Tracking down my old M3 - ST53 HGG

[PopsandBangs]

Evening all...

Wondered whether anybody on here is the current custodian of my old E46 M3

From my previous investigation, I believe it was owned first by an older chap in Scotland, before it then passed to a fellow pistonheader ( i'm sure if you read this you'll recognise the reg )

Then it ended up around 8 years ago with a very dear friend of mine for a few years (I still vividly remember seeing it for the first time, newly delivered and gleaming on his driveway, rear out Little did I know it would be mine 2 years later.

Sold it (very very reluctantly) back in early 2016 to a chap down in Wiltshire who turned up at 5am to pick it up .

Not sure where it went after that. Only seems to have done a few K miles since I parted with it.

Means a very great deal to me that motor, and I often wonder where it is and whether the current owner is looking to change.

Very long shot - but i'd love to hear if anyone knows of it's whereabouts.

Cheers

[PopsandBangs]

[CB 987]

Checking the DVLA, the last V5C was issued in Oct 2016, so there is a good chance it’s still owned by the chap you sold it to in Wiltshire.

Cheers.

[PopsandBangs]

Wow thanks for that...! I'll have to dig out my old phone and see if I can find the number. Fingers crossed

[Smuler]

Looking at this, whoever bought it in February 2016, sold it in October 2016.


Ownership
No. Previous Keepers
5
Current Keeper Acq.
14 October 2016
Current Ownership
4 years 5 months
Prev. Keeper Sold
14 October 2016
Prev. Keeper Acq.
07 February 2016
Vehicle Age
17 years 5 months
Registration
10 October 2003

[PopsandBangs]

Thanks for that Smuler.

Looks like it may be a little more tricky to track down

[Smuler]

PopsandBangs said:

Thanks for that Smuler.

Looks like it may be a little more tricky to track down

Best lead would be the guy you sold it to.

The V5 change dates, being the same, says he sold it privately. Maybe he recalls who?

Also, there's no other advert reference here, for example which also suggests it wasn't a trade sale. There's just your pictures

https://cazana.com/uk/car/ST53HGG

It's kept its plate. Usage is increasing , actually.

The only internet footprint I found came back to you and the previous (to you) owner, Grant.

I put the registration in M3 Cutters but nothing. Maybe there are E46 M3 Facebook groups ?

[RS Grant]

What's the chances of popping on for a rare look at the M Power forum and this being one of the first threads I see... my heart did skip a little when I saw the registration in the title.

It was bought new and owned by an older guy locally to myself in Dundee, who traded it in for a Frozen Edition E92 M3 from memory. I bought the car from George McKay Cars in Edinburgh and traded it into the cowboys at Birds Garage for an E91 335i which turned out to be hella big mistake.. lost all touch of the car until someone (possibly yourself OP?) popped into my E92 Competition Pack thread in Readers' Cars a year or two back and filled in a bit of the post-trade in history of it for me.

Selling/trading that car in remains one of my biggest automotive regrets. I hope you find it and if so then I'd love to be given first refusal if you were to ever move it on in the future; however unlikely that may be!!

[PopsandBangs]

Great sleuthing Smuler. Just signed up and had a look myself on Cazana - quite nostalgic seeing the old advert I wrote myself and the pictures I took 5 years ago Found the number on my old phone which thankfully powered up after several years - have messaged and fingers crossed

Grant - yes indeed it was I who got in touch here a few years ago... looking back it was over 3 now..!!!! Remember seeing your thread on the E92 Competition you'd bought (I was looking at one also back then) and recognised your private plate on it, from the old V5 copies in the history file that came with the E46

Like you, my single biggest car regret letting it go. Absolute minter wasn't it. I shall do my best to re-obtain it and will keep you updated... if I do, you will of course have first refusal if she goes.

Anyway let's see what happens and if she's available ...