Any E46 M3 Owners Out There?

[bluebullet]

wow..that RS6 left me speechless. I wish i had the $ to get my hands on that. But Id rather wait til next year and pick up a Carrera 4S with the PCCBs .


Btw the dealer has a drop dead gorgeous 997 in yellow.....S model with the PCCBs....i nearly skeeted in my pants when i drove by and I saw it.

[Big Ed]

Curt,

You and I were working on similar plans this week! I spent my time driving the S4 and M3 as a replacement for my BMW X5. Am not going to miss the sport ute, wasn't my cup of tea. M3 definitely quicker and more "raw" than the S4, but in the end I couldn't get myself around New England winters with rear wheel drive -- picked the S4. Good luck with your new ride, they are both a blast.

Mike

[cegerer]

Neil - There's probably a dealer somewhere who might do that. Problem is finding him. And I'm running out of time. Gotta do this by Jan 1.

Mike - what a coincidence, eh? If the local Audi dealer would've been willing to work with me, he could have sold me an S4. Apparently, business must be VERY good at this dealership - even tho there were 5 salesman standing around, I was the only one in there, and I'm someone who buys a new car every 1 to 1.5 years. These car salesman amaze me .....

The M3 is at the same dealership who services my Porsche and they have an outstanding service department.

Thanks for the help/comments on this guys. I've got until Mon to make a final decision ..... the built-in iPod connection in the M3 may have sealed the deal tho.

[cegerer]

M3 Ownership, Day 1:

- pickup car at dealer.
- dealer installed extra set of 17 inch wheels with relatively narrow 50 series Blizzaks (std. tire is 18" 40/45).
- car is spotless and sitting in heated service area.
- sun shining.
- head north on leisurely 70 mile ride home.
- mile 10: sky darkening to north ......
- mile 15: white-out blizzard
- mile 16: test rear-wheel drive snow capability sooner than planned
- test result: Blizzaks + traction control + stability control = no problems! Stability control light on dash was dancing like crazy but driveability was excellent!

My friend Dave W. (he visits this board occasionally) predicted exactly that kind of performance. He even said I might like the winter handling better than my Cayenne .... Dave knows about these things. He's an engineer with Contintental who develops stability control systems.

[Halm]

Pictures. Where are the pictures!!!!

[cegerer]

Well, right now the car is so filthy from the drive home, it's tough to tell what color it is!!! Supposed to be clear tomorrow. Maybe pics then.

[Rufblackbird]

congrats, Curt! How do you like/dislike the SMG?

[cegerer]

The SMG sold me on the car. But I'm an engineer and love gadgets. It's a strange system but I'm already getting used to it. Apparently, the gearbox is identical to the 6-speed manual, just the clutch is different. I love how it automatically and perfectly blips the throttle on downshifts. Heel-toeing? I don't need no steeenking heel-toeing.

The engine is still on it's 1200 mile break-in period so I haven't been able to take it above 5000 RPM's. The performance is incredible anyway - can't imagine what taking it to the 8000RPM redline will be like.

[TomTurtle]

Just wait until you do a modified "launch" - as I recall it goes: select Sport mode, select S6 (ASC off), hold stick in upshift position, hold revs to 7k (or higher), release stick and hold on, shifting at the shift lights! For sure 1200 miles definitely does not come soon enough!

[Halm]

A friend of mine bought a 635 recently and it came with 2 days at the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina. M3 get that too? It is susposed to be a kliller program.

[Rufblackbird]

Originally posted by cegerer
The performance is incredible anyway - can't imagine what taking it to the 8000RPM redline will be like.

I had a chance to take a '03 M3 with SMG for a quick spin not too long ago. All I can say is...SMG is the way to go since hitting redline means you get stuffed in your seat so fast that it's easier to shift with the paddles.

I haven't had the opportunity to drive many high HP cars, but this was the first car that scared the heck out of me...in a good way. Enjoy the car...these things are awesome!

[cegerer]

"Just wait until you do a modified "launch" - as I recall it goes: select Sport mode, select S6 (ASC off), hold stick in upshift position, hold revs to 7k (or higher), release stick and hold on, shifting at the shift lights! For sure 1200 miles definitely does not come soon enough!"

'Launch Control' is mentioned in the owner's manual. But than they don't tell you how to do it! Well, I've got til Spring when I put the real tires back on to figure it out. The Blizzaks are marginal for dry pavement. The power of this car is unbelievable .... took a few people out the other day for the obligatory new car ride and scared the livin' ***** of them ..... and I've yet to go over 5500RPMS

Hal - I didn't see anything about the driving school, but I'll check into it.

[Halm]

Curt, maybe I missed it, but what color combo did you get?

You also might want to check with your dealer before you use "launch control". The dealer here told my friend that just took delivery of a SMG M3 that it was not supported and if they found (via the computer) that you used it more than 10 times, the warranty was voided.

[klaucke]

I drove (read: abused) a friends SMG M3 right before his father got rid of it. BE CAREFUL with the DSC off, as you may find yourself sliding backwards onto someone's front lawn- it breaks loose fast and without warning in corners. Damn drive by wire. There is no doubt, it's fun and fast. The owner loved it as a winter car. With the DSC off, it will also paint two very nice black stripes on the pavement from a standstill.
If you ever experience any bucking, the trick is to get off the throttle right away. The throttle pressure on your foot is so light that once the car bucks slightly, you continue to modulate the throttle (unintentionally) and the bucking gets worse and worse.

[cegerer]

klaucke - I'm kinda tip-toeing around with this thing right now, especially with the Blizzaks on. Got it into a nice unintentional 4 wheel drift on an entrance ramp yesterday .... very controllable.

As for Launch Control, I've never been big on hi-RPM slide-the-foot-off-the-clutch starts on road cars. But I'm going to have to try it a couple of times with this.

Carbon black metallic w/ black interior.

[klaucke]

Nice! I meant it's hard to controll with the DSC off, from what I experienced in hard acceleration off slow corners. I'm sure time behind the wheel would work wonders though, for drifting skill in it.

[TomTurtle]

Nice car - like those 19's! I opted for 18's with a higher tire profile as I was looking for a "softer" ride for the Boss.

Yep, I highly recommend you take it thru its paces on a track when the spring comes (pic attached at Infineon - note my s**t-eating grin at Russell school). This is the only place to really work out the SMG in S6 and Sport mode at speed and familiarize yourself with the car's limits.

It's correct, you don't want to make too many of those launches as it does put a fair amount of strain on the drivetrain. I only did it a few times on mine. Not sure about the voiding of warranty question though. I suppose if you took it in for a problem you were having and the dealer checked the computer they could see what you were doing and possibly use that for "ammunition".

AFAIK, the BMW driving school does not come with the M3. I know it is fairly expensive but everyone who posted about it had a blast. HIGHLY recommend you log on to http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e46m3/! This used to be the "roadfly.com" site; there is a wealth of info there!

I bought my E46 in December '01, it was in the first group of SMG's; the notorious "11/01" builds which were subject to engine probs. I never had any probs with mine and now BWW has issued two recalls on the engine and warranteed it to 6yrs/100K miles. Only probs I had were fuel pump-related and it had to be towed twice. Also had probs with blowouts ($$$ tires); if the hole was too big the tire sealing goop would not work and it had to be flat-bedded because of the car's low profile.

Enjoy! I think the E46 M3 is the best combination of speed, handling and 4 seat transport there is!

[75'930cab]

Originally posted by TomTurtle

I bought my E46 in December '02, it was in the first group of SMG's; the notorious "11/01" builds which were subject to engine probs. I never had any probs with mine and now BWW has issued two recalls on the engine and warranteed it to 6yrs/100K miles. Only probs I had were fuel pump-related and it had to be towed twice. Also had probs with blowouts ($$$ tires); if the hole was too big the tire sealing goop would not work and it had to be flat-bedded because of the car's low profile.

My buddy was one of the ones with motor problems. We were at auto X and the motor just let go. My jaw dropped as i was watching him. He was one of the early ones so the info wasn't floating around yet on the internet about blown motors. After a few months BMW kissed his ass and made several of his car payments and sent him to the drivers school in S.C. and some other things I can't remember. He still has his car and loves it!

[cegerer]

Tom - thanks for the info. I've actually got 18's on mine. That's just a stock photo from BMW. It's basically been snowing everyday - just enough to keep the roads wet - since I bought the thing and I've haven't been able to keep it clean enough to take a photo!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Curt, very nice color combo! Despite the fact that I'm an Audi owner, the M3 would probably have swayed me as well, despite the past problems. Do you mind if I ask what kind of engineer you are? I'm returning to college in January to major in Aerospace Engineering, I only have a couple of years to go thanks to past college. Just curious.