Great video, thanks for sharing! As a fellow M3 owner, I've also had my eye on the market (but in the UK). Other key factors to bear in mind when valuing these cars is their service history. I’ve noticed a big impact on values for cars that are overdue Inspection II services etc, probably because they are expensive to have done, and seeing a seller try to shift one without it implies that the example they are selling has not been well maintained. Also, with these cars being such a great value package, lots of M3’s are being subject to lots of modifications some of which improve them, others less tasteful or not in keeping with BMW’s vision. I think for those lower mileage cars in particular, originality will be key factor that influences future values. As far as the UK market is concerned, lots of the trends you’ve observed hold true for us, however, the pre-2003 cars nip into a much cheaper tax bracket in the UK which masks the disparity between pre and post-facelift values somewhat. Another point to note is that the rod bearing issue applies to absolutely every S54 engine regardless of recall or facelift. It’s now pretty well documented and it appears like the sensible solution for this is to consider it a 100k mile service part. Although mine were changed at 100k and looked good for another 100, the same cant be said for many others I’ve seen.
Lots of really, really valuable insight here. Proper maintenance of these cars is critical, and will cost a lot more in the long run if they're neglected. I know exactly what you mean about the modifications. Like you said, there's a fine line between tasteful and obnoxious. I think that $90k M3 was a good example of tasteful mods, although the pricetag is another story... Interesting perspective into the UK market, I wasn't aware of the difference in tax brackets. Good to know! I have nothing else to add to the rod bearings comment, that's a spot on recommendation. You know your stuff, thanks for contributing!
@R A I don't think you are qualified to join this discussion. Regardless of your 25 years of I will say, "youtube" education; you simply have failed to address any other comment with enough common sense that demonstrates you in fact have more brain capacity than a 5 year old.
This is great compiled data of value for an E46 M3. I’m glad I kept my 2001 Phoenix yellow on black coupe . Which only came in a manual when first sold at the time . I’m at 54k miles currently and still enjoying it after two decades of ownership. Now I know why I have enthusiasts asking if I want to sell it ? 🤨
Wow that's awesome! The Phoenix yellow is awesome, I don't think I've ever seen one in person but at 54k miles, manual, and black interior you've got a desirable car so I can imagine why people are asking if you're selling lol. Really cool that you've owned the car for so long too, thanks for watching!
I personally hate when people ask for a "like". However I think this video deserves one. The time and work you put into this, its the least I could do. Thanks man, for getting this deep into analysis . Thanks again deffinatley "liked"
Appreciate the feedback nie and I understand where you're coming from. I'm glad you found the video helpful, my goal was to provide some value to the community beyond "buy an E46 M3 now." It did take some time to make, but it was worth the effort.
I picked up my 2nd E46 M3 last year. Bought it as a project and didn't care about the miles, because I want to enjoy driving it. 2006 Alpine white with Imola red interior. It was an SMG, which I converted a few months later to a 6mt. Paid $12K, already put that much into it in maintenance, upgrades, and the swap. I get compliments nearly every day. I absolutely love this car.
That's really awesome, especially with that spec. I think what you did is one of the best ways to get an E46 M3 without breaking the bank. Sure it takes more work, but like you said, it's way more fun to drive the car without worrying about the mileage. Also, I think the alpine white is one of the best colors available for these M3s so I can understand why you get so many compliments. Keep enjoying it!
@@TireKickers Thanks man! BTW, I was surprised to see Alpine White so low on the list of colors/avg price. I searched for this one for over 6 months. I'd say white is one of the more rare (and sought-after) colors for the E46 M3. Had a guy come up to me last week and say "beautiful car, name your price". He wanted to buy it right there on the spot. Told him it wasn't for sale, he insisted, so I gave him a crazy price: $30K (144K miles).
@usmcspeedy honestly I was surprised to see AW low on the list too. This color is up there with LSB for the E46 in my opinion, it just looks so good. I'd bet there's someone out there that would be willing to pay $30k for your spec, but it seems like you're enjoying the car way more with it in your garage.
This could be my favorite data analysis car video of all time. TRULY world class presentation cadence and clarity. For others wanting to make car videos, use this one as your benchmark. WELL DONE
I have a 2002 Convertible Phoenix Yellow Manual M3 with 51,876 miles that I’ve been debating to sell. After seeing this video it makes me want to stop daily driving it and just hold onto it. Thanks 🙏🏼
Glad you found the video useful! Phoenix Yellow looks awesome and at that mileage with the 6mt I'd say you have a desirable spec. I think as long as you keep your M3 in good condition with maintenance items addressed, you shouldn't have any problems when it does come time to sell!
Good points! I'd like to even just DRIVE an e46 M3 before I die. The VANOS issues, rod bearings and subframe issues just scared me away as I came from a 986 Porsche Boxster with potential IMS bearing issues. I had a budget of $40K and was even talking with Enthusiast Autos (friendly guys), but a bit a rationality overtook me and I bought a CPO M240i (6MT). BTW, I rented a 2017 M2 with some performance upgrades, but didn't like it for harshness.
Really appreciate it! Those are fair reasons to look elsewhere, the VANOS, rod bearings, and subframe problems definitely shouldn't be overlooked. I've heard that the M240i is a lot of fun so it sounds like you made a good choice, but interesting to hear your perspective on the M2. I hope you get to drive an E46 too, they're a ton of fun!
This is a car that is worth whatever one is willing to pay for it. I currently own 2. One I daily drive and another garage queen. I get offers all the time, I have no plans to sell. Even though this car is old and it is a labor of love, good luck finding another car that handles like this one does. And the engine is something that will not be replicated. This car was an instant classic and seemingly will remain BMW's crown jewel for quite sometime. I have never seen such a 'modern' car gain such 'classic' status so quickly. Some people prefer the car tricked out with short shifters etc and I have one like that a 2006 zcp Dinan stage 4 with only 42k on the dash, it's a beast don't get me wrong but my non tricked out 2002 is such a fun car to drive I just let the zcp appreciate in the garage. You can't even find a late model with a stick and no gps and low mileage, it's like finding a unicorn. If you truly love cars and truly can appreciate a high revving engine, this car is for you. Just remember it is a labor of love. No matter what repairs were done, you still have plenty ahead on your time and your dime but you buy the car knowing this. Just because you can afford the entry price, does not mean you can actually afford to own/drive this car. Remember that.
100% agree and some people aren't afraid to drop serious cash to get the car they want. The day after I bought mine I had someone ask if I was selling, it's crazy out there. You're spot on with the labor of love sentiment. These cars are certainly not flawless, but with some time and money "invested" you can address the well-documented issues so there's less worry. Not to say that there won't be problems ever again, but preventively maintaining this car helps keep it running in top shape. Sounds like you've got the best of both worlds in your garage. I'd imagine people will start throwing ridiculous offers at you for your low mileage '06 ZCP if they haven't already. Glad you have the 2002 to enjoy because these cars are a ton of fun (as long as they're running well). Really appreciate you sharing your perspective!
i bought my alpine white 02 for 18.5 and it was worth it only needed like a clutch and flywheel i bought my 2nd carbon black 05 m3 for 14.5k and have put over 10k in maintenance... everything from windshields to head-gasket to a new differential by turner.. by a boring as silver one for cheap in good condition. forget the LED tails and good looking paint colors... just get a boring decent condition one with a 6MT. my only advice.
haha I like this advice bc it's pretty much what I did. I bought a Jet Black manual coupe with Dove Grey that needed a little maintenance and then swapped in an Imola Red interior. This is a great way to get an E46 that you're not afraid to drive.
Very well done video! E46 M3’s will be a most interesting trend to follow. In the next years as both enthusiastic & investment potential mature I believe it will likely shine.
I had a 2005 e46 and am looking to get another. I just can’t see spending this much money on one knowing full well that their plastics and hoses need to be replaced all the way through due to age. For all the great engineering, BMW had garbage for plastics and rubber which dry and crack faster than a domestic. Also just know too that if you get one with higher mileage vs low mileage that it might not be a “bad thing.” The maintenance issues that they need are often taken care of. The weekend warrior cars with low miles (under 75k) tend to get run hard in spurts but not used enough for the owners to take care of the parts with issues (I.e. rod bearings, bushings, vanos, etc). Ones with slightly higher miles typically have been serviced.
These are totally fair points, and I 100000% agree with your comment about the garbage plastics and rubber. I replaced the windshield cowl on my M3 about a year and half ago because the rubber was crumbling and there are plenty of other areas that are prone to this issue. I also agree that the service history is a critical value influencer, I've seen plenty of M3s with 100k+ miles in much better shape than M3s with
Sales price? How did you find those stats? Usually its only the asking or listed price for car postings. I've not seen anywhere that posts actual final sales price. Besides the factors you mentioned, I think the best determiner of value are maintenance records. Especially for these finicky quirky German cars. Take for example, oil pan gasket replacement. On most cars its an easy repair. But on these cars its an 8+hour job and high expense and labor. Some dummy had the bright idea to place a frame cross-member right below the oil pan. You have to lift the engine a few inches to make space to remove the pan. 😡
According to your video, my car must be worth a small fortune as I hit pretty much every nail on the head when I ordered it: Interlagos Blue with Cinnamon Interior, Competition Package ZCP, 6-speed-manual. I originally wanted Laguna Seca Blue, which would have been even better, but was not an available option for Euro Delivery (which I did). Now, why can't I have the same foresight when I buy a lotto ticket. Damn!
I have a 2005 E46 M3 6-speed manual coupe (75K miles) and have owned it since new. It's become impossible to determine its value. Kelly Blue Book says it's worth $19,000 but I seem the advertised at twice that.
Before i roast the car i gotta say i had one and it was my favourite car so far. The exhaust sound id say was even better than the v10(if anyone is curious of set up i have a few videos up). Anyways how much is it actually worth? Honestly the overall build quality(excluding the interior which is super solid) id say around 5k. Rear subframe made of cardboard, rod bearings are terrible design and brakes are made of sponge. Its really not that great but i loved it anyways haha. Id say save your money people. Its fun yes but at the prices some people are asking you might aswell get a 996 911....or hell even a 997 judging by what ive seen some maniacs list up their m3s for.
That's an interesting and fair perspective Stefan. I took a look at your exhaust video and jesus that thing was LOUD and mean! I get what you're saying about the build quality. Some of the rubbers BMW used on the exterior are trashed after a couple years in the sun which is disappointing. I personally love the engine despite the VANOS and rod bearing issues, but the subframe is another annoyance that has to be addressed. I agree that some owners are asking insane prices, even with objectively better cars for about the same money. Crazy world we live in lol
Great cars and good value up to about $25-35k. Beyond that get an e92, RS4, 996tt or a 997. Paying $50k for one is just silly unless it is a museum piece ZCP in an Individual color with 10 miles on the odometer. YMMV.
Totally agree Greg, and I think you can find a seriously good E46 for $25-$35k. Or, for the people thinking about spending more than that, I'd suggest saving some money for a track day/rainy day fund. Like you said there are plenty of cars with better performance and better value outside this range, I can only think that some people are willing to pay a premium for the exact spec that they want. Pretty crazy lol
NFS Most Wanted. Everyone knows of this car and was popularized because of that. Now, the kids that played those games are having more and more buying power. Who wouldn't want the M3 for the sake of nostalgia? This one was everyone's car. There's an entire story of you trying to get it back. It's embedded in our souls to grab one of these babies.
Love the video! Wish i could hang on to my 2002 BMW E46 6 Speed SMG Alpina White with Imola Red interior but Corona is gonna push me to sell sadly. It has 140k miles, based on your rating id say its in the Fair condition since my ex ruined the front bumper. What would you say is a fair asking price for mine?
Hello. This is an excellent video and perfectly timed. I am getting ready to put a 56k ‘05 E46 M3 on BAT that is very clean and an SMG. I’m trying to price it appropriately. Would you mind sharing the data in Excel format? I’m a numbers geek and would love to play with the data
Glad you found it useful! Sounds like you've got a desirable car on your hands so I'm sure there will be plenty of interest. Feel free to drop your email and I'll send over the Excel doc.
Tire Kickers hello my email address is vt_mughal at hotmail looking forward to the data. I actually asked BAT if they would provide data in spreadsheet format to perspective sellers and didn’t hear back.
What would the value of an e46 m3 be with the following specs (it only has 7000 miles): convertible, manual, black exterior, black interior, basic radio (no screen). Garage kept, maintained to the highest degree and no defects. Thank you
There’s a huge difference in what someone ask and what they get actually get paid. There real actually value 20k. I’m premium condition. If you pay any more you made a mistake.
Totally agree with the asking price vs sale price. I like the Bring a Trailer data for 2 main reasons. 1) BaT is really selective with which cars they approve for auction. That means most of what is seen on this site are cars in good to excellent condition, which automatically means they'll be more expensive. 2) BaT does really well to have owners disclose everything about their car and take a lot of high quality pics. This allows prospective buyers all over the country to bid on cars sight unseen. Rather than sellers having to rely on their local market, the bidding competition increases with a wider buyer pool. I think it's all about finding the right car for the budget. Seems like some people are ok with spending 30k on an M3 with the exact spec they want in excellent condition. I wouldn't say it's right or wrong to spend more than 20k, but I personally lean more towards buying one of these cars for less than 20k and enjoying it.
You americans should be grateful though, where i live an e46 m3 costs atleast 90000 usd, i know its expensive but i still managed to avoid driving a prius
That's insane man, I'm definitely grateful that the E46s over here aren't regularly selling for those prices. Where are you at in the world? Good call on avoiding the Prius lol
@@TireKickers for sure prius doesnt bring joy of driving car guys like us will hate it, im from indonesia i drive a 335i f30 which is just 20000 usd the m3 costs 113000 usd
@Darrel Radjendra how do you like your 335i? I hear the twin turbo is a lot of fun. I'd say you made the right choice because $113,000 for an E46 is crazy!
@@TireKickers i know right, i love my 335i got those BBS LM's on some lowered aibach springs. Even 335i's are rare in indonesia theres no speed limit which means paradise for us but the traffic sucks.
Every car I dreamt about owning increases in value. I just saw this today as I began looking for an E46 M3 thinking they should be pretty cheap to own by now. :Facepalm
Hmmm weird, it’s possible you may have misheard me. I started the video off with “The 3rd gen of the BMW M3...” Not a big deal, glad you’re making sure my facts are straight!
Rod bearings can fail on every year E46 M3! It’s a very common misconception that the rod bearings issues were fixed from 04’-06’. Rod bearings fail because of loose clearances, and that wasn’t fixed in the LCI models.
Well said Elliot, I should’ve been more clear in the video. There was a rod bearing recall issued for vehicles produced from Feb 2001 - May 2003 because, according to the service bulletin, “they did not meet BMW quality standards.” A recall was not issued for the later models, but like you said, this does not mean BMW fixed the problem. Owners still need to take oil samples to monitor the rod bearing health regardless of model year. Thanks for pointing that out!
When I had my e46 m3 it had 254k miles and the previous owner who was a friend of mine never even did the recall for the rod bearings. I was going to replace them as a preventative maintenance but sold the car due to a great offer. Bottom line I don't think every e46 m3 had the issue unless the vehicle was abused and had lack of maintenance.
n54 power I've also heard that abuse and not allowing the car to reach full operating temp before revving to redline will cause bad rod bearing wear. There's not a definitive answer though, just gotta take care of the car and keep an eye out for signs of failure.
I beat on my e46m3 everyday! Drove mine in the snow today:-). Mine is sitting at the bottom of the value curve... but that doesn’t matter at all... because I am never selling it!
I've owned my M3 for 19 years now and am the first owner, Carbon black on black, 6 speed, navigation, HK sound, Xenon, etc etc. It is a perfect car, I have 180k miles on it and it still runs like it did 19 years ago in 2003. Had to get the subframe fixed for 6k, got the Vanos done under warrenty, and the Rod Bearings which was 2k, about 3 years ago. Zero problems. Alot of people own their E46 M3 now and are cry babies because they have to spend money for these things, but for the OG owners who have been lucky to have one since we were young, now for 19 years later, these costs to maintain a $61,000 car are nothing when you get to have this as your daily driver. I have driven on freeways, back roads, all of this as a daily driver and it is nothing but pure pleasure, like riding a roller coaster at Disneyland.. Anyone who buys some broken down E46 M3 which is on its 4th owner for $12,000 with a ton of dings and maintenance required may cry and complain, but zero complaints from someone who has had this car with 7 miles on the Odometer from when they test drove it in Germany and then shipped it over to me, to 180,000 miles now. Best BMW production car of all time.
I’ve owned every M3 from an ‘89 E30 to a ‘08 E92. I had my E46 for 5 years and did a pretty extensive Dinan upgrade program on it. The car is not without flaws, as in stock form they understeer with the big tire stagger, the brakes are weak, the stock exhaust sounds tinny, and the rod bearing and subframe issues are real. If you’re willing to deal with those issues it is a great car. The biggest improvement to the drivetrain you can do is a shorter geared differential. It’s a game changer on these cars in the way they accelerate.
Very fair points, especially with the tinny exhaust comment. I love the induction noise and know that the "rasp" is a quirk of the E46, but modifications to the exhaust are definitely in the plans for my M3. I watched a video about a guy that swapped a shorter geared diff into his CSL and he was raving about how much better the car accelerates. Definitely something else I'll look into for the future, this stuff adds up quick lol. Which M3 has been your favorite?
I've got a 2006 Interlagos Blue 6 spd manual M3 I've been considering selling. Higher miles (140k) but this is making me want to hold onto it and just keeping it as my long term daily driver. It's hard to beat.
Sounds like you have an awesome spec and a lot of things working in your favor. I think most people understand that as long as the car is taken care of, mileage isn't a big deal. I've seen plenty of M3s with
SMG car only got issue with the smg pump motor worn out and the gearbox itself is pretty reliable. My daily is SMG with more than 260k miles and only replaced the motor once when I bought it in 2015.
That’s awesome, I hear that as long as you take care of the SMG and know how to drive it properly it’s a lot better than it gets credit for. Sounds like there needs to be more people like you taking care of the SMGs!
Funny that the convertibles are less sought after. Fewer of them out there and, if you like the top-down experience, are one of the nicest convertibles on the road. Nicer than the 911 cabs IMO. I bought one of the first to come into the US in 2001 and drove it every day to 2006. Bought a new 2006 and I have keep that car as a sunny Sunday car. Looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor.
Been seeing the price for the convertibles going up recently been seeing big increases on autotrader - for SMGs even, convertibles with 80k miles non-smg going for $24-$25k now.
@@Sb99992Not surprised. IF and I do mean IF the drop-top experience is of value to you there is no better convertible available from that era. I'm a 911 guy and I chose mine, twice, over the then-current 911 cabs. They are all great.
just copped a 01 bmw m3 carbon black , black nappa 6 speed! 12.7k clean title!!! damn i came along from my comment 4 years ago about my 300$ e46 330ci !!
I have a 2005 E46 M3 Coupe - original owner. 6-speed manual. 75,000 miles on it. I pull the Kelley Blue Book on it and it's worth more now than four years ago. I wouldn't take an M4 in an even swap.
Love that, thanks for adding your perspective. I'm sure if you ever end up selling, someone will pay top dollar considering yours is a 1 owner, late model year, low mileage manual coupe. Lots of good things going on here so I understand why you'd pass on the M4. Really awesome!
I signed into my account just to appreciate your effort and toss this video a like. You did some really good work here. Too bad your channel is underappreciated and you have less than 1k subs. Still amazing work regardless.
Really appreciate that. I'll admit it was a lot of work, but it was honestly enjoyable and I learned some new things along the way. I'm glad you found the information useful, my goal is to provide as much value as possible and interact with the people that have taken the time out of their day to watch. I'm hopeful that the subs will come along as long as I keep at it, thanks again for the feedback!
I wish I could afford one of these, such beautiful cars. Definitely my dream car and I am worried that by the time I have finished my education these cars will be ever more expensive.
Exactly what M P said, just be patient and everything will work out! I think there will be cars selling around $10-$20k for awhile, they just might need a little work. Plus if you go for the SMG, you can save a little $$$ and swap in the manual if you want. Keep grinding with school, it'll be worth it!
We don't know, maybe prices are gonna drop because government are gonna be crazy about electrics cars and then thoses (don't get me wrong) big not ecological at al cars are gonna be heavily taxed.
You will always find one in your budget. When I was shopping, I drove some that were 16k all the way up to 45k. The one I bought was 30k. 06, competition package, and 6 spd manual. Pretty much a car that would go up in value.
you are right and if you have tons of student debt kiss that dream goodbye for a while. but you can always find one in later years just got to wait and look. best regards
watching these videos that say “buy one now before they are unattainable” actually makes me sad because I’m 14 and I cannot own one so when I turn out to be old enough it may be “unattainable”
I have a 2002 Jet Black SMG. Has about 135K. I did the Vanos, has a small subframe crack and need to have rod bearings checked in sure... I'm thinking about holding on to it for a few years until the market appreciates some more.
Not a bad idea at all! With BMW revealing what the new 4 series will look like recently, I'm sure there's going to be even more interest in previous generation M cars. As long as you keep it in good condition I'm sure it'll all pay off!
Bought an 04 coupe with MT last year for $17,500. It has 130k miles but it looks like it has 30k miles. Still has the new car scent too. My homies in Europe can't believe how cheap they are here. Edit: your car Iooks awesome 👍🏽 I hear you loose 20 to 30lbs in rotational mass with those Arc8's
That's awesome, I'd go after a well kept car with "higher" mileage over a low mileage car that was neglected any day. You can tell a good E46 when you see it and it sounds like you snagged one. I can only imagine what the market is like in Europe lol Thanks man! I've still got some things that I want to do to the car, but I'm really happy with the Arc8's and just trying to enjoy it as much as possible.
I have a 77k mile 2003 m3 6speed with dinan s pkg carbon black on imola interior. Big 3 done with paperwork and dinan pkg installed at bmw. Big binder of all maintenance records. Interior and exterior both 9/10. Only drawback is it doesn’t have a clean title as it was rear ended at a stop sign and was written off because it was valued under 10k at the time. Have all records of the accident with pictures including the repairs. How much is my car worth?
Wait till the CSL is 25 years old and can be imported and used in the US. That will really mess you data model up. The best E46 is yet to arrive in North America. If you can afford to buy one now and import it, do it!!!! Let it sit in the garage and cook for a few years. You won't regret it. I would not touch a standard E46 M3 as I have a CSL. It drives nothing like a standard M3 and will be a $200k car in a few years. Easily the best M Car ever made, despite it having a SMG box. They are only on the up and $40k plus import/taxes will get you one at the moment.
Absolutely, it's going to be really interesting to see what happens at the 25 year mark for the CSL. I think you're spot on that the CSL will go for $200k+, especially considering the fact that all 5 of Paul Walker's E36 Lightweights went for more than that at auction earlier this year. I'd love to experience the CSL firsthand so I'm definitely jealous that you have one in your garage. I made a follow-up video to this market analysis about the CSL because I agree, it's arguably the best M car ever made. Thanks for watching!
That's really interesting. So the CSL can't get into the US until 2028 approx? Over here in the UK, we're paying £60k ($75k) for them and I've seen them for £75k ($92.500). Do you really think they'll hit $200k?
Have an early 03 Convertable 6 speed manual triple black with 54k. Very clean, well maintined ceramic coated with PPF on the nose minus the scratches on the interior drivers door handle. Curious on where it would be realistically priced.
The closest car in my dataset to yours was a 2004 Jet Black/Black Interior Convertible with 50,000 miles and the SMG that sold for $13,500 on 2/5/2019. In your case, the manual is a value adder and so is the solid maintenance history with low miles. There was also a 2004 Carbon Black/Black Interior Manual Convertible with 79,000 miles that sold for $14,250 on 1/21/2020. Considering the fact that it has been 1.5+ years since the 1st car sold and yours has 25,000 miles less than the 2nd car, I'd value yours at $18,000 minimum based on my data. Unfortunately BaT sells a lot more Coupes, but that was the best that I could tell from the data that I have collected. Hope that helps!
haha yeah I feel you, the prices for these older M cars is getting crazy. It shows that they're well respected though if people are willing to pass on brand-new sports cars and drop serious cash on them, or maybe there's just a lot of maniacs with too much money in their pocket lol
Anyone caring about this data is about to run their cars less, to reduce mileage and wear. Don’t do it, just don’t care about this stuff and just drive these cars, this is what they are made for, to be enjoyed.
I totally agree, these cars were meant to be driven and not sit in the garage. My goal with the video was to give prospective buyers an idea of what the current market for the E46 looks like so they have a little more info when searching for the car to add to their garage. Regardless, you're exactly right that these cars NEED to be enjoyed!
i bought a used 2002 SMG e46 in 2005. it had 30k miles on it when i got it. i put another 145k miles on in 8 years. The SMG did have a problem, but BMW covered most of it even though it was out of warranty. i don't remember what portion i had to pay, but it wasn't a significant outlay. i bought the car specifically for the SMG and loved it.
That's awesome man, I'm really interested in driving an SMG E46 after reading all these comments. Seems like a decent amount of longterm owners actually really like this gearbox, especially in cases like you where you've addressed the problem areas. Thanks for sharing!
The best M3 made to date. Mostly analog. Superb engine sound. Will surpass E30 prices in the next few of years. Good luck finding a clean, unabused or unmodified, manual one.
Great points, I love how driver focused the car is without feeling super outdated on the inside. It'll definitely be fun to keep an eye on the market in the coming months/years!
If BMW could fix the check engine light issue I will get a e46 m3...they are nice cars..but I had an experience with my e46 330i which i love it so much..but had the get rid if it..cause that light issue😢 I don't think i will get another BMW after my e46😓
Do you know what kind of problems you were having? The check engine light can be a constant nag as these cars get older due to vacuum leaks and other little headaches. At least you got to experience the E46 though, both the good and the bad!
@@TireKickers it said catalyst converter bank one and bank 2...so I wasn't sure it is was the oxygen sendors..or it was the catalyst converter acting up..but I know the converters cost a lot to fix them..but yeah I really love my e46..
Great information, well delivered. You are far more “well informed” than Doug De Muro. Easier to listen to as well. Keep it up. I've owned 5 earlier BMWs since my USAF years stationed in Germany.
Really appreciate the positivity. I had a lot of fun with this video so I plan to see how I can apply this kind of analysis to other cars, especially in the BMW realm. Thanks for watching!
Just found some clown on Kijiji in Canada selling his estoril blue individual with 86k kms manual april 2006 production for a whopping 65k CAD. Doesnt even have the competition package.
I've got a 2003 E46 M3 Coupe. 181,000 miles on the clock, its still on original BMW rod bearings. The rod bearing recall was done when the car had 30,000 miles and they are still going at 181,000 miles. The engine shows no sign of compression loss or bits of metal while changing oil. I'm getting the rod bearings done now as a precautionary measure. The original head gasket is fine as well. The engine management light came on a month ago and my tech states the vanos has failed. So now its getting a new vanos and rod bearings changed with ARP bolts and king race bearings although I was advised to save my money and go for the OEM ones. Rounding off with an inspection II service. The car has never let me down and been driven as a daily since 2003. The boot floor has not been done but its showing small cracks. I am told mine is the probably the highest mileage car with original rod bearings and boot floor not reinforced. The great Bruno D' Silva of BDS Motorsport drove my M3 at 180,000 miles and said its one of the best M3's he's ever driven.
On the contrary..SMG will be an underdog but as ppl keep converting them to manual.. they will get more rare hence bringing up the value of original SMG coupes.
I can definitely see that happening. I've read and responded to a decent amount of comments from people saying how much they love the SMG, so I feel like it's actually better than it gets credit for. I think the well-maintained SMGs will see some appreciation like you said. It's a crazy market for the E46!
@@TireKickers agreed.. I'll keep mine SMG.. I almost converted it when I was doing the clutch.. but honestly.. the SMG setup is pretty interesting when you understand it... I mean shit. This is similar technology that Ferrari and Lamborghini is using now.. no more manuals... All paddle shift.. so I guess the e46 was a bit ahead of it's time..
No doubt, I honestly wouldn't mind picking up an SMG M3 if I find a good deal locally. I've ridden in a SMG E46 on the track and the shifts were really fast and aggressive which was sick. That's where I think it really shines over the manual. BMW was definitely ahead of its time, I guess the problem is that people end up comparing it to the modern-day dual clutch transmissions which isn't exactly fair.
My dream car is this bmw m3 e46, I would really want one and keep driving, but before that I need a proper house and a garage were i can park it, as I wouldn't want to park it outside.
Awesome man, the E46 M3 was a dream car of mine as well. Pretty cool that I have one to drive whenever I want, but definitely keep your eye out and see if you can find one that fits your criteria! Best of luck in your search once you have a safe place to park it!
Fair enough Mart, I understand that these cars definitely aren't for everyone. Especially with the list of maintenance items that need to be addressed. Regardless, the market data disagrees and that's okay.
Valid opinion but these are going to be collectors cars it’s widely regarded as one of the best M cars ever. Low mileage examples are already pulling big money and only going up.
Bought a 2003 e46 m3 last month, mines came with facelift features since it was late production car. Has 142,000 miles. I paid 15k. Titanium Silver/Imola red interior. Subframe done, vanos inspected and rod bearings but both look good and don’t need any replacement yet. Came modified, Apex Wheels, Tune, smg to 6 speed manual swap, Diablo exhaust. Honestly just want second hand thoughts on this purchase, since regardless it felt expensive for me to buy a 20+year old car for 15k, Thanks !
Very good video! I just stole my E46. Coupe manual with only 103K miles. Clean car fax history. Paid only $12,250 about $14,500 after tax 🤪 BUT still a crazy good deal.
Appreciate it! I saw your review video and I have to say that you definitely stole yours, it looks super clean! Pretty cool that you can still find gems out there that don’t break the bank lol
Tire Kickers I think the car is well worth the price on the chart you made. Maybe not 70k for a car you won’t ever take out of the garage. But 30k for a very clean low to mid millage car seems decent for the amount of fun. Especially if EAG is selling it
Totally agree. I think the $25-$30k range is the sweet spot for cars in really good shape that you don’t feel guilty for driving. The only thing I can think is that the people paying more than $50k are the guys that really want a specific car for their collection and will pay a premium for it. EAG has some really impressive cars for sale
Interesting that the one I just picked up for $25k is still right in line with 2020. Metallic Gray on black 71k miles SMG older enthusiast owned never tracked all upkeep done at BMW. The SMG is known for issues but the second it goes bad car will be a manual, the conversion isn’t that expensive and is easier to find someone to do then fix the SMG
Big three are a foot note here but in reality can swing the value of a car more then almost anything else. 120k miles SMG coupe 02 coupe with the big 3 done can sell for more then a 80k 05 manual with none of them done. The Big 3 are not nearly as expensive and painful as they used to be compared to to the price of the cars though. PS the statement about 04-06 having resolved the rod bearings and it not being an issue, uh nope still an issue. The root issue is idiots believed the 15k mile oil change and ended up sandblasting the bearings due to how tight the tolerance is. It’s being seen that cars that got oil changes every 3-5k miles and get the bearings replaced at 150k or even 180k miles were perfectly fine and didn’t actually need the work. It’s the fact that natural use of the mechanics will cause small shavings to get into the oil. 15k miles means you get way more tan 3k or 5k which is the problem. Kinda like how BMW advertised lifetime transmission fluid. Yeah if you want the lifetime of the car to be 100k miles.
I now daily drive my 2005 E46 M3 55k miles. Imola over Cinnamon leather cabriolet. Rod bearing "fix": I keep RPM under 3K until oil temp is at a full 200 degrees F. I make sure I do at least three full 8,100 RPM pulls per leg on my 34 mile RT commute. Ceratec added to oil. $1000 custom Dyno tune, RPM redline increase to 8100, top speed limiter lifted, no cats, mid pipe, muffler 310 RWHP, 177MPH top speed. TC Kline coil overs, Swift springs, caster/camber plates, 30mm anti sway bar. 265-35-18 square set up, Michelin Pilot Sport 4s. And about 50 other mods. Reliable! Runs PERFECT!
The Guy who sale me my m3 He buy the compétition package for the car ... Is a m3 2004 coupe black carbon cinnamon in side with 86000miles no sunroof So the Guy pay for package $8000CAN in 2005 he say to me .. So i have a 2004 with the zcp 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎🤪😜🤪😜🤪😜🤪😜🤪🤓
Great video, thanks for sharing! As a fellow M3 owner, I've also had my eye on the market (but in the UK).
Other key factors to bear in mind when valuing these cars is their service history. I’ve noticed a big impact on values for cars that are overdue Inspection II services etc, probably because they are expensive to have done, and seeing a seller try to shift one without it implies that the example they are selling has not been well maintained.
Also, with these cars being such a great value package, lots of M3’s are being subject to lots of modifications some of which improve them, others less tasteful or not in keeping with BMW’s vision. I think for those lower mileage cars in particular, originality will be key factor that influences future values.
As far as the UK market is concerned, lots of the trends you’ve observed hold true for us, however, the pre-2003 cars nip into a much cheaper tax bracket in the UK which masks the disparity between pre and post-facelift values somewhat.
Another point to note is that the rod bearing issue applies to absolutely every S54 engine regardless of recall or facelift. It’s now pretty well documented and it appears like the sensible solution for this is to consider it a 100k mile service part. Although mine were changed at 100k and looked good for another 100, the same cant be said for many others I’ve seen.
Lots of really, really valuable insight here. Proper maintenance of these cars is critical, and will cost a lot more in the long run if they're neglected.
I know exactly what you mean about the modifications. Like you said, there's a fine line between tasteful and obnoxious. I think that $90k M3 was a good example of tasteful mods, although the pricetag is another story...
Interesting perspective into the UK market, I wasn't aware of the difference in tax brackets. Good to know!
I have nothing else to add to the rod bearings comment, that's a spot on recommendation. You know your stuff, thanks for contributing!
Pretty sure the higher tax bracket was 2005 > mines a late 2004 and is cheaper tax
R A think your confusing them with the e92? you can pick them up for less than an E46, the E46 M3 I regarded as the one of the best M3’s made.
@R A I don't think you are qualified to join this discussion. Regardless of your 25 years of I will say, "youtube" education; you simply have failed to address any other comment with enough common sense that demonstrates you in fact have more brain capacity than a 5 year old.
Tire Kickers no love for the sedan??
The sooner you buy an E46, the sooner you’re happy. Just sayin.
Say less lmao I was depressed for a year and thinking of buying a e46 m3 😂
*me who is 15 and cant get that car*
Yea, i think it will take a while for me to buy that car
@@Ottaro10 lol I bought mine at 15
@@Ottaro10 get a 330ci or a 325i and upgrade it
@@benraminprarmin1452 damn wtf how
This is great compiled data of value for an E46 M3. I’m glad I kept my 2001 Phoenix yellow on black coupe . Which only came in a manual when first sold at the time . I’m at 54k miles currently and still enjoying it after two decades of ownership. Now I know why I have enthusiasts asking if I want to sell it ? 🤨
Wow that's awesome! The Phoenix yellow is awesome, I don't think I've ever seen one in person but at 54k miles, manual, and black interior you've got a desirable car so I can imagine why people are asking if you're selling lol. Really cool that you've owned the car for so long too, thanks for watching!
I personally hate when people ask for a "like". However I think this video deserves one. The time and work you put into this, its the least I could do. Thanks man, for getting this deep into analysis . Thanks again deffinatley "liked"
Appreciate the feedback nie and I understand where you're coming from. I'm glad you found the video helpful, my goal was to provide some value to the community beyond "buy an E46 M3 now." It did take some time to make, but it was worth the effort.
I picked up my 2nd E46 M3 last year. Bought it as a project and didn't care about the miles, because I want to enjoy driving it. 2006 Alpine white with Imola red interior. It was an SMG, which I converted a few months later to a 6mt. Paid $12K, already put that much into it in maintenance, upgrades, and the swap. I get compliments nearly every day. I absolutely love this car.
That's really awesome, especially with that spec. I think what you did is one of the best ways to get an E46 M3 without breaking the bank. Sure it takes more work, but like you said, it's way more fun to drive the car without worrying about the mileage. Also, I think the alpine white is one of the best colors available for these M3s so I can understand why you get so many compliments. Keep enjoying it!
@@TireKickers Thanks man! BTW, I was surprised to see Alpine White so low on the list of colors/avg price. I searched for this one for over 6 months. I'd say white is one of the more rare (and sought-after) colors for the E46 M3. Had a guy come up to me last week and say "beautiful car, name your price". He wanted to buy it right there on the spot. Told him it wasn't for sale, he insisted, so I gave him a crazy price: $30K (144K miles).
@usmcspeedy honestly I was surprised to see AW low on the list too. This color is up there with LSB for the E46 in my opinion, it just looks so good. I'd bet there's someone out there that would be willing to pay $30k for your spec, but it seems like you're enjoying the car way more with it in your garage.
This could be my favorite data analysis car video of all time. TRULY world class presentation cadence and clarity. For others wanting to make car videos, use this one as your benchmark. WELL DONE
i own a 2001 e46 m3 coupe with 127k miles on it and i def recommend getting one IF you have the pockets to keep up on maintenance
I have a 2002 Convertible Phoenix Yellow Manual M3 with 51,876 miles that I’ve been debating to sell. After seeing this video it makes me want to stop daily driving it and just hold onto it. Thanks 🙏🏼
Glad you found the video useful! Phoenix Yellow looks awesome and at that mileage with the 6mt I'd say you have a desirable spec. I think as long as you keep your M3 in good condition with maintenance items addressed, you shouldn't have any problems when it does come time to sell!
patagonia's product placement is on point
LED tail lights started for 2003.5 cars!
This is correct, thanks for pointing that out Nate!
Good points! I'd like to even just DRIVE an e46 M3 before I die. The VANOS issues, rod bearings and subframe issues just scared me away as I came from a 986 Porsche Boxster with potential IMS bearing issues. I had a budget of $40K and was even talking with Enthusiast Autos (friendly guys), but a bit a rationality overtook me and I bought a CPO M240i (6MT). BTW, I rented a 2017 M2 with some performance upgrades, but didn't like it for harshness.
Really appreciate it! Those are fair reasons to look elsewhere, the VANOS, rod bearings, and subframe problems definitely shouldn't be overlooked. I've heard that the M240i is a lot of fun so it sounds like you made a good choice, but interesting to hear your perspective on the M2. I hope you get to drive an E46 too, they're a ton of fun!
These "problems" are no big deals. Everything is solvable
This is a car that is worth whatever one is willing to pay for it.
I currently own 2. One I daily drive and another garage queen.
I get offers all the time, I have no plans to sell.
Even though this car is old and it is a labor of love, good luck finding another car that handles like this one does. And the engine is something that will not be replicated. This car was an instant classic and seemingly will remain BMW's crown jewel for quite sometime. I have never seen such a 'modern' car gain such 'classic' status so quickly.
Some people prefer the car tricked out with short shifters etc and I have one like that a 2006 zcp Dinan stage 4 with only 42k on the dash, it's a beast don't get me wrong but my non tricked out 2002 is such a fun car to drive I just let the zcp appreciate in the garage. You can't even find a late model with a stick and no gps and low mileage, it's like finding a unicorn.
If you truly love cars and truly can appreciate a high revving engine, this car is for you. Just remember it is a labor of love.
No matter what repairs were done, you still have plenty ahead on your time and your dime but you buy the car knowing this.
Just because you can afford the entry price, does not mean you can actually afford to own/drive this car. Remember that.
100% agree and some people aren't afraid to drop serious cash to get the car they want. The day after I bought mine I had someone ask if I was selling, it's crazy out there.
You're spot on with the labor of love sentiment. These cars are certainly not flawless, but with some time and money "invested" you can address the well-documented issues so there's less worry. Not to say that there won't be problems ever again, but preventively maintaining this car helps keep it running in top shape.
Sounds like you've got the best of both worlds in your garage. I'd imagine people will start throwing ridiculous offers at you for your low mileage '06 ZCP if they haven't already. Glad you have the 2002 to enjoy because these cars are a ton of fun (as long as they're running well). Really appreciate you sharing your perspective!
i bought my alpine white 02 for 18.5 and it was worth it only needed like a clutch and flywheel
i bought my 2nd carbon black 05 m3 for 14.5k and have put over 10k in maintenance... everything from windshields to head-gasket to a new differential by turner..
by a boring as silver one for cheap in good condition. forget the LED tails and good looking paint colors... just get a boring decent condition one with a 6MT. my only advice.
haha I like this advice bc it's pretty much what I did. I bought a Jet Black manual coupe with Dove Grey that needed a little maintenance and then swapped in an Imola Red interior. This is a great way to get an E46 that you're not afraid to drive.
Bought Interlagos Blue 06 ZHP (Competition) w manual tranny for $18K in 2017. In 2022 averages $50K. Great great investment.
Forgot to mention very informative video!!
Holy crap, all of this work and your channel only has 1.5k subscribers?! Man, I'm gonna subscribe. Awesome video brother.
nice video man but you forgot about one e46 M3, the CSL.
Very well done video! E46 M3’s will be a most interesting trend to follow. In the next years as both enthusiastic & investment potential mature I believe it will likely shine.
I had a 2005 e46 and am looking to get another. I just can’t see spending this much money on one knowing full well that their plastics and hoses need to be replaced all the way through due to age. For all the great engineering, BMW had garbage for plastics and rubber which dry and crack faster than a domestic. Also just know too that if you get one with higher mileage vs low mileage that it might not be a “bad thing.” The maintenance issues that they need are often taken care of. The weekend warrior cars with low miles (under 75k) tend to get run hard in spurts but not used enough for the owners to take care of the parts with issues (I.e. rod bearings, bushings, vanos, etc). Ones with slightly higher miles typically have been serviced.
These are totally fair points, and I 100000% agree with your comment about the garbage plastics and rubber. I replaced the windshield cowl on my M3 about a year and half ago because the rubber was crumbling and there are plenty of other areas that are prone to this issue. I also agree that the service history is a critical value influencer, I've seen plenty of M3s with 100k+ miles in much better shape than M3s with
Sales price? How did you find those stats? Usually its only the asking or listed price for car postings. I've not seen anywhere that posts actual final sales price.
Besides the factors you mentioned, I think the best determiner of value are maintenance records. Especially for these finicky quirky German cars. Take for example, oil pan gasket replacement. On most cars its an easy repair. But on these cars its an 8+hour job and high expense and labor. Some dummy had the bright idea to place a frame cross-member right below the oil pan. You have to lift the engine a few inches to make space to remove the pan. 😡
According to your video, my car must be worth a small fortune as I hit pretty much every nail on the head when I ordered it: Interlagos Blue with Cinnamon Interior, Competition Package ZCP,
6-speed-manual. I originally wanted Laguna Seca Blue, which would have been even better, but was not an available option for Euro Delivery (which I did).
Now, why can't I have the same foresight when I buy a lotto ticket. Damn!
do the same video with e39 m5
It's on my list!
Fantastic video
Haha that’s my friend’s lsb M,he sold it for 90k something on BAT,16k miles, 2003.5,original black interior,OE CSL parts.
Great video, enjoyed it!
Really appreciate it!
I have a 2005 E46 M3 6-speed manual coupe (75K miles) and have owned it since new. It's become impossible to determine its value. Kelly Blue Book says it's worth $19,000 but I seem the advertised at twice that.
KBB can't value these correctly anymore because they have become a collectors car. Best way to value is using Hagerty.
Great video. Im actually in the market for e46m3 or e90m3. Great video
Before i roast the car i gotta say i had one and it was my favourite car so far. The exhaust sound id say was even better than the v10(if anyone is curious of set up i have a few videos up). Anyways how much is it actually worth? Honestly the overall build quality(excluding the interior which is super solid) id say around 5k. Rear subframe made of cardboard, rod bearings are terrible design and brakes are made of sponge. Its really not that great but i loved it anyways haha. Id say save your money people. Its fun yes but at the prices some people are asking you might aswell get a 996 911....or hell even a 997 judging by what ive seen some maniacs list up their m3s for.
That's an interesting and fair perspective Stefan. I took a look at your exhaust video and jesus that thing was LOUD and mean! I get what you're saying about the build quality. Some of the rubbers BMW used on the exterior are trashed after a couple years in the sun which is disappointing. I personally love the engine despite the VANOS and rod bearing issues, but the subframe is another annoyance that has to be addressed. I agree that some owners are asking insane prices, even with objectively better cars for about the same money. Crazy world we live in lol
@@TireKickers ya these luxurious are just getting out of hand these days. Too many luxury items either holding value or going up in used market.
Great cars and good value up to about $25-35k. Beyond that get an e92, RS4, 996tt or a 997. Paying $50k for one is just silly unless it is a museum piece ZCP in an Individual color with 10 miles on the odometer. YMMV.
Totally agree Greg, and I think you can find a seriously good E46 for $25-$35k. Or, for the people thinking about spending more than that, I'd suggest saving some money for a track day/rainy day fund. Like you said there are plenty of cars with better performance and better value outside this range, I can only think that some people are willing to pay a premium for the exact spec that they want. Pretty crazy lol
NFS Most Wanted.
Everyone knows of this car and was popularized because of that. Now, the kids that played those games are having more and more buying power. Who wouldn't want the M3 for the sake of nostalgia? This one was everyone's car. There's an entire story of you trying to get it back. It's embedded in our souls to grab one of these babies.
lmao..sure was all decked out on the cover..and then they took it away, oh hell naw! you had to get it back..ugh..sure glad i got one
Don’t forget uncommon specs like sunroof delete
My 03 has cold weather package, HID Headlamps and Nav.
Love the video! Wish i could hang on to my 2002 BMW E46 6 Speed SMG Alpina White with Imola Red interior but Corona is gonna push me to sell sadly. It has 140k miles, based on your rating id say its in the Fair condition since my ex ruined the front bumper. What would you say is a fair asking price for mine?
Hello. This is an excellent video and perfectly timed. I am getting ready to put a 56k ‘05 E46 M3 on BAT that is very clean and an SMG. I’m trying to price it appropriately. Would you mind sharing the data in Excel format? I’m a numbers geek and would love to play with the data
Glad you found it useful! Sounds like you've got a desirable car on your hands so I'm sure there will be plenty of interest. Feel free to drop your email and I'll send over the Excel doc.
Tire Kickers hello my email address is vt_mughal at hotmail looking forward to the data. I actually asked BAT if they would provide data in spreadsheet format to perspective sellers and didn’t hear back.
Hokiemiata just sent the file your way! Let me know if you have any other questions and best of luck with your sale!
very useful information，thanks
Thanks Steven, glad you found it useful!
Wow! Informative!!
It was well worth the effort!
I've seen them at low as $20k. but if you go to EAG you'll get a better vehicle for your money.
No doubt, EAG has a great reputation with these vehicles and are usually have all maintenance items addressed.
Bmw M3 after NFS Most Wanted released:📈📈📈
Very good video
Appreciate it Mateus, thanks for watching!
What would the value of an e46 m3 be with the following specs (it only has 7000 miles): convertible, manual, black exterior, black interior, basic radio (no screen). Garage kept, maintained to the highest degree and no defects. Thank you
OMG that must be $60k plus.
I wish I would’ve bought mine 3 years ago
There’s a huge difference in what someone ask and what they get actually get paid. There real actually value 20k. I’m premium condition.
If you pay any more you made a mistake.
Totally agree with the asking price vs sale price. I like the Bring a Trailer data for 2 main reasons. 1) BaT is really selective with which cars they approve for auction. That means most of what is seen on this site are cars in good to excellent condition, which automatically means they'll be more expensive. 2) BaT does really well to have owners disclose everything about their car and take a lot of high quality pics. This allows prospective buyers all over the country to bid on cars sight unseen. Rather than sellers having to rely on their local market, the bidding competition increases with a wider buyer pool.
I think it's all about finding the right car for the budget. Seems like some people are ok with spending 30k on an M3 with the exact spec they want in excellent condition. I wouldn't say it's right or wrong to spend more than 20k, but I personally lean more towards buying one of these cars for less than 20k and enjoying it.
in my country is e46 for 3-10k
Is this American or Canadian dollars?
E46 is the most beautiful and sexy bmw car had ever build
i hope i can buy this badboy in decent condition so i can finally make my own NFS MW m3 gtr..
That would be sick, I'd be down to see a build like that!
@@TireKickers yep MW M3 is the dream
Any E46 M3 coupe with 3 pedals is the only way to go.
You americans should be grateful though, where i live an e46 m3 costs atleast 90000 usd, i know its expensive but i still managed to avoid driving a prius
That's insane man, I'm definitely grateful that the E46s over here aren't regularly selling for those prices. Where are you at in the world? Good call on avoiding the Prius lol
@@TireKickers for sure prius doesnt bring joy of driving car guys like us will hate it, im from indonesia i drive a 335i f30 which is just 20000 usd the m3 costs 113000 usd
@Darrel Radjendra how do you like your 335i? I hear the twin turbo is a lot of fun. I'd say you made the right choice because $113,000 for an E46 is crazy!
@@TireKickers i know right, i love my 335i got those BBS LM's on some lowered aibach springs. Even 335i's are rare in indonesia theres no speed limit which means paradise for us but the traffic sucks.
It's already a classic
Subbed
Every car I dreamt about owning increases in value. I just saw this today as I began looking for an E46 M3 thinking they should be pretty cheap to own by now. :Facepalm
Great video, I will like to know your opinion on the value of my kept in garage M3 2006 with only 23,423 miles vin PK10594
Love my E34s :)
Love it, gotta respect the BMW generations that came before!
The definitive answer: it's worth every penny.
Sold mine with 120k miles with no maintainer for 16k
Zo, I'm curious why u said this is the 1st gen M3? 🤔
Hmmm weird, it’s possible you may have misheard me. I started the video off with “The 3rd gen of the BMW M3...” Not a big deal, glad you’re making sure my facts are straight!
@@TireKickers 🤜🏻🤛🏻
My 2003 Topaz Blue Coupe with the 6-Speed Manual has just 24,100 miles. :)
Hold on to that for as long as possible, that's an awesome spec and incredibly low miles!
36k miles in Ireland 6 speed manual
Rod bearings can fail on every year E46 M3! It’s a very common misconception that the rod bearings issues were fixed from 04’-06’. Rod bearings fail because of loose clearances, and that wasn’t fixed in the LCI models.
Well said Elliot, I should’ve been more clear in the video. There was a rod bearing recall issued for vehicles produced from Feb 2001 - May 2003 because, according to the service bulletin, “they did not meet BMW quality standards.” A recall was not issued for the later models, but like you said, this does not mean BMW fixed the problem. Owners still need to take oil samples to monitor the rod bearing health regardless of model year. Thanks for pointing that out!
Thanks for adding that Don!
They fail because of tight clearances, the oil can simply not get in there
When I had my e46 m3 it had 254k miles and the previous owner who was a friend of mine never even did the recall for the rod bearings. I was going to replace them as a preventative maintenance but sold the car due to a great offer. Bottom line I don't think every e46 m3 had the issue unless the vehicle was abused and had lack of maintenance.
n54 power I've also heard that abuse and not allowing the car to reach full operating temp before revving to redline will cause bad rod bearing wear. There's not a definitive answer though, just gotta take care of the car and keep an eye out for signs of failure.
I beat on my e46m3 everyday! Drove mine in the snow today:-). Mine is sitting at the bottom of the value curve... but that doesn’t matter at all... because I am never selling it!
That's the stuff!!
I've owned my M3 for 19 years now and am the first owner, Carbon black on black, 6 speed, navigation, HK sound, Xenon, etc etc. It is a perfect car, I have 180k miles on it and it still runs like it did 19 years ago in 2003. Had to get the subframe fixed for 6k, got the Vanos done under warrenty, and the Rod Bearings which was 2k, about 3 years ago. Zero problems. Alot of people own their E46 M3 now and are cry babies because they have to spend money for these things, but for the OG owners who have been lucky to have one since we were young, now for 19 years later, these costs to maintain a $61,000 car are nothing when you get to have this as your daily driver. I have driven on freeways, back roads, all of this as a daily driver and it is nothing but pure pleasure, like riding a roller coaster at Disneyland.. Anyone who buys some broken down E46 M3 which is on its 4th owner for $12,000 with a ton of dings and maintenance required may cry and complain, but zero complaints from someone who has had this car with 7 miles on the Odometer from when they test drove it in Germany and then shipped it over to me, to 180,000 miles now. Best BMW production car of all time.
would love to see more videos like this!! especially on a variety of "enthusiasts loved" cars
That's the plan! Getting this kind of feedback helps me know what people are wanting to see, thanks for watching!
@@TireKickers cough cough toyota 98 supra lol
I’ve owned every M3 from an ‘89 E30 to a ‘08 E92. I had my E46 for 5 years and did a pretty extensive Dinan upgrade program on it. The car is not without flaws, as in stock form they understeer with the big tire stagger, the brakes are weak, the stock exhaust sounds tinny, and the rod bearing and subframe issues are real. If you’re willing to deal with those issues it is a great car. The biggest improvement to the drivetrain you can do is a shorter geared differential. It’s a game changer on these cars in the way they accelerate.
Very fair points, especially with the tinny exhaust comment. I love the induction noise and know that the "rasp" is a quirk of the E46, but modifications to the exhaust are definitely in the plans for my M3. I watched a video about a guy that swapped a shorter geared diff into his CSL and he was raving about how much better the car accelerates. Definitely something else I'll look into for the future, this stuff adds up quick lol. Which M3 has been your favorite?
993s are one of my favorites.
lightweight flywheel
the rasp was the e46 signature sound though.. i had supersprint exhaust on mine and it sounded perfect .. miss that thing!
I've got a 2006 Interlagos Blue 6 spd manual M3 I've been considering selling. Higher miles (140k) but this is making me want to hold onto it and just keeping it as my long term daily driver. It's hard to beat.
Sounds like you have an awesome spec and a lot of things working in your favor. I think most people understand that as long as the car is taken care of, mileage isn't a big deal. I've seen plenty of M3s with
You have one of the youngest e46 m3 on the planet...just say its made in august :)
I would not drive that thing slowly restore it and you will be able to sell it for a lot more those comp pack cars some of the most sought after
SMG car only got issue with the smg pump motor worn out and the gearbox itself is pretty reliable. My daily is SMG with more than 260k miles and only replaced the motor once when I bought it in 2015.
That’s awesome, I hear that as long as you take care of the SMG and know how to drive it properly it’s a lot better than it gets credit for. Sounds like there needs to be more people like you taking care of the SMGs!
Smgs suck everyone knows that.
@@frontspring1 how does it suck?
I’ve got an 04 bought new with SMG and I’ve experienced not one problem with it so far. Just hit 50K miles so 🤞fingers crossed
Funny that the convertibles are less sought after. Fewer of them out there and, if you like the top-down experience, are one of the nicest convertibles on the road. Nicer than the 911 cabs IMO. I bought one of the first to come into the US in 2001 and drove it every day to 2006. Bought a new 2006 and I have keep that car as a sunny Sunday car. Looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor.
Been seeing the price for the convertibles going up recently been seeing big increases on autotrader - for SMGs even, convertibles with 80k miles non-smg going for $24-$25k now.
@@Sb99992Not surprised. IF and I do mean IF the drop-top experience is of value to you there is no better convertible available from that era. I'm a 911 guy and I chose mine, twice, over the then-current 911 cabs. They are all great.
just copped a 01 bmw m3 carbon black , black nappa 6 speed! 12.7k clean title!!! damn i came along from my comment 4 years ago about my 300$ e46 330ci !!
I have a 2005 E46 M3 Coupe - original owner. 6-speed manual. 75,000 miles on it. I pull the Kelley Blue Book on it and it's worth more now than four years ago. I wouldn't take an M4 in an even swap.
Love that, thanks for adding your perspective. I'm sure if you ever end up selling, someone will pay top dollar considering yours is a 1 owner, late model year, low mileage manual coupe. Lots of good things going on here so I understand why you'd pass on the M4. Really awesome!
I signed into my account just to appreciate your effort and toss this video a like. You did some really good work here. Too bad your channel is underappreciated and you have less than 1k subs. Still amazing work regardless.
Really appreciate that. I'll admit it was a lot of work, but it was honestly enjoyable and I learned some new things along the way. I'm glad you found the information useful, my goal is to provide as much value as possible and interact with the people that have taken the time out of their day to watch. I'm hopeful that the subs will come along as long as I keep at it, thanks again for the feedback!
Adam's car in the thumbnail 😎
No its not....Hahahaha
rhys hutchins Same rims, same brembro brakes, same colour car. im pretty positive it is. But thanks for your input! Hahahahaha
@@Tsikuni_ that's not Laguna seca blue
Liked this approach and explanation, great job.
Appreciate it Michael, glad you enjoyed it!
I wish I could afford one of these, such beautiful cars. Definitely my dream car and I am worried that by the time I have finished my education these cars will be ever more expensive.
Exactly what M P said, just be patient and everything will work out! I think there will be cars selling around $10-$20k for awhile, they just might need a little work. Plus if you go for the SMG, you can save a little $$$ and swap in the manual if you want. Keep grinding with school, it'll be worth it!
We don't know, maybe prices are gonna drop because government are gonna be crazy about electrics cars and then thoses (don't get me wrong) big not ecological at al cars are gonna be heavily taxed.
You will always find one in your budget. When I was shopping, I drove some that were 16k all the way up to 45k. The one I bought was 30k. 06, competition package, and 6 spd manual. Pretty much a car that would go up in value.
So rod bearings isn’t just a e60/e9x m car problem?
you are right and if you have tons of student debt kiss that dream goodbye for a while. but you can always find one in later years just got to wait and look. best regards
watching these videos that say “buy one now before they are unattainable” actually makes me sad because I’m 14 and I cannot own one so when I turn out to be old enough it may be “unattainable”
Thank you for the effort put in to make this. We'll done and very useful.
Really appreciate it and I'm glad it was helpful! The effort was well worth it
I have a 2002 Jet Black SMG. Has about 135K. I did the Vanos, has a small subframe crack and need to have rod bearings checked in sure... I'm thinking about holding on to it for a few years until the market appreciates some more.
Not a bad idea at all! With BMW revealing what the new 4 series will look like recently, I'm sure there's going to be even more interest in previous generation M cars. As long as you keep it in good condition I'm sure it'll all pay off!
Loves your review, good data. Keep going with your awesome videos." Like"
Appreciate it Seth, thanks for watching!
Bought an 04 coupe with MT last year for $17,500. It has 130k miles but it looks like it has 30k miles. Still has the new car scent too. My homies in Europe can't believe how cheap they are here.
Edit: your car Iooks awesome 👍🏽 I hear you loose 20 to 30lbs in rotational mass with those Arc8's
A 2004 manual with 130k in the UK is less than £10000. I got my 2004 manual with 110k in May 2019 for £11000
That's awesome, I'd go after a well kept car with "higher" mileage over a low mileage car that was neglected any day. You can tell a good E46 when you see it and it sounds like you snagged one. I can only imagine what the market is like in Europe lol
Thanks man! I've still got some things that I want to do to the car, but I'm really happy with the Arc8's and just trying to enjoy it as much as possible.
I have a 77k mile 2003 m3 6speed with dinan s pkg carbon black on imola interior. Big 3 done with paperwork and dinan pkg installed at bmw. Big binder of all maintenance records. Interior and exterior both 9/10. Only drawback is it doesn’t have a clean title as it was rear ended at a stop sign and was written off because it was valued under 10k at the time. Have all records of the accident with pictures including the repairs. How much is my car worth?
yup same here- have VANOS and SMG to 6MT swap done and will do subframe next year.
Now you have me looking for M3s when I know I shouldn’t 😣 great video!
haha it's always fun to window shop! Appreciate it!
Wait till the CSL is 25 years old and can be imported and used in the US. That will really mess you data model up.
The best E46 is yet to arrive in North America.
If you can afford to buy one now and import it, do it!!!! Let it sit in the garage and cook for a few years. You won't regret it.
I would not touch a standard E46 M3 as I have a CSL. It drives nothing like a standard M3 and will be a $200k car in a few years.
Easily the best M Car ever made, despite it having a SMG box.
They are only on the up and $40k plus import/taxes will get you one at the moment.
Absolutely, it's going to be really interesting to see what happens at the 25 year mark for the CSL. I think you're spot on that the CSL will go for $200k+, especially considering the fact that all 5 of Paul Walker's E36 Lightweights went for more than that at auction earlier this year.
I'd love to experience the CSL firsthand so I'm definitely jealous that you have one in your garage. I made a follow-up video to this market analysis about the CSL because I agree, it's arguably the best M car ever made. Thanks for watching!
That's really interesting. So the CSL can't get into the US until 2028 approx? Over here in the UK, we're paying £60k ($75k) for them and I've seen them for £75k ($92.500). Do you really think they'll hit $200k?
Have an early 03 Convertable 6 speed manual triple black with 54k. Very clean, well maintined ceramic coated with PPF on the nose minus the scratches on the interior drivers door handle. Curious on where it would be realistically priced.
The closest car in my dataset to yours was a 2004 Jet Black/Black Interior Convertible with 50,000 miles and the SMG that sold for $13,500 on 2/5/2019. In your case, the manual is a value adder and so is the solid maintenance history with low miles. There was also a 2004 Carbon Black/Black Interior Manual Convertible with 79,000 miles that sold for $14,250 on 1/21/2020. Considering the fact that it has been 1.5+ years since the 1st car sold and yours has 25,000 miles less than the 2nd car, I'd value yours at $18,000 minimum based on my data. Unfortunately BaT sells a lot more Coupes, but that was the best that I could tell from the data that I have collected. Hope that helps!
Thank fucking God I bought an E 36 before people ( I’m not saying who) inflated the price to stupid magnitudes
haha yeah I feel you, the prices for these older M cars is getting crazy. It shows that they're well respected though if people are willing to pass on brand-new sports cars and drop serious cash on them, or maybe there's just a lot of maniacs with too much money in their pocket lol
Anyone caring about this data is about to run their cars less, to reduce mileage and wear. Don’t do it, just don’t care about this stuff and just drive these cars, this is what they are made for, to be enjoyed.
I totally agree, these cars were meant to be driven and not sit in the garage. My goal with the video was to give prospective buyers an idea of what the current market for the E46 looks like so they have a little more info when searching for the car to add to their garage. Regardless, you're exactly right that these cars NEED to be enjoyed!
i bought a used 2002 SMG e46 in 2005. it had 30k miles on it when i got it. i put another 145k miles on in 8 years. The SMG did have a problem, but BMW covered most of it even though it was out of warranty. i don't remember what portion i had to pay, but it wasn't a significant outlay. i bought the car specifically for the SMG and loved it.
That's awesome man, I'm really interested in driving an SMG E46 after reading all these comments. Seems like a decent amount of longterm owners actually really like this gearbox, especially in cases like you where you've addressed the problem areas. Thanks for sharing!
The best M3 made to date. Mostly analog. Superb engine sound. Will surpass E30 prices in the next few of years. Good luck finding a clean, unabused or unmodified, manual one.
Great points, I love how driver focused the car is without feeling super outdated on the inside. It'll definitely be fun to keep an eye on the market in the coming months/years!
the data skills are ridiculous. someone get this man a job in the CIA
😂😂 I appreciate it, I’ll be sure to send this video in if I ever apply
If BMW could fix the check engine light issue I will get a e46 m3...they are nice cars..but I had an experience with my e46 330i which i love it so much..but had the get rid if it..cause that light issue😢 I don't think i will get another BMW after my e46😓
Do you know what kind of problems you were having? The check engine light can be a constant nag as these cars get older due to vacuum leaks and other little headaches. At least you got to experience the E46 though, both the good and the bad!
@@TireKickers it said catalyst converter bank one and bank 2...so I wasn't sure it is was the oxygen sendors..or it was the catalyst converter acting up..but I know the converters cost a lot to fix them..but yeah I really love my e46..
Great information, well delivered. You are far more “well informed” than Doug De Muro. Easier to listen to as well. Keep it up. I've owned 5 earlier BMWs since my USAF years stationed in Germany.
Really appreciate the positivity. I had a lot of fun with this video so I plan to see how I can apply this kind of analysis to other cars, especially in the BMW realm. Thanks for watching!
Doug is a knobhead. Almost everyone makes better content than him, and this presentation was definitely miles above haha
Just found some clown on Kijiji in Canada selling his estoril blue individual with 86k kms manual april 2006 production for a whopping 65k CAD. Doesnt even have the competition package.
I've got a 2003 E46 M3 Coupe. 181,000 miles on the clock, its still on original BMW rod bearings. The rod bearing recall was done when the car had 30,000 miles and they are still going at 181,000 miles. The engine shows no sign of compression loss or bits of metal while changing oil. I'm getting the rod bearings done now as a precautionary measure. The original head gasket is fine as well. The engine management light came on a month ago and my tech states the vanos has failed. So now its getting a new vanos and rod bearings changed with ARP bolts and king race bearings although I was advised to save my money and go for the OEM ones. Rounding off with an inspection II service. The car has never let me down and been driven as a daily since 2003. The boot floor has not been done but its showing small cracks. I am told mine is the probably the highest mileage car with original rod bearings and boot floor not reinforced. The great Bruno D' Silva of BDS Motorsport drove my M3 at 180,000 miles and said its one of the best M3's he's ever driven.
On the contrary..SMG will be an underdog but as ppl keep converting them to manual.. they will get more rare hence bringing up the value of original SMG coupes.
I can definitely see that happening. I've read and responded to a decent amount of comments from people saying how much they love the SMG, so I feel like it's actually better than it gets credit for. I think the well-maintained SMGs will see some appreciation like you said. It's a crazy market for the E46!
@@TireKickers agreed.. I'll keep mine SMG.. I almost converted it when I was doing the clutch.. but honestly.. the SMG setup is pretty interesting when you understand it... I mean shit. This is similar technology that Ferrari and Lamborghini is using now.. no more manuals... All paddle shift.. so I guess the e46 was a bit ahead of it's time..
No doubt, I honestly wouldn't mind picking up an SMG M3 if I find a good deal locally. I've ridden in a SMG E46 on the track and the shifts were really fast and aggressive which was sick. That's where I think it really shines over the manual. BMW was definitely ahead of its time, I guess the problem is that people end up comparing it to the modern-day dual clutch transmissions which isn't exactly fair.
@@TireKickers exactly right
My dream car is this bmw m3 e46, I would really want one and keep driving, but before that I need a proper house and a garage were i can park it, as I wouldn't want to park it outside.
Awesome man, the E46 M3 was a dream car of mine as well. Pretty cool that I have one to drive whenever I want, but definitely keep your eye out and see if you can find one that fits your criteria! Best of luck in your search once you have a safe place to park it!
E46 is one of the best bmws ever made
All things considered, its still and old worn BMW. 10k dollars max. Anything more and you should buy a new car.
Fair enough Mart, I understand that these cars definitely aren't for everyone. Especially with the list of maintenance items that need to be addressed. Regardless, the market data disagrees and that's okay.
Valid opinion but these are going to be collectors cars it’s widely regarded as one of the best M cars ever. Low mileage examples are already pulling big money and only going up.
Most are beat to shit and worth as much as a lawn mower. Smg and grey interior is also shit
Lolol true, I've seen those and people still ask $15k just bc it has the M3 badge. I used to have the grey interior and I hated it
Bought a 2003 e46 m3 last month, mines came with facelift features since it was late production car. Has 142,000 miles. I paid 15k. Titanium Silver/Imola red interior. Subframe done, vanos inspected and rod bearings but both look good and don’t need any replacement yet. Came modified, Apex Wheels, Tune, smg to 6 speed manual swap, Diablo exhaust.
Honestly just want second hand thoughts on this purchase, since regardless it felt expensive for me to buy a 20+year old car for 15k, Thanks !
Very good video! I just stole my E46. Coupe manual with only 103K miles. Clean car fax history. Paid only $12,250 about $14,500 after tax 🤪 BUT still a crazy good deal.
Appreciate it! I saw your review video and I have to say that you definitely stole yours, it looks super clean! Pretty cool that you can still find gems out there that don’t break the bank lol
Tire Kickers I think the car is well worth the price on the chart you made. Maybe not 70k for a car you won’t ever take out of the garage. But 30k for a very clean low to mid millage car seems decent for the amount of fun. Especially if EAG is selling it
Totally agree. I think the $25-$30k range is the sweet spot for cars in really good shape that you don’t feel guilty for driving. The only thing I can think is that the people paying more than $50k are the guys that really want a specific car for their collection and will pay a premium for it. EAG has some really impressive cars for sale
Interesting that the one I just picked up for $25k is still right in line with 2020. Metallic Gray on black 71k miles SMG older enthusiast owned never tracked all upkeep done at BMW.
The SMG is known for issues but the second it goes bad car will be a manual, the conversion isn’t that expensive and is easier to find someone to do then fix the SMG
Big three are a foot note here but in reality can swing the value of a car more then almost anything else. 120k miles SMG coupe 02 coupe with the big 3 done can sell for more then a 80k 05 manual with none of them done.
The Big 3 are not nearly as expensive and painful as they used to be compared to to the price of the cars though.
PS the statement about 04-06 having resolved the rod bearings and it not being an issue, uh nope still an issue. The root issue is idiots believed the 15k mile oil change and ended up sandblasting the bearings due to how tight the tolerance is.
It’s being seen that cars that got oil changes every 3-5k miles and get the bearings replaced at 150k or even 180k miles were perfectly fine and didn’t actually need the work. It’s the fact that natural use of the mechanics will cause small shavings to get into the oil. 15k miles means you get way more tan 3k or 5k which is the problem. Kinda like how BMW advertised lifetime transmission fluid. Yeah if you want the lifetime of the car to be 100k miles.
I now daily drive my 2005 E46 M3 55k miles. Imola over Cinnamon leather cabriolet.
Rod bearing "fix": I keep RPM under 3K until oil temp is at a full 200 degrees F. I make sure I do at least three full 8,100 RPM pulls per leg on my 34 mile RT commute. Ceratec added to oil.
$1000 custom Dyno tune, RPM redline increase to 8100, top speed limiter lifted, no cats, mid pipe, muffler 310 RWHP, 177MPH top speed. TC Kline coil overs, Swift springs, caster/camber plates, 30mm anti sway bar. 265-35-18 square set up, Michelin Pilot Sport 4s.
And about 50 other mods. Reliable! Runs PERFECT!
The Guy who sale me my m3
He buy the compétition package for the car ...
Is a m3 2004 coupe black carbon cinnamon in side with 86000miles no sunroof
So the Guy pay for package $8000CAN in 2005 he say to me ..
So i have a 2004 with the zcp 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎🤪😜🤪😜🤪😜🤪😜🤪🤓