Sell up for an e46 M3?

[Hootz]

As in title, what are your thoughts?

I have a stage 1 Edition 30 currently.

Options are:

1) Sell up for a nice, low mileage e46 M3

2) Spend some cash on the Ed30: Bilstein B16s, ARBs, SALK, maybe a diff, stage 2, maybe BBK


Just interested to hear your thoughts. I feel like traction is a touch annoying on the 30 at stage 1 on Michelin PSS. M3 is surely a better long term ownership proposition?

Thanks

[GrayMK5GTI]

One of my mates has an E46 M3, and a couple of my other mates have had them.

Fuel economy is poor (R32s are BETTER). . 

A stage 1 edition 30 will be fairly well matched performance wise so you won't gain much of that's what your after 

Also have you seen the bills when things go wrong with them?  rear diff knocking is a fairly common problem - that's a £2k fix 

Decent tyres and a linear map will help traction a lot with your ed30 

[Matthewsimone]

Great cars those mate
Been one thats played on my mind for a while also now and when i had my mk1 focus Rs!
Definitely a different beast with the rwd compared to fwd which as you say can be frankly annoying in a standard Gti never mind mapped!

Only downside to the M3 is they are thirsty! My mate is a ex Bmw master tech now with his own small specialist garage and he's had a few in to sell on over the years along with the E90 v8 ones too 

Great cars but get used to 15-20mpg 

[Matthewsimone]

Oh and look out for torn rear floors if you look at any!
Also agree with the above, a decently mapped stage1 ed30 will be all over a e46 M3 until you hit a bend 

[Hootz]

Hmmmm it's a tough decision. I've had the 30 for two years now and know that everything is as tip top as possible.

I've probably just been drawn in by the RWD and the noise and everyone banging on about how good they are the whole time. Just wanted to know if anyone could confirm with first hand experience?

I think it would be pretty fun to build a properly sorted 30, but worry I still wouldn't be happy.

...a £55k car is always going to bring £55k car prices with it...the 30 on the other hand is pretty reasonable to run.

[Tortaruga]

Just go for it. Still a good looking car and cheap now. Accept the running costs and have a blast for a year or two.

Try to get one that's had the rear subframe seen to as this is their major flaw. If you join a bmw forum you should find a good one.

[dansmith180]

Its a nice looking car but for me if your gunna buy a car with those running costs then there's better out there since they're not really that quick. I would prefer an RS4 or even B5 S4 since they're so tunable with the twin turbo V6 but they are higher mileage cars obvs.

[Black9]

///M cars are amazing. Sold my 300 BHP edition 30 with DSG and got an E39 M5. Everything about the M5 was more expensive but it was really good fun and deceivingly fast. I ran this alingside my KO3 GTI also

Thing u will miss most is the torque of the ed30

[Matthewsimone]

Yes torque could  be an issue as the e46 only packs 269ftlb! Which is preety poor for the weight of car! Probably less torque per ton than a standard ed30 or even Gti!

[dan930]

I've had a e46 m3 6sp manual a few years ago...very nice cars but you will miss the torque as its NA..as others had mentioned check for the subframe & also the diff..
Also Don't forget to check for the running in service when it's new
Join the M3cutters forum,lots of advice & tips & also most importantly
how to modify it

[rdfcpete]

I love e46 M3's but they've become something better to look at, than to own as they've aged.

I've done a few threads about 'Second cars' and 'Track day/Sunday cars' where there's a balanced debate about them, but the conclusions were that the CS is just about the best model to buy if you can find a low mileage one under £20k and that you shouldn't dream of touching it without BMW sub frame and boot well inspection documents, as they are costly jobs.

Also learnt that the Z4M is the better value and mildly more reliable buy, same engine as the stock e46 M3 and certainly around my way I think the Z4M is rarer, which perhaps makes it slightly cooler. Nice short & wide wheelbase for fun on track too.

£15k should see a looked after Z4M coupe 6MT manual. I think that's where I'd go.

[th3_f15t]

If modifying is something in the plans, what the view on getting the BMW 330 instead? Slightly smaller engine but quite a bit cheaper than an M3 to buy, seeing as bits would of been modified it seems better to buy something with almost the same power then put the bits on it you want anyway?

[garrardrj]

If modifying is something in the plans, what the view on getting the BMW 330 instead? Slightly smaller engine but quite a bit cheaper than an M3 to buy, seeing as bits would of been modified it seems better to buy something with almost the same power then put the bits on it you want anyway?

Almost the same power 

[th3_f15t]

Well, a few BHP shorter and a slightly smaller engine, can't be that much, surely?

[Jonneh]

Yeah it's around 120bhp different dude. 

They're not even remotely close

I sold my Edition 30 and the M3 was one of the options. Running costs put me off so I thought against it and I've bought an 8P S3 instead. Just as tuneable as the Eddy was and no grip issues! Plus just that little bit nicer inside.