My new (to me) E46 M3

http://s555.photobucket.com/user/proccy69/library/BMW%20M3?sort=3&page=1

Very nice. How you finding it compared to the coupe?

Looks nice

Looking very nice mate

So far it's fine and is a pretty modern and refined place to be - as T would expect i miss the absolutely gorgeous noise the Plus makes, and the lightening acceleration on boost especially in the top boost setting.

The BMW is a good tool though and has all the modern gadgets you can think of pretty much. No more freezing my ass off on cold leather in winter will be a big bonus

It's fair to say it's not as exciting as the coupe in many ways although power wise they're almost identical with the M3 at c348bhp. More linear delivery means it's smooth and effortless but the turbo kick is addictive in the Plus, and I'd be lying if i said i didn't miss it at all.

Just spending some money on this now to make it "mine" and then i'll be happier.

The major worries with the E46 are the smg11 gearbox which has a reputation for failing and costing £2k (inevitable.com) and the cracked axle carrier - this one so far is fine having been checked at Bridgegate last week - so fingers crossed!!

All in all i'd say the M3 gets 7/10 so far

I have to say the noise a tuned Coop makes is nice. BUT, like you say, the M3 feels more (and is more) modern and is easier to live with day to day, has the heated leather which is nice and cruise control, bluetooth system and the car in terms of comfort and build quality is far, far superior as well as how planted it is on the road. But to be fair depending on spec your talking £45k car here.

The kick of a turbo car is nice and something I use to miss, still do sometimes, but you need to get use to the smooth n/a engine, the S54 unit is a great engine.
I bet if you had a 1-100mph in your coop and M3 it would be a hard one to call. But overall I bet on track or even fast road the M3 is the quicker car, the handling is in a different league! 50/50 weight distribution and im not sure if you've had rear wheel drive before but that took me awhile to get used to aswell as finding the limits of grip as what I thought was the limit when I first got it I was actually nowhere near!
The faster you drive it, the better it gets!

Plus also like you say, you need to 'personalise' it, make it 'yours'

Your 7/10 will soon be a 9/10 im sure. All the best with it and keep us posted.

Cheers Maurizio, and i confess to being nervous of rear wheel drive this being my first - 7/10 was probably a bit harsh, its at least 8 already

Congrats on the purchase Proccy, enjoy your new motor.

Very nice, when I moved on from the Coupe I had a mindset where I was continuously trying to compare the new cars with the Coupe - on hindsight I think that this was not necessarily the best thing to do.

The Coupe is a very unique car with a flare and more of a character mainly associated with Italian flare as opposed clinical efficiency.

I found that most other cars like M3's, S4's, R32's etc are completely different in that they are more clinical with pace and that they are designed more with business/convenience in mind.

All will cover A to B very quickly but the Coupe did it with character where as the others did it because it was required/expected.

Due to this I eventually gave up comparing the other cars to the Coupe, but the Coupe will always have that place in my mind where it always brings a smile.

Enjoy your M3 – Im sure it will make a lot of great new memories……

1-100mph in an M3 vs a 350bhp Coupe...I think I personally know what would be in front.

Lovely cars though, I've considered one many a time but never bought one because they seem to be getting common where I live and I like being unique. That being said beautiful machines and they have their own individual sound unlike any other car so can't fault them at all.

Have fun with it Proccy

I'm sure the M3 would sound better with a custom exhaust, there are loads to choose from from what I've seen on YouTube. Some more interesting than others. Saying this, surely the better build quality will dampen the noise heard within the car?

Nice car Stevey Beemy

I'm not sure if it applies to M3s but a popular exhaust mod for the E39 M5 is to get the rear silencers cut out.
There are 4 of them and they're just behind the bumper so it also has a weight saving benefit yet the car is only louder under load.

Nice, although I'm sure it will blend into the Golf Club Car Park a lot more than the Coupes...

Please tell me that the numberplate simply came with the car and you will be selling that on - otherwise i may be forced to mock you openly next time i see you around!

(Perhaps a little rich coming from me, who is still smoking around in the Godawful Focus I bought as a temporary stop gap car, three years later...)

Lol Paul the plate did come with the car and its stopping until the feds pull me over - then i'll get a personalised one......mock away my son!!

I used to have a 330 - 350 BHP Coop and now ,like Proccy, have moved on to a M3.
I honestly do not think there is much in it regarding the 0 - 100 sprint. I agree the tuned Coop would ever so slightly faster but it would be close.

The M3 is a heavy car but the Coop is no light weight either.
I owned my little Fiat for over ten years by the way.

From standing, the M3 would still be in front at 100mph. The Coop would get there in about the same time though. From a 40mph roll, the Coop would have the legs on it.

nice looking car Steve a good replacement for the coupe .

Cheers mate, loving it so far

Had it a week now and spent £425 on internal goodies, £500+ on discs and pads all round, £325 wheel refurb, £200 on 2 newish tyres, more to come - so the spending continues, different car.....some carbon wrapping to come, paint blow-over on the front to get the stone chips gone, sounds upgrade too - then i'm done

Yeah, right...

£200 on 2 new tyres?? What you go for, Ling Longs?

Steve, if I put wheels on the ends of my arms and legs, would you continually lavish cash on me?!

Looks a nice M3 in all seriousness

Don't down the ling longs I'm still waiting for my final 2 to wear out and even though there super budget they have done me proud must be close to 40k miles and got a little life left in them

Nope, 2 x 6.5mm Conti sport-contac M3's from the cutters forum - and 2 brand new ones for £160 each

Currently on there are some Accelera's, or ditchfinders as they're also known as

Honest Dad

Sorry Dan I only lavish cash on attractive things

get some spacers for the front and rear as it gives the m3 a very nice stance , Technics and EDz both run them and are from the cutters forum .

Might do that mate, lets see - it's not a bad looking car already

How are you getting on with the SMG Steve?

Not used it's full potential yet Sean but other than that i'm loving it - a very unusual way to drive and so many options.......you enjoying it?

has your m3 been lowered Steve ?

Mine's a manual mate.

In an earlier post you said your's had been modded to 380 ponies. That's quite a big jump from standard for an already highly tuned NA motor. What's been done may I ask?

@Nismo - yes i believe it has slightly

@Sean - i was incorrectly informed and it's in fact been mapped to c360bhp, but the seller has lost the graphs
It's definitely been done as I have the receipt, just no proff of what it is. Not that i'm bothered by that, it drives well

Nice to meet you today proccy.

And you and your bro, and good to a coupe again

Just to add to people talking about the boot floor and subframe issue with the m3 here is a link which gives abit more light on the situation and I've been told a lot have been recalled and had the issue sorted but also it's hard to see the problem on some and will take a bmw technician/specialist to check it over.

http://www.bmwccgbforum.co.uk/e46-m3-boot-floor-cracking_topic8140.html