A: A M3-E46 costs, on average, $28,544.
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What does an E46 cost?
A BMW E46 M3 costs $17,411 on average, however that price includes all models, including convertible, SMG, and manual versions.
- Owners want around $22,500 for a BMW E46 M3 Coupe with a Manual Transmission.
- The cost of the BMW E46 M3 in a Manual Convertible or SMG Coupe is roughly $17,500.
- The SMG Convertible, with owners seeking $12,450, is the most affordable BMW E46 M3 available today.
What are E46 M3 prices like?
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.
How much did a 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.
What followed the BMW E46?
The BMW 3 Series’ fifth generation began with the BMW E90. By the end of the BMW E46 period in 2002, the 3 Series had already had a facelift with brand-new headlights and taillights.
The BMW E90 3 Series Sedan and E91 Sports Wagon eras began in 2006, respectively. Along with it, the BMW E92 3 Series Coupe and E93 3 Series Convertible were introduced.
The fifth generation of the 3 Series has undergone significant mechanical and aesthetic improvements. First, a dimension increase was brought on by the switch from the BMW E46 to the E90. The new 3 Series E90 was more balanced because to its wider tracks, bigger wheelbase (1.4 inches wider than E46), and roomier cabin.
Are BMW E46 vehicles good?
There are a few things you should be aware of to make a secure purchase if you’re looking to buy a secondhand early 2000s E46s.
Among the most enduring BMW models are the 3 Series versions from the early 2000s. Whether you choose a two-door coupe or a four-door sedan, there are a few aspects about the used 3 Series cars from the early 2000s that you should be aware of.
One of the most popular BMW models in history is the E46. The E46, which was built from 1999 to 2006, restored BMW’s reputation for producing dependable vehicles.
Maintaining an old, used BMW (or any old automobile, for that matter) is the main expense of ownership. While JD Power lists BMW as one of the most dependable automakers currently, there is no getting around old, faulty auto parts. Let’s discuss all you need to know before buying a used BMW 3 Series without further ado.
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.
E46 M3: Is it uncommon?
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.
The BMW E46: A potential classic?
The E46 M3 is unquestionably a future classic because to its roaring, high-revving six-cylinder engine, modest yet distinctive appearance, and ideal mix of power and performance.
E46 M3 – is it collectible?
Looking back at what this model offers, it’s simple to understand why the BMW E46 M3 is gradually growing in popularity as a collectable.
Some of the craziest cars ever produced were first created in Germany. Mercedes-Benz created the crazy 300 SL Gullwing in the 1950s; it is now valued as hundreds of thousands of dollars. Porsche released its divisive Carrera GT in more recent years. But for the past 35 years, one Munich-based automaker has captured the public’s attention with a single model.
One German-built automobile, the BMW M3, stands out among the rest. Gearheads have had the opportunity to witness this German Shepherd annihilate rival sports cars both on and off the track since 1986. The E46 M3 is still one of the coolest M3s ever produced, despite the fact that it may not be among the most significant automobiles in BMW’s history. The E46 M3, which is sandwiched between the brutal E36 and the muscular E90 M3, is nevertheless a fantastic high-end sports coupe.
An E46 M3 travels how fast?
With roughly 85,000 deliveries, the BMW M3 from the E46 generation continues to be the most popular BMW M vehicle to date. The combination of its low curb weight, low center of gravity, and high-rpm inline-six engine was flawless. It’s a rather capable machine even by today’s standards, as evidenced by a recent YouTube video from the AutoTopNL channel.
The driver in this video easily exceeds the 137 mph (220 km/h) limit on some of the unrestricted German Autobahn stretches. Additionally, the M3 appears to be traveling at 155 mph (250 kph) with ease, and it has the ability to go even faster. In this video, it travels at a top speed of about 168 mph (270 kph), with an engine rpm of slightly under 8,000.
How many horsepower is an E46 equipped with?
Let’s start by gathering some baseline data. The BMW M3 E46 generation has 333 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque when it rolled out of the Regensburg BMW factory. That is similar to gauging your height while wearing heels, I suppose. BMW measures from the crank, not the wheels, as you can see. However, a fast calculation yields 283 horsepower for the wheels.
Despite this, Vehicle Virals performed admirably in the overall scheme of things. He paid $3,000 for his BMW M3 E46, converted it to a manual shift, and tuned, installed an exhaust, and installed new headers. Stock vehicles may suffer greater losses as a result than Vehicle Virals. Nevertheless, Vehicle Virals ultimately recorded a startlingly impressive 289 horsepower and 240 lb-ft. Not bad considering he managed to maintain the 173,000 mile BMW M3 E46’s wheel horsepower stats. Unfortunately, the dyno day was cut short by oil smoke from the exhaust.
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.
The number of E46 M3s in the UK.
BMW aimed to return the M3 to its more focused driving roots with the E46, without sacrificing quality, thus this model is not only stiffer and quicker than the E36, but also far more refined and comfortable. The interior has a real quality feel, but the style and engine have a serious edge, as seen by the large flared arches, bulge in the bonnet, gaping air intakes, and four exhaust pipes.
The 3.2-liter six-cylinder engine in the E46 generates 343 horsepower at 7,900 rpm, but it’s also incredibly adaptable. Thanks to innovative double VANOS valve-timing, the vehicle can reach 62 mph in only 5.2 seconds and go from 50 mph to 75 mph in just 5.4 seconds in fourth. However, unlike the original E30, BMW only produced coupe and convertible versions of the E46 M3. There were six-speed automatic and manual SMG transmissions available.
The highly praised track-focused limited edition M3 CSL was released in 2003. BMW reduced the weight of the M3 by 110 kg by using carbon fiber, polymers, and thinner glass. This weight loss, combined with an increase in horsepower to 360hp, reduced the M3’s 0–62 mph acceleration time to just 4.9 seconds. Sadly, the SMG transmission was the only one that offered this. Before E46 manufacture came to a conclusion in 2006, the CSL was succeeded by the less aggressive M3 CS (Club Sport) model in 2005. According to BMW’s UK sales numbers, more than 2,500 E46 M3 Convertibles and almost 3,000 M3 Coupes were sold. Similar to the E36, the greatest examples should see an increase in value over the next few years, however SMG models might continue to be less common. For a thorough PH buying guide, see here.
Buy if: You’re looking for the best overall M3 deal, but stick with a manual If you want a future classic, don’t purchase (CSL aside) We observed: Silver Metallic 2004 BMW M3 manual, 67K miles, with BMW service history, PS9,995
Price Guide A1: PS12,000 and Above Poor: Under PS6,495 Good: PS6,500 to PS11,995 Club Sport PS13,000 to PS25,000 and CSL PS25,000+ are special editions.