It's time for a new car. Is this a good buy?

[mrbaggio]

I did. It came with popped collar Lacoste shirt.

[Mike]

irresistible. wanna hang out? like now? setting it up with your sister on match right now.

[mrbaggio]

I can't tell if you are being a dick or joking around so I'll just leave it.

[Sijray21]

irresistible. wanna hang out? like now? setting it up with your sisters on match right now.

ftfy

nice pick up!

[mrbaggio]

one got married jray

[Mike]

jray is the dick. i'm joking around because we've already joked about it,

[D_Eclipse9916]

Long time no post, but I figured I'd chime in - I picked up an e46 M3 ('05, 44k miles) about a month and a half ago, and I have about 3k miles in it so far.

Absolutely love the thing. I wouldn't get anything earlier than a MY03.5+ (difference in model years here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://m3.madrussian.net/modelchanges.shtml">http://m3.madrussian.net/modelchanges.shtml</a><!-- m -->), though they're all pretty solid. The bearing issue is pretty much a moot point by now - most, if not all, have been fixed. I'm still learning about these cars, but here are some random things to know about:

1) Rear subframe mounting points have been known to tear (supposedly only on abused cars), but there's a class action lawsuit...dealers were (maybe still are?) inspecting and fixing for free, but I don't know when that ends (I'm still CPO'd). Get a PPI.
2) Inspection I's ($500-800) every 30k miles, Inspection II's every 60k miles ($1000-1500).
3) Oil changes are expensive - about $90 or so just for oil (Castrol TWS 10w-60) and filter kit. BMW recommends every 15k miles, but most shoot for at least half that.
4) Rear tires don't last long.
5) I've read the usual forum bit about vanos and coil pack issues - don't know if they're anecdotal/internet-y or widespread.
6) Lotta guys that drive them are douchebags.
7) Coupla good stickies here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/forumdisplay.php?f=9">http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/forumdisplay.php?f=9</a><!-- m -->

I've rented an e90 328i and the e46 is just much more everything - faster, louder, better looking, harsher, more fun. I've been surprised by the rawness of it, but it's still a BMW, and way nicer than my S2000 and STi were.

Oh, and get a 3 pedaled one.

My mom fell in love with my M3 before I stripped it out, enough that she had me looking for them for her. May be picking up a topaz blue with black interior SMG M3 this week, already test drove and inspected and looks great. Anybody have facts on cars? My mom and I have test-driven 30-40 cars for her and this is the first one aside from the Audi TT that she loved (but wanted 4 seats and I dont want to deal with a vw). My mom isnt exactly average though, she takes incredible care of her cars. Bought her 1989 Mercedes 300TE wagon brand new and it still drives amazing, not a single rip in the seats, has almost perfect intrior and was always hand-washed and garaged. (and she no longers considers it garaged cause its not garaged at work lol.) and I took over the garage............

Opinions? Walkinto a trap? Its a ridiculous deal.....

[Beej]

My mom fell in love with my M3 before I stripped it out, enough that she had me looking for them for her. May be picking up a topaz blue with black interior SMG M3 this week, already test drove and inspected and looks great. Anybody have facts on cars? My mom and I have test-driven 30-40 cars for her and this is the first one aside from the Audi TT that she loved (but wanted 4 seats and I dont want to deal with a vw). My mom isnt exactly average though, she takes incredible care of her cars. Bought her 1989 Mercedes 300TE wagon brand new and it still drives amazing, not a single rip in the seats, has almost perfect intrior and was always hand-washed and garaged. (and she no longers considers it garaged cause its not garaged at work lol.) and I took over the garage............

Opinions? Walkinto a trap? Its a ridiculous deal.....

I'm kinda surprised an older woman would want one - they can be kind of stiff and uncomfortable to non-enthusiasts...which maybe she's not one of. As long as she knows what she's getting into with relatively expensive maintenance, they're great cars.

I wouldn't touch SMG myself, but they're not horrible. - lots of internet complaints about it (never looked into the specifics, but at least one part (pump?) is expensive) and the one time I took mine to a shop, the guy was on the phone ordering an SMG pump (hooray anecdotes!). I just don't know enough to speak to their general reliability.

Other than the list above, I've only discovered one new thing that's kind of scary - it seems to be newfound and so I don't know how widespread it is. The VANOS bolts seem to wear down/back out and if they go, so does the motor. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=321494">http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=321494</a><!-- m -->

Oh, and it seems that every e46 self-dimming rearview mirror eventually has a leak and stops doing it's thang. It's like an $80 fix.

[D_Eclipse9916]

She wants something "exciting" apparently (I got an email with that...from my mom...kinda weirded me out). So thats why I took her, and she fell in love. She says ingress/egress is perfect, the back supports apparently hit her perfectly and she just loves the look, says it doesnt look all "family car" like all the 330i, g35, c300, (Dont even mention subaru legacy to her or volvo, she has a strange hate of them). We have driven 30-40 cars so when I saw her get excited, it may cost a bit more but be worth it. She put away $35,000 in 1990 for a new car then so shes had plenty of opportunity to get whatever she wanted.....but yeah.... she just doesnt like any of the newer cars. And yes we considered a new e92 M3, but like me, my mom hates depreciation, she will let someone else take the hit.

Plus she asked if people would look at it more than a regular car, I gauranteed her at least that.