BMW M3s have been highly regarded among the modding and "built, not bought" community for years now, as they combine stellar performance, killer looks, and a relatively affordable price tag. Currently, E46 M3s are among the cheapest on the market, most likely because of their age. They're too old now for anyone looking for a 'modern' M3, but they're also not old enough to be truly considered classics yet.

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That's allowed a whole new generation of modders to pick one up cheap and make it their own, and there are countless builds out there. From ground-scraping static builds to state-of-the-art racing machines, the E46 is as versatile as it is popular. There are mods for every budget, too: from literally a few bucks right up to ten thousand dollar conversions, it's really up to each individual owner. Let's take a look at ten of the best mods that make any E46 look immediately cooler.

10 Custom Wrap

The easiest and most noticeable way for an owner to add their flavor to their car is by getting a custom wrap fitted. Wraps are great as they allow owners to go as wild with their designs as they want while preserving the original paintwork underneath so the car can be reverted back at any time.

That's good news for collectors, who always value a car with its original paintwork higher than one with aftermarket paint. It also gives the owner complete freedom to swap out their car's designs as frequently as they'd like, without the hassle of repainting anything.

9 Rocket Bunny Kit

Want to add some stance and annoy some purists? A wide-body kit is the way to go, and one of the leading kit makers is Rocket Bunny. They've supplied aftermarket parts for nearly every popular modding favorite, so it's no surprise that they now offer a kit for the E46 too.

Often, Rocket Bunny kits come hand in hand with other modifications like bagged suspension and a stripped-out interior, so it's unlikely to see an E46 that sports an RB kit as its only mod. It's worth noting that adding a wide body kit is an irreversible change as it involves drilling into the stock body panels but hey, that's all part of the appeal for owners.

8 Underglow

Some might dismiss it as a faded trend from the Fast and Furious days of the mid-'00s, but it's hard to deny that adding some tasteful underglow doesn't make an M3 look better. It works best when the car is stanced, to begin with, so there's barely any room for the light to escape out under the car.

Adding underglow is illegal in some countries around the world, so it's probably best to check local laws before deciding to add any onto a car. It might look cool, but it's probably not worth getting fined over, especially in territories with stricter law enforcement.

7 BBS Wheels

There's a huge amount of choice out there when it comes to sourcing aftermarket rims for an E46, but one particularly popular choice is BBS' range. Several high-profile E46 builds on Instagram use BBS rims, and they seem perfect for the style and era of the car.

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Alternatively, rims from the likes of Rotiform or Work can look great depending on the type of build that an owner is going for. It's worth paying a little extra for a branded set over a random set from eBay, as just this alone can transform the look of the whole car.

6 Bagged Suspension

The slammed look nearly always suits E46s, but given how good the car is to drive it isn't worth sacrificing its on-road capabilities in pursuit of better fitment. That's where air suspension comes in: when the car is stationary, it can be lowered to sit on its wheels, but on the road, the suspension height can return back to stock.

Buying air suspension will be more expensive than coilovers or (shock horror) just cutting the springs, but it's definitely worth it for the versatility that it gives a car. Expect to pay several thousand dollars for a full set of air suspension from most retailers.

5 Racing Seats

It's not just the exterior that needs to look great on the best project cars, but the interior does too. Plus, racing seats are a must for anyone who's planning on significantly increasing the performance potential of their build.

Aftermarket seats from the likes of Recaro or Bride are always a good option, but it's just as good to substitute in seats from a newer, higher-end BMW too. For example, the car above has red seats out of a newer F80 M3.

4 Angel Eye Headlights

An easy way to make a car look more modern is to update its headlights to LEDs, and angel eye lights are the best options for an E46. They've exploded in popularity in recent years, partly because they look great as replacements for traditional pop-up headlight bulbs.

The E46 doesn't have pop-ups but it still looks cool all the same, and even better owners can tint the lights to their individual tastes too. It's worth noting that, like underglow, changing the color of the headlights is illegal in some places, so it's best to check before swapping anything out.

3 Hood Vents

Really, there are two ways to add hood vents to an E46: make real ones, which will involve cutting a section out of the car's hood or add fake ones. Fake ones are easier to install and cheaper to buy but they will be noticeable from close up.

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Having said that, there's no shame in using fake ones, as most modern cars use them anyway. The Honda Civic Type R for example has drawn a lot of debate over its use of fake vents, but if one of the biggest carmakers in the world can do it then E46 modders can do it too.

2 Window Tint

Cheap, easy, and quick to install, window tint is one of the simplest mods of all. But, do it right and it can make a car look so much better. A slightly reflective tint adds an air of cohesion to builds with glossier paintwork, and blacked-out windows add an old-school VIP cruiser look.

It's also a practically useful mod, as it gives drivers some privacy and reduces sun glare as well. Just watch out for cheap stick-on tint though, as it can peel off and look absolutely hideous.

1 Roll Cage

For the more performance-oriented builders out there, a roll cage is one of the most expensive but also most rewarding modifications to install. Adding one will mean stripping the car back to its chassis and adding in the cage structure, so it's best left to the professionals.

It'll cost a fortune too, as high-grade steel and labor costs don't come cheap. But, it's not only a way to make an E46 look cooler than ever, but also a way to meet safety standards to enter competitive racing. It's one thing to just mod an M3 to look good, but to make an incredible-looking competition race car takes things to the next level.