Anybody here have an E46 M3
 

Been tossing a few cars around at the moment and wondering if any owners had any issues with theirs, particualry SMG. I have read lots about SMG problems but I think that's like the IMS thing, you only hear about the ones that fail.

Thanks.

Scott

All you need to know look in the faq area:

M 3 . M A D R U S S I A N . N E T

I had one for about a year. Very nice car, fast, but different than a Porsche. It was one of those deals where I was helping my SIL look for one, he didn't like this one, so I bought it. It was to be my DD.

Initially I really liked it. But as time and miles wore, less and less so. In particular as a long distance cruiser, it simply beat me to death. At exactly one year I said that was enough and sold it.

Also, I found these to be fairly expensive to maintain, in the Porsche 993 area. And more to your point, after 18 months on M3 and BMW forums, I would not touch a SMG car. And for that matter the 6 speed in my car was nothing to write home about.

I have a 2005 M3, 2 door coupe Carbon Black (Blue really) 6 speed/posi
big whhels etc., etc., everyone makes very favourable comments on the car's
appearence. I hate it. It feels BIG. Big heavy doors with cheap feeling door handles.
Seats are uncomfortable. The whole car is edgy and feels like it weighs 3 tons. Goes like stink but not in a driver friendly way. I loved my '90 325IS and love my '86 911
but this car is a pig. Would you like to buy it?? It is nice to look at though. Just my opinion.

My folks had an E36..... I'd still love to have a 46 M as a daily. They cruise great, and can carve a few corners.... Rockets in a straight line...

In my family we have had three generations of M3 (e30, e36, e46) and one M5 (e34), and if I had to stack rank the cars in order of preference, the E46 M3 would come in dead last.

I think BMW got this car backwards, instead of having a great driving feel with a compliant yet firm suspension, they ended up with a car with next to zero driving feel with a bone jaring suspension that still rolls too much in the corners. Driving the e46 was more video game than reality, not what I want out of a sports sedan.

My DD is a '02 E46 6MT M3, which I've had for a little over 2 years now. It's closing in on 95k; I bought it with 60k and paid $16k

My previous DD was an '95 E36 M3.

I love it. Yes, it sucks for Bay Area traffic (I've spent two weeks in the SF Bay for work this year) but any MT is going to suck for that. As for distance driving, it can get uncomfortable, but I'm not comfortable in any car for distance driving. For my normal commute, which is a mix of freeway and surface street, it's great.

Yes, parts are more expensive - it's an ///M thing.

I have one. Great car. Went for the stick because I like to track it from time to time. IMO, the e46 M3 is one of the best values out there. A lot of car for the money...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1342447954.jpg

I have to agree with you to a certain extent. It seems that as time goes on, the "M" is becoming more of an appearance package than a performance package.

I'm going to argue that opposite. Early M cars actually shared the same engines and had minor improvements. Look at them know and I thing they almost go overboard. I think the new M5 has 560hp, more then 100 hp increase from the 550i. The problem with these cars is the keep making them heavier and heavier and the only alternative is more power.

I always viewed the M series as 'purpose built' with a boy racer image. That said, loved the drive and capabilities on all the 3 series. As usual, expect high maintenance. Quite a buy in the used market and must get reliable pre-purchase inspection. Seem's many get the snot beat out of them.

I have an '02 w/SMG, love it. Basically stock with H&R lowering springs on it.

98k miles, it's been a great car. Need to replace the rear trailing arm bushings again because they are squeaking like crazy, the newer ones are supposed to fix that.

No real problems, just typical maintenance. Compared to the Cayenne we have it's totally trouble-free.

Is there a paticular year(s) to stay away from? These car's have always appealed to me.

Subscribed. Looking to pick up an E46 vert for the wife....

Tom, there were several recalls that you need to be sure were preformed. Search around on the M3 forum and you should find them.

My brother has an 04 with SMG. Love the car but that tranny sucks big time!

Actually, the SMG and MT transmissions are identical, it's just the shifting mechanism that's different.

I don't know much about it, but I can tell you that unless you are really getting on it, the SMG is a very herky-jerky ride.

The new M5 is heavier, bigger, softer, and quieter. Most reviews cite reduced road and steering feel. It's so quiet they use the stereo to artificially synthesize engine sound, Car & Driver actually killed the engine sound by pulling a fuse. The early M cars were road going hand built race cars that shared very little with their road going cousins. The S14 (E30 M3) and S38 (E24 M6, E28 M5, E34 M5) were motorsports only motors with high outputs, individual throttle bodies, and lots of other racing goodies. The E36 was the first mass production M car as it was not hand built, and in the US used a warmed over version of the standard M50/M52. The early M cars were special, the new ones are no more special than any other BMW. I lust over an E28 M5, but not a new M car.

This piece from Jalopnik is relevant to this conversation: The Death Of BMW's M Brand

That ^, and it pumps fake engine noise through the radio - yuck!

Not going to argue with this one although the one description you left off is "faster" which it is compared to the the previous M5. The competition is 600hp Cadillacs and Mercedes that have many of the same faults. Also, the E39 M5 was not hand built.

Agreed, they are faster than hell. But defying the laws of physics doesn't always equate to fun. That's correct on the E39, the E34 was the last hand built M5.

The death of the M brand piece by Jalopnik really isn't applicable to this discussion. We're talking about the S54 powered e46 M's here. The S54 marked a return to this market of a 'real' M engined car. The S54 will go down as one of the greatest BMW powerplants of all time. I've put 46k on my M Coupe and only had to replace a throttle position sensor (under warranty). As far as the comments about the e46 being too stiff, I don't get it. My e86 is a considerably firmer ride and its been my daily for four years with no complaints. If I had needed the four seats I would have picked up an M3 in a heartbeat. Great cars.

Wow, thanks for the reply guys. It seems it's a mixed bag of opinions, which is good. I have a E39 540iA for interstate sojourns so the M3 would really be a 'get to the office and back car'. I am aware that the SNG is the exact same box as the manual only a a computer and hydaulic pump work the clutch and shift mechanism. I have also read a D.I.Y on how to convert the SMG back to a full manual. So If I get and SMG and the pump sh$ts itself the $$$$$ required to repair would be better off putting in a third pedal.

Getting back on topic, I think the M3 you are looking at is a super car in looks, performance, and now price. It would be my choice in that price range.

I've driven one and thought it was a fun car, regardless of how it compares to the older M cars. Though I'd be pretty temped by a 911 for the same money, it's pretty easy to find a 996 for $20k. Obviously that money will also find you a super nice SC, Carrera, or potentially a 964.

The SMG is only a jerky ride if you're driving it wrong, it does take a little time to get used to.

a.) don't use auto mode, ever, really, it sucks

b.) leave the shift speed on the highest setting on sequential

c.) drive it like a manual

Trying to drive it like an auto makes it really bad, treat it like a manual with no clutch pedal.

You can then adjust shift speed with the throttle position once you get used to it.

My daily driver is an 05 M3, manual. I'm happy with it for long trips and around town. Good combination of performance, comfort and reliability. I don't have any first hand knowledge of the SMG, but I avoided it based on what I have read.

Interesting... I have a e36 M and have been wanting to upgrade to an e46 M for a while now. Not to hijack the thread, but pros and cons to that comparison?

Id rather have an S54 in an E30 chassis.

Is your E36 SMG?

I love these cars, I think they would be the perfect daily driver.

Get an S54 M roadster or coupe, it shares some bits with the E30.

I've had 2 E36 M3's for the last 5 years. Great cars.
They just became too old and now I'm looking for an E46.

Anyway.

My understand is the E46 is heavy and a more weighted feel with more power.

But for the most part an improved car.

Maintenance should be the same.

No, i dont think SMG was ever available on the e36..

mine is really nice though. Has just about every option and only 77K miles, which is really rare for an M car!