BMW is a German brand famous for making some of the best driving machines of all time and their M division has been the go-to sporty vehicle division ever since its launch about four decades ago. Of all the cars with the legendary M tag, the BMW E46 M3 takes the cake when it comes to the driving experience on a budget price tag. Launched back in 2000, the E46 M3 had all the things going for it, and even after more than two decades after the initial launch, many petrolheads are still looking out for a clean example of the same.
The BMW E46 M3 came to the United States market for a base MSRP of $46,500 for the coupe variant and $54,500 for the convertible. The legendary S54 inline-6 engine makes the E46 M3 set benchmark track times and the precise handling due to the top-notch suspension and other mechanical bits made sure that you are always in control of it. The enticing design language and the sporty cabin make this M3 an interesting proposition for the current decade. Here are 10 things you need to know before laying your hands on a used BMW E46 M3.
10 BMW E46 M3 Is Fast Even By 2022 Standards
The S54 3.2-liter naturally aspirated inline-6 engine in the BMW E46 M3 produces 343 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. This engine comes mated to a 6-speed manual or an SMG semi-automatic transmission and the power comes down through the rear wheels.
The performance numbers produced by the BMW E46 M3 were superb for the time and the naturally aspirated inline-6 engine was much more torque than all the segment rivals. As a result, the E46 M3 could do the 0-60 mph run in just 4.9 seconds. If you get the BMW E46 M3 CSL, the performance numbers see an increase to 360 hp and 272 lb-ft of torque.
9 BMW E46 M3 Isn't Known For Its Reliability
Coming with a high-revving inline-6 engine and other advanced components all around, the BMW E46 M3 isn't going to be a trouble-free ride, especially after more than 20 years of being on the road. The Vanos system of this S54 engine is famous for its reliability issues, and a complete failure could cost thousands of dollars to fix.
Other engine issues such as connecting rod bearing failure and throttle position sensor issues are also common with some of the earlier examples of the E46 M3. Many of the owners from the Bimmerpost forum have also mentioned quite a lot of electrical issues as the car racks up more miles. All of these make it a bit hard to maintain the E46 M3, especially for folks who are on a tight budget.
8 BMW E46 M3 Looks Sleek And Sporty
Unlike the modern offerings from BMW with the massive kidney grille and high ground clearance, the BMW E46 M3 looks pretty much the opposite. The classy front end gets exquisite headlights and small kidney grilles with subtle chrome accents. The blacked-out treatment for the air dam and dual air vents in the front uplifts the sporty styling well too.
The clean body lines on the side profile and perfect exterior dimensions helped the BMW E46 M3 to age well. The 19" BBS alloy wheels come wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires and the subtle elements such as the fender vents, black pillars, and dual exhaust adds to the character. Get the CSL version, and you are going to see a lot of carbon fiber elements as well.
7 BMW E46 M3's S54 Engine Has A Separate Fan Following
Being one of the highest-revving production BMWs of all time, the BMW E46 M3 is a hoot to drive at the limits. This S54 engine is a very rev-happy engine with the rev limited kicking in only at the 8,700 RPM mark. What makes it even more fun is that the peak horsepower only comes in at 7,900 RPM.
As a result, you would need to push the pedal hard and ring the engine at those peak engine RPMs to extract the performance. This makes it such an exceptional car to drive at the limits. The slick-shifting 6-speed manual makes the driving experience even better and the solid engineering it has is a major plus point too.
6 BMW E46 M3 Comes With An Optional SMG
The SMG automatic transmission has never been a preferred choice for folks who want a driver's car and the E60 M5 was one of the biggest examples. The BMW E46 M3 comes with the same SMG transmission, which is an automated manual transmission, and it has a total of 6 gears.
Even though the 6-speed manual transmission makes the driving experience much better when compared to the SMG, the driving experience is going to be pretty fuss-free with this automated manual transmission. The E46 M3 with the SMG comes with paddle shifters and the gearshift speed varies through the button in the center console.
5 The BMW E46 M3 CSL Is The One To Get
If you are in search of the BMW E46 M3, we would highly recommend you up the budget a bit more and get the more powerful and capable CSL version. Even though many would find the difference between the two to be not very massive on paper, the driving experience surely tells otherwise.
The BMW E46 M3 CSL went in for a massive weight reduction and that helped it to cut out close to 242 lbs when compared to the E46 M3. The lightweight aluminum body panels and carbon fiber elements are responsible for this weight reduction. Along with that, the mechanicals also sees upgrades in the form of a quicker steering rack, larger brake rotors, modified springs and dampers, and better performance. All of these led to quicker acceleration times.
4 Used BMW E46 M3 Is Still Attainable
The used car pricing has been going off the roof for the past couple of years and that has made purchasing a used car quite difficult. This is especially true in the case of the sports cars such as the BMW E46 M3, which has also seen a major price hike when compared to prices a few years back.
However, it is still very much attainable, and you could lay your hands over a decently maintained example for around the $25,000 mark. If you wish to get your hands dirty, you could also get one for as low as $6,000. Bring a Trailer saw a BMW E46 M3 sold for around $90,000 as well. Hence, this is the perfect time to get the E46 M3.
3 BMW E46 M3 Is A Practical Daily Driver
The BMW E46 M3 is a sports coupe that can accommodate four passengers. Even though some would expect it to be a mediocre offering in terms of comfort and space such as some of the previous M cars have given to buyers, the E46 M3 doesn't follow the same ethos.
The front-row headroom and legroom were comparable to the segment rivals such as the Audi RS4. The E46 M3 was also more spacious than the Maserati 3200 GT. The wide armrest and decent list of standard features also made it a perfect daily driver. The 14.4 cu ft of cargo capacity is more than adequate too. However, the rear seat space isn't very spacious.
2 BMW E46 M3 Has A Huge Fan Following
The BMW E46 M3 is many as the pinnacle of performance without compromising on the comfort factor. Even after these many years, it still manages to pull the hearts of enthusiasts owing to its purely mechanical driving experience and an attainable price tag.
This made it a favorite among the folks who are on the lookout for a sports car that doesn't break the bank. The massive fan following also helped the E46 M3 to be still relevant to this day and age. This can be easily seen from the multiple websites, forums, and Facebook communities that are solely for this single Bimmer. As a result, finding any parts isn't a Herculean task like the Maserati 3200 GT or Audi RS4 of the time.
1 Only 3 BMW E46 M3 GTRs Exist In The World
If you are someone born in the 90s, the BMW E46 M3 GTR would be a household name for you as it is the legendary moniker that you would have seen in the game Need For Speed Most Wanted. With only three cars produced in the entire world, the E46 M3 GTR is one of the rarest offerings from the BMW lineup.
This moniker features a V8 engine under the hood and is built as a homologation car for competing in the Le Mans. This P60 engine produced close to 380 hp in the production models and the power goes down through the rear wheels. The 6-speed manual transmission and variable locking M differential were some of the other additions. Apart from that, the BMW E46 M3 GTR also came with some major changes to the chassis, brakes, and suspension. The body also sees extensive rework to make it more aerodynamic