A few q's re E46 M3

[dakargelb]

Hi All

I'm new to this forum amd run an 03/03 E46 M3 cab smg - and have done for 3 years now.

I hope it's okay to launch my first post with a few questions that have been bugging me?

1. Should I stick with a main dealer for servicing or go to an independent?
2. If so, are there any good ones in Surrey?
3. What's a fair price for a good condition low-mileage cabrio and does colour make a big difference? (I had a vaque notion of trading it in for a new E93 cabrio...)
3. Is it worthwhile asking the garage to update the software for the satnav? (I do have the latest map disc)
4. The rubber covered button to release the boot lid no longer seems to work, though I can open it from the key. Could this be an easy thing to fix?
5. I thought the brakes were fine, but friends tell me they are generally considered to be rubbish on the M3. I don't drive on tracks or anything, so is there any point in buying upgraded brakes for road use?


Thanks in advance

dakargelb

[alxce]

In response to Q4 - have you got the glove box locked ? If so you can only release the boot using the key.

[dakargelb]

thanks alxce, that was an easy fix! I have been leaving the roof down and taken to locking the glove box, so this must be why I'd never had this before! I guess this is something to do with 'Valet parking mode', which I should have known by reading the manual...

[dan101smith]

dakargelb said:

Hi All

I'm new to this forum amd run an 03/03 E46 M3 cab smg - and have done for 3 years now.

I hope it's okay to launch my first post with a few questions that have been bugging me?

1. Should I stick with a main dealer for servicing or go to an independent?
2. If so, are there any good ones in Surrey?
3. What's a fair price for a good condition low-mileage cabrio and does colour make a big difference? (I had a vaque notion of trading it in for a new E93 cabrio...)
3. Is it worthwhile asking the garage to update the software for the satnav? (I do have the latest map disc)
4. The rubber covered button to release the boot lid no longer seems to work, though I can open it from the key. Could this be an easy thing to fix?
5. I thought the brakes were fine, but friends tell me they are generally considered to be rubbish on the M3. I don't drive on tracks or anything, so is there any point in buying upgraded brakes for road use?


Thanks in advance

dakargelb

1. Independant - cheaper, and better service usually.
2. Not my part of the world, sorry. I'm sure someone will be able to recommend one though.
3. How out-of-date is yours? Could be worthwhile, but TomToms etc are better (postcode lookup etc)
4. You've fixed
5. They're fine for road driving, but not great on track. If you don't intend to go on track, don't worry!

[mblade123]

dan101smith said:

dakargelb said:

Hi All

I'm new to this forum amd run an 03/03 E46 M3 cab smg - and have done for 3 years now.

I hope it's okay to launch my first post with a few questions that have been bugging me?

1. Should I stick with a main dealer for servicing or go to an independent?
2. If so, are there any good ones in Surrey?
3. What's a fair price for a good condition low-mileage cabrio and does colour make a big difference? (I had a vaque notion of trading it in for a new E93 cabrio...)
3. Is it worthwhile asking the garage to update the software for the satnav? (I do have the latest map disc)
4. The rubber covered button to release the boot lid no longer seems to work, though I can open it from the key. Could this be an easy thing to fix?
5. I thought the brakes were fine, but friends tell me they are generally considered to be rubbish on the M3. I don't drive on tracks or anything, so is there any point in buying upgraded brakes for road use?


Thanks in advance

dakargelb

1. Independant - cheaper, and better service usually.
2. Not my part of the world, sorry. I'm sure someone will be able to recommend one though.
3. How out-of-date is yours? Could be worthwhile, but TomToms etc are better (postcode lookup etc)
4. You've fixed
5. They're fine for road driving, but not great on track. If you don't intend to go on track, don't worry!

1. Main dealer. You may not like it but it will hurt resale value especialy on an M3. If you go for the 4 plus option it will be cheaper.
2. N/A
3. Yes and yes they will. You will have perspective view then which is nice. Do you rearly want a tom tom stuck on your dash like a nodding dog when you have a built in Nav screen?
4. Read the manual more often.
5. As he says above. Not the best in the world but ok for road use.

[dakargelb]

RE the servicing
What is '4 plus option'?


RE the navigation:
a) The version is SW 4-1/80 - probably what the car came with.
b) Just by buying a recent map disc I got partial post-code lookup - I did not think this was to do with the software version of the nav compuetr itself, but I may be wrong! On mine, you can loop up a postcode to all but the last two letters. This does make setting the destination much easier - esp when you know the postcode and road, but not the town it's listed under.
c) I actually quite like the BMW navigation, because it is so simple and just seems to work very well - plus when you are moving the click wheel is easier to operate than a tiny touch screen.

So, which version of the s/w do I need to get more features? I did ask the local dealer about this and they were next to useless on specifics - but they said I would not get any extra by updating??

thanks!

Edited by dakargelb on Sunday 27th April 16:25

Edited by dakargelb on Sunday 27th April 16:26

[mblade123]

dakargelb said:

RE the servicing
What is '4 plus option'?


RE the navigation:
a) The version is SW 4-1/80 - probably what the car came with.
b) Just by buying a recent map disc I got partial post-code lookup - I did not think this was to do with the software version of the nav compuetr itself, but I may be wrong! On mine, you can loop up a postcode to all but the last two letters. This does make setting the destination much easier - esp when you know the postcode and road, but not the town it's listed under.
c) I actually quite like the BMW navigation, because it is so simple and just seems to work very well - plus when you are moving the click wheel is easier to operate than a tiny touch screen.

So, which version of the s/w do I need to get more features? I did ask the local dealer about this and they were next to useless on specifics - but they said I would not get any extra by updating??

thanks!

Edited by dakargelb on Sunday 27th April 16:25

Edited by dakargelb on Sunday 27th April 16:26

The 4 plus option is for BMWs that are 4 years or older. It a a thing the main dealers do to keep customers. the Parts are the same price but I think the labour is reduced by 50%.

The post code search is only 5 digits but to be honest its not that bad as it gives you street options after that.

The perspective view is down to what the firmware has been upgraded to and not down to the disk although a newer disc is better.

Ive pinched the discription below of how to get prospective view from another place so regards to the author

As previously stated the Perspective option must be enabled on the hidden Nav settings menu which is accessed by entering the settings menu and then pressing and holding the menu button for about 10 seconds. The Perspective option is just off the bottom of the screen on the first menu, scroll down with the right rotary controler to get to it and then toggle between Off and On. When On the Perspective option is available from the 'Map Direction' option which previously will have had the options for Pointing North or Direction of Travel.

Hope this helps

[dakargelb]

thanks for that! I just turned on Perspective View, which does look quite good. It also has two clouds in the sky, just like the latest BMW nav systems! What is odd is that to the best of my knowledge, I have not had the software updated at all - but the option was there in the hidden menu, just waiting to be activated.

[mblade123]

Glad to help.
Your firmware may already have supported it.

As for a good independant try Thorney Motorsport. They are in Milton Keynes