Would you buy an M3 E46?

[Karl Woolf]

Hi

Right due a new motor and have been considering all sorts.

Thing is credit crunch obviously effecting car prices big time and puts me in 2 minds.

Always liked the M3 E46, unbelievable performance for a 5 seater and the prices are falling fast.

Seen some posts on M3 forums where cars are being offered £8k px value from dealers.

+ve bargain if bought at right money

-ve £450 tax and 23mpg ,dating looks but poss future classic

servicing is reasonable at 15k intervals.

bmw 330d sport

+ve good grunt, 35+mpg, good residuals

-ve not the same drive as a m petrol car, looks are a grower most likely fancy an estate. Expensive to buy

So thoughts M3 v 330d, other cars maybe.

Anyone know a desperate M3 seller

cheers

Karl  

[Bananaman]

Hi Karl

Not experienced the M3 but had the 330d Touring which i still miss...........

Great car and 40mpg.... for day 2 day drive did most things very well......

Get the Sport version

[JeffC]

Morning Karl

Ive had a few of both, 184 and 204bhp  330d and 2 e46 M3"s.

I would base your decision on how many miles you do and what you want the car for  

If you go for the diesel make sure you get a 2004 model with the 204bhp engine, manual is much better on fuel and quicker than the auto   will see 48mpg on a steady run and remapped will be as quick you ever need for road use.  

M3 is quick, but its all about revs , I  had an smg which I hated, manual was much better, also worth noting the M3 would crack over 30mpg  

I prefered the 330d to the M3 as in the real world the M3 wasnt useable if you want to keep your license as nothing really happens till you are breaking the speed limit   with the torque of the derv you will have more useable power in the real world of speed limits     I used to get frustrated after years of driving diesels coming out of a roundabout in the M3 in 2nd gear nailing it and nothing happening till your right up in the revs , 330d would exit same roundabout and be away  

[Dave]

330 d every time

You dont look like a chav or a drug dealer  

the torqy things are amazing and 40+ to the gallon

I was going to change mine but I just love it

I (alledgedley) did a hillclimb this year in my 330d auto touring

Gave a couple of TVR's and quatro's a run for their money

Dave

[Karl Woolf]

Thanks guys really useful.  

Was looking at a E90 330d v`s E46 M3

with the idea being as the M3 is more of a cult (drug dealers) car so could handle the older look

Breaking it down into 3 areas really

Purchase price / residual value

330d sport £15k+

Good residuals

M3 - 12k however think some people are really struggling to sell and have seen some px offers by traders for £8k so £9-10k might be achievable.

Residuals will fall through the floor but if can buy cheap enough then loss could be comparative.

Running costs

No contest 330D all round less tax/mpg/maintenance etc

Performance/Driver input

This is where I am surprised by Jeff`s comments, as I haven`t driven either yet

thought the M3 would have it by a mile so justify the extra running costs.

Does then handling of the 330d compare to the M3 then,

what about braking balance etc.

Remember driving a 530d a few years ago and being surprised by the nose heaviness of the diesel.

Am I right in thinking the E90 has a lighter diesel engine now ?

As an after thought looked at the A4 3.0d (currently have a a4 1.9tdi sport and really like it)

just not sure I could pay all the extra cash for a face lift

Cheers

Karl

[JeffC]

if its an E90 bmw smoker  then its a no brainer, diesel all the way, I supplied an E90 330d manual to a local lad and had it remapped for him, it absolutley flies and I reckon it wont be that far behind my 335d which was quicker than an E46 M3  

your in the same boat as me then,  Ive just sold my E90 335d and Im replacing it with an E90 330d Touring when I can find one in the spec I want, found loads of autos without nav and funny colour  combinations but hard when Im trying to tick every box of the spec i want    

Ps forget the good residuals, beemers are currently dropping £800 a month and have done for the last 4 months mine dropped £6k in less than 7 months     oh and  handling is s***e on the E90 dervs, had mine round Croft and although outpaced a 911 gt3 down the straights It wouldnt brake or turn into the corners, knocked the edges off a set of tyres off and shagged the brakes in around 4 laps  

[Pilot Pete]

if its an E90 bmw smoker  then its a no brainer, diesel all the way, I supplied an E90 330d manual to a local lad and had it remapped for him, it absolutley flies and I reckon it wont be that far behind my 335d which was quicker than an E46 M3  

your in the same boat as me then,  Ive just sold my E90 335d and Im replacing it with an E90 330d Touring when I can find one in the spec I want, found loads of autos without nav and funny colour  combinations but hard when Im trying to tick every box of the spec i want    

Ps forget the good residuals, beemers are currently dropping £800 a month and have done for the last 4 months mine dropped £6k in less than 7 months     oh and  handling is s***e on the E90 dervs, had mine round Croft and although outpaced a 911 gt3 down the straights It wouldnt brake or turn into the corners, knocked the edges off a set of tyres off and shagged the brakes in around 4 laps  

Why do you want one with sat nav when a tom tom does a much better job as proved over the years?  

[Dave]

the sat nav in my BM is pants a 150 quid tom tom is better but not as flash

The road I was dragged up in and where my parents now live has been ther for 47 years. Does not exist on the satnav when you try and enter it  

but when you drive down the road it tells you the name of it    

You would think after all this time I would know where it is  

If its in the car fine but dont go looking / decide to buy for it

dave

[Karl Woolf]

if its an E90 bmw smoker  then its a no brainer, diesel all the way, I supplied an E90 330d manual to a local lad and had it remapped for him, it absolutley flies and I reckon it wont be that far behind my 335d which was quicker than an E46 M3  

your in the same boat as me then,  Ive just sold my E90 335d and Im replacing it with an E90 330d Touring when I can find one in the spec I want, found loads of autos without nav and funny colour  combinations but hard when Im trying to tick every box of the spec i want    

Ps forget the good residuals, beemers are currently dropping £800 a month and have done for the last 4 months mine dropped £6k in less than 7 months     oh and  handling is s***e on the E90 dervs, had mine round Croft and although outpaced a 911 gt3 down the straights It wouldnt brake or turn into the corners, knocked the edges off a set of tyres off and shagged the brakes in around 4 laps  

Yeah Jeff sounds like we could be looking for the same

Shame about the handling then, I don`t expect it to be 911 sharp but as a milepost my A4 (02) sport has a great chassis really tight and pointy.

Is it the 6 pot diesel bmw then, what about 3.0D a4 or even 6 pot 3 series petrols ?

 

[Glen H]

You dont look like a chav or a drug dealer  

You obviously ain't seen his current car    

[samcooke]

Get the M3. And drive around all day with the windows open blipping the throttle.

They are around for £10k and if the image thing bothers you then buy a 330d badge and stick it on the back.

Servicing costs aren't fun on them, a big service can run well over a grand, but then I spose that's true of the 330d too.

You can quite easily top 30mpg on a run and when you factor in that petrol is 10% cheaper, that's equivalent to 33 If you do 15k miles a year you'll pay about £2200 for fuel in the M3 and about £1600 in the diesel. That's £58 per month extra to get something glorious. Got to be worth that, ain't it?

[Karl Woolf]

You dont look like a chav or a drug dealer  

You obviously ain't seen his current car    

 

fair point Glen  

[Karl Woolf]

Think I need to take a few test drives.    

The £800 a month depreciation is a little worrying Jeff.

What sort of prices have you been turning up for the 330d touring (guess m sport spec)    

[scooby]

You dont look like a chav or a drug dealer  

You obviously ain't seen his current car    

 

fair point Glen  

lmao