[A_P]

Primarily aimed at Carl or anyone else who has experience with an E46 M3.

Looking to chop in my E90 for one of yours. Any advice? What mileage did you buy yours on? was it a later model (03 onwards?) did it suffer from the Vanos bolts and Subframe issues?

Whats with all the horror stories on M3cutters?

Any help greatly appreciated from any members. Via PM or on here.

Thanks for looking guys.

[dxb335d]

Check out my review mate. All my thoughts are in there.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ight=m3+months


For me, I had to have a facelift (April 03 onwards) and had to have some certain options,
Buy a car under 10 years old and if the subframe has damage BMW should fix It for free. If they do not honour for any reasons (modded car for example) then it can be done for a grand elsewhere.

Vanos bolts can works loose. Again something that "can" happen but you should hear it and then get them tightened.

Head gaskets can go, but at any time really. 50k-150k. Just one of those things.


Servicing is expensive, buy one which had had a service not long ago. Also like any car make sure it's got premium rubber on which does not need replacing anytime soon.


So far I've just replaced the rear trailing arm bushes and brake pads.

It's a raw car. Read my thread.

Thanks

[A_P]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Check out my review mate. All my thoughts are in there.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ight=m3+months


For me, I had to have a facelift (April 03 onwards) and had to have some certain options,
Buy a car under 10 years old and if the subframe has damage BMW should fix It for free. If they do not honour for any reasons (modded car for example) then it can be done for a grand elsewhere.

Vanos bolts can works loose. Again something that "can" happen but you should hear it and then get them tightened.

Head gaskets can go, but at any time really. 50k-150k. Just one of those things.


Servicing is expensive, buy one which had had a service not long ago. Also like any car make sure it's got premium rubber on which does not need replacing anytime soon.


So far I've just replaced the rear trailing arm bushes and brake pads.

It's a raw car. Read my thread.

Thanks

Legend! Cheers bud, will have a read. I posted up a link on M3cutters to a car I was looking at.

an 05 coupe. silver grey. manual. <<<< this is exactly what I want and I am willing to wait for a Goodun.

I also have a few sets of different 19" wheels all mounted on premiums and one set on competition rubber and some unmounted winter tires too. Lol

The plan is pic up a nice clean example and turn it into a track weapon after a few years of happy motoring.

Excuse the sorry state of my Garage

[dxb335d]

In my opinion, to buy a lovely clean example is to be kept that way. If you want a track slag Buy a cheaper one. With no options. (less to strip out).

Great thing about the M3 is that it is great on track even in road trim (brakes will need doing).

The tyres are in M3 sizes? The wheels in the correct fitment?

[phil200tdi]

Have you considered a z4m?

They are becoming a real bargain.. Most are very low miles too!

[A_P]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

In my opinion, to buy a lovely clean example is to be kept that way. If you want a track slag Buy a cheaper one. With no options. (less to strip out).

Great thing about the M3 is that it is great on track even in road trim (brakes will need doing).

The tyres are in M3 sizes? The wheels in the correct fitment?

Yessir, Yessir and yessir. I have M3 fitmet CSl's with stamping on the face wrapped in yokohama advan sport 235/265. Also got a set of Cades, apollo ( dont suit the M) but they are wearing competition rubber PZero Corsa 245/285. Also have a set of Conti sport 5P's in 235/265 fitment (not mounted) and a rear set on conti winter contact sport 265's ( also not mounted) and finally.... a random rear set of avon zz3 (265's) which i kept when changing tires, they have around 4mm tread left. and are utter crud but great for the specific reason of drifting.

I am ready carl..... Just patiently waiting.

I was looking at one specifically that i posted in the general section on M3cutters. Its in Horsham at james paul cars. Its a tad expensive but so far it looks lovely. 05, silver grey, 60k, fsh bm plus indy, new brakes and tires all round ( conti's the right ones), also a 6 month warranty. oh and its a manual with all the toys ( as you say) in black nappa. They also have a carbon black MG similar price but not interested in that.

I love the look of the car as standard and have no plans to visually mod it in anyway. AP brake kit and polybushes are budgeted in so far and possible coilovers in the future.

[A_P]

Originally Posted by phil200tdi

Have you considered a z4m?

They are becoming a real bargain.. Most are very low miles too!

Hey phil, no sadly I didn't. The only primary reason is that I go weak at the knees when I see a silvergrey M coupe.

I will check them out though. Cheers bud.

[dxb335d]

If your interested in that car then get the registration and check with BMW the service history.

[A_P]

yea will check it out in the flesh first, might not be a minter, more a case of munter. Some other cutters say that generally james paul are reputable M specialists and carry a good name, and are known for stocking well prepped decent cars.

But who knows. P.s Have you done your wheel yet? From jack? its where all the cutters go....................

[RCUK]

Not sure about the z4m ... but there is a z3m round here on an S plate up for sale for £3k!

Thats a hell of a lot of car for the money!

[dxb335d]

But they look awful.

[A_P]

Lol are you talking in terms of colour of worksmanship? He did my Alcantara one, and yes it might not be to everyones taste but quality is good. If your talking about colour schemes etc then of course that does come down to taste, as after all he will only do what you ask of him.

Just good for a refresh of the "shinny" worn look.

I am planning on picking up a spare steering wheel on the next car and trimming it in Alcantara again, and keeping the standard leather one for a rainy day.

[chris_s1]

I had an E46 M3 for a while that became a track car. I did probably 10-15 track days and 3 'ring trips in it over 2 years. I got rid of it last year and have gone another way for this year's track car.

To be honest, whilst it's definitely a fun car to drive on track, its a terrible choice for a track car.

It's too heavy and it eats brakes and tyres like nothing else. The standard brakes are made of jelly and being a big heavy car you'll need to spend big money getting them to track standard. Even the best uprated pads/discs don't cut it.

The only option to make it a good track car is to spend massive money on it - weight reduction, cage, suspension, brakes etc etc - which would indeed make a monster track car, but it will cost you huge £££ and the resale value will be virtually zero.

I do a lot of trackdays and I see a fair few guys with properly modded E46 M3 track cars but virtually none in anything like standard form and there is a very good reason for that.

But that said - don't let the horror stories put you off. I had loads of work done on mine and if you find a decent specialist mechanic and don't mind buying parts off ebay, it's no more expensive to run than any other car.

For example, the manual box on mine imploded, quote from a dealer was over £6k..... Bought a good used box off ebay for £350, my local mechanic fitted it for £300 all in and I was back on track within the week.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Awfully_Polite

Lol are you talking in terms of colour of worksmanship? He did my Alcantara one, and yes it might not be to everyones taste but quality is good. If your talking about colour schemes etc then of course that does come down to taste, as after all he will only do what you ask of him.

Just good for a refresh of the "shinny" worn look.

I am planning on picking up a spare steering wheel on the next car and trimming it in Alcantara again, and keeping the standard leather one for a rainy day.

No the Z3M mate,


Chris Spose that's why the CSL is so crap.

[A_P]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

No the Z3M mate,


Chris Spose that's why the CSL is so crap.

Oh lol. Hahaha My bad completely misread that one. P.s some people have retrimmed their wheels in some dodge colour schemes though.

[A_P]

Originally Posted by chris_s1

I had an E46 M3 for a while that became a track car. I did probably 10-15 track days and 3 'ring trips in it over 2 years. I got rid of it last year and have gone another way for this year's track car.

To be honest, whilst it's definitely a fun car to drive on track, its a terrible choice for a track car.

It's too heavy and it eats brakes and tyres like nothing else. The standard brakes are made of jelly and being a big heavy car you'll need to spend big money getting them to track standard. Even the best uprated pads/discs don't cut it.

The only option to make it a good track car is to spend massive money on it - weight reduction, cage, suspension, brakes etc etc - which would indeed make a monster track car, but it will cost you huge £££ and the resale value will be virtually zero.

I do a lot of trackdays and I see a fair few guys with properly modded E46 M3 track cars but virtually none in anything like standard form and there is a very good reason for that.

But that said - don't let the horror stories put you off. I had loads of work done on mine and if you find a decent specialist mechanic and don't mind buying parts off ebay, it's no more expensive to run than any other car.

For example, the manual box on mine imploded, quote from a dealer was over £6k..... Bought a good used box off ebay for £350, my local mechanic fitted it for £300 all in and I was back on track within the week.

Hey chris, Thanks for the heads up. Thats some good insider tips esp on the gearbox etc. The plan was never to make the M a track though. I want a mint example to run as a daily driver. At the end of a 2 year run, if she has high miles say 150k ish then I may consider at the time to keep her in the family and instead of chopping it in for a few grand. That way me and my cousin can have a little side project for developing a track toy. Not for all out pace just some fun in a safe environment.



Got any pics of your track cars? would love to see bud. Regards.

[gavp]

Had mine for 3.5 years now, still love it.

[zltm089]

They sound really good!

Get it AP! You'll have fun!

[dxb335d]

Did you check it out AP?

[A_P]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Did you check it out AP?

Carl I went to see it monday lunchtime. Car had a SOLD sticker on it (A bit peeved off as on saturday afternoon the owner was happy for me come view it... they are closed sunday).

However Seeing it in the flesh though just really solidified my want to buy it. Furthermore I had done some research before and had found out how much the previous bought it for in december. I posted details up on cutters and he contacted me directly. He asked me to not publicly share, but I can PM you if you wanna hear a somewhat interesting story.

Still on the hunt, for a SG manual.


Kev mate, there are some really poor examples out there, as owners are finding the cars fall into budget but they cant afford to maintain them, But finding a mint one is hard but when you do, Oh man they are so beautiful.

[dxb335d]

PM me dude.

[A_P]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

PM me dude.

sent. Sorry it is a huge message there is couple more PM's back and forth between me and him but nothing major. ( the messages here are restricted to 7000 characters and it exceeded the limit)