Sold the Evo now and looking to replace it with a e46 M3 covertable looking for a 04-05 plate, what goes wrong and what should l look out for

 

no idea but beautiful cars

reckon you will get bored tho

 

Yes had really got bored of the Evo aswell did not want to chuck any large money into it

 

manual is the prefered option dave less to go wrong , coil springs at the rear break , front wishbone bushes & ball joints wear but there are no major issues with these cars they do the miles & take the abuse! Make sure its had the run in service done. If you see one you like pm me the last 7 of the chasis number n i will check it out. As you want a later one the big end recalls were done on the production line any earlier than 53 plate i.e cars that were sold got done in the dealerships.

 

What about the paddle shifters?

 

I would rather keep the evo.I dont think i could ever own a convertable.I would feel such a tit driving one.Ive drove a few before,i hated it.

 

They only come on the auto model... the manual doesnt have those Dave.


Cheers,
Grant

 

keep it proper manual

 

I love smg, but as Carlo has said more to go wrong.

Convertibles tend to come much more spec'd than the coupes. Hardtop is a must IMO if your having a vert

 

I actually quite liked my mates m3 cab, good fun to drive, but you could really feel the flex in it across cambers and when throwing it into corners.. IMHO if you want an M3 go for the coup!

 

E46 SMG convert was one of the best cars I have ever owned.

Get the SMG Dave... paddles are fun when you are having a blast. and you can go super lazy and just use SMG box as full auto when you are just chilling.

Clutches are hard work and annoying... especially in traffic.

great alrounder. Does everything well. I dont like cars with roofs! ALL about droptops!

 

Why? TOTALLY pointless!

fabric roof is great.

and you ALWAYS have the option of dropping it.

HUGE thing to store and massive pain to put on and off!

couldn't agree any LESS!!!

getting roof down on a dry WINTERS NIGHT and going for a blast on some country roads is awesome thing to do!

 

I used to love mine, SMG box was good fun when driving the car hard.

 

Ive still got my E46 SMG M3, its awesome!

its a coupe though... better looking than the soft tops imo!

 

of course coupes look better! but top down driving is sooooooooooooooooo nice!

 

I've also got the coupe because I'm not a big fan of convertables but I've got the manual which is a pain at the moment because I've just broken my left ankle, if I had the SMG I would still be able to get out and about

Lovely cars though and a great all rounder and Carlo has mentioned the weaknesses above. They aren't cheap to tune but I didn't buy mine to tune it, I got fed up with the trouble tuning brings with it and wanted a cracking car straight out of the box.

 

I have to agree there and you can also hear the exhaust better but it just wasn't for me

 

Manuals are more sort after we find, SMG too problematic on high milers. Water pumps and sensors (particularly camshaft sensors) are the main ones. Get one with full history at a specialist garage as they use specific oil and need setting up on regular basis with BMW diagnostic equipment.

Anything with no history, or work for water pump failure walk away. Other than that should be spot on mate

 

The onset of 'ness, saying that, seems like it's too late.....

 

You could be original and buy A dog c#*k yellow one

only about 10 million of them on the road!

 

how about the csl mate?

 

I'd have a hardtop too personally I hate fabric roofs.

 

Seriously good cars!

I always said that I hated paddle shift on any car, but after using my mates SMG one for a fair while I changed my mind! Absolutely awesome box, so easy to drive... Love it with Sport mode on and the SMG aggression right up

 

I sold the Ferrari 348 4 weeks back and got a 2004 Carbon Black (black leather) Vert there great cars already fitted some wheels spacers bought new indicators etc
Just needs lowering a bit now
Go get one Oh mines manual as its around the Ł1600-Ł2000 mark when/if the smg pump fails

 

I would only have the hardtop for looks Lee, don't like the farbic roof, completely spoils the look for me, roof down they look good but roof up don't do it for me, hence the hardtop

 

--------------

 

Good cars, interested in these myself, like you I would only have a convertible one, in that nice blue colour. They rate the SMG but heard it is expensive if it goes wrong. Defo woulden't have an auto.

Martin

 

laguna seca blue?

 

Lol laguna is the worlds worst colour especially with matching interior

He probably means estoril, at least I hope he does

 

I prefer the converts too, i'll be getting one as my next car

 

Lovely cars when new but really rickety once done a few miles like most vertibles!!
The scuttle shake through the windy roads when roofs down is terrible and you get through bushes and bottom ball joints like no tommorow,they are also very boring to drive and you need to rev the shit out of them to make them go..
Other than all that they are great for looking good in and are very reliable with a manual box...

cheers danny

 

if it was me i wouldnt buy 1 just yet.
next year the new v8 m3 convertible will be available second hand at a reasonable cost, meaning the e46 is gunna drop.

 

forget the hairdressers soft top crap , do it properly with smg - CSL

 

Convertible all the way but they're sexy cars no matter what. Not sure if the box was dodgy on the one I drove but I found the paddleshift rubbish,manual one was a million times better.stunning engine,tame as fuck with the traction on and manimalistic with it off,handful in the wet but what a sound when they're going full chat!!!I'd love one but the repair bills scare me and I'm poor!!!

 

Awesome alrounders but SUPER broing! I lasted 6 months in mine before being bored to tears and getting rid!

Would not own another no way. Would much rather be in an evo mate.

 

LOL no it is Laguna, can imagine what been said about having to wringing it to make it go, them seem like a lazy engine and they don't have much torque either.

Martin

 

id have a porsche instead dave

 

Boring!? what fuck tard planet are you from

Traction OFF, SMG on Speed 6 and sport mode on

Drive it properly and then come back and say its boring!

 

To be fair if you have come from a big power turbo car, they do feel very flat. But superb handling cars, I keep thinking about one as a daily

 

My e36 m3 gt is anything but boring.
Those that say they are, are not driving them properly.