Looking to buy my first M3

[grandmasterflash]

Hi all

After 4 years of owning a 2002 E-class i'm now looking for an M3.

I'd be looking to trade in my merc against a 2002-2004 m3 with a good spec at a BMW stealership.

So just looking for a bit of advice on what model year to go for and what i can get the delaer to knock off the price of the bmw when i go to the dealership.

Thanks for any help lads/lasses.

[MitchT]

Make sure the big end bearing shells have been done.
Make sure you're sitting down when they tell you how much you'll have to pay to renew the BMW warranty after a year.
Make sure you have a nomination form for the British Comedy Awards to fill in the name of the insurers that you get quotes from... if insuring it is anything like insuring an E36 M3

Edited by MitchT on Saturday 13th October 11:49

[grandmasterflash]

so whats the best alternatives to the M3 then, wouldn't mind a 5 series or high spec 3 series

[MitchT]

I don't think there is a real alternative. The M3 is in a totally different league to a high end 3 and the 5 is a bigger car with a totally different attitude - you wouldn't buy an M3 or a 5 Series if you particularly liked the M3's qualities. Merc have AMG and Audi have RS... they are the only comparable cars, though the Merc is a heavier straight line rocketship that understeers a lot while the Audi is 4WD and very fast point-to-point with its phenomenal grip, but not as entertaining as an M3. If the M3 experience is what you want then there really is no alternative.

[JezF]

Insurance doesn't have to be expensive, Mitch. I pay £480 with APlan for my E36 Evo with class 1 business use and it's parked in the road.

Jez

Edited by JezF on Sunday 14th October 23:50

[drgav2005]

Make sure the running in service was completed at 1200 miles... if it is a BMW approved used car it should have been!

Insurance isn't too crazy - I pay £580 fully comp, 10 years protected no claims with Admiral.

Sat-nav is desirable for resale and is pretty good to use - although, truth be told, not as good as a £200 Tom Tom. Update map discs cost £99 from the dealer, so if you do go for that option get them to throw in a new version of the map disc as part of the deal.
Bluetooth phone prep is good - works very well with my Sony Ericsson K800i.
Heated seats are great in the winter!
Harmon Kardon is ok - but not a deal breaker.
Most E46 M3's came with the 19" alloys which (IMHO) look great but can be a bit of a nightmare to refurb - so check the condition carefully.

Tons of excellent information can be found on www.mtorque.co.uk (formerly BM3W.co.uk).

Must say, I've had a number (13 or so ) of cars in the last few years and the M3 stands out as the best all round car I've ever owned. Happy to breeze up and down motorways, easy to drive in town and awesome on a b-road to blast away the cobwebs! Enjoy the search there are some great cars out there. I've got a manual which I really like - but tons of the SMG owners rave about how good the system is - so try a couple out to see what suits you best! Enjoy!!!

[MitchT]

I'll have to look into the insurance a bit further then. Best quote I can turn-up is over £1,500 and that's for a 33yr old with 7yrs NCB, never had points, limited to 5k miles per year, no business or commuting, and parked in the drive.

[housemaster]

I had 2002 and 2004 E46 M3's from new and both were great cars. I did 53k - 56K (I can't recall which) in 22 months in the first, and I think that car is now up around 130K and the second was much the same.

Like any car check to ensure all the servicing has been carried out to the book, especially the running in service. This is somewhat dubious in terms of its real benefit, but it is important to the history of the car and your ability to sell the car. You also need to check that the recalls have all been done to the book, if appropriate.

Options wise its really up to what you want. I never had Sat Nav on either of my cars and never had any issue come trade in time. Sure I got less for them, but not £2200 less which was the cost of Sat Nav. I would not get too hung up about options myself, go with what you want not what people tell you that you need to secure a future sale. The running in service is different in this respect.

If the M3 has been looked after, not thrashed from cold and serviced by the book or in my case ahead of the book it should run for 100k easily without anything major.