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View Poll Results: What's Your E46 M3 Story?
Current & Original E46 M3 Owner (had since new) 28 11.02%
Current Non-Original Owner (but first time E46 M3 owner) 68 26.77%
Current Owner; Returned to the E46 M3 platform after moving on 18 7.09%
Never owned an E46 M3, but own(ed) other M3 generation(s) 41 16.14%
Never owned an E46 M3, but own(ed) other BMW(s) or M-Car(s) (non-M3) 38 14.96%
Never owned an E46 M3, never owned a BMW 2 0.79%
Moved on to another BMW (non-M), no longer own E46 M3 18 7.09%
Moved on to another BMW M-Car (non-M3), no longer own E46 M3 9 3.54%
Moved on to an older generation M3 (E30, E36), no longer own E46 M3 2 0.79%
Moved on to a newer generation M3/4 (E9x, F8x, G8x), no longer own E46 M3 32 12.60%
Moved on to a different brand (non-BMW), no longer own E46 M3 3 1.18%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 254. You may not vote on this poll

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      03-31-2020, 10:26 PM   #1
Law
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Question What's Your E46 M3 Story?

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Welcome to the E46M3.BIMMERPOST Forum!

I feel a little icebreaker should be in order for this section so let's start off with a little introduction.

Please select from the poll and introduce yourself in a reply below
I recognize there are a lot of different scenarios so please select all that apply (so long as the responses don't conflict).

I'll begin - I'm a former E46 M3 owner who has since moved on to an E90 M3 and no longer own an E46 M3.


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      04-01-2020, 11:03 AM   #2
Jason60051
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Never owned one but I did have a picture of a 2006 on my desk when I first started my career in 2007...that was my dream car. Last year I finally pulled the trigger on an 18 zcp...wish I would have done it sooner. Cars like this are a dying breed.
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      04-01-2020, 11:18 AM   #3
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Current Non-Original Owner (but first time E46 M3 owner) - when I was in high school, my neighbor bought a brand new Leguna Seca Blue M3 and it was then I became obsessed with the brand. About 4 years ago I was finally fortunate enough to obtain a 2006 E46 M3 convertible (imola red). It's not my daily driver but it is an incredible car and I'll probably never sell it because it was and still is my dream car.
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      04-01-2020, 11:23 AM   #4
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Bought my 2002 M3 Convertible (actual production date: 11 Sep 2001) in early 2013 with about 52k miles and brought it home to share the garage with my 1995 M3 Coupe. Now the E36 has moved on to another well-qualified driver, but I still drive the E46 - Top always down, all 12 months, as long as it's not actually raining! It's about to flip over to 77k this summer.
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      04-01-2020, 11:23 AM   #5
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I have both a 2006 ZCP and 2006 Cab. I also have an E30 M3 and F80 CS and E82 1M. I still enjoy E46 M3s the most.
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      04-01-2020, 11:30 AM   #6
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Never had an E46 M3, although have driven them on numerous occasions (and loved it), but I did have an E46 330i (6MT) for 14 years and 200k+ miles, and this was my first BMW I bought new and spec'd to my liking, and still regard it as my favorite BMW I've ever owned, and of course as my favorite generation of 3-Series.
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Retired: '95 E36 325i 5MT / '04 E46 330i 6MT / '05 E83 X3 3.0i / '11 E90 335xi / '17 G30 540i / '19 F87 M2C 6MT / '19 MB CLS 53 / '20 MB GLC 300
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      04-01-2020, 11:50 AM   #7
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Current E46 & E92 M3 owner. I picked her up 4 months ago and although it's not as fast as my E92, I find myself driving the E46 a lot more. Such a fun car to drive.
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      04-01-2020, 12:10 PM   #8
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Smile

I'm an original e39 M5 owner that I used as a daily driver and did HPDE's .....met a guy who was selling an e46 M3 with tons of Dinan, StopTech and Turner goodies that was set up for the track. Bought it and used it for 2 or 3 years until it was stolen from in front of my house on Christmas eve....it turned up a week later completely stripped of it's mechanics.....insurance "totaled" it....loved that car!!!

Bought a 2008 e92 M3 that had some issues and swapped it for a 2009 M3.....sold that a few years later and got a 2011 535i sport with a 6m when I thought I was giving up the track but no.......so the M5 got dusted off and modified a bit for a few more track events before buying a 2017 M2 that I have used for the last 3 years but just sold to buy a 2020 M340i which is on a ship in the North Atlantic as I write this.
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2022 M440i Convertible - San Remo Green / Cognac
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2017 M2 - Alpine White / Black - SOLD
2001 e39 M5 - Titanium / Caramel - A "Keeper"
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      04-01-2020, 12:15 PM   #9
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My dad's friend let me drive his cinnamon on black M3, it was a dream. The pickup was incredible to me. The car was pure joy. He sold it after not too long, I am still upset about that
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      04-01-2020, 12:17 PM   #10
m5_trev
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Just got my E46 M3 Coupe from the original owner in January! He bought it new from Brian Jessel BMW in 2001, and owned it up until I got it! Super super excited about it, 01 Coupe 6MT LSB on LSB. Unfortunately it has the notorious subframe issue, it is cracked on the one side pretty bad but it will be addressed before I drive it. To accompany it I have a 01' E39 M5, Carbon black on M cloth. Can't wait for summer!
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      04-01-2020, 12:23 PM   #11
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Current and original owner.
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      04-01-2020, 12:31 PM   #12
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Dinan

Third owners 31000 miles
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      04-01-2020, 01:16 PM   #13
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Freaking beautiful.

The E46 is what got me hooked. My dad did performance delivery of an M5 back in December 2006 and the instructors all had gorgeous LSB E46 M3's. I was in love. I later did the teenage driving school as well and was never too fond of the E90 look compared to the E46. We were driving pre-LCI e90 330i I believe back then.

That all changed with the E90 M3 however and when the LCI came out I had a new found love. My dad has had plenty of corvettes throughout the years (as well as some BMW's) and I have grown to love the sound of a V8. When BMW dropped the S65 in the M3 I knew I had to have it.

Finally in 2019 at the age of 29 I was able to pounce on a great deal for my E90 M3. While it's hard to imagine a car that is more fun, I still would love to one day have the privilege to drive/own a manual E46 M3. Perhaps in IR or LSB.

These are the only two cars I've owned since college the last decade.
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      04-01-2020, 01:20 PM   #14
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      04-01-2020, 01:48 PM   #15
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Sat into a 330 ci (pre zcp) 10 years ago and always wondered why I didn't pay a bit extra to sit in an m3. Then I ended up getting myself a pristine 17k e92 m3. I still own the 330. Love the classic black on white wheels. May eventually upgrade to an m3 E46 at some point.
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      04-01-2020, 01:56 PM   #16
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I am proud to say I've owned all but an E9x M3 generations and the e46 was truly a special car.

However, I think the M2 is actually the most fun and most likely the modern version of the e46. It definitely doesn't compare to the e46 in the looks department but the M2 is growing on me. But performance and handling is much better the the e46. It's kind of the sweet spot in between and F82 and an E46.

I currently have an e30 M3 and the M2 and I think I've struck a nice balance. E30 has the looks and M2 has the comfort and reliable performance.
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Current:
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1968 E10 2002 Roundie Grey 4MT
2018 F87 M2 BSM 6MT
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      04-01-2020, 01:58 PM   #17
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2004 AW 6 speed original owner.
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      04-01-2020, 02:28 PM   #18
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Terrible Experience

After owning: e30-318is,e36-318is,e46 323i and 330i, in 2007 I finally bought my dream car: 2001 e46 M3 manual in Carbon Black, it was one the happiest day of my life, I realised straight away that it was completely different ANIMAL in sheep's skin, I drove it carefully for few weeks, one dreadful rainy day, I hit the puddle and spun out of control ending up in the ditch, after few weeks it got repaired, after few minutes collecting it from the garage, I lost back of the car coming out of the roundabout, hit oncoming car, kerb, tree and the wall, at the time I blamed: forgetting switched off TC and gravel on the road, but simple fact was that I wasn't experienced enough to drive that car, e46 M3 doesn't forgives smallest of mistakes, it demands attention, concentration and respect if driven hard, it has best sounding 6 cylinder engine EVER, with or without modified Exaust. with Manual Gearbox, it's one of the best everyday or weekend car you could have, but remember: if you switch off TC, you better be ready. In my Opinion, e46 M3 is best if it's CS, Manual, Facelift, CSL Alloys, Intrelagos Blue, Silver Grey or Carbon Black,
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      04-01-2020, 02:40 PM   #19
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This is my Ruby Red individual M3 which is currently undergoing a full concours restoration. We had hoped to get it finished for show season 2020 but this will likely now be for show season 2021 due to COVID 19 delays.

Looking forward to seeing the M3's of others as in my opinion the design is timeless and deserve the title of an automotive design classic.

Please everyone be safe out there, practice social distancing and if at all possible minimise external contact and stay indoors.

Be safe,

Denso


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      04-01-2020, 02:40 PM   #20
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Went to a dealership to see a VW GOLF R32 but saw this beauty.
This was my first BMW ever.
Got it in 2007. Was a 2001 with 27000 on the clock.

About 6months later I aquaplaned on the motorway and went head on into a central reservation and killed it. OUCH!
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      04-01-2020, 03:45 PM   #21
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Former E46 M3 owner, now with an F80
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      04-01-2020, 03:57 PM   #22
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I wanted a E46 M3 but couldn't find one in NorCal that the price made sense. So I bought a low mileage 2003 330ci that I tried to improve with upgrades to exhaust, tires (staggered), and air intake. To date the best car I have ever owned, but my tuned 230i is getting close and once nostalgia fades away will probably replace. I also later owned a 325ci vert, but it was just pretty. My tuned 230i produces over 300 bhp with a 4 banger, has a similar beautiful balance of the E46 but not the road feel especially in the cornering (steering). I chose the 230i over the M240i for that reason.

Last edited by Winemaker2; 04-01-2020 at 04:02 PM..
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