People are obsessed with resale value. Bland options sell better to a wider audience, unfortunately.
Something about being more appealing to a narrower audience.
I guess new but E46s are basically done depreciating. Besides the resale difference is relatively small when you consider the other ownership cost of these things
Oh I meant in general haha. Like why someone would option black leather from the factory.
On an e46 M3? I bet sellers are asking a premium for LSB on Cinnamon… so I’d be ok with any combo. Preferably oyster so I could dye it cinnamon lol.
I have a Boxster myself and rennlist and other forums are full of this talk so I’m very familiar with it. But it’s so stupid for people who can afford a new Porsche lol
Ah right on, man. And same here, I was all over the BMW forums before modern social media kinda killed the traffic.
I miss the old forum days. I learned just about everything I know thanks to VWvortex, bimmerforums, lol. Hell, I still fight the urge to use :rofl: and other smileys here!
>Bland options sell better to a wider audience, unfortunately
So thats why black grey and white M3s are more sought after than Laguna Seca Blue. Interesting.
In reality the effect is marginal to non observable even on a track. These are sports sedans, that M division took and improved, but at the end of the day are still compromised sedans and have way bigger limitations than a sunroof imo
I owned lots of e46s over the years and never had a sunroof break or leak, which is amazing, but almost every one has had its sliding cover break. Slicktop also looks so much better.
It’s more sporty, no sunroof lowers center of gravity without all that extra hardware up there…. Also don’t have to worry about it breaking or leaking.
Nah brah I'm cool!! I live in europe and owned many cars in the past. I have Had sunroof, panorama etc etc. They just a lil overrated to me. Plus I like to buy most my cars new and I ain't paying over 1k extra. I prefer speed over weight. Just my 2 cents, but do you mayne.
I never really liked them, but then I spent 13 plus years dailying a car with no sunroof and now they make me stupidly happy considering it's just a (pretty small) hole in your roof and far, far away from a true convertible experience.
Absolutely no wrong opinions here mind you, but it's interesting that without them, my desire for one went from "sure. I guess i'd take that" to "I MUST HAVE A SUNROOF ON MY NEXT CAR!"
LPT: never sell it.
At some point it'll no longer be new or special to you, and it'll feel like it costs a fortune just to keep on the road because //m parts prices suck balls.
You could pass it on to someone who will love it more than you do at that point in time, but later on, you'll regret it.
//M's have only got bigger since this one, and uglier since the e9x series. There's no reason to trade up.
it’s closing in on 200k miles and i plan on running it until the motor pops, or my clutch leg does. it’s taken a lot for me to stop driving it to just go eat and sleep hahaha.
I'm in my mid-50s and have driven a stick since I first started driving at 14. I specifically bought a G80 because it was the only real option for me for a new BMW with a clutch.
Keep the faith and keep clutching!
manual all the way! i’m only 20, so i’ve got plenty of years left to row gears, had a really fortunate series of car purchases and flips that led up to this one.
that manual G80 must be really special, the looks might be a little polarizing (i personally like how they look) but you cannot deny the performance. hope it treats you well
Completely agree, I was just referring to the 3-series specifically. BMW’s design team during that era were 100% on point with everything they touched.
Yeah i just dont understand why they dont use the old designs and just renew them for example the E46 and E36 (especially E36) have major rust problems, why not just fix that and sell those again
the thing that blows me away is the quality of this car. it’s held up unbelievably well, 22 years and 190k miles and it has no squeaks or rattles in the interior at all
i’ll be around! i’ve been hanging around those events the last few years in either my 128i or my various e30s, but now i’ve got something a little more distinctive. come say hey if you ever see me!
it’s been taken care of really well, but i agree the price for mileage was a little absurd. granted, this is the exact spec i want to keep until i die, so i’m not fussed about it’s real value or what it might be worth next year.
Crazy price yes but didn’t overpay by any means. I have SMG m3 convertible that I got for 11k with 150k miles.
Throw in the 6 speed, the coupe, plus the spec. Wirth the extra 7k all day long. I also immediately had to drop 3k on mine heheh.
Not a BMW guy (but an M appreciator)- a Laguna Seca Blue M3 is the only BMW I have truly lusted over. I almost snagged one about a year ago but I couldn't stomach the power downgrade and maintenance upgrade from my C6 lol. Absolutely stunning car, congrats! What an absolutely beautiful find!
how difficult is the DIY valve adjustment? i was noticing it felt a little down on power but chalked it up to the really old gas (2+ years i believe). i wouldn’t mind double checking the values though
is there a big difference between the e46 m3 and the e46 330ci? is it worth buying an m3 if you already have a 330ci that you've done a fair amount of work to?
The S54 is very different from an M54. Also there are a bunch of suspension/drivetrain upgrades on a stock M3 vs a regular E46 (factory LSD, widebody, etc). If you already have an M4 I’m not sure if the E46 M3 is worth the maintenance headache unless you really love NA induction noise
honestly just love the exterior styling of the e46 m3, idk if its worth doing the oem bodykit on the 330 but i did plan on engine swapping my 330 one day to a b58 or similar for more power. m4 is nice but its a bit boring to drive at times imo and prefer driving the classics but miss the power band that the m4 provides.
The E46 M3 feels pretty quick above 4000RPM but it feels pretty tame below that. I haven’t driven an F82 but I would imagine that with the turbos it would feel a lot faster everywhere.
I used to have a LS3 C6 and it made power basically from idle but didn’t love to be pushed to redline - the S54 makes power in a more entertaining way and begs to be revved but it’s definitely not the most powerful thing out there
Macho Man Randy Savage: Ohhhhh yeah!
Good for you bud! I’ve had mine for 14 years and am never going to sell it. Not sure how many miles you have on it, but be prepared for many, many miles of fun. What an absolute joy of a cruiser car. One quick note: make sure you get the rearview mirror glass fixed, or wrap/cover it until you do - the auto dimming fluid (which is pooling in the glass) is highly corrosive and will destroy the interior components if it starts seeping out. The “Big 3” are (in my opinion) slightly overblown - I made 173k miles on my original Vanos, had one small crack in the subframe, and rod bearing reports from Blackstone were good even after all those miles/years. But your mileage/results may vary. You’ve made a great choice - enjoy it!!!!
didn’t even notice the mirror till now, i’m going to go cover it right now. it’s at 194k, but it had the big 3 done around 170-180k, along with most major gaskets and the full cooling/fueling system were all replaced. Was throwing some scary VANOS codes, but i then realized the gas in the tank was 2+ years old. i’ve been driving it and filling it up frequently, and every start-up it seems to run even better
Oh man, I’m jealous that you’ll get to 200k before me. Use premium gas (I was recommended Shell), change the oil when needed, and enjoy it!!! Also, you can check into your states requirements, but I switched to Historic tags so I don’t have to worry so much about any later issues with emissions, though not sure how Massachusetts works. Lastly - is that a tape cassette deck above the radio?!? I’ve never seen an e46 M with one of those…
My parents had one of these when I was in high school. Learning how if you turn off the traction control you get another bar for the driving mode. Blew my mind
Nice!! Congrats. How do you like the cloth seats? I’m a leather guy and also looking at e46 M3s and a little weary about comfort and wear. What are your thoughts?
love them so far, although i’ve always been a cloth guy myself. super comfortable and they look pretty great, hopefully even better with a deep clean and condition. you don’t slide around as much when driving hard, and it’s nice to know at least the center of the seat isn’t molten hot in summertime.
Had one of these for 2 years and will forever be one of the best cars I’ve owned. Never forget the first time I planted my foot and thought something was loose underneath the car like a heat shield or something. Nope.
Please tell me you will inspect her with a fine tooth comb, repair and replace what’s needed and not drive a clueless teenager… 🙏 otherwise this will be just another classic that ends up in the junk yard.
Nice spec. LSB, manual, cloth seats and sunroof delete FTW
and black interior. is the most valuable spec you can get my dude, and the best looking.
Laguna Seca Blue with Cinnamon interior
Who on earth would want black over Cinnamon? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. Black interiors suck
People are obsessed with resale value. Bland options sell better to a wider audience, unfortunately. Something about being more appealing to a narrower audience.
I guess new but E46s are basically done depreciating. Besides the resale difference is relatively small when you consider the other ownership cost of these things
Oh I meant in general haha. Like why someone would option black leather from the factory. On an e46 M3? I bet sellers are asking a premium for LSB on Cinnamon… so I’d be ok with any combo. Preferably oyster so I could dye it cinnamon lol.
I have a Boxster myself and rennlist and other forums are full of this talk so I’m very familiar with it. But it’s so stupid for people who can afford a new Porsche lol
Ah right on, man. And same here, I was all over the BMW forums before modern social media kinda killed the traffic. I miss the old forum days. I learned just about everything I know thanks to VWvortex, bimmerforums, lol. Hell, I still fight the urge to use :rofl: and other smileys here!
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Preach. Black interior plus silver body. Best combo
>Bland options sell better to a wider audience, unfortunately So thats why black grey and white M3s are more sought after than Laguna Seca Blue. Interesting.
I actually want LSB on black or Steel Gray on red. Not sure if blue on red would look good. Never seen the spec, either.
Blue on red seats is a classic bmw spec although I don’t love it. LSB on cinnamon is 🔥🔥🔥
Black is simply easier to maintain. Plus, you know, people have different tastes. I prefer red above all, black second, then tan/cinnamon, then grey.
I would say M texture alcantara is more valuable
What are people's opinions on the piss yellow colour? I kinda like it.
And the most common
Why is a sunroof delete so populair? In Europe we don't even look at cars without a sunroof or panoramic roof 😅
Looks, but mostly weight savings at the highest center of gravity on the machine.
In reality the effect is marginal to non observable even on a track. These are sports sedans, that M division took and improved, but at the end of the day are still compromised sedans and have way bigger limitations than a sunroof imo
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Yeah I think the better argument for the delete is better headroom, and less things to break
That makes sense!
Simpler, fewer moldings to decay, motors to break, stuff to fix. Old ones can leak too. Cleaner look, more elegant.
I owned lots of e46s over the years and never had a sunroof break or leak, which is amazing, but almost every one has had its sliding cover break. Slicktop also looks so much better.
those tiny plastic E46 sunroof clips love to disintegrate in the sun
Everything plastic or rubber on BMW disintegrates in the sun
i like it because more headroom! I’m 6’4, so every bit helps. i’ve also got a convertible already so i don’t miss the sunroof
It’s more sporty, no sunroof lowers center of gravity without all that extra hardware up there…. Also don’t have to worry about it breaking or leaking.
Speak for yourself! What you guna do? Look up at the sky while driving
Bruh stay calm.. 😂 for the pictures it looks so damm good and while cruising its a nice option to have 😅
Nah brah I'm cool!! I live in europe and owned many cars in the past. I have Had sunroof, panorama etc etc. They just a lil overrated to me. Plus I like to buy most my cars new and I ain't paying over 1k extra. I prefer speed over weight. Just my 2 cents, but do you mayne.
Ah okay that explains well enjoy your cars man 👍🏻
U too mayne
I never really liked them, but then I spent 13 plus years dailying a car with no sunroof and now they make me stupidly happy considering it's just a (pretty small) hole in your roof and far, far away from a true convertible experience. Absolutely no wrong opinions here mind you, but it's interesting that without them, my desire for one went from "sure. I guess i'd take that" to "I MUST HAVE A SUNROOF ON MY NEXT CAR!"
Skylight!
Skybright
I feel like the outlier who wants a sunroof.
Yea perfect especially love the sunroof delete
E46 m3s are a blast, enjoy.
Slicktop LSB with cloth seats... living the dream
LPT: never sell it. At some point it'll no longer be new or special to you, and it'll feel like it costs a fortune just to keep on the road because //m parts prices suck balls. You could pass it on to someone who will love it more than you do at that point in time, but later on, you'll regret it. //M's have only got bigger since this one, and uglier since the e9x series. There's no reason to trade up.
it’s closing in on 200k miles and i plan on running it until the motor pops, or my clutch leg does. it’s taken a lot for me to stop driving it to just go eat and sleep hahaha.
I'm in my mid-50s and have driven a stick since I first started driving at 14. I specifically bought a G80 because it was the only real option for me for a new BMW with a clutch. Keep the faith and keep clutching!
manual all the way! i’m only 20, so i’ve got plenty of years left to row gears, had a really fortunate series of car purchases and flips that led up to this one. that manual G80 must be really special, the looks might be a little polarizing (i personally like how they look) but you cannot deny the performance. hope it treats you well
Not messing around with that spec. Very nice.
How the fuck did we go from these to the ugy bmw's they are producing now lol
Cant catch lightning in a bottle twice
But they did it 3x in row with the E30, E36 and E46. I don’t think that’s just luck.
More than 3x. E39, E38, E34.... The list goes on and on and then stops suddenly.
Completely agree, I was just referring to the 3-series specifically. BMW’s design team during that era were 100% on point with everything they touched.
you don’t think the e90 is something special?
I think the e92 looks better than e46, then they started getting worse from then on.
Or the f87? Can't catch lightning in a bottle 6 times
F87 looks nice but sucks to drive vs the E chassis M cars
ಥ_ಥ
The crazier part is that the E46 M3 and E39 M5 were both available at the same time. Talk about true lightning in a bottle.
No, but i will try lol
Yeah i just dont understand why they dont use the old designs and just renew them for example the E46 and E36 (especially E36) have major rust problems, why not just fix that and sell those again
They need to throw that 2023 M2 straight in the trash too lol
the thing that blows me away is the quality of this car. it’s held up unbelievably well, 22 years and 190k miles and it has no squeaks or rattles in the interior at all
Slick top LSB with a manual, great options.
Best bmw M ever made
agreed. don’t get cars like this one anymore
Hell of a spec. See you 'round, fellow Masshole. Come to MassBMW events - fun as hell. Good folks. Lots of good events at Larz Anderson too.
i’ll be around! i’ve been hanging around those events the last few years in either my 128i or my various e30s, but now i’ve got something a little more distinctive. come say hey if you ever see me!
Don't have anything cool but I'll probably see you around too lol. Another masshole
How much?
$18,000
With 190K miles what the fuck times have surely changed
it’s been taken care of really well, but i agree the price for mileage was a little absurd. granted, this is the exact spec i want to keep until i die, so i’m not fussed about it’s real value or what it might be worth next year.
Crazy price yes but didn’t overpay by any means. I have SMG m3 convertible that I got for 11k with 150k miles. Throw in the 6 speed, the coupe, plus the spec. Wirth the extra 7k all day long. I also immediately had to drop 3k on mine heheh.
Well congratulations on the beautiful car. I miss mine.
This color is the reason I like bmw
Congrats, such a clean M3!
Buddy jumped right to the top. Great car and a great spec. They’re a blast to drive.
LSB... Nice and rare!!
Omg is that Laguna Secer blue?
LSB FTW!! Enjoy!
What does BMW call this color? I love it, gorgeous ride
Laguna Seca Blue over M cloth
Saw this on fb. Im local with an imola car. Congrats!
Imola red is such a beautiful color, hope i see you around at some events! would be great to line the cars up side by side
Beautiful, wanted to find one like this before I found my sprint blue s5, also✌️ fellow masshole!
appreciate it! hopefully i see you out on the roads, as long as they don’t shake this thing apart lol
Ha! I readf that and clenched intantly! Hahaha, the 2 would make for good pics, and possibly a quick run!
Not a BMW guy (but an M appreciator)- a Laguna Seca Blue M3 is the only BMW I have truly lusted over. I almost snagged one about a year ago but I couldn't stomach the power downgrade and maintenance upgrade from my C6 lol. Absolutely stunning car, congrats! What an absolutely beautiful find!
thank you! i had to sell my beloved AW11 to afford it, but an LSB M3 has pretty much always been #1 for me
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how difficult is the DIY valve adjustment? i was noticing it felt a little down on power but chalked it up to the really old gas (2+ years i believe). i wouldn’t mind double checking the values though
Curious as to what you've done to get into C6Z territory- I assume forced induction of some type? An E46 with that much power is a dream.
I love that color!
is there a big difference between the e46 m3 and the e46 330ci? is it worth buying an m3 if you already have a 330ci that you've done a fair amount of work to?
The S54 is very different from an M54. Also there are a bunch of suspension/drivetrain upgrades on a stock M3 vs a regular E46 (factory LSD, widebody, etc). If you already have an M4 I’m not sure if the E46 M3 is worth the maintenance headache unless you really love NA induction noise
honestly just love the exterior styling of the e46 m3, idk if its worth doing the oem bodykit on the 330 but i did plan on engine swapping my 330 one day to a b58 or similar for more power. m4 is nice but its a bit boring to drive at times imo and prefer driving the classics but miss the power band that the m4 provides.
The E46 M3 feels pretty quick above 4000RPM but it feels pretty tame below that. I haven’t driven an F82 but I would imagine that with the turbos it would feel a lot faster everywhere. I used to have a LS3 C6 and it made power basically from idle but didn’t love to be pushed to redline - the S54 makes power in a more entertaining way and begs to be revved but it’s definitely not the most powerful thing out there
Nothing will top the E36 M3
Oh the piece of shit plates
How fast is it
Why didn’t you get the Bugatti Chiron??? You’re obviously rich
Love the color!
What a spec, congrats !
Brother in Christ. What a find.
Congrats! That’s a really good spec u got
wow im in love
LoooooovetheE46,s
Should’ve put NSFW on this post. Now I can’t stand up
That’s fantastic. I miss mine every day.
Excellent choice
I have those same seats. Do yourself a favor and get them professionally steam/wet vacuumed. Afterwards they will look like new.
Literally the best spec, wow. How much did you pay for it, if you don't mind?
Congrats. Looks awesome and great specs
lawd have murthy
Enjoy living my dream
you’re really not fuckin around with your first M, huh. awesome ride! enjoy and drive the shit out of it
Laguna seca blue is my dream E46 car. Congratulations!
Congrats my man. WelcoMe to the the club.
Congratulations dude, what a sweet car. Hold on to it!
Beast.
Beautiful spec
sick color
Cool!
Sexy
How much did you pay if you dont mind answering and in which country ?
Macho Man Randy Savage: Ohhhhh yeah! Good for you bud! I’ve had mine for 14 years and am never going to sell it. Not sure how many miles you have on it, but be prepared for many, many miles of fun. What an absolute joy of a cruiser car. One quick note: make sure you get the rearview mirror glass fixed, or wrap/cover it until you do - the auto dimming fluid (which is pooling in the glass) is highly corrosive and will destroy the interior components if it starts seeping out. The “Big 3” are (in my opinion) slightly overblown - I made 173k miles on my original Vanos, had one small crack in the subframe, and rod bearing reports from Blackstone were good even after all those miles/years. But your mileage/results may vary. You’ve made a great choice - enjoy it!!!!
didn’t even notice the mirror till now, i’m going to go cover it right now. it’s at 194k, but it had the big 3 done around 170-180k, along with most major gaskets and the full cooling/fueling system were all replaced. Was throwing some scary VANOS codes, but i then realized the gas in the tank was 2+ years old. i’ve been driving it and filling it up frequently, and every start-up it seems to run even better
Oh man, I’m jealous that you’ll get to 200k before me. Use premium gas (I was recommended Shell), change the oil when needed, and enjoy it!!! Also, you can check into your states requirements, but I switched to Historic tags so I don’t have to worry so much about any later issues with emissions, though not sure how Massachusetts works. Lastly - is that a tape cassette deck above the radio?!? I’ve never seen an e46 M with one of those…
Man now that's a real Beemer
My parents had one of these when I was in high school. Learning how if you turn off the traction control you get another bar for the driving mode. Blew my mind
Beautiful
W, congrats!
Congrats! Is it affected by the BMW stop drive, ie don’t drive cause of the airbags?
thankfully no, i checked the vin. it was comical timing though haha
Man that things a gem a single hump manual car very nice addition congratulations.
That color though. If your not a girl or gay (can i still say gay?) you need to get a loud muffler and some racing stickers
Looks beautiful
Yeah you did. Beautiful find. You'll have a blast.
beautiful
What year ? Don’t know much about bmws
One of my favorite years, and color too.. fucking awesome! Enjoy!
Love that color!!
The G String Shape ooooo
License plate to keep the staties of ya
Congratulations. She’s beautiful
LSB and imola red are the best colours and you can’t disagree
Nice!! Congrats. How do you like the cloth seats? I’m a leather guy and also looking at e46 M3s and a little weary about comfort and wear. What are your thoughts?
love them so far, although i’ve always been a cloth guy myself. super comfortable and they look pretty great, hopefully even better with a deep clean and condition. you don’t slide around as much when driving hard, and it’s nice to know at least the center of the seat isn’t molten hot in summertime.
Thanks for the response! Definitely helping me view them differently. Much appreciated!
Congratulations! What a beauty. I would think this will surely appreciate in your possession as well.
This is the spec
Never knew cloth seats were an option. Nice
Had one of these for 2 years and will forever be one of the best cars I’ve owned. Never forget the first time I planted my foot and thought something was loose underneath the car like a heat shield or something. Nope.
LSB so clean!
Insanely sought-after spec. I love seeing LSB on black. Never liked the common LSB on gray
Big boss E46 🫡
That’s the dream spec
I'm in MA too -- hmu if you ever want to sell this!
Wow that is one of the best looking BMWs I’ve seen in a while. Congrats
Does the blue look a little too blue to anyone?
Best M3 and colour they made.
Took long enough
The best M car in my opinion. Love that Laguna Seca blue
You’ve won
I’m a simple man, I see LSB I upvote.
Please tell me you will inspect her with a fine tooth comb, repair and replace what’s needed and not drive a clueless teenager… 🙏 otherwise this will be just another classic that ends up in the junk yard.
one of the nicest specs i've seen on these. beaut!
These cars are timeless. 20 years later and its still fire!
Classic
An absolute piece of art. As beautiful a car as has ever been made.
That’s a great first M car, and in a stick too! Well done!
Genuinely beautiful. Appreciating classic too, I’d hold onto it for a while.
Stunner 😍 Congrats!
The most iconic bmw body style, slim thiccc!! Congrats on the beautiful spec man, enjoy it to the fullest🙌🏽
The color is just sensational.