Buying help needed... M3 - United Bimmer Community

**SaintCyr** · 05-05-2006, 10:52 AM

Hey all,
I'm new to the BMW world and have a few questions for those who know. I'm looking at buying a 2001-2005 M3. I would like to have all the fancy stuff but its not that big of a deal to me. I was wondering whats a good ballpark figure I should expect to pay for a nice one? Also, I have been told to get the 2003+ since it has the true 333Hp engine. Any help with what I should look for and what to watch out for is apreciated.
Thanks Again
Dustin

**Longhairedhippy** · 05-05-2006, 11:00 AM

All E46 M3s will have the 3.2 liter S54 inline-six, which produces 333 hp. so, your source was incorrectin that respect. However, if i remember correctly, 2003 was the year that the M3 was given a 7900rpm redline instead of the 8000rpm redline. the problem was that people had been running them up to 8000 and kept blowing the engines, which BMW had to replace under warranty.

drz · 05-05-2006, 11:32 AM

Be prepared to pay $35k or more. Nice choice. They all have the same engine, with the 333hp, so just look fo rthe best you can buy with whatever money you set aside. Lower mileage and accurate service records are usually good signs. I would stay away from modified vehilcles. If you want mods, you are better off doing them yourself. Get a Carfax account, and check in here whenevert you find prospects. I don't have specific experience with the e46 m3, so there isn't much I can add. (e46 is teh chassis designation for BMW 3 Series vehicles in the model year range you specified).

**dinan540** · 05-05-2006, 11:32 AM

For a clean e46 M3 with low mileage, 2004 or 2005, you should expect to pay in the 40K range. The lower the mileage the better. They are M tuned cars that are a lot of fun and you can get a ton of performance out of them, even in stock form. They are great on the track. As with all new BMWs, make sure you can afford to fix it and/or maintain it if you buy one.

Join the bmw cca and you get a monthly magazine called Roundel. They have classifieds selling M3s all of the time. Check out e46fanatics.com also.

Good luck

**BMWLotAttendant** · 05-06-2006, 07:22 PM

Repost

nick_318is · 05-06-2006, 11:27 PM

whats this repost thing dude, someone comes on looking for advise and your telling them its a repost?

**BMWLotAttendant** · 05-07-2006, 12:45 AM

Do you not remember.....geeze

I swear, another person....wanted the SAME thing. Just look it up. I'm too lazy...but I'd find it.

I see your point....yeah it's nice to be friendly....I'm sorry.

I appologize.

My bad.

Carry on.

Storamin · 05-07-2006, 08:09 AM

way to be a #1 asshole bmwlotattendent, GEEZ.

lowest you'll find a decent 2001 m3 is 25k+

**BMWLotAttendant** · 05-07-2006, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Storamin

way to be a #1 asshole bmwlotattendent, GEEZ.

lowest you'll find a decent 2001 m3 is 25k+

We all have our moments, I said I was sorry.

What more do you want?

Yes, e46 M3s are nice. $30K is the average for a used one. You should try SMG and a manual to see which you like best.

Good luck!

**celsdogg** · 05-07-2006, 08:35 PM

i just read a buyer guide for M3's in Bimmer magazine.

the problem with the blown engines is the 8k rpm redline. that is because the marketing dept wanted it that high for sales. so engineers worked long and hard to get it to be stable at that engine speed, but of course, it wasnt really meant for 8k.

the M roadsters have the same S54, but the redline is 7600 rpm, and they never had a blown engine. so keep it under 7500 rpm i would say

**euro driver e34** · 05-29-2006, 04:34 AM

I was thinking of doing the same thing to keep in the states. The question is, should I consider the SMG tranny or stick with the regular manual trann? I think that could be a consideration when buying an e46 M3.

**celsdogg** · 05-29-2006, 10:15 AM

i would say test drive both and see which you like.

concerning the red line: i just recently read that bmw supposedly used better bearings in later models, thus it can actually support a 8k rpm redline.