hello iam a 33 years old guy and iam currently fighting the cancer, the BMW e46 is my dream car and iam living in Iran, we dont have the m3 variation in our country and we just have the 4 door sedan with n46 inline 4 engine, Tavarish my man you are riding my dream car, i would give anything to be at your place reving this car and be able to work on it, i hope some day i would be able to have one and have the same feeling as you reving it in second gear like the video. hope i would be alive till you start working on it and seeing it restored and it getting the attention it deserves. if i were you i would install a m3 GTR500 body kit on it and make it a NFS most wanted m3 GTR replica. much love for you guys.❤
Honestly, I expected a LOT worse when Freddie told us it cost $6k. The fact it drives, has no major rust issues and as a 10 foot car looks cosmetically ok, that's a decent bargain. Obviously that may change once you get into the woods, and the big risk is the cheap manual conversion, but so far, it looks an ok buy.
@@SasquatchChief No need to take it out. As the previous owner (not the one who stanced it, the one who corrected that awful decision) I can tell you it has had a full rebuild with a new oil pump, rod bearings, a head fresh out of the machine shop, rebuilt and upgraded vanos components across the board, and many other things I can't think of currently. The oil leak was the last thing I was chasing down before I was forced to sell the car, though I believe it's coming from the high pressure line that feeds into the top of the vanos unit. The clutch and flywheel are brand new as well, but the set I chose was a single mass flywheel which explains some of the vibration. The center support bearing was definitely on it's way out though, so that's most likely what he's talking about in the video. The cheap manual conversion is because doing it properly is $1500+, and in college I simply couldn't afford that yet. I did have plans to eventually switch out this shifter because even I wasn't aware of how bad it was when I bought it.
@@alexandermckay8594 He didn't show this in the video but the cluster was swapped. So the actual mileage (which is accurate) is 165k miles. But the odometer shows 110k. Also, it's a rebuilt title that leaks oil, needs all new suspension (the control arms are bent all over because New York roads don't treat cars well), and also needs a LOT of cosmetic work. In general, it was hard to find someone actually willing to buy the car in it's state because everyone wants the "mint condition only driven on the highway" blah blah blah, and even with everything I had fixed, it was hard to sell the car.
Definitely an exaggeration of condition. Very good for 6k. Worth exactly what you paid for considering the market right now. Bought mine back in 2018 for 9k with none of these minor issues outside of rock chipped paint. This is going to be one of your better builds tbh. Looking forward to seeing the end result.
I would love to be able to find another good e46 m3 , it was my most reliable m3 I’ve ever had and I had the e92 and I currently have the f80 . I miss my e46 m3.
Definitely not a bad starting point! It’s good that there are still parts readily available to bring this M3 back to life. Can’t wait to see you build it better!!
Hey! As the previous owner, I thought I'd clear up a few things here. First off, the engine is a fresh rebuild with new rod bearings, oil pump, a freshly reworked head, rebuilt and upgraded vanos (exhaust hub had the tab snapped off when I pulled the motor apart) so the motor itself is solid. The oil leak I believe is from the vanos high pressure line, it was something I had been tracking down for a long time but wasn't ever able to fix. I did the manual swap with the RTD shifter due to cost reasons, and wasn't aware of how difficult it would make it to find 1st and 2nd, otherwise I wouldn't have done it. The clutch and flywheel are brand new, but it's a single mass setup which explains part of the vibration. The center support bearing on the driveshaft is most likely bad, and this was also something I didn't get around to. The rear subframe was reinforced, so that's not a concern anymore either. There's many more things that I fixed/worked on over the years, so this car is actually in a really good state outside of the oil leak, suspension, and driveshaft. Also the oil temperature does work, I reprogrammed the range so it made more sense compared to how it is factory.
My 02 M3 has 329,583k miles on it right now as I drive to work and I never have any problems with it and still runs like a champ and never had to replace anything big on it and hardly anything small except normal wear and tear. I drive it everyday and from the northern most part of Tennessee to Atlanta, Georgia at least once a month. I did make sure that it had been taken care of before I bought it. You bought the wrong tree E46 brother. I won't ever sale my M3 I love it!
I've daily driven my e46 m3 for 2 years now; bought it at 109k, and it has 142k on it now and hasn't skipped a beat. Yes they are more expensive to maintain than a something like a Honda, but if you do your research, buy the right car, and do preventative maintenance, they really aren't too bad. I spent more money maintaining my MK6 GTI (even with a warranty intact for some of my ownership) than i have on the m3.
I ran my M3 at Nurburgring for 3 years. And BEAT the snot out of it. My biggest expenses were tires and brakes. Car never gave problems and loved to be hit hard. Only major expense was when I money shifted and blew the clutch. Oh Wel. Still love that car I miss it
E46s are great overall (granted I owned one for 14yrs), and I actually think this was well bought for $6k. Parts availability and cost is pretty good, eBay Motors or otherwise, and they're not a nightmare to work on. I suspect this will turn out pretty well.
But after getting rear subframe intact - in higher power levels... it just breaks from car, because floorpan was designed poorly. In 316i i doubt You would lose rear subframe :D
The e36, e46, e39 of these years were some of the best bmw’s ever made. Very reliable if maintained well. This e46 M3 being the most legendary M (in my opinion) of all time changed the game and shifted the whole industry when it came out. I’m an Ex Audi Master Tech but I’m very familiar with these cars and looking forward to this build 🙏
@@gladdy6412 The E30 M3 was a terrible seller. Terrible. They grew legendary over years with racing results and eventual classic status. But no owners are exactly complimentary of how powerful or smooth or luxurious they are. “But raw feel” !! 🤔😜
Long time e46 owner, I looking forward to this build. First thing first is the big 3, rod bearings, vanos, and rear subframe reinforcement. As far as the expansion tank I believe the M3 cooling system is more stout than the non-m counterpart, not as a big of an issue, but as preventative maintenance I would re do the cooling system I hope you do a sick NA build with CSL airbox, cams, exhaust, and full custom tune.
VANOS is a bit blown out of proportion. Same with rod bearings. Odds are it needs them at that mileage, but it's effectively a wear item that can generously be done every 100k for total peace of mind. Karbonius airbox and Schrick 288/280 cams are the way. Ask me how I know 😉
In my opinion BMW's reliability issues are really overblown. Some of the M series and others are definitely unreliable, but e36-e46 inline sixes are awesome, very reliable with proper mantainence A lot of people buy the older ones and complain about prices for parts and forgot that they are paying for parts for a car that originally sold for 80k but now has lost 70k of value. They are expecting prices for an economy car.
@@Krozhin I did just have to replace the radiator and it was $600, the plastic cracked. But the previous owner never had any major issues over 120k miles.
I'm sick of all these TH-camrs saying it's the worst car in the country and it's "so much worse than you think" when in reality it's probably nicer than most viewers' vehicles
The problem with these cars are the owners. When they got cheaper the people that bought them barely had the money to put fuel in them let alone maintain them properly. That said, find a nice one with the 6 speed (with no pointless mods) and its a wonderful car and is definitely an appreciating classic. A dog like this one needs to be turned into a drift car or just parted out.
Lol not really. A BMW will break down overtime no matter the model. I had a 2012 8 series and that was biggest pos you could ever buy, issues from mechanical to every electrical issue you could think of. Got an Audi A8 and 0 issues for 3 years.
@@HashMaster1776 I have been around these cars for years and the one's that have been abused tend to repay in kind with blown diffs, roasted clutch etc etc, the ones treated nice tend to be reliable.
@@HashMaster1776 have owned 6 plus bmws driven from 100k to over 300k with zero issues on original engines and more. Same with plenty of people I know. It is more about where the person takes it and owner than the car 98% of the time.
I work at an euro shop. We usually send the transmission bellhousing for machining for smg to manuel swap. If you already haven’t done it. They also sell it on eBay just the bell housing. I’d recommend for maintenance .water pump, thermostats, valve cover gasket. Coils, plugs, rear and front main seal. Oil pan with gasket. Belts and tensioners and servicing the rod bearings.
BMWs in general are a nightmare to own.. they are fun and amazing to drive when theyre new and everything is working. this is coming from someone who has owned E46 in the past and is still currently a BMW owner and BMW enthusiast
I'm glad you talked about the rear subframe body cracking. Every E46 (and E36) needs the re-enforcement so you don't drive around a corner and wonder why the back of the car is going away and the wheels and tires are going the other way.
I daily my 2004 e46 M3 and its been solid for 6 years. Yes, I spend a lot on preventative maintenance, and there's the occasional big bill(rear diffs go out on these!), but it's just a killer car to own and drive!
It's still a real M3, man! Better than no car at all and you're left poor, alone, and stranded on the street. I always tend to look at the positives when it comes to cars, man. Lol. It can be fixed! Clean it up, too!
Thats an amazing deal for $6k. You got a running and driving E46 hardtop with a decrnt body for that money. Definitely exaggerated its condition too, car has a lot of potential.
Met an owner today of the same exact m3 in the video . Color,wheels, and a manual. Owner said it was his baby and it only has 60k but has kept up with it at every moment. Made my day
Daily drove an 05 745li with 120k i picked up in ‘13 for 9k. Drove it for 4 years with two kids and it was amazing. Only issue i ran into was an ignition coil went out on the way home from work. Stopped at an autozone and scanned it. Grabbed a coil and plug at oreillys. 20 minutes later it was fine. Best car I’ve ever owned. But i was probably lucky Maintenence wise tho
This is 2004 bmw bmw. It used to be my car I bought it recovered stolen from md. It was such a clean car smg worked fine. Sold to my friend and he sold it to Tavarish
I just bought an E46 M3 and I have a lot to learn, haha. I also have a similar shifter from RTD. I'm not sure how I like it yet, but I'm looking into CoolerWorkz and CAE.
Yes, mechanically it's very messy, but the interior is still in good shape. Exterior items can all be addressed. But the car itself is great looking. This was the pinnacle of BMW design IMO.
The owner has commented on here the rod bearings are done and you say the subframe is okay. If those points are true this car is worth saving. Has a lot of potential. Shame about the title.
My brother loved BMW. Fell in love when he was in Germany. Here is the one thing I can say about a BMW, I loved the driving experience. The first BMW I drove was my cousin’s car and it was AMAZING! Then my brother came down and he was driving this BMW that was literally in pieces, however I drove it and it handled just like my cousin’s new one. I mean I get the appeal. However I agree about the unreliability. I’ve heard too many stories from wannabe yuppies.
The M car isn’t as reliable as the m division, but just more expensive in general maintenance if you get a good one. The brand as a whole is not a good way to look. E30’s, e36’s, e46’s, and e92 non m m50/m52/m54 are very reliable and with proper work and maintenance more reliable then most cars My e46’s ‘05 330ci coupe zhp 6 speed 114k ‘02 330ci auto vert :( 162k
I've owned BMW's my whole life, DON'T GO MORE THAN 5K ON OIL and change the auto trans fluid around 50k and it will last. I've not had many issues except for an electric water pump and a coolant hose. The problem with most Bimmers is that they sit up a lot, they don't get driven enough. If you think about it, most cars that don't get driven will have issues... WHICH IS WHY IT'S NOT ALWAYS the best idea to buy "that elderly persons car" you know, the car that only gets driven to the store and back, they get no heat cycles and rubber gets old after around 6 to 10 years.
I've wanted a E46 since I got into cars and have had mine for w years now and I still love it. Problem with alot of them is that they get neglected and the problems are fixed for the time being not properly. Can't wait to see what you do with it
6k... Literally 4k under market for a wrecked car, the engine alone is 8k plus the transmission being 3k makes any running m3 a 10k+ car, the fact that its complete is astonishing. I do not know where people find this stuff, i was going to buy a wrecked one from copart but it went for 18k.
I recently found Hoovies Garage through a youtube algorithm. So I immediately became a fan. Then I consumed all the Car Trek series and became a fan of Ed and Tavarish. Fred has quickly become my favorite. Still love Tyler and Ed, but Tavarish is a real dude! I can't get enough!
Hey Tavarish, I can’t wait to see the progress on the the e46 m3!! Since the paint job is horrible please please repaint it OEM Laguna Seca Blue!!! because that silver needs to go, it seems to me like 80% of m3s on the the road are in that silver color, just my personal opinion.
Color is Titanium Silver and it was the base base color is my understanding. But agree I hate this color. Had a silver grey. Did some carbon fiber parts and room wrap for a sleek look.
I'm glad that someone said it. The paint vs. wrap thing has always puzzled me. $3k for a wrap that lasts 3ish years or $5-6k for a paint job that can last upwards of 10 years..
I totally agree with Jack on the paint and wrap thing, I hate wrapping cars, it's just like budget cover up of things that are wrong with the car. And you are right about it too freddy
To be fair, I got an '00 328i manual with the BBS sport package for $2k wrecked when I turned 21 (super low speed, mostly cosmetic damage), rebuilt it myself in about a month with $2k in parts, a lot of which were upgrades, and it was reliable to drive but it randomly fried the steering wheel slip ring (no more wheel buttons) and had a saggy headliner and I learned how to replace window regulators with that car. I put about 50k on the ODO then sold it for $4500. Guy was so stoked for it too even with the issues. I showed the guy who bought it all of my work as well as receipts for everything indicating they were genuine parts, so he knew it was rebuilt despite having a clean title (airbags never deployed and both parties elected to not report the collision). He said it was the cleanest one he had seen at that price point. Perfect subframe, upgrades pre-done, and the entire cooling system was already rebuilt. I even wrote up a whole post on Bimmerforums way back documenting my progress, parts and price lists. $6k for one of these really is a steal...you can hardly get a ZHP for that price anymore. I just personally prefer working on Japanese over German. Fun fact: the MAF sensor from a Hyundai XG300 ended up being a direct fit for the 99-00 E46. So I used a genuine Hyundai part for that because it was cheaper to source and a closer dealership to bike to.
I was totally disinterested in this video in it’s entirety until Jack said he came from Minitruckin and now I’m a permanent fan of Jack….and hope we get some Minitruckin stories. Prost
Hey I once bought a E46 BMW for 6.000 too! It cost me 21k over 4 years. Looks cool, drives awesome, fastest car to make you bancrupt! It takes years to fill that moneypit 😅
I like to think what he is actually doing here is what they refer to as “high level market research.” Taking a product that everyone says is great and actually, proving or disproving whether it is as great as they say or not. I feel like he's done this time and time again but for whatever reason I'm not sick of the format I still love it. Tavarish keep doing what you're doing and I'll keep watching.
The bmw hate is hilarious lol man 1995-2004 gotta be some of the most reliable models ever made. I drove my 1998 7 series up and down the east coast for years, my dad has a 5 speed 89 5 series … driving to work, idk 🤷🏽♂️
I own a 2004 bmw e46 m3 and I’ve replaced my rob bearings and vanos. Car hasn’t had any issues other than a thermostat. these cars are reliable if you fix the major fail points right away. Don’t be afraid to buy one. They are great daily’s, and can even handle Las Vegas heat
It's not in horrible condition, prior owner absolutely ruined the vehicle with BS modifications. It's a M car and you really shouldn't do much and keep it stock for the most part. These are well built vehicles and if you hate BMW so much, why'd you bother buying it for one video? Are you going to rebuild and get the vehicle in a better condition? I'd have to check the other videos to see what you ended up doing with this. But hop in my F90 M5 Competition and I bet you'd be having a lot of fun. These cars are beautifully designed and if maintained they'll last forever but may be expensive. However, that's what you have to come to understand. Only way around a dealership is having a former Master BMW Mechanic do the work or someone with extensive knowledge on mechanic repair of BMW's otherwise it's a waste to bring it to a shop that doesn't work on foreign vehicles.
Im sure you are aware, but just in case, scammers are high jacking your channel comments. Also, I absolutely agree with every word of the intro - I had an E46 M3 Coupe and loved it but it was an absolute money pit; I had to replace EVERYTHING!
My friend in college had a White M3 with black interior. I guess it was the previous generation M3, early or mid 90's. It was a beautiful car, fun to drive and he didn't have any mechanical issues with it. It did cost a fortune to replace the front bumper when a raccoon ran across the road in front of him (a bit too slowly) and smashed up the bumper. Of course, it didn't do the racoon any good either....
Not a BMW guy myself but you all have very valid points any M3 is suppose to be a driver's car. So minor upgrades fix the paint and the drivetrain and let it ride
"A mechanical nightmare to own" he says unironically, standing 15 feet away from an Esprit...
And Hoovies R8... AND a home made McLaren..
@@sigen7053 it's an 'artisan' McLaren😁
This is top tier comedy right here☝🏽
@@joshuakwayiba7603 indeed
P
hello iam a 33 years old guy and iam currently fighting the cancer, the BMW e46 is my dream car and iam living in Iran, we dont have the m3 variation in our country and we just have the 4 door sedan with n46 inline 4 engine, Tavarish my man you are riding my dream car, i would give anything to be at your place reving this car and be able to work on it, i hope some day i would be able to have one and have the same feeling as you reving it in second gear like the video. hope i would be alive till you start working on it and seeing it restored and it getting the attention it deserves. if i were you i would install a m3 GTR500 body kit on it and make it a NFS most wanted m3 GTR replica. much love for you guys.❤
I hope you’re doing well man
We share the same dream and I wish you luck in achieving yours !
You dead yet?😂😂 it's been 2 years😅
@@CameronAllen-r1sain’t funny..
Praying for you 🙏
Honestly, I expected a LOT worse when Freddie told us it cost $6k. The fact it drives, has no major rust issues and as a 10 foot car looks cosmetically ok, that's a decent bargain.
Obviously that may change once you get into the woods, and the big risk is the cheap manual conversion, but so far, it looks an ok buy.
Yes, need to see the status of the engine once it’s out.
@@SasquatchChief No need to take it out. As the previous owner (not the one who stanced it, the one who corrected that awful decision) I can tell you it has had a full rebuild with a new oil pump, rod bearings, a head fresh out of the machine shop, rebuilt and upgraded vanos components across the board, and many other things I can't think of currently. The oil leak was the last thing I was chasing down before I was forced to sell the car, though I believe it's coming from the high pressure line that feeds into the top of the vanos unit. The clutch and flywheel are brand new as well, but the set I chose was a single mass flywheel which explains some of the vibration. The center support bearing was definitely on it's way out though, so that's most likely what he's talking about in the video. The cheap manual conversion is because doing it properly is $1500+, and in college I simply couldn't afford that yet. I did have plans to eventually switch out this shifter because even I wasn't aware of how bad it was when I bought it.
@@GeekyGamer167 I like the honesty! I hope he does it justice
@@GeekyGamer167 With all that work, why so cheap? I woulda expected a sub $10k price because it's so clean.
@@alexandermckay8594 He didn't show this in the video but the cluster was swapped. So the actual mileage (which is accurate) is 165k miles. But the odometer shows 110k. Also, it's a rebuilt title that leaks oil, needs all new suspension (the control arms are bent all over because New York roads don't treat cars well), and also needs a LOT of cosmetic work. In general, it was hard to find someone actually willing to buy the car in it's state because everyone wants the "mint condition only driven on the highway" blah blah blah, and even with everything I had fixed, it was hard to sell the car.
that car is quite honestly a steal for 6k. as long you know what you’re doing. shifter needs adjustment but should work fine
Definitely an exaggeration of condition. Very good for 6k. Worth exactly what you paid for considering the market right now. Bought mine back in 2018 for 9k with none of these minor issues outside of rock chipped paint. This is going to be one of your better builds tbh. Looking forward to seeing the end result.
Lucky I want one and I want it to look like the iconic need for speed m3
You really expect him to actually finish a car and not just make 2 vids on it and let it rot?
I would love to be able to find another good e46 m3 , it was my most reliable m3 I’ve ever had and I had the e92 and I currently have the f80 . I miss my e46 m3.
this aged very well@@leaninheavy
This is going to be fun to watch haha!
You look like you work on cars to help others hmmm
Big fan Chris
Definitely not a bad starting point! It’s good that there are still parts readily available to bring this M3 back to life. Can’t wait to see you build it better!!
I hope he builds it better than the Z06 in Car Trek! Ha ha just kidding…sort of…
You'll never see it again.
Hey! As the previous owner, I thought I'd clear up a few things here. First off, the engine is a fresh rebuild with new rod bearings, oil pump, a freshly reworked head, rebuilt and upgraded vanos (exhaust hub had the tab snapped off when I pulled the motor apart) so the motor itself is solid. The oil leak I believe is from the vanos high pressure line, it was something I had been tracking down for a long time but wasn't ever able to fix. I did the manual swap with the RTD shifter due to cost reasons, and wasn't aware of how difficult it would make it to find 1st and 2nd, otherwise I wouldn't have done it. The clutch and flywheel are brand new, but it's a single mass setup which explains part of the vibration. The center support bearing on the driveshaft is most likely bad, and this was also something I didn't get around to. The rear subframe was reinforced, so that's not a concern anymore either. There's many more things that I fixed/worked on over the years, so this car is actually in a really good state outside of the oil leak, suspension, and driveshaft. Also the oil temperature does work, I reprogrammed the range so it made more sense compared to how it is factory.
@@GeekyGamer167 wish you had sold it to me lol!
@@ShopLifeTV I was also considering selling to M539 Restorations... Should have gotten all of you into a bidding war
My 02 M3 has 329,583k miles on it right now as I drive to work and I never have any problems with it and still runs like a champ and never had to replace anything big on it and hardly anything small except normal wear and tear. I drive it everyday and from the northern most part of Tennessee to Atlanta, Georgia at least once a month. I did make sure that it had been taken care of before I bought it. You bought the wrong tree E46 brother. I won't ever sale my M3 I love it!
I've daily driven my e46 m3 for 2 years now; bought it at 109k, and it has 142k on it now and hasn't skipped a beat. Yes they are more expensive to maintain than a something like a Honda, but if you do your research, buy the right car, and do preventative maintenance, they really aren't too bad. I spent more money maintaining my MK6 GTI (even with a warranty intact for some of my ownership) than i have on the m3.
I ran my M3 at Nurburgring for 3 years. And BEAT the snot out of it. My biggest expenses were tires and brakes. Car never gave problems and loved to be hit hard. Only major expense was when I money shifted and blew the clutch. Oh Wel. Still love that car I miss it
@@yagesz what happened to it ?
my buddy and i are big time e46 guys and we would buy this instantly and make it a proper manual. Then just enjoy the car
30k isn't much tbh. That should be expected. 200k is where you'll start to see things go down. At least once you start creeping up on it
I love my mk6 gti so much, but it's currently sitting in my parking lot with a nice new window installed right into the block! So I get you lmao
I swear Samcrac and Tavarish are competing on how many junkers they can pick up without actually finishing anything, must be a Florida Man thing 😅
I could smell the interior as soon as you opened the door.
Yup they make a habbit of it. Mostly i ignore it but it gets annoying.
It's an Idiots With Money and a camera thing. If he wasn't fat he'd look like a homeless dude. "That's not slow" 🦥🦥🦥
I could smell the interior as soon as you opened the door.
mmm. crayons...
11h ago wut?
Smells like bro dude.
@@MobbDizzle smells like dude bro
I have two e46’s… it smells like leather, not a vw beetle
E46s are great overall (granted I owned one for 14yrs), and I actually think this was well bought for $6k. Parts availability and cost is pretty good, eBay Motors or otherwise, and they're not a nightmare to work on. I suspect this will turn out pretty well.
But after getting rear subframe intact - in higher power levels... it just breaks from car, because floorpan was designed poorly. In 316i i doubt You would lose rear subframe :D
@@mmllmmll22 The car designed for the 333hp in came with, most cars from this area break when you overpower them
The e36, e46, e39 of these years were some of the best bmw’s ever made. Very reliable if maintained well. This e46 M3 being the most legendary M (in my opinion) of all time changed the game and shifted the whole industry when it came out. I’m an Ex Audi Master Tech but I’m very familiar with these cars and looking forward to this build 🙏
I agree! They have got more ugly ever since.
e30 m3 really changed the whole industry, E46 was just perfected formula of E30.
Your very wrong.. E30 M3 is the most legendary BMW ever.. if say a sharknose is second to that
@@ETH85 its all opinions, nobody is wrong.
@@gladdy6412 The E30 M3 was a terrible seller. Terrible. They grew legendary over years with racing results and eventual classic status. But no owners are exactly complimentary of how powerful or smooth or luxurious they are. “But raw feel” !! 🤔😜
Long time e46 owner, I looking forward to this build. First thing first is the big 3, rod bearings, vanos, and rear subframe reinforcement.
As far as the expansion tank I believe the M3 cooling system is more stout than the non-m counterpart, not as a big of an issue, but as preventative maintenance I would re do the cooling system
I hope you do a sick NA build with CSL airbox, cams, exhaust, and full custom tune.
M cars have a lower temperature thermostat so the plastic parts don’t get baked as fast.
Should definitely watch Mat Armstrong e46 M3 rebuild.
VANOS is a bit blown out of proportion. Same with rod bearings. Odds are it needs them at that mileage, but it's effectively a wear item that can generously be done every 100k for total peace of mind.
Karbonius airbox and Schrick 288/280 cams are the way. Ask me how I know 😉
@@alexbrown916 i know the e92 bearing issue well...but whats causes the premature wear on the e46 ?
@@BETNCORT The same issue. As with many other BMWs that suffer the same problem
Would love to see this remade in a similar way that the Mclaren was done. Possibly convert it to the M3 CS spec. That would be amazing.
Fully agree specially since are plenty people who build NFS Most Wanted GTR replicas out of these..
Yess do it like the mclaren
@@poplaurentiu4148
Plenty? Or not enough?…
I’ve only found like 2-3😂
@@poplaurentiu4148 No need for another NFS MW build. I want to see it OEM, factory spec but built to the same standards of the McLaren.
@@1carusGG oem factory is the only way to go for m3s, i hate that rice burner shit
The plastics in cooling systems, Vanos unreliability etc etc are BMW problems but a straight six manual BMW is a joy to drive. They're great cars.
In my opinion BMW's reliability issues are really overblown. Some of the M series and others are definitely unreliable, but e36-e46 inline sixes are awesome, very reliable with proper mantainence A lot of people buy the older ones and complain about prices for parts and forgot that they are paying for parts for a car that originally sold for 80k but now has lost 70k of value. They are expecting prices for an economy car.
As a 17 year old that just bought an e90 328i I hope you're right.
@@spicysnowman8886 youre better off than the 335i guys lol
@@joesephjostar8288 it's a manual, and plenty of power for me so I'm very happy with it.
@@spicysnowman8886 The N53 is bulletproof, but the HPFP is a failure point, though not a common one.
@@Krozhin I did just have to replace the radiator and it was $600, the plastic cracked. But the previous owner never had any major issues over 120k miles.
I'm sick of all these TH-camrs saying it's the worst car in the country and it's "so much worse than you think" when in reality it's probably nicer than most viewers' vehicles
The problem with these cars are the owners. When they got cheaper the people that bought them barely had the money to put fuel in them let alone maintain them properly. That said, find a nice one with the 6 speed (with no pointless mods) and its a wonderful car and is definitely an appreciating classic.
A dog like this one needs to be turned into a drift car or just parted out.
Lol not really. A BMW will break down overtime no matter the model. I had a 2012 8 series and that was biggest pos you could ever buy, issues from mechanical to every electrical issue you could think of. Got an Audi A8 and 0 issues for 3 years.
LOL me with my Z3
@@HashMaster1776 I have been around these cars for years and the one's that have been abused tend to repay in kind with blown diffs, roasted clutch etc etc, the ones treated nice tend to be reliable.
@@HashMaster1776 have owned 6 plus bmws driven from 100k to over 300k with zero issues on original engines and more. Same with plenty of people I know. It is more about where the person takes it and owner than the car 98% of the time.
@@wrz4581 yeah people who are biased tend to say things like that.
I work at an euro shop. We usually send the transmission bellhousing for machining for smg to manuel swap. If you already haven’t done it. They also sell it on eBay just the bell housing. I’d recommend for maintenance .water pump, thermostats, valve cover gasket. Coils, plugs, rear and front main seal. Oil pan with gasket. Belts and tensioners and servicing the rod bearings.
"Build it better....."
Remember when modifying, dont forget the rear axle 😉😅
Actual dream car. The E46 M3 is one of the cars that got me into cars.
Yep that means we’ll see the follow up episode in 18-24 months 🤣🤣🤣
BMWs in general are a nightmare to own.. they are fun and amazing to drive when theyre new and everything is working. this is coming from someone who has owned E46 in the past and is still currently a BMW owner and BMW enthusiast
I'm glad you talked about the rear subframe body cracking. Every E46 (and E36) needs the re-enforcement so you don't drive around a corner and wonder why the back of the car is going away and the wheels and tires are going the other way.
I daily my 2004 e46 M3 and its been solid for 6 years. Yes, I spend a lot on preventative maintenance, and there's the occasional big bill(rear diffs go out on these!), but it's just a killer car to own and drive!
This is going to be a great build series the e46 M is a gorgeous rocket ship, it’s cool that this one is going to have a new life!
Naaaah! A REALLY GOOD paint job is the best upgrade a car can have NO LIE! Even more so than Deep dish BBS and A crazy motor swap!
I dont know if i should listen to people who dont know how to switch gear on a E46 ...
I paid $6500 for one, that was slightly worse than this, couple years back. They are so easy to work on don't let people lie to you
Thanks Freddy, us e46 owners can now enjoy a rebuild that’s close to our hearts. I know you guys will do an amazing job. 👍
I unno about that, us SC guys have been waiting over half a year for any new content smh.
3 years from now, maybe?
It's still a real M3, man! Better than no car at all and you're left poor, alone, and stranded on the street. I always tend to look at the positives when it comes to cars, man. Lol. It can be fixed! Clean it up, too!
Thats an amazing deal for $6k. You got a running and driving E46 hardtop with a decrnt body for that money. Definitely exaggerated its condition too, car has a lot of potential.
Jack is a big help on body work!
Where is the next episode?
Is there one?
Met an owner today of the same exact m3 in the video . Color,wheels, and a manual. Owner said it was his baby and it only has 60k but has kept up with it at every moment. Made my day
I'm not a BMW fan at all, but this generation of M3 and the late 90s/early 2000s 7 series (like Hoovie had) are beautiful cars I would love to drive.
Agree, I'm a bit biased since I have a 98 740, and I love the hell out of it
Daily drove an 05 745li with 120k i picked up in ‘13 for 9k. Drove it for 4 years with two kids and it was amazing. Only issue i ran into was an ignition coil went out on the way home from work. Stopped at an autozone and scanned it. Grabbed a coil and plug at oreillys. 20 minutes later it was fine. Best car I’ve ever owned. But i was probably lucky Maintenence wise tho
This is 2004 bmw bmw. It used to be my car I bought it recovered stolen from md. It was such a clean car smg worked fine. Sold to my friend and he sold it to Tavarish
Is this another one of Freddie’s unfinished projects?
Didn't know Captain Holt's Husband was a mechanic, pretty sweet.
Go over the transmission, and the way it was swapped including the wiring if you can. It would really help a lot to see a swap done right!
tans is a simple fix since i assume they are getting a new clutch
My first interaction with a E46 M3 was the Swedish built "loaded", that thing was a beautiful masterpiece.
I will always love this car specifically because it was the main car from Need For Speed Most Wanted, one of favorite racing games of all time
Mini trucks are dope. That should be your next build!
Tavarish, for the love of god plz finish ur other cars!!
Thank you for speaking the truth. A good paint job is better than any wrap job.
Heck yeah watching love that clay crayon interior smell of the older bmws
As painter I totally agree with your stance on wraps.
I just bought an E46 M3 and I have a lot to learn, haha. I also have a similar shifter from RTD. I'm not sure how I like it yet, but I'm looking into CoolerWorkz and CAE.
"You think it has 200,000 miles? ... ... it has 200,000 miles" 🤣🤣💀💀
E46 drivers represent! Nice to see some BMW content up in here.
6k for a sorta running m3... is, in the e46 m3s birthcountry, a gift... sure, it'd need a few k in rebuilding, but... damn
Make it the most wanted BMW
E46 M3’s are GOAT status 🤟🏻
Had mine since 2011, love it. Do a CSL plus conversion S54’s with carbon plenums sound glorious.
Yes, mechanically it's very messy, but the interior is still in good shape. Exterior items can all be addressed. But the car itself is great looking. This was the pinnacle of BMW design IMO.
The owner has commented on here the rod bearings are done and you say the subframe is okay. If those points are true this car is worth saving. Has a lot of potential. Shame about the title.
My brother loved BMW. Fell in love when he was in Germany. Here is the one thing I can say about a BMW, I loved the driving experience. The first BMW I drove was my cousin’s car and it was AMAZING! Then my brother came down and he was driving this BMW that was literally in pieces, however I drove it and it handled just like my cousin’s new one. I mean I get the appeal. However I agree about the unreliability. I’ve heard too many stories from wannabe yuppies.
The M car isn’t as reliable as the m division, but just more expensive in general maintenance if you get a good one. The brand as a whole is not a good way to look. E30’s, e36’s, e46’s, and e92 non m m50/m52/m54 are very reliable and with proper work and maintenance more reliable then most cars
My e46’s
‘05 330ci coupe zhp 6 speed 114k
‘02 330ci auto vert :( 162k
I own a 2008 328i with 120k miles and it drives and handles like new.
Bring this back!
a bmw never disappoints hope you enjoy it
as a bmw owner, it absolutely has disappointed me a couple times, but that hasn't been enough to get rid of it! (e34 owner for 18 yrs)
by far is not the worst in the country... just need a new gearbox and a bit of love
Jack is the best. Make sure he's on your channel for a very long time
I've owned BMW's my whole life, DON'T GO MORE THAN 5K ON OIL and change the auto trans fluid around 50k and it will last. I've not had many issues except for an electric water pump and a coolant hose. The problem with most Bimmers is that they sit up a lot, they don't get driven enough. If you think about it, most cars that don't get driven will have issues... WHICH IS WHY IT'S NOT ALWAYS the best idea to buy "that elderly persons car" you know, the car that only gets driven to the store and back, they get no heat cycles and rubber gets old after around 6 to 10 years.
I've wanted a E46 since I got into cars and have had mine for w years now and I still love it. Problem with alot of them is that they get neglected and the problems are fixed for the time being not properly. Can't wait to see what you do with it
@Sly Rax I'm curious too
I bet 2
6k... Literally 4k under market for a wrecked car, the engine alone is 8k plus the transmission being 3k makes any running m3 a 10k+ car, the fact that its complete is astonishing. I do not know where people find this stuff, i was going to buy a wrecked one from copart but it went for 18k.
I really wanna see this get turned into an M3 GTR…not because of Need For Speed nostalgia, definitely not.
nothing beats the sound of 6 independent throttle bodies
Your so wrong about BMW I have owned an E92 M3 6 years and 2 X5s over 8 years neither has ever had any issues. They are also great looking cars 😂
I’ve had 8 BMW’s .. he’s not wrong . Your just lucky. The x5 are the worst cars BMW ever made so you got very lucky 😂
So pumped for this project!!!
Does this guy ever finish any project? Asking for me…
I recently found Hoovies Garage through a youtube algorithm. So I immediately became a fan. Then I consumed all the Car Trek series and became a fan of Ed and Tavarish. Fred has quickly become my favorite. Still love Tyler and Ed, but Tavarish is a real dude! I can't get enough!
Hey Tavarish, I can’t wait to see the progress on the the e46 m3!! Since the paint job is horrible please please repaint it OEM Laguna Seca Blue!!! because that silver needs to go, it seems to me like 80% of m3s on the the road are in that silver color, just my personal opinion.
Color is Titanium Silver and it was the base base color is my understanding. But agree I hate this color. Had a silver grey. Did some carbon fiber parts and room wrap for a sleek look.
Laguna Seca Blue would be soooo nice. I would settle for Alpine White on some CSLs tho ;)
I'm glad that someone said it. The paint vs. wrap thing has always puzzled me. $3k for a wrap that lasts 3ish years or $5-6k for a paint job that can last upwards of 10 years..
An oem quality paint job can last 20 to 30 years if taken care of.
Update about the m3???
As a kid who grew up with Nfs most wanted, this was a dream car for a long time
One of the best looking cars ever produced.
Finally Freddy…welcome to the club bro…excited about this build!! YESSSS!!!!
I totally agree with Jack on the paint and wrap thing, I hate wrapping cars, it's just like budget cover up of things that are wrong with the car. And you are right about it too freddy
People always hate on bmws till the drive a good one. They want to hate it but they can't.
Freddy, you need a Smart ForTwo 450 in your garage 😂
To be fair, I got an '00 328i manual with the BBS sport package for $2k wrecked when I turned 21 (super low speed, mostly cosmetic damage), rebuilt it myself in about a month with $2k in parts, a lot of which were upgrades, and it was reliable to drive but it randomly fried the steering wheel slip ring (no more wheel buttons) and had a saggy headliner and I learned how to replace window regulators with that car. I put about 50k on the ODO then sold it for $4500. Guy was so stoked for it too even with the issues.
I showed the guy who bought it all of my work as well as receipts for everything indicating they were genuine parts, so he knew it was rebuilt despite having a clean title (airbags never deployed and both parties elected to not report the collision). He said it was the cleanest one he had seen at that price point. Perfect subframe, upgrades pre-done, and the entire cooling system was already rebuilt. I even wrote up a whole post on Bimmerforums way back documenting my progress, parts and price lists. $6k for one of these really is a steal...you can hardly get a ZHP for that price anymore. I just personally prefer working on Japanese over German.
Fun fact: the MAF sensor from a Hyundai XG300 ended up being a direct fit for the 99-00 E46. So I used a genuine Hyundai part for that because it was cheaper to source and a closer dealership to bike to.
Andrew got a nice job, Jared got the the Wrech channel. Let's what Jack gets when he graduates.
I was totally disinterested in this video in it’s entirety until Jack said he came from Minitruckin and now I’m a permanent fan of Jack….and hope we get some Minitruckin stories. Prost
Soon
whatever happened to this car
Hey I once bought a E46 BMW for 6.000 too! It cost me 21k over 4 years. Looks cool, drives awesome, fastest car to make you bancrupt! It takes years to fill that moneypit 😅
That is going to be one extensive rebuild.
awsome to see a e46 m3 on your channel. if you ever can get yourself a zhp/zam. even more rare than a m3 and just as fun with less issues
I like to think what he is actually doing here is what they refer to as “high level market research.” Taking a product that everyone says is great and actually, proving or disproving whether it is as great as they say or not. I feel like he's done this time and time again but for whatever reason I'm not sick of the format I still love it. Tavarish keep doing what you're doing and I'll keep watching.
You probably have the most interesting content on TH-cam.. I absolutely love it!!
Can't wait for the follow up vids. I love the E46 M3's
I'm the only one that wants to know when this build come back to the chanel?
U see because I love your video I won’t unsubscribe
The bmw hate is hilarious lol man 1995-2004 gotta be some of the most reliable models ever made. I drove my 1998 7 series up and down the east coast for years, my dad has a 5 speed 89 5 series … driving to work, idk 🤷🏽♂️
I own a 2004 bmw e46 m3 and I’ve replaced my rob bearings and vanos. Car hasn’t had any issues other than a thermostat. these cars are reliable if you fix the major fail points right away. Don’t be afraid to buy one. They are great daily’s, and can even handle Las Vegas heat
Jesus, this right here is my dream car and it was a steal for 6k, I wish I could find deals like this.
Right
It's not in horrible condition, prior owner absolutely ruined the vehicle with BS modifications. It's a M car and you really shouldn't do much and keep it stock for the most part. These are well built vehicles and if you hate BMW so much, why'd you bother buying it for one video? Are you going to rebuild and get the vehicle in a better condition? I'd have to check the other videos to see what you ended up doing with this.
But hop in my F90 M5 Competition and I bet you'd be having a lot of fun. These cars are beautifully designed and if maintained they'll last forever but may be expensive. However, that's what you have to come to understand. Only way around a dealership is having a former Master BMW Mechanic do the work or someone with extensive knowledge on mechanic repair of BMW's otherwise it's a waste to bring it to a shop that doesn't work on foreign vehicles.
Im sure you are aware, but just in case, scammers are high jacking your channel comments. Also, I absolutely agree with every word of the intro - I had an E46 M3 Coupe and loved it but it was an absolute money pit; I had to replace EVERYTHING!
Can't wait to see this beast finish.
Only tavarish can do this project.
My friend in college had a White M3 with black interior. I guess it was the previous generation M3, early or mid 90's. It was a beautiful car, fun to drive and he didn't have any mechanical issues with it. It did cost a fortune to replace the front bumper when a raccoon ran across the road in front of him (a bit too slowly) and smashed up the bumper. Of course, it didn't do the racoon any good either....
Not a BMW guy myself but you all have very valid points any M3 is suppose to be a driver's car. So minor upgrades fix the paint and the drivetrain and let it ride
the e46 isnt a manual it still has the smg transmission in it, it just has an aftermarket shifter and boot put on lmfaooooooo