E46 M3 - is it pikey yet?
Discussion
It happens to every M3. The E36 is now entirely the preserve of knuckle-draggers and criminals.
The E46 is next. In this last week I've seen two black E46 M3s - one with hideous fully black windows, the other with an oick smoking with his tattooed and pinky-ringed hand out the window. Not good.
So the question is not if; it is when.
How long is left for the E46?
The E46 is next. In this last week I've seen two black E46 M3s - one with hideous fully black windows, the other with an oick smoking with his tattooed and pinky-ringed hand out the window. Not good.
So the question is not if; it is when.
How long is left for the E46?
Regret (being an owner) that I agree here, some real dicks driving them now and I think its a real shame.
All the more reason that I plan on hanging on to mine until it dies on its feet
(touch wood, lets not tempt fate etc, etc)
Luckily though there are still a decent number of true enthusiasts with them that outweigh the knobends (for now!)
All the more reason that I plan on hanging on to mine until it dies on its feet
(touch wood, lets not tempt fate etc, etc)
Luckily though there are still a decent number of true enthusiasts with them that outweigh the knobends (for now!)
Being an owner of a garage princess this concerns me that this still very good car has reached Pikeydom.
I am guilty of modification, but I keep them strictly to the motorsport theme and function over form
Tints, huge audio upgrades 20" rims are not for me.
Where will this car find itself in the current used car market ?
I am guilty of modification, but I keep them strictly to the motorsport theme and function over form
Tints, huge audio upgrades 20" rims are not for me.
Where will this car find itself in the current used car market ?
Interesting this should come up now.
My shortlist of "Toys I Want" is now down to three cars:
E46 M3 conv smg
B6 S4 conv tip
996 cab tip
That Porker has an element of "nice car if you're a hairdresser or someone's wife". The S4 I think is the best looking, but slowest and probably least rewarding to drive. The M3's quick and a driver's car, but even before seeing this thread, I suspected it was the most likely chav-mobility choice.
Feck...
My shortlist of "Toys I Want" is now down to three cars:
E46 M3 conv smg
B6 S4 conv tip
996 cab tip
That Porker has an element of "nice car if you're a hairdresser or someone's wife". The S4 I think is the best looking, but slowest and probably least rewarding to drive. The M3's quick and a driver's car, but even before seeing this thread, I suspected it was the most likely chav-mobility choice.
Feck...
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 28th June 13:02
I understand how this situation may effect residuals for some of you out there and that is unfortunate but from a purely selfish point of view I am personally not to dissatisfied with how things seem to be playing out. I have a track focused e36 and the way I see the situation is that as a direct result of the mark having been adopted by floods of chavtastic proles who seem to know little or nothing about their new rides they are buying, set about ruining to a degree that is detrimental to the re-sale value of the car. This is where the good bit comes in; I am now able to buy cars/parts cheaper than ever before and this in turn means I get to spend more time on track as my money goes further 
Don't get me wrong, I am not gloating, but for once it seems that I am basking in the success of turning a negative in to a positive.
Just an alternative slant that's all.
Don't get me wrong, I am not gloating, but for once it seems that I am basking in the success of turning a negative in to a positive.
Just an alternative slant that's all.
There are really two questions here. Firstly can you still find a good and cared for E46 M3 if you want to buy one? Secondly does driving one still bestow a certain status upon the driver?
The answer to the first question is 'yes'. There are probably still quite a few E46 M3s in the hands of people who paid a good chunk of cash for them a couple or more years ago (remember they were still making this car until 05 or was it 06?). If you wanted to go any find a good and well cared for one then at the moment that should be no problem.
The answer to the second question (if indeed you care about the answer to this queston) is 'no'. The cars have now fallen in value to a level the proles can afford. You may paid £40k+ in cash for your mint car when it was new however it's status is diminished since the same car (with covering personal plate) can now be bought for sub £20k. To some this matters to others it doesn't.
The answer to the first question is 'yes'. There are probably still quite a few E46 M3s in the hands of people who paid a good chunk of cash for them a couple or more years ago (remember they were still making this car until 05 or was it 06?). If you wanted to go any find a good and well cared for one then at the moment that should be no problem.
The answer to the second question (if indeed you care about the answer to this queston) is 'no'. The cars have now fallen in value to a level the proles can afford. You may paid £40k+ in cash for your mint car when it was new however it's status is diminished since the same car (with covering personal plate) can now be bought for sub £20k. To some this matters to others it doesn't.
I think there's a big difference between the chav-tastic 20 inch wheeled beast with bass you can hear just momentarily before the non standard exhaust that can be heard whilst doing donuts in B&Q car parks with the fog lights brightly shining on a Sunday evening. Then there's the other type of M3, the standard one that is driven quickly where you'd expect it to be and looks completely standard to the naked eye and certainly has no bass pumping out of it.
...but then I am biased.
...but then I am biased.
I feel I bought at the right time ( a few months ago)
In that for the price I paid, I got a lot of car for my money in a car I'd wanted for some time (having previously owned an E36 M3 3.0).
I have the means that enable me to keep the car in the way its meant to be kept and intend to do so.
I'm not fussed about perceived "status" but hope that those in the know still see me as an enthusiast driver by owning car that is built for such people (and comments I've received so far seem to bear that out)
As said above, there are still a far few examples around of cars that have been well looked after.
In that for the price I paid, I got a lot of car for my money in a car I'd wanted for some time (having previously owned an E36 M3 3.0).
I have the means that enable me to keep the car in the way its meant to be kept and intend to do so.
I'm not fussed about perceived "status" but hope that those in the know still see me as an enthusiast driver by owning car that is built for such people (and comments I've received so far seem to bear that out)
As said above, there are still a far few examples around of cars that have been well looked after.
king jap. The Pikeys round here are driving brand new X5s and E92 M3s as far as I can see.
I have seen more badly modded E92s in the last couple of weeks than I have E46s, however, I have seen more and more 'init' boys driving round in E46s revving the nuts off them with bass distorting out of the windows over the last few months.
I have seen more badly modded E92s in the last couple of weeks than I have E46s, however, I have seen more and more 'init' boys driving round in E46s revving the nuts off them with bass distorting out of the windows over the last few months.
Unfortunatly the M3, particularly the convertable, and the X5 seem to be the two models in the BMW range that attract more than their fair share of undesirables.
To avoid the chav effect I would suggest any M5(I'm biased), they look too much like a normal 5 series Sport to be of interest, or the Z4 M Coupe, rare enough that most of these people don't know what it is, and will worry that others won't either.
To avoid the chav effect I would suggest any M5(I'm biased), they look too much like a normal 5 series Sport to be of interest, or the Z4 M Coupe, rare enough that most of these people don't know what it is, and will worry that others won't either.
Edited by M5Dave on Monday 29th June 01:07
Greg66 said:
Interesting this should come up now.
My shortlist of "Toys I Want" is now down to three cars:
E46 M3 conv smg
B6 S4 conv tip
996 cab tip
That Porker has an element of "nice car if you're a hairdresser or someone's wife". The S4 I think is the best looking, but slowest and probably least rewarding to drive. The M3's quick and a driver's car, but even before seeing this thread, I suspected it was the most likely chav-mobility choice.
Feck...
I'd take the M3 image over the orange skinned, pint jumper over the shoulders 911 look any day.My shortlist of "Toys I Want" is now down to three cars:
E46 M3 conv smg
B6 S4 conv tip
996 cab tip
That Porker has an element of "nice car if you're a hairdresser or someone's wife". The S4 I think is the best looking, but slowest and probably least rewarding to drive. The M3's quick and a driver's car, but even before seeing this thread, I suspected it was the most likely chav-mobility choice.
Feck...
Anyway, forget what other people think. If you want the car to drive and enjoy, take the M3 .... If you are buying it to pose about infront of strangers, and their opinion matters to you, decide which pidgeon hole you'd like them to stick you in.
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