120k on all S54's. Window/door control module, nav issue, and an oil leak would be the least of anyone's worries driving a 10 year old 8,000 RPM M car.

The truly sad failures, not your 01 friend, are the 05-06 models with 10-30k miles that throw a cam bolt through the valve cover. The mess that is made when the valves make love to the piston is even more lovely.

Again, if my brother, or sister or someone I cared about wanted a 46M... I would tell them to stay the hell away from the 05-06 models unless you've got $3,500 for a decent used motor.

Mike

[Kolyan2k]

this information on 05-06 is beyond my knowledge of e46 m3s.......but its sad that BMW screwed up newer models even more then previous. in most cars its other way around