Hi, well over the last week or so im really looking at getting one of these now just because there a nice all round car !! BUT ive noticed on alot of adds "the boot floor is always mentioned ???? whats the deal with this ?? if i was to look at one wouldi notice it or is ££££ to get repaired .

 

I think it is a recall and would always be a warranty job.

If you need a nice one you know where to look

 

lol you should of done a deal with mine when you had the chance, it was a minter!

The rear subframe's are wot to look out for on these, there's loads of info on the m3cutters site about it

 

i know mate, its back up for sale again aint it for £8500

 

Seems to be slightly more common on the SMG's. Most will have been repaired by now if there was a fault, but it's covered by BMW warranty as long as you have the OE springs / alloys.

 

They will only do it up until the car is 10 years old so its worth bearing in mind if the car is older and not had it done, also it would be basiclly impossible to check it on a car you were thinking of buying without a ramp and even then its tricky to see as there such a maze around the back end, ive heard they can even be funny about it on a car under 10 years depending on the dealer. I had mine done no problem though, totally free and even got a courtsey car! Unfortunatley is wasnt a new m3 though.....

 

..........

 

epic cars, great all rounder, ONLY down sides are, pricey parts, and 23mpg.... average....! I loved mine, the fuel was the killer...

 

ever thought of a 330d and getting it chipped more than 250 bhp and 500 Nm of torque! It will pull away from from a M3 above 35 - 40 and stay ahead to about 120MPH ..... http://www.dmsautomotive.com/ are one of the best for this car! oh and if you are sensible you get 40+ mpg of you are leaden footed it aint too bad either!

 

Buy chops it's a nice car, I can even put it up on a ramp for you! Its a well cared for example.

 

I was seriously considering one of these and have done a lot of research on the whole rear subframe issue and was amazed to find the amount of cars this effected from the cutters forum as well as other bm sites. BMW are offering repair as a good will gesture for cars under 10 years old with *full history from either BMW or an Indy and they have to be standard.

To be honest this has put me off completely as it is a 5k ish repair on a car that i older than 10 years old and if I were to buy one on a 2003 would be hoping it cracked before the 10 year cut off. Going by the research I have done most E46 M3' are going to suffer from this serious design flaw it's just a matter of time. It also doesn't make any difference if it's manual or smg by the looks of things. I'm guessing it's an mot failure if the cracks get big enough



I was really disappointed as for the money it is difficult to get such a well rounded car that ticks all the boxes like these do.

 

I've never been a fan of the E46's

 

What a shit design fault.Do they just wekd them up or do the get new chassis legs.

 

I also have been interested in these for a long time and am thinking of buying one for the summer, from what I have heard (Not sure if it's correct) the boot floor cracking is caused by agressive gear changes and is more prominent on the SMG models (It should not happen of course, but that seems to be the only justification), which incidentally seems to be the ones to avoid as the gearboxes can be troublesome and expensive to repair!

Another thing I have noticed is to make sure the tyres/brakes are in good nick or been replaced as both are an astronomical amount to replace!

Also I believe 2006 onwards are in a higher VED band?

Martin

 

My brother has just got an E46 M3 (SMG) to replce his abandoned Fiesta RS Turbo project. It's a superb bit of car. My only criticism of it though is the total lack of drama and the fact it just doesn't feel quick.

Hats off to BMW though as he had a rust patch on the rear arch and his paint guy said speak to the dealer. They photographed it and went away, 2 days later he was called to say it was a warantee issue and it would be sorted FOC. Start to finish inside of a week to sort it out.

 

I have heard this but are you comparing it to a Fast Ford?

If so then thats why the refinement and ride is going to be leaps ahead and so I suspect that is why they do not "Feel" fast.

Plus remember as well they are N/A and have alot of weight to move around.

Martin

 

Does not matter is its manual or smg in time most will crack.
Make sure you buy one with the work done and recipt of the work.
I don't think any uk cars have been turned down for the work, but I just would not risk it.
A fair few cars have been sorted now so just take your time and find a good one with the work done.

 

What is actually carried out to strengthen the boot floor?

Martin

 

They replace the boot floor area with a new panel, then inject the area with a structural foam/ resin that is light but sets like concreate.
It's a fairly big job the bill for myne was £3600, thank god I was not paying!.
That was a couple of years ago, I have a remapped e60 530d m sport now and would not go back to an e46 M3

 

Yeah I see that, can't believe how much money it's lost over a year, I sold it for 11k only 6months ago

 

for all those who love e46 m3s but dont wanna pay the fuel or tax costs..

i have a

1999 e46 323 (cheap tax)
ive fitted a 2.8 engine
full m3 interior
full m3 body kit
carbon fiber ac schnitzer front splitter
carbon fiber csl rear spoiler
coilovers
19" bbs lm style wheels
b+m short shift
lightend fly wheel
custom exhaust which sounds the tits

it has 56k, 9months mot and some tax on it.
£7000 ono

http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/...n-m3-rep-2.jpg

http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/...rbon-323-2.jpg

a vid of when i first put the engine in, its been mapped and tweeked since

 

It has never been a recall but I'm sure BMW would help as long as the car is standard and never been clocked , I was using my mates smg coupe the other day and loved it csl wheels and a suspension kit for 8k I think it's a great car and would have another in a flash

 

Wjy pay 7k for a slower rep that looks no better when you can pay 1k more for the real deal?

Madness.

(cant see pics without a login either)

 

Exactly chop fuck buyin a rep and I bet the m3 isn't much worse on fuel either m3 all the way crackin cars

 

the M3 engines are pretty good on fuel actually!

obbiously when driving them hard theyre gonna drink but poodle them about and theyre brilliant for a 3 litre engine!

 

Myne averaged 27mpg which I was pleased with, but I just found the car generally boring.
As someone else said it lacks drama which made me lose intrest, had a remapped focus rs after that and found it much more fun on the roads I drive on.

 

Cant really moan about fuel when its a 344bhp 3.2 that still does 30mpg on the motorway?

Awesome all rounders.

Heres mine for sale

https://passionford.com/forum/cars-f...rice-drop.html

 

I agree there not dramatic at all, they dont feel anywhere near as quick as they are unfortunatley. There a great all round car but there just missing that bit of magic that makes a car feel special

 

i agree with the lack of drama, however once you learn to drive a car like that properly they really repay you.

my old yellow E36 M3 got MORE fun after i'd had it a few years and i learned how to enjoy it, you just go VERY fast round corners

by the time i had my green one tho a few years later i forgot how to drive it and did find it pretty boring

 

Wow this boot floor issue is a pain - no wonder they've dropped so much!!!!

 

cheaper tax
cheaper insurance
cheaper running costs and maintainece

it looks better than a m3 buy a long shot, and it sounds alout nicer, ive not come accross a m3 that sounds better.

but thats just my opinion and everyone else's whos seen it in the flesh

 

"And if you listen carefully it sounds just like a golf"

 

Which is all very well but he's looking at M3's! He sure isn't going to want a replica with 150bhp missing.

I'm sure it's got it's place for younger drivers but trying to tout it at someone wanting an M3 is the wrong thing to do. You'll only get people saying "but you can get a real one for that". Which you can!

 

Agree with you get out of it what you put in !! If you have fun in it they are a very very capable car!!! I love mine !!!

Yours went fast round 'most' corners jim

I dont get all this 30 mpg on mine though..I get around 18-20 daily and 25 on a run in mine..

 

The problem is you can't really drive like the m3 should be driven on the roads these days, far to busy and dangerous most of the time.
I like the e60 as the in gear acceleration is great, but you feel the weight in the bends.
From a rolling in gear start an e46 M seems to be fairly even on the straights with a remapped 530

 

i saw 37 on a run on mine! that was literally resetting the thing at 70mph and holidng it for 100 miles tho.

got 35mpg on a run incluing the small bits of town driving each end.

 

You'd have MUCH more fun in an Evo VI Tommi Mak Dave!!!

 

i can totaly appriciate what your saying, but ive spent alot of money on it since ive had it, i dont want to sell and im only doing so as ive lost my job

ive fitted new engine 2.8 £500
used only the best redline oils which cost me about £150 for the gearbox and engine
b&m short shifter £150
lightend flywheel and stage one clutch £380
remap and other bits i got done for the last mot i have a recipt to show £700 worth of work

it still gets off and handles amazingly with the 19x10 rear wheels and coilovers it sticks like shit. its perfect imo for anyone in this climate who wants a good looking car with amazing performace but cannot quite afford m3 petrol and insurance.

its also got a personal number plate which is probably worth a grand

yes someone who wants a m3 and has money for a m3 wont want this, but someone who wants a m3 and cannot quite afford one as a daily will appriciate the amout of work what has gone into this

apriciate it for what it is rather than what its "trying to be" i dont run the m3 badges anyway.. id rather it didnt have the plate too but thats just my opinion

i know i always get slated on here but im used to purists on passion ford haha

 

and i only posted my car up as theres so many reports of the rear diff cradle problem...


mines ok

plus m3s starting at 9k are standerd with high milage

mine is only 56k genuine miles (new engine had 58k when i put it in) plus all the carbon fiber bits and bigger wheels, coilovers etc

this car has alot of advantages over a 9k m3, only disadvantages i see is it isnt as fast... through the corners and on the road there realy isnt much in it..

 

Just bought ond of these myself despite the boot floor issue. 1 owner from new, 50k, fsh and all the toys. 9.5k with warranty and tax. Willing to take the risk on the floor in return for one of the best £/hp cars available at the moment. Does lack performance feel but damn it's quick!