I'm Back........ With an M3 (Pics)
#42
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As for me, I'm working in London (Network Rail Renewals Control Center), just taken over a supervisors position. Life is good, and quite enjoy the two hour drive to work, and then two hours back again......LOL, Shift work so normally driving during the quiet hours so no problems there, and doing it in a Peugeot Diesel so not as expensive as it first sounds.
Where are you now ....... Still sailing the oceans blue. I've called it a day with the cruise industry, too many changes and 16yrs was a long time. So I had my fun and now got a real job.......... Whatever that is, but still missing the crew bar parties.
#43
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Keep any updates coming.
Jim
Last edited by Jim Green; 02-02-2010 at 11:48 AM.
#55
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LOL....... Mike - "Ever the modder". Give him a Ferrari and he'd want to tweak the engine.
She's fine mike, don't want another ride like the EVO.
CSL would have been another track car, and I'd just got rid of one (Evo). Wanted abit of luxury in my middle years, and was willing to sacrifice abit of performance to get it. I did think about it though. There's always the supercharging route should I wish to get myself back into the big power league.
She's fine mike, don't want another ride like the EVO.
CSL would have been another track car, and I'd just got rid of one (Evo). Wanted abit of luxury in my middle years, and was willing to sacrifice abit of performance to get it. I did think about it though. There's always the supercharging route should I wish to get myself back into the big power league.
Last edited by Jim Green; 02-02-2010 at 11:19 PM.
#56
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Stu : Still got the M5 ???? Got to keep the BM Contingent numbers up on here.......LOL. Just wouldn't be right if it was all Fords..............LOL
#60
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that red colour isnt as bright in real life is it? a boy from work has a silver grey one with red nappa and it always photos brighter than it is. a bit darker in the flesh.
great combo tho.
great combo tho.
#63
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^^^lol^^^
Looks like a nice car mate! and especially at that mileage.
A guy at work has one with SMG, he swears by it. However i have heard thay can be expensive buggers to fix. On paper the manual is faster however in reality the smg has it.
He drove me somewhere recently and i was impressed by how quickly it changed gear, but it just couldn't get the change right (smooth) at low speed.
I think the choice bargain is actually the e36 evo, cheaper, faster above 50-60 and supposedly slightly better handling. But looking at it the e46 looks a far nicer car to live with![](https://passionford.com/forum/images/smilies/roi.gif)
Rob,
Looks like a nice car mate! and especially at that mileage.
A guy at work has one with SMG, he swears by it. However i have heard thay can be expensive buggers to fix. On paper the manual is faster however in reality the smg has it.
He drove me somewhere recently and i was impressed by how quickly it changed gear, but it just couldn't get the change right (smooth) at low speed.
I think the choice bargain is actually the e36 evo, cheaper, faster above 50-60 and supposedly slightly better handling. But looking at it the e46 looks a far nicer car to live with
![](https://passionford.com/forum/images/smilies/roi.gif)
Rob,
#64
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Beautiful car…..i’m 99% sure that’s what I’m gonna be getting to replace the FRS this summer.
What are the prices like on these at the minute. Saw an 04 plate one near me for sale at £12.5k a week or 2 ago, is that going or would that be high miles, as it was a trader.
Are they thirsty, I must do 100 ish miles a week in my FRS and although returning only 19-20 mpg it’s a great everyday car.
I have also hear insurance is a nightmare, and premiums are on the up, still always seem to get a good rate on the ford RS models as they are seen as cherished cars.
SMG would be great for me though, being a Londoner I probably spend 50% of my time in traffic………
What are the prices like on these at the minute. Saw an 04 plate one near me for sale at £12.5k a week or 2 ago, is that going or would that be high miles, as it was a trader.
Are they thirsty, I must do 100 ish miles a week in my FRS and although returning only 19-20 mpg it’s a great everyday car.
I have also hear insurance is a nightmare, and premiums are on the up, still always seem to get a good rate on the ford RS models as they are seen as cherished cars.
SMG would be great for me though, being a Londoner I probably spend 50% of my time in traffic………
#65
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I love it, and can see the obvious advantages of it, but appreciate that some prefer to do the shifting themselves.
It's a personal thing.
Prices seem to have increased slightly in the last few months, but this seems to be across the whole board. I drove from Portsmouth to Hull overnight and sat it on cruise control at just over 80mph (All on private roads of course.......) and got 29.8mpg, but on mixed roads the computer normally shows around 25 - 26mpg driving half sensibly. Drive it enthusiastically and you'll get it under 20mpg easily.
Reliablity - For what they are, they're as reliable as any BMW which is probably better than most cars, and considering it's a performance saloon it's better than most, and the build quality is in my opinion very good. When you look at the underside you soon see that compared to my EVO things are much more substancial, and built to take the power reliably. Considering how impressed I was with the M5, I'm hoping the M3 proves to be just as reliable. If it is, then I'll be very happy.
Interesting how many ex Cosworth owners have moved on to the various versions of the M3. Almost a natural progression emerging.
Last edited by Jim Green; 03-02-2010 at 11:50 PM.
#67
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Evo was great, but very much a one race horse......... Great performance & handling, but that was it....... No refinement, No comfort, poor build quality (Body/Chassis) and totally tired you out on a long drive due to little or no sound proofing, felt totally drained after any long drive.
As for me, I'm working in London (Network Rail Renewals Control Center), just taken over a supervisors position. Life is good, and quite enjoy the two hour drive to work, and then two hours back again......LOL, Shift work so normally driving during the quiet hours so no problems there, and doing it in a Peugeot Diesel so not as expensive as it first sounds.
Where are you now ....... Still sailing the oceans blue. I've called it a day with the cruise industry, too many changes and 16yrs was a long time. So I had my fun and now got a real job.......... Whatever that is, but still missing the crew bar parties.
As for me, I'm working in London (Network Rail Renewals Control Center), just taken over a supervisors position. Life is good, and quite enjoy the two hour drive to work, and then two hours back again......LOL, Shift work so normally driving during the quiet hours so no problems there, and doing it in a Peugeot Diesel so not as expensive as it first sounds.
Where are you now ....... Still sailing the oceans blue. I've called it a day with the cruise industry, too many changes and 16yrs was a long time. So I had my fun and now got a real job.......... Whatever that is, but still missing the crew bar parties.
Regards
Mike
#68
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Pops......... Good to see you still visiting. Hope Aussie is still treating you well. What Aussie tank are you driving out there....... Monaro ????
And I thought it was just me getting old. They're great cars, but not for long journeys, and I'm willing to sacrifice abit of performance for comfort, refinement and build quality.
I am in Holland finishing the build on a 55m Feadship motor yacht, it is going to be based in the South of France so Liz and l can get a 2nd home down there and settle down as much as l ever will be able to, the drive sounds like hers from Stamford to Cheshunt, 320 miles each day, she tried it in the Evo for a while and hated it,
Regards
Mike
Regards
Mike
Last edited by Jim Green; 03-02-2010 at 11:06 PM.
#69
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Hi Jim, longtime mate, hope all is well??
Lovely car that bud, id exspect nothing else from you Jim....![Wink](https://passionford.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Jim,
I don,t want to turn this into a REMEBER the saff thread...
but i,ve just dug these out...
The old girl here look..i do miss it tbh......![Sad](https://passionford.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
![](http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/postty/Picture031-1.jpg)
![](http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/postty/Picture025.jpg)
![](http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/postty/Picture023.jpg)
![](http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/postty/Picture015.jpg)
![](http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/postty/Picture035-1.jpg)
Lovely car that bud, id exspect nothing else from you Jim....
![Wink](https://passionford.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Jim,
I don,t want to turn this into a REMEBER the saff thread...
![Surprised](https://passionford.com/forum/images/smilies/bigcry.gif)
The old girl here look..i do miss it tbh......
![Sad](https://passionford.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
![](http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/postty/Picture031-1.jpg)
![](http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/postty/Picture025.jpg)
![](http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/postty/Picture023.jpg)
![](http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/postty/Picture015.jpg)
![](http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/postty/Picture035-1.jpg)
![](http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/postty/Picture032-1.jpg)
#72
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Yeah i pop on every couple of days just to see whats going on jim, VZ SS 5.7 ute
Wouldn't mind the new ute but still prefer the shape of this model, but like the newer engines, i can get a LS3 6.2 for 11k'ish drive in drive out so may go that route once i have a spare bit of cash
Wouldn't mind the new ute but still prefer the shape of this model, but like the newer engines, i can get a LS3 6.2 for 11k'ish drive in drive out so may go that route once i have a spare bit of cash
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You'd be surprised how much it rains here Jim, was rained off this morning so came home and now it's not raining, wasted day not earning money.And remember if you ever over this way again to look me up
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How many peeps have had Cossies and got 46 M3`s lol, Heres mine...
![](http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/MrBrannen/PICT0288.jpg)
![](http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/MrBrannen/099.jpg)
![](http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/MrBrannen/PICT0294.jpg)
![](http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/MrBrannen/PICT0296.jpg)
Jim you just have to get the CSL`s for a bit of variation, I had the SMG and to be honest its one of the best pieces of kit Ive ever come across, sooo fast on ferocity lv 6, wish I bought a hard top TBH, but im a poser so fuck it, when I get another one it will be a manual , cause as much as i tried to put the bad rumours about the diffs etc on SMG going it was always on my mind, even though mine never let go. pound for pound the best car money can buy at the minute, how about 10k for an 02 Phoenix Gold one with 67k fully loaded? FUCKIN YESAYE!!!
![](http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/MrBrannen/PICT0288.jpg)
![](http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/MrBrannen/099.jpg)
![](http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/MrBrannen/PICT0294.jpg)
![](http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/MrBrannen/PICT0296.jpg)
Jim you just have to get the CSL`s for a bit of variation, I had the SMG and to be honest its one of the best pieces of kit Ive ever come across, sooo fast on ferocity lv 6, wish I bought a hard top TBH, but im a poser so fuck it, when I get another one it will be a manual , cause as much as i tried to put the bad rumours about the diffs etc on SMG going it was always on my mind, even though mine never let go. pound for pound the best car money can buy at the minute, how about 10k for an 02 Phoenix Gold one with 67k fully loaded? FUCKIN YESAYE!!!
#80
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Yep, if your after a performance bargain, I'd definately go for an early E46 M3.
Well, after having it for over a month, I now feel I can give some comments as to how it compares against the E39 M5..........
1. It's not as fast in a straight line to 100mph. The M5 has the edge on it, but not by alot.
2. It feels a little more twitchy at high speeds, and more prone to tram-lining on worn roads.
3. It's not quite as refined (Road Noise) as the M5.
4. It's definately more agile than the M5 and handles better (But the M5 is still outstanding for it's size and weight).
5. I think it looks better.
6. On the later model (2005 onwards) you get digital tv and one of the channels is "UK Babes"............ Therefore this is the better car.......LOL.
The truth....... The M5 is faster in a straight line, but doesn't handle as well. The M5 is more refined when it comes to road noise. The M3 needs a little bit more concentration when driving very fast (Seems a little bit more twitchy, but this could be down to tyres).
Overall - There's nothing to choose between then in a point to point challenge, the M5 would be faster in a straight line, the M3 would be faster around the twisties.
Both great cars and it's purely down to which shape you prefer and if four doors are needed for a family or not.
Still glad I made the decision to go for an SMG model over a Manual........... It's always in sport mode and always in Level 5. DSC has been off a couple off time (Only coz it's never stopped raining) which allows you to go into the fastest SMG level "Level 6"......... this is super quick shifting everytime, and once you learn how to use the SMG properly it is smooth super fast changes without it being viscious like alot of people complain about............ You have to learn how to use it properly.
Well, after having it for over a month, I now feel I can give some comments as to how it compares against the E39 M5..........
1. It's not as fast in a straight line to 100mph. The M5 has the edge on it, but not by alot.
2. It feels a little more twitchy at high speeds, and more prone to tram-lining on worn roads.
3. It's not quite as refined (Road Noise) as the M5.
4. It's definately more agile than the M5 and handles better (But the M5 is still outstanding for it's size and weight).
5. I think it looks better.
6. On the later model (2005 onwards) you get digital tv and one of the channels is "UK Babes"............ Therefore this is the better car.......LOL.
The truth....... The M5 is faster in a straight line, but doesn't handle as well. The M5 is more refined when it comes to road noise. The M3 needs a little bit more concentration when driving very fast (Seems a little bit more twitchy, but this could be down to tyres).
Overall - There's nothing to choose between then in a point to point challenge, the M5 would be faster in a straight line, the M3 would be faster around the twisties.
Both great cars and it's purely down to which shape you prefer and if four doors are needed for a family or not.
Still glad I made the decision to go for an SMG model over a Manual........... It's always in sport mode and always in Level 5. DSC has been off a couple off time (Only coz it's never stopped raining) which allows you to go into the fastest SMG level "Level 6"......... this is super quick shifting everytime, and once you learn how to use the SMG properly it is smooth super fast changes without it being viscious like alot of people complain about............ You have to learn how to use it properly.
Last edited by Jim Green; 27-02-2010 at 05:06 PM.