Some guy in San Francisco purchased an E46 BMW M3 17 years ago. He spent $55,220 on this Imola Red M3 in 2004. That comes to $81,500 in today’s dollars. Starting price for the 2022 BMW M4 is just around $72,000. The BMW M4 Rivalry? Before options, that comes to $74,700. At this pricing point, buyers are paying for options, so believe us on that. Whatever way you slice it, someone paid more for a 17-year-old BMW than the price of a new BMW M4.
Fair enough, the E46 BMW M3, and more precisely this E46 BMW M3, aren’t just any secondhand BMW vehicles that are almost old enough to vote. There were only 12,000 miles on the one that sold on Bring A Trailer for north of $80K. More importantly, it’s about as loaded as it got back then. Of course, this legendary sports car also comes with a manual transmission and an M-spec limited-slip differential.
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What is the cost of a BMW M3?
Here are the prices for an M3 in each configuration: Price of the 2021 BMW M3 Sedan is $69,900 MSRP. Price for the 2021 BMW M3 Competition Sedan is $72,800 MSRP.
What is the horsepower of a BMW E46 M3?
The performance model that adheres to the car’s original concept of prioritizing handling above straight-line speed is likely the BMW M3 E46 generation from the early 2000s. Let’s see what a vehicle with a high mileage can produce on a dyno.
Because the SMG transmission was broken, the owner only paid $3,000 for the vehicle. He chose to convert the polarizing system to a manual rather than replace it, raising the cost of the M3 to nearly $5,000 overall. The vehicle has 173,000 miles on it.
He also made a few changes to his performance. The car currently has modified exhaust, K&N intake, an ECU tune, and headers without catalytic converters. The M3’s owner calculates that it now produces about 355 horsepower (265 kilowatts) at the crank, up from its initial 333 horsepower (248 kW).
Two runs—one in regular mode and the other in sport—are made by the M3 on the dyno. The initial effort generates 238.43 pound-feet (323.3 Newton-meters) at 4,500 rpm and 284.89 horsepower (212.4 kW) at 7,250 rpm. The BMW generates 289.48 horsepower (215.9 kW) at 7,250 rpm and 240.78 lb-ft (326.5 Nm) at 4,530 rpm in Sport mode.
If the predicted 355 horsepower at the crank is accurate, the drivetrain loss during the initial runs comes out to 19.75 percent. This is reduced to 18.46 percent in sport mode. These numbers are consistent with what we would anticipate given that a rear-drive car typically experiences a loss of about 20%.
However, this BMW may soon require significant repair. Uncomfortably large amounts of white smoke are released from the tailpipes as soon as the throttle is released after each run. The owner thinks the piston rings could be beyond repair. To assess the condition of the powerplant, he plans to do a leakdown and compression test. It also needs an oil change.
How much did a brand-new E46 M3 cost?
When the E46 BMW M3 was first released in 2003, its MSRP was $46,500. That is equivalent to $68,217 in 2021 USD after inflation.
Why are E46 M3 prices so high?
Due to the BMW E46 M3’s timeless design, getting one to call your own might be expensive, especially for examples in immaculate condition.
The versatility of this vehicle makes it appealing to a wide range of drivers. The E46 had a wide range of trims and color choices for the exterior and inside, allowing for factory customization. The regular E46 GTR Sport model still serves a useful purpose as a daily driver even though it was used in racing competitions in the early 2000s.
The passion for BMW E46 M3s also contributes to their increasing value over time. If you already own one, that’s fantastic news, but if you’re seeking to acquire one, the potential hole in your wallet will only widen. Buildjournal states that an E46 typically costs around $26,000. It was little over $19,000 in 2016. And those are for models with a significant amount of miles on them. Expect to pay more for a low-mileage E46 M3 than you would for a brand-new 2022 M4. According to Sports Car Market, a used E46 sold for $84,000 earlier this year, and the limited-edition E46 M3 CSL (Coupe Sport Leichtbau) is expected to sell for over $100,000.
Because the mileage, history, and overall condition are important factors, the price range between E46s is so wide. Be prepared to spend extra money maintaining the automobile, especially if you want to use it frequently. Maintenance costs can add up quickly.
The E46 M3 is it unusual?
BMW M3 GTR E46 was introduced in February 2001 and was the first M3 in the brand’s history to be powered by a V8.
Released in February 2001, the BMW M3 GTR of the E46 generation was the first M3 in the brand’s history to be powered by a V8. The primary justification for the M3 GTR’s release was that, in order to compete in the American Le Mans series (ALMS), the car had to be made available in a specific quantity for a specific period of time prior to the start of the racing season.
And because the Le Mans M3 GTR had a V8, the road car likewise had a V8 under its hood.
BMW offered 10 road GTR variants for sale at a price of 250 000 euros apiece following the 2001 racing season in order to satisfy all requirements.
The P60 engine in the road version of the car produced 380 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and was fitted with a dry sump lubrication system. A 6-speed manual transmission with a sports double-disc clutch and an M-differential with variable degree of lock delivered all power to the wheels.
The automobile received a very durable chassis and sports suspension settings from the race version. Compared to the stock M3, the GTR variant was also somewhat subdued. Two spacers that were inserted between the front and back cups, respectively, provided the body with additional rigidity. The front, back, and rear wing were all altered to increase downforce and enhance aerodynamics.
The automobile has additional benefits as a result of its large weight reduction. Like the racing version, the roof, rear spoiler, hood, and bumper vents were all made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic.
To cut weight, the GTR’s interior has also been modified. The back sofa was eliminated, leather-upholstered Recaro racing seats were fitted, and exclusive M3 GTR sill pads were added.
How old is an E46 M3?
The M3 built between the 2001 and 2006 model years is known as the BMW E46 M3. It has a naturally aspirated 3.2-liter S54 inline-six cylinder engine with 268 pound-feet of torque and 333 horsepower, and it is available as a coupe or convertible.
Which E46 M3 year is the best?
Car lovers have coveted BMW M3 cars for the past 35 years. Over the course of six generations, BMW transformed this model from a low-profile homologation special to a legendary sports car. Each generation of M3, which has been successful on both the streets and the tracks, has a unique personality, making the debate over which is the best or the purest eternally fascinating.
The BMW E46 M3, which was manufactured from 2000 to 2006, is undoubtedly the M3’s best driver’s car and comes the closest to fulfilling its potential.
Why are E36 M3 prices so high?
The E46 has a hip combination of curves and athletic style. This M3 is a pleasure to drive, much like the other M3s mentioned before. Its acceleration not only sounds terrific, but it also feels great.
Five years ago, you might have been able to get one for around $10,000 to $15,000, but today, these vehicles can sell for anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000.
The short answer is that they are extremely fun to drive, have excellent build quality, are becoming more and more rare, and look beautiful.
They also have a sizable following among both young and senior people. They are also selling like hotcakes because nostalgia-related things appear to be at the top of people’s purchasing lists at the moment.
However, regardless of how the market for used vehicles develops in the future or how much these great cars cost, regardless of how much they are worth, they will provide their owners a degree of thrill that money simply cannot buy! And that is, quite simply, priceless.
Is the E46 a decent car today?
It can be simple to forget that BMW used to produce some of the simplest, most attractive, and most interesting tiny cars on the road because the company is always releasing wacky new designs, new powertrains, and innovative technologies. The good thing about those vehicles is that they are still available. There are many used BMWs available if you want an older, simpler model (although, the used market is admittedly a bit insane at the moment, in terms of record-high prices). One such vehicle is the E46 BMW 3 Series, which is not only available for a very low price but also has all of the attributes we all recall from BMWs from the past.
Actually, I recently purchased an E46 3 Series for myself. Don’t worry, nothing fancy. I can’t buy a museum-quality E46 M3 from EAG and have it sent a thousand miles to my house because I don’t have Matt Farah money. No, just a plain old BMW 325i sedan with a basic automatic transmission.
Even if you mock the latter (as I do), the fact that my better half couldn’t or wouldn’t drive a stick made life more difficult whenever she required my car. As a result, I had to substitute my manual automobile every day with an automatic. I also wanted something inexpensive and entertaining because I had barely put 5,000 miles on my previous car in two years due to the fact that I was driving press cars so frequently (I know, champagne problems). The E46 3 Series is the result.
Prior to test-driving my automobile, it had been years since I had last driven any kind of E46. I was aware that it was one of the best-driving BMWs ever, but I had forgotten just how wonderful it was. Even when compared to contemporary automobiles, it appears to be balanced, light, and delicate. Even modern cars may benefit from this car’s sensation of engagement, despite the fact that its steering is far slower than the lightning-quick racks of contemporary sport sedans.
Plus, my car was reasonably priced. Almost inexpensive. Let’s just say that my investment in a computer has exceeded that in this vehicle. But even after 164,000 miles, it still feels tight, the engine idles smoothly after a magnificent start, and the steering is just as precise as we remembered. Its inside still looks fantastic now, and it has amazing seats (my car has the ZSP package with thicker sport seats). It is also comfortable.
What made me feel like talking about the brand-new, incredibly affordable E46 I just bought? I was naturally very pleased with my purchase when I read an article in Autocar about how the E46 3 Series Touring is one of the best cheap vehicles you can buy.
I strongly suggest the E46 if you’re searching for an affordable daily driver of any kind. It really doesn’t matter which model, trim level, or body style you purchase because the total package is so strong. They’re all top-notch. However, they can also be purchased for less than US$3,000.
A nice first automobile, the E46?
The E46’s fundamental simplicity makes for easy learning. Despite certain more serious problems, such as those with the subframe or lifter-tick, they are mechanically fairly reliable. I haven’t encountered many problems, aside from the typical maintenance requirements of any car beyond 185,000 miles.