[Nick the Greek]

Now that the E46 has fallen to the price of a half decent watch, the question must be asked.
Is the car that defined BMWs M division destined to roam council estates across the land, or, will collectors carefully store them in dehimidified garages for posterity?

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

Now that the E46 has fallen to the price of a half decent watch, the question must be asked.
Is the car that defined BMWs M division destined to roam council estates across the land, or, will collectors carefully store them in dehimidified garages for posterity?

In order for a car to become exclusive, you have to reduce its number. The best way to do that is for people to buy up the majority and drive them 'til they're worn out, wrecked or written off. When there's hardly any left on the road, the cherished, low mileage units start increasing in value.
So chavs have a key role to play in the re-appreciation of future classics

[MattOz]

I think they fell into "undesirables" hands a few years back and it's not going to get any better soon. I'm keeping my CS 99% standard in the vain hope that it'll be more attractive to a buyer sometime in the near future. Draped in all manner of AC Schnitzer/ Hamman/Chinese copy tat, they can look properly shite.

[SteveC]

Great looking car with a great engine

[richk84]

Love the e46 M3 CS would be my choice if I went for one!

[AlanYoro35i]

It's a CHAVISSICKnow!!

The amount of kids in E46 M3 showing off next to me .. i can't recount them all even with my toes !!

[F31-340i]

a good stock one will come out of the other side of this phase, they are still great cars at the end of the day

look again at E36s now - after a period of being assumed to be all driven by barryboys, good mint ones are starting to look cool again - IMO

http://www.bmwever.com/hellrot-e36-m3-evo/

[mowflow]

They have been falling into the wrong hands for a while (dxb has one for a start ) I think they will continue to do so for a while. Might end up a classic in the future but at the moment there are far too many of them readily available. While this is the case they are unlikely to appreciate. Good buy in a few years time if you can find one that hasn't been crashed through the Halfords accessories aisle.

As for the car that defined the M division. Isn't that the e30 m3 or the e9 CSL? Those are classics with price tags to match.

What about the e60 m5? The v10 could single it out I think.

[Guvernator]

If you want an appreciating modern classic right now, it's got to be the M3 CSL. Yes they cost a lot more to buy but I doubt you'd loose any money on one and if kept mint for a few years you'd probably even make some back and if kept longer term I suspect they will sharply start to appreciate in the next 5 years.

On the other hand the standard M3 still has a fair few years being put through the ringer by wannabe gansta's and barry boys before it comes out the other side. Eventually properly looked after one's will become sought after but I reckon that's still at least 5 years away too.

[RagingKileak]

I think that (on a related note) the Z4M Roadster is becoming a very strong contender for one of the best performance/fun/toy bargains of the century as well.

I know the coupe is still more expensive, but that is just snobbery - it might well hold its value better, but I doubt there are as many people extracting that extra 1/10th out of the coupe than there are people enjoying cheap, visceral, top down driving during what summer we do get here!

Having had both, I actually prefer the way the Z4M pushes on vs the E46 M3, although both are sublime. There is something about the way the diff pushes the Z4 that I just thought was amazing and so confidence inspiring - hoping that my 335i DCT will be more like that than the E46 once the diff is fitted in the next few hours!

Matt

[dobbo99]

if your in the know, a good quality M3 stands out a mile off.
sure, theres loads of cheaper versions, but they arent the cars that will appeal to the types of people on forums like this.

surely there will always be a market for a straight, original, unmolested example, and those will always fetch better money as a result.

[mowflow]

Originally Posted by RagingKileak

I think that (on a related note) the Z4M Roadster is becoming a very strong contender for one of the best performance/fun/toy bargains of the century as well.

I know the coupe is still more expensive, but that is just snobbery - it might well hold its value better, but I doubt there are as many people extracting that extra 1/10th out of the coupe than there are people enjoying cheap, visceral, top down driving during what summer we do get here!

Having had both, I actually prefer the way the Z4M pushes on vs the E46 M3, although both are sublime. There is something about the way the diff pushes the Z4 that I just thought was amazing and so confidence inspiring - hoping that my 335i DCT will be more like that than the E46 once the diff is fitted in the next few hours!

Matt

Having driven the roadster and the coupe i have to say that the roadster is a better drive.

I think it has to do with the car being designed as a roadster and therefor the chassis became too stiff when the roof was added. The coupe felt like it someone had stolen the rear suspension and the car was very jittery on anything but a glass like surface.

The coupe and the roadster are already quite rare in terms of the numbers. However, i'm not sure if they will become classics or just fade into history. The general panning that they got by the motoring press who always compared it to the E46 due to the shared engine didn't help.

[dxb335d]

There is no difference between the diff Matt..

There are the odd chavvy M3's... Mainly in London. But there are just an many chav E92's of all model designations.. Including the M3...

[dxb335d]

From what I have seen with the M3 forum, the unsavoury owners don't keep them long as they don't like the associated costs of a M3.

[dxb335d]

[jimmylimmy]

They wont go the same was as the E36 M3 and original spec (or very lightly modified using OEM kit) will be worth a premium and sought ater

[dxb335d]

Mine is completely standard, although has a broken spring (common problem) so may go down the route of lowering springs.

[Sparky68]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Mine is completely standard, although has a broken spring (common problem) so may go down the route of lowering springs.

Chav!

[dxb335d]

Matt, looks like your already a Chav!!!

[dxb335d]

Sparks, why replace with something that is going to break again...

Yours being an SE mate, could actually do with a drop.

[Sparky68]

No i'm going for the 70's raised look with fookin great big mag slot wheels!

[Oli]

Definitely a chavs car now........