E46 M3 Buying Advice...

[Radioegg]

Hey everyone, bit of a noob but done some research myself so hope that you can help!

In a staggering turn of events too complicated to go into further detail here, I have inherited a 2002 BMW 330ci, just as I was planning on selling my 2001 Mini Cooper. So I thought, why not sell both, add a bit of my own cash, and get a nice used M3 instead?

I have been reading the forums about spec, model year and things to look out for, so if I have anything wrong could someone please check to see if I am making any sense?

I would like to get an M3 from April 2003 onwards, as I wanted to get the slightly face lifted model (details from here http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... and http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I have also searched through this Pistonheads forum, Autocar issue 5780, EVO issue 81 and http://www.mtorque.co.uk/), and put up the information that seems to make sense to me.

My plan was just to either purchase the car from either Munich Legends (http://www.munichlegends.co.uk/homepage.html), who have said that they will look for a car for me on my behalf, or from IMC (http://www.imc-bmw.com/). I popped down to see both of them this week and they were both very nice, but was wondering if anyone else had any experience with them? Also, would I still need to get any checks done if I purchased from an independent?

Model Year – from April 2003 onwards
Price - £18K to £20K
Mileage – around 50,000

Spec (including options, can be flexible)
- Black Coupe
- SMG Gearbox (have a dodgy left knee)
- 19 inch alloys (yes – I have read the debate!)
- Sat Nav (DVD) and TV Communications Pack
- Black Nappa Upholstery
- Heated Seats with Driver Memory
- Cruise Control
- Auto fold mirrors
- Sunroof
- Arm Rest
- Bluetooth
- Harmon Kardon Stereo with 6 Disc Auto-changer in the boot

Required Service History (mileages are just approximates apart from running in)
- Running in service @ 1,200 miles completed
- Oil Service 1 @ 12,500 miles completed
- Inspection 1 @ 25,000 miles completed
- Oil Service 2 @ 37,500 miles completed
- Inspection 2 @ 50,000 miles completed
- Oil Service 3 @ 62.500 completed
- SMG Gearbox software upgraded
- SMG Recall in 2004 to replace SMG relay module completed
- Pre June 2003 warranty improvement to oil supply (due to potential failure of crankshaft big end bearings)

Things I should watch out for:
- Non whining diff
- Rear coil springs – can snap on higher mileage cars
- Front discs – can go on harder driven examples
- Power steering reservoir cap not detached and leaking
- Premature wear of front wheel bearings
- Loose connecting arm of front anti-roll bar (potentially fixed under warranty)

I think that I have everything covered, but what does everyone reckon? Will look forward to everyone's responses, any help is appreciated!

[petrolhead76]

Thats quite a comprehensive list - the only things to add are that hill descent control / launch control all come with SMG...which confused me at first.

Also check the rear has LED lights, not sure when they were changed from the standard ones (might be 53 plate onwards).

[blackcab]

think you just about covered everything

[Slurms]

petrolhead76 said:

Also check the rear has LED lights, not sure when they were changed from the standard ones (might be 53 plate onwards).

Yeah it was the August and onwards cars that have the facelift early 2003 cars don't

[timskipper]

If I may tag onto this thread...

Just spotted a nice 52 plate 34k M3 SMG at a BMW main dealer and was wondering what sort of a proposition a car of that age is likely to be from a warranty/maintenance point of view.

I do 25k miles a year or more, so it would pile on miles quite quickly. Wasn't there a big warranty cost upset with M cars a while back?

Edited by timskipper on Thursday 28th February 11:49

[Noel]

Collected my 52 Plate 2 days ago. I had a £20K budget and found a massive difference in the cars available around that money. I paid £17K for a car in top condition which had just had Insp 2, I saw cars a few thousand miles short of servicing in tatty condition for over £20K.

The best advice I can give is to look at the MTorque forums, there is a huge amount of info on there and the guys are very friendly.

[Bruce Lee]

Noel said:

Collected my 52 Plate 2 days ago. I had a £20K budget and found a massive difference in the cars available around that money. I paid £17K for a car in top condition which had just had Insp 2, I saw cars a few thousand miles short of servicing in tatty condition for over £20K.

The best advice I can give is to look at the MTorque forums, there is a huge amount of info on there and the guys are very friendly.

Was that for a coupe or convertible?

[Radioegg]

Thanks for the posts so far everyone

So does anyone know anything about IMC or Munich Legends at all? Just want to make sure that I am not ripped off!

[Vixpy1]

Radioegg said:

Thanks for the posts so far everyone

So does anyone know anything about IMC or Munich Legends at all? Just want to make sure that I am not ripped off!

I bought my car from IMC, and its a peach, there was a small cock up over the tax disc in my car due to the previous owner being a bit sneaky. They straight away paid for a full year of tax on the car.

Would deal with them again

[pikeyboy]

ummm those legendary munich people, had probelms with them when i had my e30 m3. Sold me a short shift kit the lever snapped in the same place twice. Found them very unhelpful and it got a bit heated. Not sure if i'd want to buy a car from them, other people have had good experiences though i gather.

[Noel]

Bruce Lee said:

Noel said:

Collected my 52 Plate 2 days ago. I had a £20K budget and found a massive difference in the cars available around that money. I paid £17K for a car in top condition which had just had Insp 2, I saw cars a few thousand miles short of servicing in tatty condition for over £20K.

The best advice I can give is to look at the MTorque forums, there is a huge amount of info on there and the guys are very friendly.

Was that for a coupe or convertible?

Steel Grey Coupe with black leather, all options except HK and rear blind. It has a £2,600 professionally installed Alpine stereo with iPod dock. Was under warranty until Dec 07 and as an indication of the condition had amongst other things:

New rear window - improve radio reception
New internal door handles - Originals chipped/scrathed by rings etc
19's just refurbed
Boot handle replaced - why I don't know!

I think it's fair to say I got lucky with a vendor who had been asking £19k and had no responses so he slashed the price just at the right time for me.

[Crook]

ML are three things in my opinion. Very helpful, quite expensive (ie. there are less expensve places in less wealthy areas) and something else which should you trawl through some E30 M3 threads on different forums you will find out. I've no experience of them with E46's.
However, you are looking to spend sensible money and there are a lot of M3's around. You can afford to be choosy. Good luck, they are nice cars.

[Radioegg]

Crook said:

ML are three things in my opinion. Very helpful, quite expensive (ie. there are less expensve places in less wealthy areas) and something else which should you trawl through some E30 M3 threads on different forums you will find out. I've no experience of them with E46's.
However, you are looking to spend sensible money and there are a lot of M3's around. You can afford to be choosy. Good luck, they are nice cars.

As much as I enjoy the cryptic nature of your comment, I don't really have the time to trawl through loads of different forums to figure out what it means! What is the third thing!?!

[Crook]

That you have to change your timing chain at 100,000 miles.

[drgav2005]

timskipper said:

If I may tag onto this thread...

Just spotted a nice 52 plate 34k M3 SMG at a BMW main dealer and was wondering what sort of a proposition a car of that age is likely to be from a warranty/maintenance point of view.

I do 25k miles a year or more, so it would pile on miles quite quickly. Wasn't there a big warranty cost upset with M cars a while back?

Edited by timskipper on Thursday 28th February 11:49

New warranty prices for the E46 M3...

£772 for cars less than 60,000 miles
£1554 when mileage is greater than 60,000 but less than 100,000 miles
No longer product cover for cars in excess of 100k

Policy excess is £250 payable with each and every claim made.

So if you do 25k a year, by the time the AUC warranty expires on the 34k mile car you'll be perilously close to paying £1554...

Saying that, they are great cars, but like all expensive cars they are fairly expensive to maintain properly. For example the Inspection 2 service will set you back at least £650 from a main dealer.

If you are doing mainly motorway miles you'll probably see 30-34 m.p.g. which is pretty impressive for a 343 b.h.p. engine IMHO! Town driving is approx 20-24 m.p.g., and 'spirited' driving can be a lot less

I bought a 2003 '53 plate with 47k miles a year ago and it has been excellent. Had a problem with the steering rack which was fixed without fuss under the AUC warranty... had I not been covered the bill would have been £1100... Saying that, it's the best car I have ever owned and I won't be changing it soon!

Just make sure you buy on condition rather than price/age and you'll be able to pick up a great car for the money.

[Noel]

timskipper said:

Had a problem with the steering rack which was fixed without fuss under the AUC warranty... had I not been covered the bill would have been £1100...

Assuming you paid for the warrantly and that was your only issue in the 12 month period it actually cost you more for the warranty than to just fix the problem.

Not wanting to start an argument just saying that not going the warranty route and paying circa £1K bills each year doesn't make any financial difference.

[waremark]

Slurms said:

Yeah it was the August and onwards cars that have the facelift early 2003 cars don't

The OP's link was spot on about this - LED brake lights introduced April 03. My car delivered June 03 has the LED's and DVD satnav, but the original satnav DVD did not activate TMC.

[drgav2005]

Noel said:

timskipper said:

Had a problem with the steering rack which was fixed without fuss under the AUC warranty... had I not been covered the bill would have been £1100...

Assuming you paid for the warrantly and that was your only issue in the 12 month period it actually cost you more for the warranty than to just fix the problem.

Not wanting to start an argument just saying that not going the warranty route and paying circa £1K bills each year doesn't make any financial difference.

Luckily not! The car was bought from a main dealer with full AUC status and 1 year comprehensive warranty, so I paid exactly £0. I agree though, had it been a warranty claim and I'd shelled out £772 in the first place, then had to fork out the £250 excess, I'd have only 'saved' £78... But that was a fairly 'minor' problem in the scheme of things... if the engine or gearbox had gone 'pop' then I suspect the warranty (whether AUC or extended) would probbaly be welcome. You are right though, you pay your money and take your chance - if nothing major happens, you're going to be £1k a year better off... but if it does it could prove painful!