How Much is the E46 M3 ACTUALLY Worth? | Market Analysis
The BMW E46 M3 has become a hot commodity recently. Everywhere I look, people seem to be demanding that you NEED to buy an E46 M3 NOW before prices skyrocket into entry level supercar territory. There is some truth here, but not every single E46 M3 on the market is going to sell for more than $50,000. There are a ton of factors that affect the value of this generation of the M3, so today's video is intended to analyze how these factors have influenced recent, published sale history on the automotive auction site Bring a Trailer. I also leverage Hagerty's valuation tool since they have the expertise when insuring these cars (link below).
My E46 M3 Review: • Everything You NEED to...
To summarize, on average Coupes are more expensive than Convertibles and the M3s fitted with the 6-speed Manual transmission sold for more than their SMG counterparts. The exterior/interior color combo also has a significant influence on the price of the car, and it's even better if your car is fitted with the highly sought after Competition Package (ZCP). The later model years obviously have a higher value than the earlier models, however overall condition has a lot to say with the final sale price. This makes sense because some of these cars are almost 20 years old, so it's pretty easy to see which cars have been cared for and which ones haven't.
The major value detractors include Convertibles, SMG transmissions, Dove Grey interior, and cars that haven't had the VANOS and subframe issues addressed. This doesn't necessarily mean that these cars are worse, it really just means that they will be cheaper to acquire which could play out in your favor depending on your budget/wants.
I suggest that if you can't compete with the buyers that are actively searching for the immaculate E46 M3s, find one in the $15-$25k range and invest some money in a track session. You'll quickly realize why these cars are so well respected and be glad that you picked one up. From my perspective, it is the near perfect E46 M3s with low miles, a desirable color combo, manual transmission, and the Competition Package that are seeing considerable appreciation. THESE are the cars that are becoming unattainable. I'd argue that these will still be "attainable" cars for awhile, they just might require a little more work.
There are dealers around the country that are picking up on the appreciation trend and specialize in selling like new E46 M3s. If this is the type of car that you're after, check out Enthusiast Auto Group's inventory at the link below.
Don't forget to like and SUBSCRIBE so you can help us grow the channel! Thanks for watching!
Bring a Trailer: bringatrailer.com/bmw/e46-m3/
Hagerty: www.hagerty.com/apps/valuatio...
Enthusiast Auto Group: enthusiastauto.com/qsearch/?fo...
Great video, thanks for sharing! As a fellow M3 owner, I've also had my eye on the market (but in the UK). Other key factors to bear in mind when valuing these cars is their service history. I’ve noticed a big impact on values for cars that are overdue Inspection II services etc, probably because they are expensive to have done, and seeing a seller try to shift one without it implies that the example they are selling has not been well maintained. Also, with these cars being such a great value package, lots of M3’s are being subject to lots of modifications some of which improve them, others less tasteful or not in keeping with BMW’s vision. I think for those lower mileage cars in particular, originality will be key factor that influences future values. As far as the UK market is concerned, lots of the trends you’ve observed hold true for us, however, the pre-2003 cars nip into a much cheaper tax bracket in the UK which masks the disparity between pre and post-facelift values somewhat. Another point to note is that the rod bearing issue applies to absolutely every S54 engine regardless of recall or facelift. It’s now pretty well documented and it appears like the sensible solution for this is to consider it a 100k mile service part. Although mine were changed at 100k and looked good for another 100, the same cant be said for many others I’ve seen.
Lots of really, really valuable insight here. Proper maintenance of these cars is critical, and will cost a lot more in the long run if they're neglected. I know exactly what you mean about the modifications. Like you said, there's a fine line between tasteful and obnoxious. I think that $90k M3 was a good example of tasteful mods, although the pricetag is another story... Interesting perspective into the UK market, I wasn't aware of the difference in tax brackets. Good to know! I have nothing else to add to the rod bearings comment, that's a spot on recommendation. You know your stuff, thanks for contributing!
Pretty sure the higher tax bracket was 2005 > mines a late 2004 and is cheaper tax
R A think your confusing them with the e92? you can pick them up for less than an E46, the E46 M3 I regarded as the one of the best M3’s made.
@R A I don't think you are qualified to join this discussion. Regardless of your 25 years of I will say, "youtube" education; you simply have failed to address any other comment with enough common sense that demonstrates you in fact have more brain capacity than a 5 year old.
Tire Kickers no love for the sedan??
The sooner you buy an E46, the sooner you’re happy. Just sayin.
Say less lmao I was depressed for a year and thinking of buying a e46 m3 😂
*me who is 15 and cant get that car* Yea, i think it will take a while for me to buy that car
@@Ottaro10 lol I bought mine at 15
@@Ottaro10 get a 330ci or a 325i and upgrade it
@@benraminprarmin1452 damn wtf how
My 2003 Topaz Blue Coupe with the 6-Speed Manual has just 24,100 miles. :)
Hold on to that for as long as possible, that's an awesome spec and incredibly low miles!
36k miles in Ireland 6 speed manual
Absolutely love the detail in this video. Would love to see more like this!
Holy crap, all of this work and your channel only has 1.5k subscribers?! Man, I'm gonna subscribe. Awesome video brother.
Great video! I love that it is scientific driven with accurate data. Keep up the good work.
This is a fantastic video... and hey that's my car @ 4:30!! I bought it on BaT in January and absolutely love it. No regrets for not spending more money on a better color, just stoked to have a clean 2004 manual. I've been meaning to do a similar analysis on BaT comps but you've done the work for me, nicely done man
This could be my favorite data analysis car video of all time. TRULY world class presentation cadence and clarity. For others wanting to make car videos, use this one as your benchmark. WELL DONE
Best review on value and future appreciation prospects of the E46 M3 (or any car for that matter) I have every seen on KZhead. Really strong multi-variate and data driven analysis with a strong set of concluding observations. EXCELLENT JOB!
Excellent video. Extremely well done. Thank you!
great video man. i know you're mostly a bimmer guy as am i but this video really took off, i'd be interested in seeing this kind of video for the s2000
Good video! The data was clean and informative. I really enjoyed how you presented everything it was easy to follow
Really appreciate it! I wanted to keep the video fast paced since looking at numbers isn't always entertaining, but I also wanted to give enough detail that it would help someone understand the market. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the effort put in to make this. We'll done and very useful.
Really appreciate it and I'm glad it was helpful! The effort was well worth it
Outstanding video. Thanks for taking the time to put it together.
Thanks Pedro, it was worth the effort!
Good video, what we don’t know is how perfect the service history is and what’s been added on with aftermarket upgrades
Forgot to mention very informative video!!
Liked this approach and explanation, great job.
Appreciate it Michael, glad you enjoyed it!
Very well done video! E46 M3’s will be a most interesting trend to follow. In the next years as both enthusiastic & investment potential mature I believe it will likely shine.
Really well-done video. Great delivery of stats. Nice conclusions and opinions at the end. Excellent supporting imagery throughout. 😃
Really appreciate the feedback Rick, thanks for watching!
One of the best videos on cars I’ve ever seen. Keep up the good work. Your presentation is clear and easy to understand.
Really appreciate it. I'm a numbers guy so I wanted to provide as much value as possible. Glad you found it helpful!
Spectacular analysis, great charts, etc. Bravo!
Really appreciate it Kevin, it was well worth the effort!
Absolutely great video! Ive been shopping this car and E60 M5. It’s been a couple months now, bad this video narrowed down my decision on 2 M3s I’ve been looking to buy, thank you dude!
Very well done breakdown.
I beat on my e46m3 everyday! Drove mine in the snow today:-). Mine is sitting at the bottom of the value curve... but that doesn’t matter at all... because I am never selling it!
That's the stuff!!
This is so professional it’s not even funny. Amazing
Loves your review, good data. Keep going with your awesome videos." Like"
Appreciate it Seth, thanks for watching!
This content definitely deserves a massive like 👏🏻
Really appreciate it Oleg!
Great video. Appreciate the information and presentation style
Really appreciate it!
Great Video And A Ton Of Useful Info👌Wish You Would Do This Kind Of Videos For Other M Cars Too
Thank you! Based on all the feedback I've gotten, I'm planning on doing this for the other iconic M cars too. Glad that you found it helpful!
Wow these market analysis videos are a great idea! Please do one for S2000’s as the price seems to increase every year
Brilliant video sir!
Great video! I bought my 2005 Jet Black manual coupe, black interior, premium, cold weather 120k for 17.5k in 2019. No service history whatsoever but a clean car with no immediate problems except bad RTABs. What was actually the #1 most important thing to me when buying was evidence of no winter driving. That really narrowed my search. I’m a little behind on my preventative maintenance but I don’t drive the car very much
Very informative video. Love the stats given. Need to do a new video for 2022.
This is excellent thank you. I see what you're saying about cars not being a great investment but have a look at the interest rates the banks are giving us!! You've done a ton of work here and if I were you I'd keep banging these out they're really interesting. Subscribed!
Really appreciate it Matthew! That's a fair point about the bank interest rates, it's a weird time all around right now lol. The video did take some time but it was definitely worth the effort. I've got some plans to do a similar analysis for other iconic M cars and see how those videos do. Thanks again!
@@TireKickers Thanks I've watched your video just now for a second time you're bang on with what you say. Now is the time to buy, if you can do an e92 m3 review that would appeal to many as well I'm sure. Shame you can't get the CSL over there, the prices here are stratospheric now!
would love to see more videos like this!! especially on a variety of "enthusiasts loved" cars
That's the plan! Getting this kind of feedback helps me know what people are wanting to see, thanks for watching!
@@TireKickers cough cough toyota 98 supra lol
Great video. Im actually in the market for e46m3 or e90m3. Great video
Overall thanks for the great video! Love the up to date in depth market analysis, prob the best I have seen yet as an M3 fanatic. Just a suggestion for next time; include your specific "dream M3" next time just for fun/comparison :)
Really appreciate the feedback Levy! I'm a numbers guy so I'm glad the data has been well received by the community. I like the suggestion so I'll keep that in mind for future videos. For the E46 my dream car would be very similar to the $90k M3 because I love LSB and the seller did everything right with the CSL mods, although the sale price is a different story! 😏
Thank you for this video. Stats on stats on stats. This is exactly the data I’ve been searching for.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video and great use of Tablaue
Thanks Javier!
Great job!
Very informative video.
Fantastic video
Also fantastic video, breakdown, analysis etc. Subscribing for more content! Keep up the good work man
Really appreciate the support!
Rod bearings can fail on every year E46 M3! It’s a very common misconception that the rod bearings issues were fixed from 04’-06’. Rod bearings fail because of loose clearances, and that wasn’t fixed in the LCI models.
Well said Elliot, I should’ve been more clear in the video. There was a rod bearing recall issued for vehicles produced from Feb 2001 - May 2003 because, according to the service bulletin, “they did not meet BMW quality standards.” A recall was not issued for the later models, but like you said, this does not mean BMW fixed the problem. Owners still need to take oil samples to monitor the rod bearing health regardless of model year. Thanks for pointing that out!
Thanks for adding that Don!
They fail because of tight clearances, the oil can simply not get in there
When I had my e46 m3 it had 254k miles and the previous owner who was a friend of mine never even did the recall for the rod bearings. I was going to replace them as a preventative maintenance but sold the car due to a great offer. Bottom line I don't think every e46 m3 had the issue unless the vehicle was abused and had lack of maintenance.
n54 power I've also heard that abuse and not allowing the car to reach full operating temp before revving to redline will cause bad rod bearing wear. There's not a definitive answer though, just gotta take care of the car and keep an eye out for signs of failure.
I signed into my account just to appreciate your effort and toss this video a like. You did some really good work here. Too bad your channel is underappreciated and you have less than 1k subs. Still amazing work regardless.
Really appreciate that. I'll admit it was a lot of work, but it was honestly enjoyable and I learned some new things along the way. I'm glad you found the information useful, my goal is to provide as much value as possible and interact with the people that have taken the time out of their day to watch. I'm hopeful that the subs will come along as long as I keep at it, thanks again for the feedback!
Now you have me looking for M3s when I know I shouldn’t 😣 great video!
haha it's always fun to window shop! Appreciate it!
A little late to the party on this one but GREAT video and info. I'm the original owner of an '02 LSB M3 with about 53,000 miles on it. Impeccably maintained, all service records, recalls done. It's now a garage queen in So. AZ. I'm going to change my insurance to classic car insurance but not sure how to value it. They seem all over the board. Mine has the black interior, 6 speed manual, original 18" wheels, new tires, coupe with the moon roof. Thoughts?
great job man!
Appreciate it, thanks for watching!
I’ve owned every M3 from an ‘89 E30 to a ‘08 E92. I had my E46 for 5 years and did a pretty extensive Dinan upgrade program on it. The car is not without flaws, as in stock form they understeer with the big tire stagger, the brakes are weak, the stock exhaust sounds tinny, and the rod bearing and subframe issues are real. If you’re willing to deal with those issues it is a great car. The biggest improvement to the drivetrain you can do is a shorter geared differential. It’s a game changer on these cars in the way they accelerate.
Very fair points, especially with the tinny exhaust comment. I love the induction noise and know that the "rasp" is a quirk of the E46, but modifications to the exhaust are definitely in the plans for my M3. I watched a video about a guy that swapped a shorter geared diff into his CSL and he was raving about how much better the car accelerates. Definitely something else I'll look into for the future, this stuff adds up quick lol. Which M3 has been your favorite?
993s are one of my favorites.
lightweight flywheel
the rasp was the e46 signature sound though.. i had supersprint exhaust on mine and it sounded perfect .. miss that thing!
awesome video! its 3 years later. Are the prices of E46 M3s even higher now ffor excellent and concurs level cars? Or has the market softened because of the economy?
This is great compiled data of value for an E46 M3. I’m glad I kept my 2001 Phoenix yellow on black coupe . Which only came in a manual when first sold at the time . I’m at 54k miles currently and still enjoying it after two decades of ownership. Now I know why I have enthusiasts asking if I want to sell it ? 🤨
Wow that's awesome! The Phoenix yellow is awesome, I don't think I've ever seen one in person but at 54k miles, manual, and black interior you've got a desirable car so I can imagine why people are asking if you're selling lol. Really cool that you've owned the car for so long too, thanks for watching!
Wow, you've really prepared for this video ! Love when people actually do serious R&D before making the video. Well presented ! Interesting how the most popular Sold M3 on BaT is finished in Titanium Silver but on the streets you see Silver-Grey more often...I guess depends of the area...(Utah for me)
Appreciate it Yaro! It took some time to do the data analysis, but I'm glad that people are finding it useful. I agree about the colors, definitely learned some interesting things when looking at that. I haven't seen too many Silver-Grey M3s so that's cool that you have some of those near you. Utah is awesome by the way!
@@TireKickers agree !!! It's just really interesting to see what people prefer/desire and how it dictates what goes for more $$$ then the other finishes (: If you would've have an opportunity to paint your E46 in any color, free of charge, what would be your choice ?
@Yaro's Car Hustle I really like Laguna Seca Blue so that would prolly be at the top of my list! Do you have a favorite color for the E46?
Tire Kickers oh yeah, LSB is rare one. I would go with Oxford Green or Chiaretto Red...
@Yaro's Car Hustle nice choices, can't go wrong with any of those really!
Good informative video,, one of the best I've come across. I'm based in the UK and there are a heap of E46 M3's that vary in price from as little as £8k to £30k depending on spec and mileage. BMW manufactured a lot of these cars so until they become scarce they won't appreciate real fast, they have been steadily going up. I purchased my 2002 Topaz blue manual coupe for £9k in 2012 with 55k miles. It now has 60k miles, its been little used because of my personal circumstances. In its present condition, few minor scuffs on the front spoiler, alloy wheels have some curb rash, could do with a full service I'd expect to sell it for £14k. If I were to spend some time and money on it probably £2k to get the little scuffs, wheels and servicing done I'd maybe be able to ask for closer to £17k. It is a lot of car for the money but people are put off by the potential costs and failures however overhyped those issues may be. I think it will be many many years before these really become sought after in the way the E30 M3 is, just because there are so many of them. it would take a global recession with owners ditching them over the cost of insuring and taxing a petrol guzzling failure prone V6 to make these rare enough to become a collectible...oh wait
Great video, enjoyed it!
Really appreciate it!
I am in the market for e46. I see one locally for an '05 with 91k miles for 24k (red and manual). Kind of hesitant to purchase a BMW with "high" miles. Never owned a BMW before but a big fan of inline 6 motors. It was either this car or the 93-98 Toyota Supra. Since the Supra price is high (65k-100k), I rather go with the next best thing on my list, M3. I love to get your advice. Thank you and love your video. Very detailed!
I appreciate you running the numbers. I spoke to a local shop that does the complicated work on my car. They said that parts are still available for e39 cars. So going past the 25 year mark is where people are going to want to spend some money to acquire this iconic car. I think beyond the 30 year mark is where you get people that want to drop 40-50k just to have one like we experienced with the e30 m3 when it hit the 40 year mark.
Fair point Gary, as soon as parts become harder to find/more expensive to buy I definitely see the values going up for the well kept cars. I think it'll be really interesting to see what these cars are going for 10 years from now, but I'm sure you're on to something with the E30 M3 comparison.
Very good data
I just traded in my 188k mile E46M3 for $12k toward a G87 M2. It's Vanos system was showing signs of an impending failure after a long, happy life (including an epic morning where I got 20 back-to-back runs on the Tail of the Dragon during Covid). I also drove her through two hurricanes, Snowmaggedon in Atlanta, and she made many treks between Baltimore and Florida over the years. I miss her dearly and I hope the young man who bought it treats her right....
Funny that the convertibles are less sought after. Fewer of them out there and, if you like the top-down experience, are one of the nicest convertibles on the road. Nicer than the 911 cabs IMO. I bought one of the first to come into the US in 2001 and drove it every day to 2006. Bought a new 2006 and I have keep that car as a sunny Sunday car. Looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor.
Been seeing the price for the convertibles going up recently been seeing big increases on autotrader - for SMGs even, convertibles with 80k miles non-smg going for $24-$25k now.
@@Sb99992Not surprised. IF and I do mean IF the drop-top experience is of value to you there is no better convertible available from that era. I'm a 911 guy and I chose mine, twice, over the then-current 911 cabs. They are all great.
nice video man but you forgot about one e46 M3, the CSL.
Very good accurate video, however I have a post face-lift M3 built June 14 2003. Ive heard around that 2003 M3's built after June, 2003.5 will have these post facelift features
Thanks for adding that! I figured there was significance to the 2003.5 model year but dropped the ball on confirming. Glad you're helping keep me in line!
Supercharged manual trans e46 m3 here getting a motor rebuild now. Once finished, should be close to 550 hp! Cannot wait! Great video! Subbed
That's awesome, what supercharger system are you running? 550 hp in these car will be NUTS! I'm sure you're gonna love it, thanks for stopping by!
Tire Kickers it’s an RMS kit with meth injection.
@@jonmy1415 Awesome, hope you enjoy it when it's all said and done!
I personally hate when people ask for a "like". However I think this video deserves one. The time and work you put into this, its the least I could do. Thanks man, for getting this deep into analysis . Thanks again deffinatley "liked"
Appreciate the feedback nie and I understand where you're coming from. I'm glad you found the video helpful, my goal was to provide some value to the community beyond "buy an E46 M3 now." It did take some time to make, but it was worth the effort.
I had a 2004 in silbergrau with 130510 miles that I solid in MA in July of 2018 for $8400 (I don't have a great memory, but I do have a copy of the bill of sale!). It had all the options - 19" wheels, HK audio, backup sensor, GPS, moonroof - including SMG. The SMG and some minor rust below the rocker panel were what reduced the price, I think. I had it listed on craigslist and e46fanatics for a couple weeks for just over $10k with no bites. I eventually listed for $8900. I found one buyer for the full price (via craigslist) who flaked out because he couldn't find storage. The second buyer offered $8400 and I decided to take it. Immediately prior to the sale, the car had been basically undriven for almost two years. It had a check-engine light due to a bad temperature sensor that I couldn't find the time to fix and a minor oil leak that looked like a rear main seal leak. Only after taking off the entire transmission did I realize it was not a rear main seal leak, but a leak from a sensor on the upper passenger side of the engine that needed a new o-ring (I can't remember the sensor). I took the opportunity to install a new clutch and throw-out bearing. I was biking to work at the time and didn't need the car for commuting, so it sat until I prioritized fixing and selling it. That M3 was the first car I ever bought for myself. I had a 1998 Maxima through college that my sister sold me for $1 after getting from our parents (great sister). The alternator died in 2012 right after I started my first job. As I was repalcing it, the frame of the car started collapsing as I jacked up the front of the car. It was time to buy something new. The E46 M3 was a car I wanted ever since I had first seen one more than ten years prior, so when I had the chance to get one, I took it. I found it at a dealer for $21,000, which I think was too high for the time, but oh well. I have no regrets. I met my wife while I had that car. We worked at the same company. When we started dating, I used to pick her up in it every morning even though I lived in the same town as our work and she lived a couple towns over. :) I still remember the feeling of shifting with the paddles and resting my right hand on her leg after each shift, elbow braced on that dinky arm rest, while she had hers on mine all the while (usually with the heated seat on, even in the early fall). The car is gone now, but we still have each other and a daughter, with another kid on the way. Sometimes I wish I had kept the car so the kids could enjoy a ride like I used to in my dad's '90s Thunderbirds. Life goes on... Anyway, thanks for the video. You're right that the condition makes all the difference. I don't think my car was BAT-worthy, so keep that in mind if you're looking for one. Decent deals always exist on the less popular classifieds. I'm not sure what compelled me to write this, but I hope it offers some enjoyment to the other E46 M3 owners: former, present, and future. My car is now gone, hopefully to an owner who will enjoy it as I did. Honestly, he kind of looked like a punk and his dad was buying it for him. I hope he is still alive. ;)
Thanks ! Amazing vídeo !
Appreciate it Andre!
Wow! Informative!!
It was well worth the effort!
Excellent research
Appreciate it! It was worth the effort
Good points! I'd like to even just DRIVE an e46 M3 before I die. The VANOS issues, rod bearings and subframe issues just scared me away as I came from a 986 Porsche Boxster with potential IMS bearing issues. I had a budget of $40K and was even talking with Enthusiast Autos (friendly guys), but a bit a rationality overtook me and I bought a CPO M240i (6MT). BTW, I rented a 2017 M2 with some performance upgrades, but didn't like it for harshness.
Really appreciate it! Those are fair reasons to look elsewhere, the VANOS, rod bearings, and subframe problems definitely shouldn't be overlooked. I've heard that the M240i is a lot of fun so it sounds like you made a good choice, but interesting to hear your perspective on the M2. I hope you get to drive an E46 too, they're a ton of fun!
These "problems" are no big deals. Everything is solvable
patagonia's product placement is on point
I've owned my M3 for 19 years now and am the first owner, Carbon black on black, 6 speed, navigation, HK sound, Xenon, etc etc. It is a perfect car, I have 180k miles on it and it still runs like it did 19 years ago in 2003. Had to get the subframe fixed for 6k, got the Vanos done under warrenty, and the Rod Bearings which was 2k, about 3 years ago. Zero problems. Alot of people own their E46 M3 now and are cry babies because they have to spend money for these things, but for the OG owners who have been lucky to have one since we were young, now for 19 years later, these costs to maintain a $61,000 car are nothing when you get to have this as your daily driver. I have driven on freeways, back roads, all of this as a daily driver and it is nothing but pure pleasure, like riding a roller coaster at Disneyland.. Anyone who buys some broken down E46 M3 which is on its 4th owner for $12,000 with a ton of dings and maintenance required may cry and complain, but zero complaints from someone who has had this car with 7 miles on the Odometer from when they test drove it in Germany and then shipped it over to me, to 180,000 miles now. Best BMW production car of all time.
I've got a 2003 E46 M3 Coupe. 181,000 miles on the clock, its still on original BMW rod bearings. The rod bearing recall was done when the car had 30,000 miles and they are still going at 181,000 miles. The engine shows no sign of compression loss or bits of metal while changing oil. I'm getting the rod bearings done now as a precautionary measure. The original head gasket is fine as well. The engine management light came on a month ago and my tech states the vanos has failed. So now its getting a new vanos and rod bearings changed with ARP bolts and king race bearings although I was advised to save my money and go for the OEM ones. Rounding off with an inspection II service. The car has never let me down and been driven as a daily since 2003. The boot floor has not been done but its showing small cracks. I am told mine is the probably the highest mileage car with original rod bearings and boot floor not reinforced. The great Bruno D' Silva of BDS Motorsport drove my M3 at 180,000 miles and said its one of the best M3's he's ever driven.
Love the video! Wish i could hang on to my 2002 BMW E46 6 Speed SMG Alpina White with Imola Red interior but Corona is gonna push me to sell sadly. It has 140k miles, based on your rating id say its in the Fair condition since my ex ruined the front bumper. What would you say is a fair asking price for mine?
very useful information，thanks
Thanks Steven, glad you found it useful!
I have a 2005 E46 M3 Coupe - original owner. 6-speed manual. 75,000 miles on it. I pull the Kelley Blue Book on it and it's worth more now than four years ago. I wouldn't take an M4 in an even swap.
Love that, thanks for adding your perspective. I'm sure if you ever end up selling, someone will pay top dollar considering yours is a 1 owner, late model year, low mileage manual coupe. Lots of good things going on here so I understand why you'd pass on the M4. Really awesome!
i own a 2001 e46 m3 coupe with 127k miles on it and i def recommend getting one IF you have the pockets to keep up on maintenance
I got my M3 in 2016 and have no intentions of selling it, I’m about to do the manual swap next week and possibly the subframe all at once.
For anyone worrying about M3 prices the non M e46 cars are still amazing! I have a 330i and love it to death. Love how it looks with 4 doors as well. The only thing I would want looks wise is the m3 hood. It is still very fun to drive and relatively quick. Not to mention I picked it up for less than a third of the lowest priced m3s. When the m3s were going for 15k at the highest a guy on craigslist had his immaculate alpine white m3 listed for 25k, guess he wasn't that far off now :P. Great Video! It would be great to see a video like this on the e92 M3 :D.
Very, very good points here. Not only are the non M E46s less expensive to purchase, they're also a little easier to maintain. I've heard really good things about the 330i, I think it'd be fun to drive one and compare it to the M3. Pretty crazy what this market has been doing recently, especially considering that 25k seems "reasonable" for an alpine white M3 in immaculate condition. Regardless, really appreciate you watching! The E92 is definitely on my radar for cars to analyze!
Excellent video
Thank you!
I've got a 2006 Interlagos Blue 6 spd manual M3 I've been considering selling. Higher miles (140k) but this is making me want to hold onto it and just keeping it as my long term daily driver. It's hard to beat.
Sounds like you have an awesome spec and a lot of things working in your favor. I think most people understand that as long as the car is taken care of, mileage isn't a big deal. I've seen plenty of M3s with
You have one of the youngest e46 m3 on the planet...just say its made in august :)
I would not drive that thing slowly restore it and you will be able to sell it for a lot more those comp pack cars some of the most sought after
Very informative video. I've owned my E46 M3 for 7 years now, since I was in high school and now that I'm finished with university, have only needed to put about 30k miles in those 7 years. I haven't really done much to it other than maintain the hell out of it (which it sorely needed when I picked it up) and besides lurking the old M3Forum (RIP) didn't pay attention to how these cars have somewhat bottomed out in terms of pricing. Now where I live, people are selling salvage convertibles with 160k+ miles for 10k, something I would have seen in 2013 go for 5-6k. So it's definitely nice to know that it was a good idea to hold onto it, not that I would ever let go. Sure it's been a pain in the ass to maintain at times, but I've driven other M cars, non-M cars, and cars that would run circles around my M3, but I don't think you can ever match the feeling of knowing you're about to go for a drive in your E46 M3.
That's awesome man, I bet you've had some fun over the years. I think the best way to get an E46 M3 is find one that needs some maintenance and get it back into really good shape. That's essentially what I did with mine too and I have learned A TON along the way. I was honestly shocked when I found out the M3Forum was dead. There was so much information stored on that site and a solid amount of daily activity that I never even thought that was a possibility. Definitely sucks. I've seen similar price inflation in my area too. Not every car is gonna see the crazy prices that the nicest examples are selling for, but like I said in the video it's nice knowing that values aren't going any further down. I feel you on the maintenance, but totally agree that there's just something really special about the driving experience the E46 delivers. I can't really fathom a day that I sell the car unless someone offers me stupid money for it, but it was cool to see what the market currently looks like when doing my research. Appreciate you adding your perspective!
As someone who was also in shock at the death of M3Forum, the core active members from there are rebuilding on nam3forum.com. Resurrecting DIYs and lots of other good information that only existed in the community.
Very good video. The comprehensive detail is very welcomed. I’m interested to gain your thoughts on the paint and interior colour combination (and values) that would be best liked in the UK versus the US, if at all different?
Appreciate it Tommie. I'm thinking that the color combos and associated values would be similar in the UK to the US. Laguna Seca Blue is super popular over here, but I think the other blue variants like Topaz and Interlagos are really desirable along with Imola Red, Alpine white, and maybe the Silver Grey since that's the same color that came on the CSL. I'd think that any of those exterior colors paired with Black leather will have above average values. Bonus if they have Imola or Cinnamon interior. I guess that's all just a long way of saying that I think the US and UK would be pretty similar, hopefully that helps a little!
Tire Kickers that’s great, I appreciate that. Seemingly the variants were similar in UK/US as your video and supplementary comments run true here. Changing the subject, what’s your background and why the interest in the M3 (apart from owning one)? Is Tire Kickers your outfit and what’s the mission?
@@tommiebarker9360 I have a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering which I chose to study bc of my passion for cars. I've loved cars since I was young and I can prolly thank my dad for that haha. He had a fox body Mustang that he supercharged when I was young that he eventually sold for the black E39 that he has also now supercharged. If I had to guess he's owned the E39 since about 2004ish, and then I bought my own E39 at the end of 2013 that we had to do a lot of work to. I learned that high mileage, old BMWs require constant upkeep but they're a lot of fun. That's pretty much the abbreviated version of how I got onto BMW. I chose the name Tire Kickers bc it's easy to remember, automotive related, and doesn't pigeon hole me into a specific kind of content. Gives me some options to branch out beyond BMW eventually. I'm taking this KZhead thing day by day and enjoying the process of video making. I like that it gives me an outlet to share my passion with other like minded people and learn new things along the way. I have no idea where all this will go but I'm glad that I've been able to provide some value so far!
I agree with author that these cars are still attainable and meant to be driven. Great work on stat, charts, and presentation.
Thanks, I defintely agree that these cars are meant to be driven. You can't experience what the E46 is all about with it sitting in the garage!
Any techniques to mining BAT data? I haven't seen any quick and easy way to do so, bravo for going into all the listings and getting data from them.
Yeah unfortunately it was all done manually, but BaT does a good job of organizing the data so it was relatively easy just time consuming!
You nailed it. 05-06 coupe, manual, ZCP, 50k and under mileage. A year ago I purchased a 06 coupe, manual, ZCP, Grey, over black M3. It has 130k miles but was owned by an older Doctor in the Bay Area. Everything on the car is original and in working condition. I did the subframe welding and upgraded to the BMW Motorsports 4.1 Diff. Don’t be afraid of high mileage. It’s more about service history.
Totally agree Mark. Sounds like you found a well cared for E46 and that's really important. I've seen a lot of M3s with less than 100k miles that are trashed because the owner neglected the car. I think the condition of the interior is usually a pretty decent indicator of how well the car was maintained. Hope you've been enjoying your M3, that's an awesome spec you've got!
So it looks like our boy LZ did good, nice vid
I don't know if you're gonna see this comment, but thank you for the video. Great research, great info, I bet you had to spent at least few hours doing it. Keep up the good work!
This was a really good video I have an 05 With the comp package I been thinking of doing a 6 speed swap would that add value to my car it’s very clean I have 137K miles on it
Had ecactly the same combo,416 carbonschwarz metallic with imola red leather coupe manual,excellent car my favourite after the M3 E30
According to your video, my car must be worth a small fortune as I hit pretty much every nail on the head when I ordered it: Interlagos Blue with Cinnamon Interior, Competition Package ZCP, 6-speed-manual. I originally wanted Laguna Seca Blue, which would have been even better, but was not an available option for Euro Delivery (which I did). Now, why can't I have the same foresight when I buy a lotto ticket. Damn!
I had a 2006 interlagos blue M3 for 9 years before I sold it last summer. It was my summer daily driver, tracked it and auto crossed it. It was a SMG, at the time it was perfect for me. The owner who bought it off me converted it to a 6 speed. Awesome car all around. High reving and had that timeless look to it.
Sounds like you enjoyed the car like it was built for! The interlagos blue is an awesome color. I've ridden in an SMG E46 on the track and I feel like that transmission really shines when you're pushing it. The manual conversions are becoming more common, I've even seen some CSLs do this. The engine and styling add to the specialness of these cars, hope you enjoy whatever you're driving now!
Here in the uk you can get a very good condition eu spec manual with good colours and 100k miles for 11k on average
I now daily drive my 2005 E46 M3 55k miles. Imola over Cinnamon leather cabriolet. Rod bearing "fix": I keep RPM under 3K until oil temp is at a full 200 degrees F. I make sure I do at least three full 8,100 RPM pulls per leg on my 34 mile RT commute. Ceratec added to oil. $1000 custom Dyno tune, RPM redline increase to 8100, top speed limiter lifted, no cats, mid pipe, muffler 310 RWHP, 177MPH top speed. TC Kline coil overs, Swift springs, caster/camber plates, 30mm anti sway bar. 265-35-18 square set up, Michelin Pilot Sport 4s. And about 50 other mods. Reliable! Runs PERFECT!
i bought a used 2002 SMG e46 in 2005. it had 30k miles on it when i got it. i put another 145k miles on in 8 years. The SMG did have a problem, but BMW covered most of it even though it was out of warranty. i don't remember what portion i had to pay, but it wasn't a significant outlay. i bought the car specifically for the SMG and loved it.
That's awesome man, I'm really interested in driving an SMG E46 after reading all these comments. Seems like a decent amount of longterm owners actually really like this gearbox, especially in cases like you where you've addressed the problem areas. Thanks for sharing!
I wish I could afford one of these, such beautiful cars. Definitely my dream car and I am worried that by the time I have finished my education these cars will be ever more expensive.
Exactly what M P said, just be patient and everything will work out! I think there will be cars selling around $10-$20k for awhile, they just might need a little work. Plus if you go for the SMG, you can save a little $$$ and swap in the manual if you want. Keep grinding with school, it'll be worth it!
We don't know, maybe prices are gonna drop because government are gonna be crazy about electrics cars and then thoses (don't get me wrong) big not ecological at al cars are gonna be heavily taxed.
You will always find one in your budget. When I was shopping, I drove some that were 16k all the way up to 45k. The one I bought was 30k. 06, competition package, and 6 spd manual. Pretty much a car that would go up in value.
So rod bearings isn’t just a e60/e9x m car problem?
you are right and if you have tons of student debt kiss that dream goodbye for a while. but you can always find one in later years just got to wait and look. best regards
Great video and as best I know your facts are spot on. I love my SMG. Always an exception to the rule. ;^)
I really appreciate it! I've had a lot of people leave comments saying that they love their SMG, and now I really want to drive one to see what they're all about. I've heard they're quirky but to me that just sounds like added character!
The SMG is quirky and not for everyone but I enjoy it. When the time comes to rebuild the hydraulic unit and replace the clutch I may reconsider and go fully manual but at this point I like the SMG.
I have a 2002 Jet Black SMG. Has about 135K. I did the Vanos, has a small subframe crack and need to have rod bearings checked in sure... I'm thinking about holding on to it for a few years until the market appreciates some more.
Not a bad idea at all! With BMW revealing what the new 4 series will look like recently, I'm sure there's going to be even more interest in previous generation M cars. As long as you keep it in good condition I'm sure it'll all pay off!
I have an e46 m3 in mystic blue, 6 speed, slick top, 86k miles, clean title, paid 28k. I bought from EAG but had to call in and have them look for one. They found a seller and I had it shipped to CA
I picked up a 2011 E92 M3 with 29k miles late last year for $30K. Carbon roof, DCT, cold weather, premium audio, technology & comfort packages. The car also looks brand new as well. Since owning it, I've added about 2,800 miles. But recently I have been looking at a Porsche 911 (997.2), I don't know if I should trade the M3 in or keep it, and get a 996 Porsche 911 for around $20kish.
My 03 has cold weather package, HID Headlamps and Nav.
Great vid! I own an 04 Alpine over Imola Red 6MT with less than 100k mi on the clock, VANOS and rear subframe reinforcement done. Would you say the 6MT swapped examples hold the same value as the factory 6MT ones? Or slightly less? If the SMG to manual swap was done by a reputable shop, I don't see why they would be valued any less, IMO.
Thank you! That's a really awesome spec, definitely one of my favorites on the E46 M3. Just ran some numbers for you and 4 of the 150 sales I analyzed were converted to manuals, here's how the numbers break down: Manual - Avg Price: $25,416.82 - Avg Miles: 73,725 - Count: 118 Manual Conversion - Avg Price: $26,187.75 - Avg Miles: 66,750 - Count: 4 SMG - Avg Price: $19,816.71 - Avg Miles: 63,493 - Count: 28 Although we don't have too much data here I'd say as long as the manual conversion is done well and the car is in good condition, it should have a very close valuation to the manuals straight from the factory. One of the manual converts was an '04 Alpine White on Black with 54,000 miles and sold for $30,751 on 1/31/2020. Hope this helps some! bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-bmw-m3-coupe-64/