[Nalod]

e46 m3, low miles 25k and under warranty.........

2006 for about 35k.

The fit and finish of the car is great, all the amenities are in the car, just not as "Modern" as the e92 would be.

Naturally aspired with that exhaust note was incredible. Ride was fantastic and that vintage M3 by some accounts might look better than the e92!

Not as rare as one might think, but this makes it affordable. 0-60 is the same as 335 but the ride dynamics are fantastic, the dial in sport mode is great!

It has a spare tire!!!!

MPG average is 16-24!!!!!!

Can extend the warranty for $1800!

Interesting choice??

[ArabianSensation]

My uncle has one and he loves it... It's a really fun car to drive. It's gonna be a lot different than your 5 series....

[1N54E92]

Yes... a very nice car indeed.

[yomama69]

Originally Posted by Bargamon

e46 m3, low miles 25k and under warranty.........

2006 for about 35k.

The fit and finish of the car is great, all the amenities are in the car, just not as "Modern" as the e92 would be.

Naturally aspired with that exhaust note was incredible. Ride was fantastic and that vintage M3 by some accounts might look better than the e92!

Not as rare as one might think, but this makes it affordable. 0-60 is the same as 335 but the ride dynamics are fantastic, the dial in sport mode is great!

It has a spare tire!!!!

MPG average is 16-24!!!!!!

Can extend the warranty for $1800!

Interesting choice??

Why don't you consider going to a newer 335i for the same price or even less? E92 335i with sport package is going to drive about the same as an e46 M3, from what I know.

[jopa489]

Very nice, but a big change from a 5er. The E46 is classic BMW, and that's a good thing.

[Nalod]

The drive vs. My 5 is like night and day. My driving is down considerable and North Carolina Highways are pretty smooth so when I need to drive 100 miles the ride does not have to be touring smooth. The 5 ride is great.

The M3 in SMG was an animal. I think I would still prefer the Manual but the SMG test was my first try at it. It ain' know "steptronic" by far. Not nearly as smooth. Think of it like "Sport mode" but on steroids. Since it does not have torque converter. It has a hydrolic pump that basically engages the clutch. In "auto mode" it is far more raw than any auto. IN fact it will roll backwards in auto. On the track its faster than a 3 petal set up.

Rest of the ride was quite good even if a bit bumpy. Brake and tire maintenence is going to be a bit higher. I might even say the fit and finish was a tad nicer than the new e92. Certainly not as luxury oriented.

I realized the 0-60 is the same as the 335 but the handling is very different. It was tighter than the 335 with sport e92.

I thought for the money its a great looking car, great fit and finish with all amenities but a growl and fun factor not present in the 335 for the money.

The e92 M3 is a great vehicle but weight and large engine is not always an improvement.

I drove an 04 with 55k on it for 25k also and the interior looked brand new! For half the price of a new 335i it might (Warning: subjective opinion!) a superior value. I was thinking of putting 15k down on a new car, that is more than half the cost!!!

I can anticipate a better resale value down the road as old M's become nice track toys and hold value very well!

Just thinking.......

[CollinsE90]

why 2 posts?

[Nalod]

Originally Posted by CollinsE90

why 2 posts?

I don't know how that happened!

Not intended for 2 posts.

Maybe one can be for the fanboy's or others that just want to discuss the choices. Im just looking at my alternatives.

sometimes there are good discussions.

[m3rxn]

I concur...truly a driver's car.

[CollinsE90]

e46 m3 is never a bad choice, but i would go with a slightly used 335i and drop a couple g's in performance mods...just my .02

[persian54]

maintenance will be very high though after warranty expires (which should be soon)

and even with extended it's not going to be easy

great car though

try to get it for 32
then you're set

a new 335 is going to be able 45k :/

an 07 will be about 27-33

so you're choice on which car you want

[3me]

Personally...i am going to get burned at the stake for saying this...i would get the e46 m3. my uncle has one as well. I love to drive it. Feels great. Even though i LOVE turbo cars...everything i have ever heard about the 335i is that it is an own for 4 years then sell and there is a slightly higher chance of problems than other cars. The e46 m3 is such a well made car. I would probably get it over 335i and i would definately get it over 335i if you are planning on having it for a long time. I have to make my e90 325i last until i can afford the next one fully on my own. Who knows what 3 series will look like then haha. Personally i would consider that option.

[jmsent]

I had an E46 M3 for 3 years, so I speak from experience. The E92 335i and E46M3 have similar numbers but perform very differently. I don't think the M3 makes for a very good daily driver, especially one with SMG. It is an intense car that comes alive only when driven hard. The engine wakes up over 4krpm and is a monster up to redline. But below 4k, there isn't much there. So, you have to "keep it on the boil" to get the performance. IOW, lots of gear rowing is involved. Sport mode only remaps the throttle. It doesn't do anything for the torque curve. The ride, which is much stiffer than an E92, is responsive and fun. But it can be harsh on even moderately bad pavement. Your passengers might not appreciate the ride. My advice: find a low mileage example with a 6MT. Take it for a long, test drive on lots of different roads. If you still love it, then understand that you are buying a relatively low production vehicle with some fairly exotic running gear. Rest assured:it will be a costly mother to maintain when the warranty is up.

[3me]

Originally Posted by jmsent

I had an E46 M3 for 3 years, so I speak from experience. The E92 335i and E46M3 have similar numbers but perform very differently. I don't think the M3 makes for a very good daily driver, especially one with SMG. It is an intense car that comes alive only when driven hard. The engine wakes up over 4krpm and is a monster up to redline. But below 4k, there isn't much there. So, you have to "keep it on the boil" to get the performance. IOW, lots of gear rowing is involved. Sport mode only remaps the throttle. It doesn't do anything for the torque curve. The ride, which is much stiffer than an E92, is responsive and fun. But it can be harsh on even moderately bad pavement. Your passengers might not appreciate the ride. My advice: find a low mileage example with a 6MT. Take it for a long, test drive on lots of different roads. If you still love it, then understand that you are buying a relatively low production vehicle with some fairly exotic running gear. Rest assured:it will be a costly mother to maintain when the warranty is up.

Not to get into an arguement or anything...but when warranty runs up in 335i's i believe it will be a little harsher than the m3's warranty expiring. I mean 335i's have two turbos and a VERY questionable HPFP. The m3 is slightly dated. My uncle has owned his since 2003...that is going on 7 years of ownership. and the only thing he has had to replace was an alternator...and bmw picked up the cost for him. After 7 years..that is pretty good. I doubt ANYONE in here will be able to say that about there 335i in 7 years. If so...come back and correct me i will welcome it.

[200Duece]

spare tire?

[bubbletea 4 me]

E46 M3 is def. one of my fav of all time but maintainance and possible fixes will cost alot, especially when ti's an M. now, there are some who never had problems, but others have many it's a German car and really isnt known to be reliable.. just gotta knock on wood and hope not too many issues arrises.

my buddy has an E46 M3 (02 or 03 i cant remember) and it's on 2nd engine, 3rd tran. good thing that it all happend when it still had warranty. he is getting rid of it now that it's outta waranty.

not saying the 335s will be any better but that's why im getting rid of it when warranty comes up. dont wanna take chance with these cars man..

[jmsent]

Originally Posted by 3me

Not to get into an arguement or anything...but when warranty runs up in 335i's i believe it will be a little harsher than the m3's warranty expiring. I mean 335i's have two turbos and a VERY questionable HPFP. The m3 is slightly dated. My uncle has owned his since 2003...that is going on 7 years of ownership. and the only thing he has had to replace was an alternator...and bmw picked up the cost for him. After 7 years..that is pretty good. I doubt ANYONE in here will be able to say that about there 335i in 7 years. If so...come back and correct me i will welcome it.

Consider:
The S54 has solid lifters that require valve adjustment ( I forgot the interval but it's something like 50,000 mi.) That alone is $1000. Oil is special 10W60 synthetic that's $11 a qt. There may be no turbos, but there's 6 individual throttle bodies, and they won't last forever. All the rest of the running gear is specific to the car. Suspension, brakes, transmission, etc. all specific to the M3. All on a car with a fraction of the production of a standard 3. Yes, the 335 has the turbos and HPFP. But the HPFP is already extended to 10 yrs warranty, and the engine is in wide use throughout the product line. I also had an 03, but it was after the restyle, so it was considered an 03-1/2. If your uncle's was an 03 built before May, then he also had a new set of lower end bearings installed. All M3's before this date were recalled for this work. Not saying the 335 will be cheap, but ask anyone who's had major work on an M car. They can be jaw dropping.

[mPlasticDesign]

My E46 w/ SMGII had 37k when I sold it and it was rock solid. I loved the car. The cost of repairs is less scary if the car is paid off and it is not your DD. However, if you are barely making payments and then the normal maintenance comes along(not to mention a major repair) the pleasure of driving the car will soon wear thin. My 2$.

[MrHarris]

The E46 M3 is an awesome car. Far more fun than the 335, and at least as much and in some situations more fun than the E92 M3.

[Scorpion]

One of my favorite cars, get it. Post some pics as well.

[Nalod]

Thanks for the feedback.

Im only looking at 2004-2006 and are very reliable daily drivers. Im staying away from the competition package as the color is a bit too fruity for me and the ride even stiffer.

Where I live the roads are not harsh. less than 10 miles round trip commute, the rest will be highway driving less than 100 miles each way.

Rather than lease IM thinking of buying and hold on for some time. M's hold their value very well.

Maintainence issue is not a problem. Im gonna put 10k miles per year on it. If I own, I don't mind buying a second set of all seasons for the winter. Winter is very mild here.

Price: Naturally the price matters. Drove a 04 for 27k that had 55k miles on it and it was like new. Very solid, well maintained. Im not worried about special oil as I like to change it myself (if possible). I would be ok to pay up for the right vehicle. With proper documentation, no mods, and the right color would make for a better experience than trying to get the cheapest one I can find.

SMG II is very intense and while a very interesting variat of transmission I would opt for a straight manual. Besides my wife has to drive this once in a while and the smg, even in auto mode would freak her out. I might suggest any fanboy of the 335 who thinks Steptronic is great take this puppy for spin. Very very different. SMG in the M3 is scarey in comparison.

The ride is very different from the 335. Im not trying to flame anyone here but Naturally aspired vs Turbo is really a big deal for me. The exhaust note on this thing is the real and to me this thing would encompass every mod you can think of already built in. IM not a mod kind of guy. In a way if you think of the money that some put into mods it would more than cover my maintence. To mod a car then dump it when the lease is done might not make sense.

Im thinking, looking and driving different avenues. I dig the BMW and the performance but not sold on the 335i even though its an awsome car! I was just smitten with the look, fit and finish, and the overall experience of the M3.

[Finnegan]

The 335i HPFP is covered up to 100k miles now. But many have had several pumps replaced and do you want it to fail and the worst possible moment (warranty or not). That aside, I'd take the last model year of what was probably one of the best M cars ever--awesome engine, suspension, LSD instead of open diff, better steering feel--over a first or second year 335 with the new N54 engine. How the N54 engine will last remains to be seen--and damn that thing runs HOT even with an oil cooler. We know the "track record" for the E46 M3 and it's pretty darn good, especially with the later model years of that run.

I went with the 335 originally over a used 2006 M3 and regretted it. Never bonded with the 335. Decided to dump the 335. I only bought an E9x series M3 because the price was so jacked down on an 08 that I pretty much stole it; otherwise it would have been dumping the 335 for a used 06 M3. The E46 has a charm all it's own and is way more of a driver's car than the 335. In terms of raw speed, especially when chipped, the 335 is "better". But as a whole package, and if the E9x series M3 isn't under consideration (you want to keep costs down), the E46 is better IMO.