You can code M track mode onto any MK60 e46 M3 (MK60 was added in mid 2002).
You can have a normal M3 steering wheel rewrapped in alcatara for $300-500... and any car you're buying at this point either will be a rewrap or garbage, as alcantara gets nasty quickly.
The steering rack is better if you prefer a faster rack. Faster isn't "better"-- your trading less hand movement for less high speed stability.
M track mode retrofit procedure:
https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...3-m-track-mode
If you show that to anyone that can to any amount of coding, they should be able to add M track mode to your car.