So, I'm looking in to an E46 M3...issues?

[SorcierX]

Just wondering if anyone can tell me what the most common issues are with these cars as I'm seeing them on AutoTrader being sold by dealerships with 75k miles on them for $17,600.... Only thing I can think of is that there has got to be something wrong with them.....

[SorcierX]

Well, by how many replies I'm not getting, I'm going to assume that there are no common problems amongst the E46's....

[James]

Ha - I wouldn't say that. I'm not that well versed in e46 M3 issues though so I will have to defer to the other members for an answer here.

[daveray]

also very interested.looking into these cars and issues to look for. looking to spend under 20k...

[Pantera]

I have two E46 M3s, both SMGs, one 03 convertible, one 05 ZCP coupe. I don't usually visit this site however I read your posts and thought I'd help.

The E46 is an expensive car for modifications and repairs, especially if you get an SMG. There have bee a couple of issues that have come up with the E46: the rod bearings recall and the rear subframe lawsuit/recall. Most affected cars have received notice on the rod bearings recall and have been fixed. The subframe issue is ongoing. The subframe tear issue is caused by overstressing the metal where the subframe mounts to the rear of the body. Severe stress caused by rough roads or stiff aftermarket suspensions are suspected to have caused these tears. There is an aftermarket reinforcement kit sold by Turner Motorsports to correct the issue. It requires some welding by a professional or well experienced/skilled weekender.

The SMG transmission is a different beast. Opinions on the transmission vary, but know that it will be an expensive option in the long run. I like it, although I recently had a $2,000 warranty repair for an oil leak from the oil pressure sensor.

I've done a lot of modifications to my cars. I haven't gone with forced induction, yet, as I think I have enough horsepower to satisfy my fun factor on the street. I have changed the exhaust, and changed some cosmetic features to my liking. I am presently working on a couple stealth options, or options with which the car was not originally designed.

Be sure to ask questions of owners when you run across some at local meets. I encourage everyone to join the BMW Car Club of America and attend local functions to learn more about their cars. The BMW CCA in the DC area holds several DIY meets, to include one this coming Satudary in Alexandria (Martin Motorsports) where owners and potential owners can participate in working on their cars and learn from each other.

Here are a couple of links that may be of interest to you;
M3 Resource.Com - Army Chief's BMW E46 M3 Resource Site
BMW CCA




Best regards,

[AlpinweissM3]

Prices are so low partly do to the economy and also because the new m3 is out. Both of those factors have kind of killed the price of the e46. As far as issues they have quite a few little ones but the only one that would keep from buying a car is the subframe. Which is not typical unless the car has been tracked or driven overly hard and even then it's no guarantee you will experience it. One thing to keep in mind is even though they have dropped well below the $20K mark maintenance is still what you would expect from a $50K+ car. To often I see guys buy one of these cars for cheap and then almost have a hart attack when they get a maintenance bill for a couple grand.

[JMP9525]

from my experiences if its a SMG and it has 50k mi the reason its so cheep is because the SMG has to get re tuned at 60k so they're trying to get rid of it before they need to spend 1-2k on it...there are no issues that BMW has not already worked out. take a good look at all the body panels make sure they have matching numbers from the factory, make sure that the spare wheel and tool kit are in the back, if they aren't then its a bad sign. If theres any after market performance upgrades then be cautious... I would suggest calling up a local BMW Tuning facility that deals with allot of M3s and bring in there for a pre-purchase inspection...if they're anything like the shops up in CT they can tell you everything that has been done to the car but its gonna cost you around $200-300 and its worth it...otherwise get some of the guy's on the forum to come help you inspect it I'm sure people in your are would be more than happy to assist you

[pterribilis]

Hi all, I'm in a similar boat as this guy however, I'm in Australia. A used E46 M3 will probably cost me $50k or so. It has always been my dream to get a Laguna Seca Blue E46M3 since the first time I test drove one back in 2004. I promised myself by the time I turn 30 I'll have one. I'm 29 now and will start looking around in the next 8-12 months. I'm guessing the best option is to buy directly from a used bmw dealer and pay the extra $$$ to get some extended warranty package by the sounds of it? I'm used to driving Acura/Honda/Subaru and having pretty cheap maintenance fees...

What else can people say about this car? Are the seats as comfortable as they look over a long period of time? I test drove one and it felt great, but for long stretches of road..how is it?

[jeffrey262]

Originally Posted by SorcierX

Just wondering if anyone can tell me what the most common issues are with these cars as I'm seeing them on AutoTrader being sold by dealerships with 75k miles on them for $17,600.... Only thing I can think of is that there has got to be something wrong with them.....

I've owned my 2005 M3 Convertible since new. I've had no mechanical issues beside mfg recall's. I have the M3 SMG Competition package.

There could be two issues on price. 1) as the other member specified -- the economy. 2) high mileage 3) Tranished Title. #3 will kill the car every time. BMW will not certify a car with a tranished title.