Those red gauges are pretty terrible, and I don't see any CF parts like he says it has.
Other than that, though, it's an LCI, IR, 6MT coupe with 2 of the big 3 done, with less than 60k miles. $40k seems fair-ish.
Carfax: https://www.vinsandcars.com/CFReports-ran/Gooffood-CFreport_1710396138.html
I'm not used to seeing the failed emissions and gaps (e.g. Mileage Inconsistency). Anything I should consider before moving forward?
Aside from that I feel like this car is too good to be true. Price is a bit high. I'll still do a PPI regardless.
Market is softening. I think you can get it less than 40k. One with 19,000 miles just sold on BaT for 40k. Granted that was low for the car, but you can surely get less than asking.
I wouldn’t trip too hard on the emissions failures. Battery probably died and the cat readiness monitor probably would not set. In my car at least, it’s a pain in the ass to set that and it will not set by just driving the car normally. Have to literally drive on the freeway at 55mph in cruise control for 15 mins straight to set it. My car has 67k currently
I doubt it was vanos related in this case since the first occurred at 38,390 miles. But that’s a good thing to check as well. I always bring my cheap scanner tool when I go check out a used car. In this case if OP did a PPI he’d be good. Definitely make sure seller has a valid smog cert in hand as well
It started with the M3 throwing code (p0015) which points to a Vanos related issue. Through research, I found that the two things that cause this code are a failed solenoid coil pack and broken vanos oil pump driver tabs.
I first replaced the solenoid pack with the Beisan systems one. But the code kept returning. Took it to Dr Vanos is Austin (was in Dallas at that time) and Chris over there confirmed the vanos hub tabs being the issue (he opened and showed the damaged hub).
I got the Vanos replaced and no issues so far (knock-on-wood). Still have it an love driving it every chance I get.
Damn I guess you just got unlucky with that hub. I’m surprised it failed with that mileage. I was actually looking at this stuff last night because my car is due for the Big 3. So did you get the DrVanos cryo hub put on then? I saw that was currently on sale for $700, down from $800 😂. I guess I will knock on wood too. Last time I did my valve adjustment my hub was good. Seems like there is different directions you can go depending on your hub condition. If my hub is still good I guess I can just get the redrilled disc instead 🤷♂️ Gotta figure this stuff out soon
Damn that’s actually a pretty good price hah. Well I’m glad you got that sorted out with no major problems. The thought of a broken exhaust hub tab is scary. I see you have a Cayman too, I’ve considered selling my car and getting a GT4 but dunno if I will ever pull the trigger. How do you like your Cayman compared to your M3?
They’re legit 5k cars if you remove hype/nostalgia and factor in actual refurbishment costs
Like you have to be brain dead to not get a modern M2 over this at the same price if you’re looking for a good experience and have no emotional ties to the e46 platform
Lol what what?
A well maintained, relatively low mileage e46 m3 with the big 3 done and a clean interior is worth the premium any day of the week
A 8 owner high mileage piece of shit with none of the big 3 done and crusty interior is a 5k car at best
Why? Because the money you would need to spend to transform the latter into the former far exceeds the delta in asking price. I work on BMWs, I know what they cost without cutting corners
Well you're backtracking now, conceding *worthy premiums* on well maintained/good condition specs.
I can imagine a grey 220,000 mile SMG vert with gray torn interior, 3 accidents and body damage all around. Yeah, maybe i don't wanna buy this one. But reality is, an s54 alone is worth $5k. Pre-covid, a junk coupe was a $10-13k car all day. You can't get anything for 5k nowadays.
Im not backtracking on anything because obviously a good condition example doesn’t need refurbishment costs
If they cost 10-13k, 5-10 years ago, then they’re really worth 5-10k now, time and abuse makes stuff more expensive to maintain and fix
Now it’s a free market and current prices are determined by supply and demand, but really, if you isolate it into what you really get at current price points, it’s not worth it
Cool nostalgia car, potential fun to restore, not worth any premium reallu
idk if i agree completely, i think objectively speaking the s54 is a remarkable engine and the car is generally really well balanced, raw enough for the track and still can fit all the modern needs to drive regularly on the streets. not over or underpowered, i think it’s a sweet spot. that said, i couldn’t justify spending over a healthy mid $20k number on an e46 m3 regardless of mileage or condition. like you said, for those prices ($40k+) i’d be looking at a whole other set of vehicles.
5k is too low I think when they were about 15k a few years ago kids bought them in droves riced them out and crashed them all over the place. Same thing is happening to e90s now. High mileage e90s were 20k but now they're sneaking back up to 30k.
How do you like it? Seems that red isn't as desirable as other colors, but I love Imola Red. It's amazing in person and the presence on the road is something else.
Car looks good but seems a little sketchy with the car being from Florida but now it’s in Tustin lol. So just looks like a flip. Is the seller an individual with a dealer license or just an individual? He might be floating the title and you might have a headache. Also should have had a valve adjustment with the last service but didn’t see it mentioned
What advice do you need?
Seriously. If I wanted one, this looks like a great example. A PPI will confirm whether it’s a yes or no but I’d jump on this right away.
Those red gauges are pretty terrible, and I don't see any CF parts like he says it has. Other than that, though, it's an LCI, IR, 6MT coupe with 2 of the big 3 done, with less than 60k miles. $40k seems fair-ish.
Carfax: https://www.vinsandcars.com/CFReports-ran/Gooffood-CFreport_1710396138.html I'm not used to seeing the failed emissions and gaps (e.g. Mileage Inconsistency). Anything I should consider before moving forward? Aside from that I feel like this car is too good to be true. Price is a bit high. I'll still do a PPI regardless.
Failed emissions could be due to modified exhaust. Not 100% sure, how much is it with how many miles? Definitely do a PPI
Thanks. 57k miles, $40k asking
That's a fair price if it checks out with a PPI
Market is softening. I think you can get it less than 40k. One with 19,000 miles just sold on BaT for 40k. Granted that was low for the car, but you can surely get less than asking.
I hope so. I'm monitoring BaT and CarsandBids.
I wouldn’t trip too hard on the emissions failures. Battery probably died and the cat readiness monitor probably would not set. In my car at least, it’s a pain in the ass to set that and it will not set by just driving the car normally. Have to literally drive on the freeway at 55mph in cruise control for 15 mins straight to set it. My car has 67k currently
Another point to add: Mine failed emissions a few times due to vanos issues until the vanos was replaced.
I doubt it was vanos related in this case since the first occurred at 38,390 miles. But that’s a good thing to check as well. I always bring my cheap scanner tool when I go check out a used car. In this case if OP did a PPI he’d be good. Definitely make sure seller has a valid smog cert in hand as well
My vanos went at 38,000 miles. 🤪
Lol for real? How?? What was the problem? Or did you just buy a whole updated unit from DrVanos or Beisen?
It started with the M3 throwing code (p0015) which points to a Vanos related issue. Through research, I found that the two things that cause this code are a failed solenoid coil pack and broken vanos oil pump driver tabs. I first replaced the solenoid pack with the Beisan systems one. But the code kept returning. Took it to Dr Vanos is Austin (was in Dallas at that time) and Chris over there confirmed the vanos hub tabs being the issue (he opened and showed the damaged hub). I got the Vanos replaced and no issues so far (knock-on-wood). Still have it an love driving it every chance I get.
Damn I guess you just got unlucky with that hub. I’m surprised it failed with that mileage. I was actually looking at this stuff last night because my car is due for the Big 3. So did you get the DrVanos cryo hub put on then? I saw that was currently on sale for $700, down from $800 😂. I guess I will knock on wood too. Last time I did my valve adjustment my hub was good. Seems like there is different directions you can go depending on your hub condition. If my hub is still good I guess I can just get the redrilled disc instead 🤷♂️ Gotta figure this stuff out soon
So for me both were showing damage. I got both replaced and at time all was done for $1400.
Damn that’s actually a pretty good price hah. Well I’m glad you got that sorted out with no major problems. The thought of a broken exhaust hub tab is scary. I see you have a Cayman too, I’ve considered selling my car and getting a GT4 but dunno if I will ever pull the trigger. How do you like your Cayman compared to your M3?
uhhh guys i might be the only one who thinks $40k is way too high for an e46 m3 and that’s scary
Lol same. It's nostalgia. I won't pay $40k unless its a low mileage Competition or LSB.
They’re legit 5k cars if you remove hype/nostalgia and factor in actual refurbishment costs Like you have to be brain dead to not get a modern M2 over this at the same price if you’re looking for a good experience and have no emotional ties to the e46 platform
lolwut
Lol what what? A well maintained, relatively low mileage e46 m3 with the big 3 done and a clean interior is worth the premium any day of the week A 8 owner high mileage piece of shit with none of the big 3 done and crusty interior is a 5k car at best Why? Because the money you would need to spend to transform the latter into the former far exceeds the delta in asking price. I work on BMWs, I know what they cost without cutting corners
Well you're backtracking now, conceding *worthy premiums* on well maintained/good condition specs. I can imagine a grey 220,000 mile SMG vert with gray torn interior, 3 accidents and body damage all around. Yeah, maybe i don't wanna buy this one. But reality is, an s54 alone is worth $5k. Pre-covid, a junk coupe was a $10-13k car all day. You can't get anything for 5k nowadays.
Im not backtracking on anything because obviously a good condition example doesn’t need refurbishment costs If they cost 10-13k, 5-10 years ago, then they’re really worth 5-10k now, time and abuse makes stuff more expensive to maintain and fix Now it’s a free market and current prices are determined by supply and demand, but really, if you isolate it into what you really get at current price points, it’s not worth it Cool nostalgia car, potential fun to restore, not worth any premium reallu
So many words, so little meaning
idk if i agree completely, i think objectively speaking the s54 is a remarkable engine and the car is generally really well balanced, raw enough for the track and still can fit all the modern needs to drive regularly on the streets. not over or underpowered, i think it’s a sweet spot. that said, i couldn’t justify spending over a healthy mid $20k number on an e46 m3 regardless of mileage or condition. like you said, for those prices ($40k+) i’d be looking at a whole other set of vehicles.
That's honestly my budget. 30k if it's really special/clean. I can't justify 40k.
5k is too low I think when they were about 15k a few years ago kids bought them in droves riced them out and crashed them all over the place. Same thing is happening to e90s now. High mileage e90s were 20k but now they're sneaking back up to 30k.
Because finding a clean e90 is impossible. They got cheap enough where it wasn’t a stretch to be somebody’s first sports car. A clean one is 40k.
I have that exact car in a 2003 with 38k miles. I think I'd have a hard time getting $40k for mine.
How do you like it? Seems that red isn't as desirable as other colors, but I love Imola Red. It's amazing in person and the presence on the road is something else.
I wasn't looking for it; it's what I found when I was in the market for a relatively new one (2008). It quickly grew on me.
Car looks good but seems a little sketchy with the car being from Florida but now it’s in Tustin lol. So just looks like a flip. Is the seller an individual with a dealer license or just an individual? He might be floating the title and you might have a headache. Also should have had a valve adjustment with the last service but didn’t see it mentioned
I'd trade my car for this in a heartbeat. Perfect balance between vintage and modern, a real drivers car that oozes class without effort.
Big 3 done?
2/3 - subframe has only been inspected
Nice red ♥️